“Custom allocation” 2025, it’s possible

^ thank you so much for this comment, your intelligence is unprecedented

it’s time to eat your potatoes

 

I created this thread to sincerely help folks that are mislead by lazy dealers/salesmen everyday … not to be instructed about the definition and spectrum of interpretation of the word custom… with that, I’m out.

Consider putting more effort into your new car purchases with Toyota and maybe their policy will become more customer centric.

✌️

 

Too bad it's not Friday, but if I could go into the wayback machine, I'd walk into my Oldsmobile dealer and order a 1970 Vista Cruiser with the W-30 package...

 

Congrats on the order! Looking forward to seeing the pics when you get it.

And fyi, I did a little customization on mine, too.

 

Speaking from direct experience on mine, it's not quite "custom" in the sense of some of the other brands, but it all comes down to the dealership, original allocation, timing, and your requests.

When a dealership is given an allocation, they have the full ability to submit requested "edits" to the allocation. The factory/corporate can then opt to accept or reject the requested modifications. Interior/exterior color can be the hardest. All other accessories/options are usually up for grabs if more than a month before the anticipated build start date. I found a dealership that had my desired trim, exterior and interior color, but also had two dozen things I didn't want as well as lacking a few things that I did want. The dealership sales rep and manager were more than happy to request adds and drops for every one of my requests. All were originally accepted by the factory. A few weeks later the factory updated to drop two requested options (cited part shortage factory force deleted trailer wifi camera and bed camp lighting). My vehicle started build a month later, and delivered ~5wk after. The only item that was different upon delivery was universal in the country and that was that all vehicles spec'd for Softex Boulder instead received Softex Graphite interiors.

They cannot change trim level, body configuration, or transmission - as those dictate the build week in the factory. So often they will have to hunt (or you will) to find another dealership with that trim/body/trans allocated to them and go to that dealership, or try and get yours to "trade" allocations.

again - it is all about the dealership, sales rep, timing, and willingness on both parties (theirs to adjust for the sale and yours to wait for what you want).

 

Or your dealer is lying to you and you are as gullible as hell. Sure you MAY get the exact order you asked for but with 100% certainly there is no such thing as a custom order for any and all Toyota cars and trucks.

 

I think what we really have here is some dealers are willing to work harder to get the customer what they want than others. When I ordered my wife's 4Runner back in 07. I used the tool and built exactly what I wanted online and took that to the dealer. They let me think I was ordering the car I had chosen but what they actually did was work to find the basic 4Runner to the spec I wanted and then they made a deal to transfer that from a dealer who had one allocated. This was the basics. A silver, sport model with the 4.7. Once they secured the transfer for that vehicle. The dealer changed the pinstripe color and added the factory addon's that I wanted.
No the manufacture is not getting a custom build sheet with you name on it. They are producing what they have scheduled off the line and they are going to the dealers that they are allotted to. Yes they will let a dealer tweak and extremely limited number of things but the model, color, engine and trans are not changing. The OP has a dealer and a sales person who is working hard to get him in the vehicle they want. And that is awesome. For these things it is more of the stars aligning for him opposed to being special or getting one over. Comes down to sometimes things work out but more often than not they don't. Glad this purchase went well. Hopefully someone else does not want the same spec and is willing to pay a premium for it or this deal might very well go to complete shit.
To come here and be like "everything we thought we knew is bullshit" is probably not the best tact but really, a more productive statement might be. Hey, I went to this dealer and dealt with this salesperson and I was really lucky that they had access to the exact model I wanted and went the extra mile to make it exactly what I wanted. Might be worth giving them your business. But, what do I know.

 

At the end of the day, you can't go off-menu and order what you want. Can I get a radio delete for credit? What if I don't want A/C? I don't want power windows. That's what I consider a custom order. Those days are long gone. Still wish I was alive and could convince my dad to order a 1970 Vista Cruiser with the W-30.

 

It’s just different semantics. A dealer might say they are “ordering” a Tacoma for you because the average customer doesn’t understand the allocation process. They just throw around the word “order” because it makes the most sense to the customer.

When the more likely scenario is that as you changed your order and added and deleted options, they’re simply canceling that allocation request (or removing your name from it) and requesting a different one.

The truck you thought you ordered at first is still being built the way it was always going to be built, it’s just going to be sent to somebody else now. And the one that you will end up eventually getting, with all those changes, was always going to be built anyway.

 

There are two very useful posts in this thread.

Your’s is most useful from a detailed understanding of the process and OP’s for getting the ball rolling.

I thank you both.

I like buying what I want and not buying dumb/expensive options I don’t.

 

This is the only useful post in this thread. Thanks for sharing this, will try to remember this for my next new Toyota!

 

Mud guards and PPF? Why waste your money on these when you can install these yourself for far cheaper costs.

 

we still pretending removing port installed options = a custom build?

 

If you are influencing changes to your official window sticker, then you are creating customizations.

If you are not altering your official window sticker, you're just negotiating what counts in the pricing.

 

Good grief, it's amazing what gets people's panties in a knot.

OP found a dealer willing to work within the system to get him what he wanted, given the usual expected constraints anyone can see on Build Your 2025 Tacoma

it's not like he's put together a SR5 Hybrid Access Cab with Sunroof and Power Tailgate.

Sheesh people, don't get so pedantic when someone's happy with what they achieved within the system we all have to live in.

 

This argument reminds of the digital TV transition... People kept telling me, "You can't use that old antenna! You need a HD Antenna!" To which I replied, "That antenna receives both VHF and UHF, and will receive all the the TV signals in my reception area. An antenna doesn't know analog from digital. It only knows radio wavelengths."

They almost took it back once I showed them what my old rabbit eats and UHF loop could pick up on a new set...

They still believe I'd get better reception with one of those new HD antennas....

 

BaltimoreMD gave me the idea of requesting a SR Xtracab 4x4 before it gets built and requesting no SR upgrade package to delete the rear parking sensors. I'd like to have the brake controller, I'd never use but would like to have it. For what ever reason it probably wouldn't be possible and I should request a SR5 4x4 Xtracab allocation at that point. I see plentu of SR5 Double Cabs with no rear sensors. Why does the lower trim SR XC need the parking assist sensors and the SR5 DCLB can be had with out the sensors?

 

I’m pretty sure if you can’t build it on the Toyota site*, no dealer is going to be able to do so for you. That’s essentially what many have acerbically tried to convey.

* looks like Southeast Toyota build site is much less optioned than others, not sure how that impacts dealers abilities to config a truck within Toyota’s constraints

 

Time to rename the site. www.ascerbicworld.com