What is ordering a new Tacoma like?

Curious about the ordering process. When and how do you order, is there a deposit.

If the Tacoma I built to my specs arrived at the dealership and I don’t want it anymore, what happens? Seems off that a dealership should be left w a build I made…

considering buying one… in 2026! Haha

 

From what I understand, Toyota doesn't allow customers to custom order vehicles. If a dealer has allocation or a particular vehicle inbound a customer can place a deposit with the dealer for it. If there's one starting the build process soon a customer/dealer has some input, but not a lot.

Vehicle deposits are refundable. Make sure you get that in writing. Any reputable dealer won't have an issue with that. $500 and up is typical for a deposit. Sometimes a few grand if it's a higher trim or hard to sell color.

Make list of the options and color you want and talk to a dealer. They've probably got something similar inbound or on another lot they can dealer trade for.

2026 is a ways out. I don't think you'll have much luck getting any info for an order that far out.

 

To get my 2020 was a $500 deposit.

 

You can't "order a tacoma" to spec. The factory and supply chain is not designed for individual vehicle customization.

You will have two choices when you are ready to buy.

1. Take the closest match to your vision. Accept that you might not get the color or certain accessories you want.
2. Set up search functions inside autotrader and the other sales apps. When it locates your exact build call that dealership and see what they want for it. If you are specific about options and color and won't budge, you will need to travel to your trucks destination. Or wait 6 to 8 years for your exact truck to land at your local dealership.

Lots of us fly out buy our trucks and have kickass road trips home. It's a great way to start your new relationship.

 

+1. toyota doesn't do custom orders. they build to spec, and ship allotments. it's up to the dealers to sort out what gets delivered. in most cases, the dealers are expected to trade and ship vehicles back and forth to meet their customers demands. some dealers are willing to play, some aren't. some are willing to hunt down specific packages for customers, others will tell you to literally take a drive somewhere else.

this is especially true if you want a specific color with the manual transmission. other users here have flown across the country to complete a deal for models like that.

but also, i would not advise you to even bother reaching out to dealers until you're ready to purchase. my personal experience on this is that the majority of sales people are paid and judged on a month-by-month basis. if you're not ready to purchase that month, it's not a deal they'll even attempt most times. i had attempted to set up a deal in 2014 on a new vehicle, but needed to arrange plans for pickup multiple states away, so i contacted the sales person 4 months in advance. i made it clear i didn't need a specific vehicle to be held, only one meeting my color/trim requirements(they had 6 at the time), and was absolutely willing to put down any amount on the deal, from partial to the full amount. i made it clear this was a guaranteed sale.

they replied with the extended version of "if you're buying now, i can ship it to you, but i can't do anything for you in 4 months time, don't waste my time."

 

I'm going through the process now. It started on toyota.com and I filled out a form requesting some info from my local dealers. The next day I got three calls/texts/emails from 3 different dealerships. I had an idea what I wanted, and none of them had it in stock. (note: It helps to be in a want not need position as a buyer, and actually know exactly what you want) They are salesmen of course, so they offered what they had on the lot, but none of those choices were the color or options I wanted. I described the truck to each of them and they all agreed to keep an eye out.

A would get a text every couple weeks from them with an almost perfect truck, but still not the exact right one.

I found one online in a different county that was almost perfect, it was my second choice color. I called them and she said it was being built and took a refundable deposit. I put down $500. Then we requested my color change from Toyota. Denied. I was tempted to settle for for my 2nd choice, and had a couple months to think it over why it was being built, with them holding my refundable deposit.

Then I started shopping around my current truck for trade-ins. I'd been recommended you do that as a completely separate transaction. I took it to a few dealerships though, to see the market. I even test drove a new truck while I was there, not indending to buy that day. I sat down with a sales guy and described the perfect truck I'm looking for. He was cocky and wanted to sell me it today, and sure enough he actually located one in the next state over. He was ready to go pick it up for me and drive it here the next day.
I drove the truck they had on their lot. I saw the color in person. Turns out it was not actually as good in person. Then their trade if offer came in way too low for me to make the deal with them. I was very impressed by their ability to locate what I wasn't able to find. They also wouldn't tell me where they found it. It was funny I tried leaning over the desk to look at the screen and he clenched his monitor and said no you cannot see! (I googled the VIN in the printout and found it anyway). They were going to add a 'mandatory' paint film and lojack to the truck too by he way. Anyway it was educational. I could have bought a truck that day if I compromised on the color and add-ons, but not desperate.

Finally after a few more weeks the original guy from a couple months ago texted me on a Tuesday evening. He thad found the unicorn I wanted in my first choice color. It was perfect, but 2-3 months out, so I will have time to find a buyer for my tradein. I put down a deposit on it the next morning after sleeping on it. Good on them.

Anyway tldr; its time consuming.

 

Hope this works out for you

 

This exactly. This thread explains it in more detail: https://www.tundras.com/threads/toyota-allocation-ordering-transporting-system-explaination.107512/

In my experience, most dealers have me say which trim level, which transmission, and my top 3 color choices, when putting my name down on the waitlist.

 

Impossible to guess what will happen by 2026. You may only have to choose the color on your electric truck.

 

You’re exactly right. $500 down then you pick over the dealers allocations that are coming in. Pretty much limits you to color choices and trim levels.

 

Wanted a spruce mica DCLB in 2014. They located in another state. Put down my deposit and it was here a few weeks later. Also got a Leer topper in same color which added a few more weeks before I could go get it.