Educate me on ordering a new truck

I posted the below in the New Member Intro tread, and perhaps it is bad manners to double post. If so, please forgive the newbie.
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I know almost nothing automotive aside the bimmers. That world I can navigate with ease spending 30 years in it, but I never owned or purchased any other brand.

I did drive Hilux all over South America, so, when I found it necessary to drive on the rougher roads in a vehicle with the must have manual transmission, Tacoma seemed to be the only choice.

I am not sure how Toyota dealers operate, and what approach to take in ordering a new track and don't want to become a patsy. I can configure it online alright, but there is a myriad of accessories, some are "dealer installed". Would I be better off going aftermarket with some, but not the others: for example I am looking to get a 2023 TRD Off-Road double cab with 6spd manual. I presume I need the TRD lift kit ordered from the dealer, but will I save money with aftermarket skid plates and steps?

Then there is a matter of ordering: I read here that one can't really submit the build specs to the Toyota dealer to have the truck made just so (like I would with a BMW dealer), but that the dealer needs to "search for it for you". And then there is a deposit charged for the service? Again this would be a very alien experience coming from the way I used to purchase cars before.

 

Tacoma driver = patsy

you’re right no such thing as ordering. Look on truecar.com to see if you find what you need close by.

 

American and European automakers have the custom order down in my opinion far better than the Asian market.

You may have to travel to get what you want if your region is like mine. Closest manual was 600 miles away so if you need to buy now-ish book your plane ticket. If you’re not in a hurry your local dealer may be okay but it will be a while. Some guys I’ve seen waited 6-8 months.

 

Usually the deposit is $500, get refundable in writing. Dealer will get allocations that you can accept or refuse.

 

Depending on the state you’re in you may want to actually look for physical dealer inventory. Out here in California the Tacomas are in stock at higher levels than pre pandemic. And there are a ton of manuals out there at the moment… but this changes weekly.
That said I wouldn’t try and find one with a lift kit … most dealers will over charge for parts and install. Might as well buy the pro at that point

 

1. Where do you live? Northeast, Southwest, Cali, etc because that makes a difference.
2. If you want new, prepare to pay close to list.
3. Toyota Tacoma has the highest resale value of any vehicle manufactured. BMW does not give you that luxury.
4. Test drive, test drive again and then end the day test driving. The Tacoma is not for everyone. Lots of quirky little things you won't discover until you have extensive test drives.
5. Good luck and have fun. Build it online and then search online to see what you can get that is close.

Toyota sells to 12 different distributors in North America and those then sell to dealers.

 

Thank you all for your replies.
I am in SoCal, but will be moving out soon. I hope. Somewhere to the Ozarks or Eastern TN . I can wait for months for the right car, and don't really care about leather seats (actually like cloth) or sunroof, or even the double cab. I do like 6ft bed. But pricing 6ft bed with access cab and 6MT in the Sport and then adding the suspension upgrade brings the thing close to the Pro. Weird. I don't care that much about the resale value: I buy them with cash and keep until the bottom falls out.

 

I have to admit that I had to look up “bimmer”. I’ve heard “beamer” but never “bimmer”. Other than admitting my ignorance, I have nothing more to offer you because I’ve never ordered an automobile or owned a bimmer.

 

if you like a 6 foot bed and an MT, you got one option. it seems that is where your decision is.

you got it figured out. start contacting dealers and looking online.

good luck.

 

Look wait, wait some more, look wait. When you find what you want go buy it that day. You will be paying full MSRP at best, you will probably be paying a market adjustment, or paying for port accessories. Toyota dealer will probably hit you for some bogus fees, because well you want a Toyota. What are you going to do? buy used for more money? If what you want is only available used then there isn't much you can do about that.

I wouldn't even waste your time or energy looking for an allocation, or putting down a deposit.

Chances are you will have to settle on something color being the obvious, or DC instead of AC.

Enjoy your electric lime DCSB manual!

 

Looks like I'll be settling on TRD Sport AC with 6' bed, 6MT. I am still confused about what options to include in the order: am I better off to order something like tonneau cover as a part of the package, or get it aftermarket? The same about the steps, all those extra hooks, lights, rubber mats, all that crap? Finally there this TRD Lift Kit for $1750: how much will it improve the ride? I don't see myself doing hard core offroading, at most some gravel or dirt road to the remote campsite, and even that not frequently. Anything that MUST be ordered with the new truck?

 

Better off looking for actual inventory versus “ordering” which could take forever. Luckily a lot of dealers see manuals as unsellable so if you find one out of state they may be willing to sell it to you.

Start looking now because finding a stick is difficult. I had to fly to Chicago to find mine. If you’re after an Access Cab it will be even more difficult.

 

No.
Everything can be had at dealer or aftermarket.
Lol lift does not improve ride.
Order it with no options and add what you need later, meaning since this is your first truck you don't know what you need.
Look for existing inventory because you could literally never get what you order. 2024's will be out in October and it will be a different truck. You ordering now might take so long you will never get a 2023.
Just look at new inventory 500 miles from you and closer. Find what you want, go get it and move on.

 

I filled out the 'build your Toyota' sheet at home, took to the dealer, said this is exactly what I want, gave them a $500 deposit, waited and guess what showed up - the exact truck I ordered.
Your mileage may vary.

 

you had it correct in your first post- you can not order whatever you want, and they will build it. Dealers are in regions, those dealers put in orders based on a checklist, and that is what is available. Now, that isn't t say, what you want was not built,,, it might have been.

 

The Inventory search would not let me filter for 6MT but looking through the list manually there is not a single Sport AC in 500 mile radius.

 

There are 4 access cab manual transmission on cargurus in the entire US. 2 at one dealer in Vermont and 2 at another dealer in Michigan. Neither have stock photos so could be unavailable.

 

I actually called the MI dealership, they’ve been sold 6mo ago but it still shows up on the web site

 

As far as ordering, there's only a few different configurations that you can get for each trim. You can't pick and choose every option like you can with many other auto makers. I assume this is in part to keep prices lower and streamline production in theory.

Get the access cab sport manual and buy all of your accessories and lift aftermarket. The OEM Toyota stuff is fine but there is a HUGE aftermarket and enthusiast community selling equal or in many cases better quality products for equal/less/more $$$. Just about the only OEM accessory/add on I'd recommend is the bed mat.

 

I wish we could order a specific build from Toyota. I flew from California to St. Louis Missouri to buy my truck then drove it back 1800 miles. Took me 3 months to find what I wanted. Well worth the wait!

Don’t buy any type of lift from the dealer because they tend to mark it up crazy.