Tacoma Sales Up Again

Exactly what I did.

 

I could have waited for a truck and just paid what was possibly just a $400 repair to my Corolla (maybe, but never asked and never will). But with the rumor mill saying "model refurbishment" I did not like the odds.

As to stupid tricks, I have seen these tricks in my large city played by dealers:

Add "high lift" to all SRs for $7k and you cannot refuse that addition (still just the automatic rear-lock)
Dealer adjustment of $5k for up though TRD OR and $10k for TRD PRo
Deposit paid to reserve a "still in build" truck is non-refundable, despite the obvious ability to sell it within a day if refused by first person

 

Exactly what I did and bought a 4Runner last year just to be safe

 

Toyota is most likely prioritizing Tacoma builds so they have as many Tacomas available for sale for when they shutdown 3rd gen production and start up 4th gen production.

The past couple weeks I've seen more 2nd gens on transporters than I can recall seeing in some time. Not trailer fulls, but the odd one mixed in here and there.

It will be interesting to see what 2023 model year sales will be, when Toyota shuts down 3G production.

I read last year that Nissan was going to slow production of the Frontier, as Nissan does not expect to see as high of a demand for Frontier in 23.

 

Yes. Already done.

 

Yea, same for me. I wanted an old school pickemup truck. With a V-6.

 

Me 3

 

Toyota has 2 factories that build Tacomas unlike with the Tundra where there is only one. They could easily continue 2023 model production in one factory until the end of the year with the other factory switching first to 2024 production in the last qtr of the year.

 

Plus 2 plants allow them to churn out more product than the Ranger (sharing a plant with Bronco which is arguably more popular than anything on market still), Colorado/Canyon share 1 plant in Missouri. I don’t know much about the Nissan, I heard it’s assembled in Alabama.

 

That's a possibility I have considered. The qiestion is what is Toyota going to do?

I think it depends on how many 3G allocations are presold. If allocation sales dwindle Toyota will probably build less 3rd gens, as 4th gen production gets closer. Those unsold 3G allocations can easily be switched to 4G allocations. I'm sure dealers would rather take their chances with the new model, as those will get more attention, and bring them a higher profit margin.

 

Chevy has been touting the Silverado as the top selling Retail 1/2 ton on the market, I guess GMC Sierra 1500 is built in the same place. I don't know where those are built? I'm guessing Michigan, Mexico, and Canada. Last I heard GM was holding back production on 1/2 tons, until dealer inventory subsides.

What impact that will have on GM midsize production I'm not sure. GM probably wants to get new midsizes to market, but they know they aren't going to take the top spot from Toyota, but they don't have any of the new trucks available. GM will probably cut production on these as well, if they aren't flying off the lot. If they are cutting their top selling retail 1/2 ton.

Truck sales are slowing across the board, as consumer income has dropped since the end of last year.

 

My dad has a 2020 Sierra 6.2 built in Canada, not sure where else half tons are produced. I know F-150’s are made in Michigan and Missouri with Super Duty trucks made in Kentucky. I agree with just 1 plant there’s no way GM can produce enough trucks to take away the crown. However I do believe they cut into the margin. People like shiny new things, that’s the C/C trucks.

 

I'll fix your post for you by adopting most of it for myself...

Yea, same for me. I wanted an old school pickemup truck. With a V-6 and three pedals under the dash.

 

I still get autotrader alerts from earlier this year when I tracked down my MT solar octane. I had it set to "nationwide"

Yesterday's update showed only 11 MT PROs for sale nationally. Of those 11, zero were Solar Octane.

I watch the autodrader alerts. Even during chip shortage it never went down to 11. Usually there are about 50 available nationally on autotrader.

 

I don't think the new GMs are going to help 3G Tacoma sales. I don't think 3G Tacoma sales are going to be great for 23, I recall 21 sales being the reckord breaker for Toyota. There are people claiming they are buying a 23 or two since it's the last hoorah for the tried and true platform, that the 3G is derived from, but that's the minority of new truck buyers. I know that in the mid atlantic region, many dealers are still adding the market adjustments to their advertised price. When Ford, Nissan, and even GM is discouting the remaining Colorados. Not that the Tacoma will be dethroned. For Toyota to lose the crown, when all the others are producing very few midsize trucks in 23 would be unfathomable.

 

Colorado forums mimick the one here, 35% of them want to snag up the V6 because they’re scared of a turbo 4.

 

Must be the same peopleI like the power delivery of turbo charged engine, but I can't pretend that I like them better than a NA engine overall. I'm not sure if the performance out weighs the simplicity. I don't think I've ever driven a diesel that wasn't a turbo, and those things get pretty slow over time, I don't think gas turbos are quite as bad. Sounds like a lot of NA Toyota, and NA GM fans will be going with Nissan for their next new midsize.

 

Tangent: ~16% of new vehicle loan payments are now above $1k a month.

 

I think you're probably correct. Based on what Ford *has been doing* with their MSRP - I know that something in limited quantity (rolling out the new Ranger) it's going to be not only tough to find one that you want, but to get it anywhere near what I consider a fair price. The Tacoma, I just had to drive a little bit further from home to snag the one I wanted for a great deal. The fact that it was the last model year of exactly what I wanted (an actual v6, no auto-stop at red light bs)...just helped me make the decision even quicker.

100% this too. I was a die hard Ford fan. I've owned 3 Rangers and 2 F150's previously. The price on the F150 has become absolutely ridiculous - add in their adjustments, and you're in 15-year mortgage territory for the average buyer.

Considering the things I really wanted (dual zone climate was a must)...I'm looking $62k for the F150...plus whatever ungodly number they wanted to mark it up to.

I got my $43k Tacoma for $41,500 - put $5100 into it, and then re-collected $2500 for selling the parts I took off. All told, about $43,500...and I'm as happy as I can be.

 

I guess I'm in the minority that paid cash for their vhicle but that's just effing nuts.