Buying out of state

Although I am sure that Toyota allocates based on historical sales you still end up with some areas having a better supply/demand balance than others. My brother lives in the Denver area where 4x4s are almost a necessity. The dealers there were offering peanuts off of list. My mom was living in Birmingham, Alabama and the local dealer there was willing to deal with him remotely and got everything set up ahead of time. He was selling his 4runner to his kid so he didn't need to trade. He flew to visit Mom for a few days, got out of the dealership in an hour, loaded up the truck with some stuff that Mom had been trying to give him for years (he normally flies there), and drove home. After everything was accounted for including a relatively expensive one way flight he saved well over $2000 and he really needed to do the drive back with the stuff anyway. He was worried about them backing out once he got there but everything went great.

That being said, I don't personally have a problem with dealers in high demand areas not backing off pricing as long as they are not asses about it and are not dishonest (which they sometimes are). If you are making something and charging $100 and people are standing in line to buy it and someone walks up and offers you $80 are you going to take it? They gotta do what they gotta do, and so do you. I have more problems with dealers who give a price near invoice then try to screw you on the trade, where they depend on people's ignorance. Too many people walk out the dealership proud of squeezing them for only $200 in profit when the dealer ends up making $4000 or more on the trade in. Bottom line I look for honesty, integrity, and competence and I try to do the same on my side.

 

I couldn't agree more. I drove to AZ to buy mine and the dealer honored our agreement (Tempe Toyota). They picked me up from the airport and I drove 6 hours back home. Only issue was a DMV visit, smog test and vehicle weighing. Otherwise I saved a ton. Even tho I am in SoCal, where most of my area is pavement, dealers ask the moon for a 4x4. I am very happy with my purchase as well. Glad others are doing it as well.

 

I had to get smogged too, but the DMV accepted the Certificate of Origin weight. Dealing with a small local DMV probably helped. Along with an appointment.

 

I don't recall getting a certificate of orgin of weight. Anyways, was a $10 weigh

 

it's what is used to generate your title. (It's basically the manufactures title, but since it's not 'owned' it's the birth certificate for the truck)

 

Hmmmm. I wonder where that is. I'll check the glove box.

Even if I find it, the DMV lasy insisted on both the smog and the weight so it wasn't "modified" before coming into Cali. Crazy stupid regulations.

 

That's usually sent direct to the state. It's their doc. You won't see it unless the DMV shows it to you

 

What dealership do you use for service?
I went to Findlay with the part numbers to add the front rail in the bed, and asked for prices. I was told $51 for the rail and $13 for the end caps. I ordered the parts online since those prices were so out of line.

 

Not sure yet brother. Been to Findlay Toyota twice now with shit experiences both times. They wouldn't complete the TSB on the lower control arms so I offered to buy the parts and do it myself. They ordered the rubber plugs (it was $20-something) and said they would call when the parts arrived, never heard back.

So this Friday I'm taking a little trip back to CA to get the TSB's done and my oil change/Tire rotation and find out what's with the damn chirping noise is.

 

Thanks for the info @TALON.

 

What chirping noise? Mine chirps at me if I have my keys out of my truck while it's running.

 

There's an excessive chirping noise coming from the motor area. I thought it sounded like possibly a pulley but haven't had time to really look at it. But other's have reported the same issue as being the high pressure fuel pump, either way it's not right. I can hear it from inside the cab

 

Thanks but I'll pay the $10. Dealing with the DMV isnt worth the hassle

 

I told them I plan to register the truck in Texas because the sales tax is cheaper so they knocked the registration fee down but still expected me to pay some of it and I had to pay California sales tax or it would not leave the dealership.

 

Bought a 4R in Louisiana. Paid cash. 3 days later moved to CA, registered and paid the new vehicle taxes in CA. Oddly, it was slightly cheaper that way.

Bought my Taco in NV, while living in CA. Drove away paying no taxes. Went to DMV to register, paid taxes right there. Again, oddly, cheaper than NV would have been...

 

Yeah, NV vehicle tax and registration are pretty high.

 

You won't find the MCO (manufacture certificate of origin) in the glove box, in fact 99% of the people out there will never see the MCO. You can only get this if you purchase your vehicle in full at the dealership with no lien holder (no loan on the vehicle). If you get a loan on vehicle, the the bank or lien holder will get the MCO and then they submit it to the DMV.

In California, some DMV will accept the MCO for proof of weight, some will not. I was able to use the MCO in lieu of the weight certificate, but I also know a few people that were denied at the DMV when they tried to use it. I guess it depends how the person at the DMV window feels like that day.

Depending on what company, some of these MCO look pretty cool.... all fancy like a stock or bond.

 

Yes. Yes. And yes!!
Also dealing with a small rural county office helped me greatly. There's only one smog guy in the county. He likes me and I pay cash. Charges me a lot less than his regular rate. Yes, the MCO is kind of sparkly colorful!

 

I saw it when the dmv opened the package from the dealership. I guess that's what was so damn expensive about these trucks.

 

Big thanks to the OP

We finally pulled the trigger and made the deposits for 4 Tacomas. Same dealership in Oregon where the OP bought his truck. We live in WA.

The sale person was extremely easy to work with and very straight-up. No BS. When I asked something that she wasn't "100%" sure and she stills respond fast "I'll double check on that and get back with you ASAP"

Oh, and the best part is: we're paying invoice price as part of the cash deal and buying 4 trucks at the same time.
I contacted 8 different toyota dealerships in WA and Portland to see if they can match/beat that deal, but they all ran away.
Recommended Toyota of Corvallis to anyone in WA/OR/CA.

Now, just sit back and wait for 6-8 weeks.