Ask a Dealer.

what's worse, is i had filled out the toyota experience survey right before i found out about them messing up my loan processing...

 

Hey Steve, Thanks for making yourself available. I was just wondering, when trading in a vehicle does the dealer take into account upgrades and mods or do they mean nothing to them. Is it worth it to strip all your stuff off the vehicle and sell it privately?
Thanks,
craig

 

Honestly it depends on what dealer you take it to. If I was to trade in my truck and if they didn't take into account all of my mods then I would more then likely take off the mods that I have added to my truck and bring it back to stock. In some cases however I have seen dealers offer prices without taking aftermarket mods in consideration and when it comes to resale then the mods are added to the selling price.

If you end up taking it somewhere and they don't add them into the trade in price you should ask them if you remove them will they still give you the amount they offered.

 

Thank you Steve. I'll guess I'll wait. Good excuse not to trade quite yet.

 

Sorry one last question for (I know I said that last time).

How much better of a deal, if any, is buying a car cash (cheque) with no trade in? My parents are buying a new vehicle and that is what they will be doing. The don't need financing.

 

The price is the price really. And with the rates Toyota financial is giving out they might make out with 0% over 60 months.

 

Steve, thanks for doing this!

To the Question...
My dad's '07 Tundra went in for the air injection pump TSB and the local dealer fixed it for free, when leaving my dad asked if this would make the acceleration issues go away, then the Assistant Service Manager Counsaltant (or whatever they are called, and all 4 of them have the same title Assistant Manager...) said "Oh, that's you valves." My dad said "Oh, well I will get back to you then" and left. I know these guys make a commission on what my dad pays and he always does his oil changes there because so they might see him as an easy target.

Another time he went in for a 45,000 mile service (I think it was that mileage) and they upped his price twice for the same thing--wtf?

What do these guys make in commission?

Okay sorry half of this is a rant.

 

Thanks for answering questions Steve. It's very good of you!

Have you ever had anyone try to negotiate the sale price of a new vehicle based on what you (the dealer) paid for it?

If a person was to try this, how would they know the dealer was telling the truth (other than visiting previously mentioned web sites) on their purchase price from the manufacturer?

Lastly, do you see this as a good bargaining tool?

 

To be honest I am not too sure of the money the service guys make or if they are paid per job or hour. I think he should check his warranty information on weather he was charged for the proper service.

I feel that the more knowledge someone has before purchasing a new or used vehicle even if it is something they are not familiar with can be a benefit towards the final selling price. Like the old saying goes "knowledge is power". There are many links that I have posted in the #1 post in this thread that can really really help someone in the negotiation process. I have seen vehicles sell for just over the price that the dealership has purchased them, but these people were very smart in their negotiation. A lot of them also brought in paper work on the vehicle they are interested in and didn't use this knowledge until it was needed when negotiating.

 

I got this is the mail the other day is it legit?

 

If you received this in the mail with your name on it only. In my area (Maryland) we don't have this as of yet. So I personally haven't seen one. But I have heard about people getting them and using them. After you test drive a vehicle you are entitled to a Visa gift card.
I would contact the local dealer you plan on going to before hand just so you are not wasting your time and to make sure they honor it.

 

Thanks man will do!

 

Steve,

I just recently bought a 2012 DCSB with a manual transmission. I though it would be fun to own a manual again but i think im over it and want an automatic. I got right at 6k on the truck and was wondering what the process is for trading one in for a manual with just about the same options? And possibly how much it might run. Any feedback would be great. Thanks

 

i ment to say trading a manual for an automatic

 

You might have to take a loss to an extent. At the dealer I work manuals usually sell cheaper then the autos. With that being said the dealer you purchased your truck from has more then likely sold the truck for more then what it is worth. Taking the miles into consideration is also a big factor. Your best bet might possibly be to get a fair price from sites like KBB, Edmunds or TruCar. These sites a great guidelines on what you should expect to receive. If you noticed I put guidelines in bold because those sites are exactly that.. guidelines. The dealer might also cut you a break in the trade in process since you purchased from them previously.

In my personal opinion... If I was in your situation I would try to sell the truck as a "private party" to someone locally in the news paper or on a craigslist type of sale. A personal sale will always get you more money for your vehicle then a dealer would because the dealer has to make a profit from your trade-in. And by selling it on the street you can give a better price for the truck then the dealer can and the buyer will be getting a better price by buying your truck then they would at a dealer.

 

Hi Steve,

I was at the Toyota dealer today for warranty work on my air/fuel sensor(certified used Tacoma still under the 12/12 comprehensive warranty). BTW, this isn't the dealer I purchased the truck from.

The service guy had to call Toyota and see if the work would be covered. I wondered why he had to do this. I asked him and he advised me that their dealership does not participate in the certified program...Hmmmm... I figured all dealers would sell certified vehicles.

He advised that the sales manager said it costs too much for the customer and they still do the same checks, etc.. That's funny, I've never been able to deal with them because their prices are too high.

I just checked 100 miles from my location and all Toyota dealers are on the certified website except them.

So would you have any clue why a dealer wouldn't want to do the certified program? I would think they would make more money on something like this. Just curios.

 

Unfortunately not all dealerships participate in the TCUV program. Where I work we do offer the program. As far as making more money off of the program... They will make more money just from the warranty the TCUV has. In some cases the used vehicle comes with a better warranty then a new vehicle with the same features and equipment. They also benefit because they can have a larger inventory and selection then another dealer that doesn't participate in the TCUV program.

 

Heya Steve, thanks for making yourself available.

I'm kicking around the idea of trading in Vera (my current '06) for a new Taco this year or next.

Here's my quick hit list:

Non-Starters
*manual transmission
*access cab
*full bed

Wants (not needs)
*4X4
*16”-17” wheels
*6 cyl

According to Toyota's website, an Access cab is NOT available with a manual transmission AND 4WD?

Four-by isn't a need for me, but if its available I'd pay for it. Same with 6 cyl engine.

But it looks like if I want Access cab, manual tranny, I have to go 4 cyl and 2wd?

 

Sorry man. I must have skipped over this question days ago. If you are looking for the Long bed then you have to go with the double cab. If you want the access cab then you have to ask yourself "Do I really need the log bed or the access cab?"

And you are able to get a manual w/ the access cab, V-6, 4x4.

Depending what is available to be shipped to your region they are available. If they normally dont get shipped there then you are able to order exactly what you are looking for. (Minus the access cab long bed.. because they are not made that way.)

Hope you end up with what you are looking for.

 

Okay hold on wait.....what is considered a long bed on an access cab? I thought I had a long bed. ?? When I looked at the Double cabs, all they had were the short beds. How I measured was by laying down in the back.