4th Gen Tacoma (2024+)

The new shenanigan is increased factory price. However, it seems most of the folks willing to plunk down $70,000 for a Pro or Trailhunter are pretty much gone. Pro sales have definitely slowed.

I added this $66,738 Pro to my cars.com saved cars on 11/23/2024. It appears to still be available.

see https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/a9e87b6b-1209-4b41-852e-bc187a1f1dd4/

I have 24 other Pros saved. They aren’t selling like hotcakes.

I have not been tracking Trailhunters but I would imagine their sales are slowing down, too.

I would love access to the data cube to do some real analysis. I bet it’s interesting.

 

Base is $64,395 (w/del) and all options were from the factory. No distributor or dealer options which isn't bad when you compare to other distributors/dealers. Note how SET charges $699 for the Spray-On Bed Liner when it's $575 from the factory. They even use the same option code "L5". Makes you want to buy out of state just to avoid their BS.

 

Those shenanigans might have put a stop to the market adjustment, but the ADM might have gone away on its own. I'd imagine southern California would see the most halo Tacoma sales, with the current situation there people probably aren't out buying new trucks. What percentage of the area is affected I have no idea.

I've often thought if Toyota delayed the Trailhunter and Pro by a year or more from the intitial launch of the 4G demand may have grown. People would still be waiting to plunk down a deposit on one.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by "halo Tacoma" ?

 

Top trim that makes people feel special for wasting money on it

 

Thanks!

 

Just this...


I admit that you are getting something for your money. However, my point is them charging extra for stuff that's not asked for by the customer or is already part of the package. e.g. the $499 bed step SED charges can be had for $350 in my stealerships parts dept. $700 for Toyoguard is at least double what you'd pay for doing it yourself. Most buyers aren't asking for these "options" to be put on because they know they can get quality parts cheaper and do the work themselves. The distributor just adds them onto the price and then the dealership refuses (or isn't allowed) to take them off. I had a salesperson tell me that the Phone Cable package and $360 floormat set was non-negotiable when I asked him to keep them and discount me the difference. Really? I didn't ask for them in the first place. In the end, I got them to drop the price on my SR5 by $6K, but $2K of that was stuff I didn't ask for and frankly, didn't want for reasons already stated. It took my walking away 4 times, along with telling them that forcing that stuff on a customer for the prices they charge is disingenuous at best to get them to discount the price to a level I was happier about. If they hadn't put that stuff on, it'd save both of us time and me money and frustration to boot. Heck, with all the time they spent with me dickering over the price of that stuff, they probably could have sold another car.

 

Is SE Toyota Distributors a dealership? Curious.

We have a local dealership that adds the "Greens Premium Package" to every one of their cars. It is "dealer installed" crap. Paint coating, interior coating you know the drill. Of course you can negotiate that off but their trick is you now have a new "fake" higher price to start the negotiation instead of starting it at MSRP. When a dealership does this type of BS. I don't even think of giving them my business and waste my time. It is funny though because they are my local dealer for my FREE services. I have bought a Corolla, Camry and now my Tacoma all from a dealer out of state. they always ask why "didn't you buy from us" and I tell them. Each time they just shrug their shoulders.

 

So do you mean like getting the Premium package or do you mean like buying the top model like the PRO or TH for example. Just curious. What is the "halo" for Tacoma?

 

SET is the distributor for all Toyotas sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Fortunately, I don't live in Tampa anymore because in addition to be under SET, all of the dealers charge outrageous fees.

 

Exactly. SETD isn't a dealership. Check out this forum page to learn more. Some informative posts there...
Southeast Toyota Distributors?

 

And this isnt new. Port installed options are not uncommon. The Chicago and Central Atlantic region is just as bad with door edge guards and stuff, SET is just the most offensive. Lived in 4 different regions they all suck and add unwanted crap part of the game friend. When I lived in AZ those dealers all charged crazy doc fees like $899-1199 (back in 2019) and required nitrogen filled tires, etc. Port/distributer options can be negotiated. My 2022 was a GA SET truck I refused to pay for the phone charger, windshield keypad and Toyoguard, the isnt allowed to or refused is just a dealer trying to make an excuse.

 

The port options are overpriced and often unwanted. Even if the dealer negotiates on them, there is still labor/material involved. If they "zero out" the port options, they still have to pay the port. That comes out of their profit margin. If the options weren't there to start and the dealer is willing to go to the same profit margin, you would pay less.

AZ's "port" doesn't add anything (that I have seen). In Tucson, dealer options range from little to none at one dealer to ridiculous at the other. Doc fees at both are $599. The dealer that doesn't load up options adds a "Vehicle Protection Package" - window film, door edge guards, and door cup guards for $499, which isn't unreasonable.

 

Sorry, I don’t believe that’s how it works.

 

I am aware, not sure your point. There is still dealer holdback, invoice, doc fees, finance, etc. a gazillion other ways they can make up their loss if its even that much in the port option negotiation. Let me guess, Precision, bought 3 trucks from them, they are the most reasonable and always a 10-12% discount when I bought from them without much back and forth. I'm talking Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Larry H I think was a big offender. The point is, add on's whether someone perceives them as value added or not, are present in all regions not just SET and not new.

 

The point is a vehicle with more stuff costs more. Cost + Profit = Price. That's a zero sum equation. If the cost is less and the dealer acceptable profit is the same, the price is lower.

 

Sure, but again there is more to a deal than just dealer "cost" and price difference, dealer holdback is usually the same regardless of trim, options, etc. By your theory every dealer negotiates solely based on just their cost or invoice to msrp, discount model, that's just not accurate. Many will go below invoice/cost if they can still make money in fees, financing, trade, holdback, etc.

Example: Customer gets 10% off MSRP or invoice price, dealer makes money on holdback, any thing over invoice/cost, financing, fees, trade, etc.

Example 2: Customer gets 12% off MSRP and below "cost" or invoice price, dealer makes less but still makes money and is willing to move the unit.

There are more hidden profits in a deal than just the difference between invoice and msrp, so what may look like a loss to the customer by the dealer is not really a loss. Now negotiating all that is not easy, alot of dealers when you mention holdback often go cold. Point is port options can be negotiated and still get a similar discount and price as the non port optioned truck just have to know how to and be willing to play the game.

 

I will agree that every deal is different. Depending on how long the vehicle has been on the lot, day of the month, new year's models on the way, unicorn color/configuration, etc. All else being equal/"in theory", you should get a better a deal on a truck with less port options which I think we agree is mostly unnecessary and unwanted.

 

Totally agree. You will have a much easier time negotiating $5k off the $55k truck than $7k off the $57k truck. And 100% maybe blackout emblems have been the only port / dealer option I actually was okay with.

 

So the Gen 6 TRD Pro 4Runner does not have the IsoDynamic seats?