Buying my first Tacoma

Yesterday I walked into one dealership in CT, test drove the truck I wanted ('13 Tacoma DCSB Sport pkg ) and I was given two different pricing options. They have a silver one in stock, which i test drove, and a blue one (my preference in color) with exhaust tip and roof rack already installed, that they would need to have sent here from another location.

I mentioned I was a college graduate before I was presented the first numbers, which was dumb... but here are the offers I was given before fees, taxes, etc.

STICKER PRICE: I remember being around 33,700

OFFERS:
Blue - 32,499 - (500) = 31,999
Silver - 31,999 - (500) = 31,499

I did mention truecar.com, but he seemed to disregard it off the bat, mentioning how the site works with certain dealers and there are hidden numbers in there, this and that.. True car gave me a price around 29,307, but an MSRP of 31,730.

Anyways, didn't sign anything yet, but he knows I want it, and we put a $1,000 deposit on the Blue one. I feel that there is still time for negotiation, but my father (who is helping me in new buying experience) thinks the salesman did his best, and there is no point in further negotiating just to get further stressed out and save 10 bucks.

Tell me what you think of this price / situation. Should I just go through with it and spare myself the trouble and anxiety, or push harder to drop dealer fees or lower price?

 

If there is another dealership within driving distance, get a quote from them as well. I had to haggle with the dealership here in town, only to reach a stailmate. Once I brought up that I had been in communication with the dealership in Duluth, they dropped another $2500 of the out of the door price!

Just an option....

 

I think they can come down 1-2k more for sure, but it depends how bad they wanna sell it and if they think someone else will pay a higher price than you. Its a guessing game really but as stated above if you have another dealer involved for a fact and they know this then they are more likely to move on the price

 

Thanks for replying! Here's the thing, I went to a different dealership first, but walked in and asked for someone that was a connection through my father's friend. He was "too busy" that afternoon according to the woman up front, so we asked for any salesman available.... "Ok" ..... .... Sat there for over 20 minutes with no greeting or anything from anyone.. So we walked out and she didn't seem to care at all..

I have been in contact with another dealer, and he left me a message on my phone about needing more questions. Maybe I will give him a call to see where he is at with numbers, just so I may have more leverage. After all, the first numbers he presented are it so far... didn't really budge further unless you consider my college grad rebate.

Thanks again for the reply

 

If its worth it to you maybe try and have him throw in a leveling kit, toolbox, bed mat, any accessories that he will give ya might make you feel like you got more out of the deal or change out the wheels or tires if you don't like them and have them swapped from a trucks you like better

 

29,300 or walk

they sell for this easily and are happy to do it, they just won't start there

 

They are happy to do that? are you speaking from experience? I mentioned a price similar to that around 29,300 from truecars.com and they basically said that isn't realistic.

 

Go to Edmunds.com and build the blue truck. Then you'll see the TMV price as well as invoice. This will help you judge the offer against what others are paying in your zip code.

 

Agreed, here on the east coast, we pay premium prices. Location also determines prices. "U can't pay too much for something u really want" . If your looking at this for an "investment" yes find lowest price, otherwise, pay what u are comfortable with . $20 $30 a month won't make a big deal to drive what you like and are happy with. Remember , there is always someone who got it cheaper, better , morbeoptions etc etc at same price.

 

Matt, please tell me you aren't buying from Hartford Toyota Superstore, they are the bait and switch kings. Never, ever buy from sticker and negotiate down. Find out the invoice (like someone else said go to Edmunds.com) and maybe give them a few hundred over invoice. I'd steer you towards Boch Toyota near Boston. I've bought two vehicles there for 500-700 UNDER invoice. Don't get attached to the truck, go to the dealer who can give you the price you want and they can look up the truck on their dealer locator and trade another dealership for the one you want if they don't have the exact one.

If the dealer tells you they can't do it for the price you want, walk out. They have to sell it to you, you don't have to buy it from them. If you act all eager and the dealer knows he has you where he wants you, lube up.

 

why cuz truth..nyc metro area highest everything in u.s. but im sure you knew that already.

 

Did you already attempt to use TrueCar? I found it a great tool to start negotiating with dealerships prior to ever walking in the door. Put yourself in contact with their internet sales people and they should be able to tell you right up front whether or not they will honor the TrueCar price. If not, move on to the next dealer. I ended up with 3 dealerships competing for my business last month and managed to get a price of $28,830 on a 2013 DCSB 4x4 TRD Offroad, about 2300 below invoice. You just have to be willing to walk-away.

You might also want to check Cars.com just to see what new vehicles some of the area dealers might be listing. This also provides an easy way to contact the internet salesperson which generally results in a lot less back and forth negotiations.

Good Luck!

 

If you can figure out generally what invoice is, offer no more than 500 over that. It's a reasonable offer and somebody will take it. I have bought for well under invoice, and never more than 500 over.

I am thinking that about 30,000 should be close to invoice, so somewhere close to 30,500 is reasonable in your area -- tough market up there to negotiate in, people seem to be paying MSRP.

 

This^^

Tacomas are very popular. That's why there are not any great incentives on them. For mine, there was only a $1700 difference between invoice and MSRP.
Like someone already said, always negotiate up from the bottom and do your homework. People usually have the best results working with an Internet sales mgr.

 

Thanks for the advice...

I'm not shopping in Hartford though. I did manage to get the price down a bit more, because in the end my monthly payment is too high. Also it seems this was a custom ordered truck from someone who never ended up getting it. It is coming with TRD cat back exhaust as well as a roof rack. That being said I think my price at the moment is about 31,299 + TTL . I'm satisfied in that the salesman managed to "find a way" to take off a few more hundred. And considering the add-ons as well, and it is the color I want, I think this is fair. Might be hard for him to drop the dealer fees too, but I'm going to try for that because it would put me at my ideal monthly payment.

Other weird thing is, the truck is at a different location... Yet, he will not tell me where exactly because "he does not know yet". I find that to be complete BS, and that it just might be a few towns away.

I wish I wasn't so eager to get this truck.. but after driving it and looking at it in person, holy shit.. I can't wait.

 

If it was me, I'd keep beating this guy down on price. I'd walk out to the next dealer if they won't. Tell the new dealer what you are looking for and they use a computer program to find the truck, the exact truck, you are looking for. So the next dealer can get you that exact truck you want, and if it saves you a car payment then it was worth it for the drive.

My co workers all ask me to negotiate for them when they buy a new vehicle, maybe I should charge for that service.

 

One of the many things I've learned from selling cars for a dealer:


-Buy on the last few days of the month. Dealers have corporate goals to meet every month. They will often sell a vehicle for a loss just to make that number. They depend more on making thier quota than the price on a car or two, and they get big incentives for that. They are more concerned with the bigger picture, and to tell you the truth, they don't make money selling cars...........Dealers make almost all of their money on SERVICE!


Pssssst.....(don't tell anyone) lol

 

Here's the update...

So I did make an effort to contact other dealers. The problem is nobody has this specific model & color and would have to find it elsewhere. Had one guy said he was getting one from the factory in a few weeks, and asked what I got for a price already. I told him, and he replied "Yea, I can get you down around there..."

Hahaha, seriously? around there? I need you to beat the price! Otherwise I'm not waiting!

So here we are, I decided to stay with my original dealer and they are sending a driver out to Dover, New Hampshire today... which is about 170 miles away from where I am, so I was told it will probably have around 200 miles on it. Picking it up on Saturday!

 

Congrats!