Toyota Site - Search by inventory doesn't really search by inventory - am i doing something wrong/

I am looking for a basic SR spec Tacoma. I figured I could go to the toyota site and see who has it when searching via inventory. However it seems like when you search on main Toyota site it tells you what specs are possible but when you try and find a dealer it recommends the cloesest dealer without really looking if they have that car. It seems to recommend just the closest dealer.

Am I doing something wrong? Do I have to go to each dealers site individually?

 

Search Toyota for what you want. If it is available, jump on cars.com and find out which dealer has it on the lot.

 

I tried to use the same feature to locate a still new 2018 in early January and came across the same problem. I submitted feedback about it and got an email saying they can’t keep up with dealers inventory but if I still wanted they could help me look but by then I had cold called so many dealerships and hadn’t found what I was looking for so I just went with a 2019.

 

You will have to search each dealer site I went thru the same thing hoping for it to be easy....

 

As soon as the Vin # is sold it comes off the Toyota site. With a little leg work you can track down the rig you want.

 

From what I've seen the basic basic trims are not at all common. My dealer had a few SR5s but the majority were TRD Sports or TRD Off-Roads, a couple Limiteds and currently one Pro.

Haven't seen a new SR in person yet.

 

Interesting.. It doesnt seem like they post the vins on the Toyota site but I assume you mean something like - 'is there is that spec in the region it shows up in searches and then disappears when none with that spec are in the region'.

 

Agree.... not to many of the SRs around. But I was originally looking at used gen3 with hope of getting in to the mid $23-25K range. After searching around I realized I can get a new SR for $25,500. It is very stripped but I think if replace the rims, add Katzskins leather seats with heat and be very happy.

 

That's how I started out...I looked at used tacomas and also saw a new SR base model for $25K ish. Then I went to Toyota's website and had the same experience as you with the search function. Finally I went to the local dealer and drove a tacoma, and they looked for the SR base model in other dealers inventory. After all was said and done I ended up with a 2018TRDOR4x4 !! I kept upselling myself on options and the double cab and then they made me an offer I just couldn't turn down.....I hope you have better luck sticking to your budget than I did!

 

Cargurus works the best, you can put out as far as you want, model/ color. some options. That's how I found mine. I'm in northern WI. Truck was in KY. Dealer couldn't locate. but I did. Toyota website is not user friendly. in my book.

 

This^^^

I paid $25,536 for my 2019 4x4 in November after hunting around. Wasn't interested in dropping over $10k more for an upgraded model.

 

No Sh*t... I built a list of 40 close Toyota dealers(I am NYC metro so they are all over). Every website has a differnt format. I was hoping i could paste the search URL from one dealers site to another but how you search on many of these sites are differnt

 

You got a 4 wheel drive for that price? Or do you mean the base SR.. I found a base SR in Ohio for under $25 but cant seem to hit that price in NJ. Think the rebates are differnt

 

I found the truck using the online search at Prime Toyota in Saco, Maine. It is a SR model, but the "loaded" one with the back seats ;-)

The MSRP was $30,288 which included the SR convenience pkg (no idea what that is), all weather floor mats and sill plates, door edge guards and a delivery processing and handling fee of $1.045.

No dealer add ons.

I received $1,000 rebate from Toyota credit if I financed through them (which I did). Waited a month and then refinanced with my credit union with a rate 4 percent less than Toyota (6.5% vs 2.5%). Credit union booked my truck at a bit over $30k..

The SR came with everything I wanted, auto, 4x4, heated mirrors, adaptive cruise, lane assist warning, etc, etc. No way I was dropping $35k + on a Tacoma so for me, this model checked all the boxes.

I plan on keeping it two, three years and then move to a F350 dually w/camper on the back. I'll probably get $20k for the Taco at that time ;-)

 

I go to Toyota.com and I put in the specs I want. If the truck shows up, I close out the web page. Next I go to Cars.com and look for that exact truck with in 500 miles of me. Sometimes I can find it on the exact lot it's on and can view it and look at it there.

Otherwise I have a list of just about every Toyota dealer with in 500 miles and I just go to each site and plug in what I want until I find it. If it is on Toyota.com it's on a lot somewhere.

Maybe I am OCD but I find it nice to locate the truck I am looking for. Maybe a bit time consuming but you find what you want.

Hell, if you just want any old random silver or gray toyota, you don't need to do much work. They are everywhere but if you want something specific, this is the way to go.