Do the Toyota Dealers really intend to drive off customers?

From what I remember of the experience: (YMMV)

I purchased in Sept. based on MSRP. I had waited 1.5months for a vehicle allocated to a dealership not far from me, but not the closest to me. They were GREAT to work with.
At that point, with the temporary VIN, I knew the model, option (I wanted BSD and RCTA), and what would be the other options added to the vehicle after manufacture.
Everything that SHOULD be on the truck was clearly indicated at the time it got a true VIN.
True VINs come perhaps a day after actual manufacture. With a real VIN, you can enter it into the Toyota app, and see when they lock/unlock doors, put gas in it, air up/down the tires, drive it).
I knew where it was built, and I knew approximately when it would leave Mexico. First stop FLA. Second stop NY/NJ.
Back to the options - some of them will be done at the port of entry. Mine in NY/NJ.
(You should see the yards dedicated to offloading cars, and providing a place for port-installed options (like in my case: mudflaps, door sill protectors)).

You can't really order a truck on the Toyota website. Build to order? Ha ha ha ha ha.
Dealerships are allocated based on past sales. You need to ask what is allocated to them. Although, you can deduce this based on what is on the dealership website.
Most often than not, there will be nothing on the lot to test drive. No brochures. Nada.
All the stuff which the dealership might add that is considered ADM (additional dealer markup), like etching, undercoating, pinstriping, floormats, cover... I would think would be negotiable.
Credit not great? You may find a lo-jack type device installed in your truck. Someone else may be able to shut it off. That isn't needed if you outright purchase the vehicle.
Good luck getting a low APR if your credit is bad. "As low as" is a good qualifier.
(Yeah, would you believe the floormats didn't come with the truck?). Didn't matter, I put HUSKY X-act Contour ones in. Very happy. I would have tossed fabric floor liners anyway.
If you need, or think you need insurance, you are betting against yourself. We don't bet against ourselves. And if you do, good luck getting things paid for.

I feel for the dealerships and the sales people. Why? It's hard to sell what you don't have. It was a different way of purchasing a vehicle for me, just 3 yrs ago. People need to be of the mindset, be flexible, and do your own search for allocated vehicles.
I understand why some dealerships want to sell exclusively to people within a certain radius. The service dept needs the future business.
There were delays do to technology / parts scarcity.
I don't think dealerships do inventory swaps.

Now I might have gotten some of this wrong, and some of this may have changed, but it wasn't what the wife and I remember as far as car/truck purchasing goes.

 

I paid msrp for my latest toyota. It had absolutely nothing added. In fact, unless someone else has a 2023 PRO without door step guards added let me know. He picked me up at SFO, 2.5 hours away and even gave me the form to claim my sales tax difference back from California DMV

 

if you can invest the money and the return is at a higher rate than the borrow rate would be smarter

 

I’m in market for 2023 TRDOR. The dealer I would use is advertising $1000 below MSRP. The TRD Pro is marked up $10,000 “dealer adjustment”. Then they add $1995 for all weather mats, door edge guards and the clear protectors behind door handles. So you are paying $995 above MSRP. Additionally they get $789 doc fee. And they sell them as fast as they get them.

 

A quick look at the US auto sales situation:

“Industry estimates range from 13.7 million to 13.9 million new vehicles being sold last year in the U.S., a roughly 8% to 9% decline compared with 2021 and the lowest level since 2011 when sales were recovering from the Great Recession”

It used to be auto makers would have rebates, incentives to pickup the sales figures, not anymore.

“A typical year prior to the pandemic saw more than 17 million in sales.”

“Most Toyotas and Lexuses are selling at or near sticker price, Hollis says, though dealers have indicated in recent months they are discounting some less-than-hot mainstream models. Think “Corolla.” But skyrocketing materials costs and still-low inventories make MSRP discounts rare.
Toyota had fewer than 19,000 units (and Lexus fewer than 5000) in dealership inventories by the end of 2022, Hollis said. “Before the pandemic, you’d have 300,000 vehicles on the ground.”
https://www.autoweek.com/news/indus...s-hit-coronavirus-nadir-while-gm-tops-toyota/

Now, I have to wonder, in years past they’d probably be facing bankruptcy, but things have really changed

 

Is anyone getting a better deal than $995 over MSRP, ignoring the doc fee? Do most dealers charge a doc fee? All the ones I have checked in the Charlotte area do.

 

Funny, I tried to buy a new one from them last summer. They avoided my question about inbound inventory repeatedly while pushing to do a trade in appraisal. They also insisted I wait for a few hours in the showroom like the other 3-4 customers were supposedly doing. They had nothing inbound and were only interested in wasting peoples time. I did not wait nor give the opportunity for an appraisal.

All those extra's were included for free when I bought my 2017 new from Bell Road Toyota. I also paid invoice. I miss those days.

 

There's a new Indiana Jones movie debuting this summer.

 

I got 0.9% on mine, I reckon that's close enough to zero especially for used. I could have paid it off a little faster the last 2 years but I was more dumping money on my mortgage.

Not really an option for me as a single cab owner bwahaha

 

Financial thoughts and opinions aside, I like that analogy of the chainsaw. I think I might have to use that quote.

 

of course there is…




‘cause Disney has to pound everything good into cold-hammered hobo shit.

 

Ok new day update

i went to Berge Toyota in Mesa AZ, after many online texts, emails and potential in process build in transit possibilities, but after making appointment, i arrive and i dont get to talk to my contact, they introduce me to the sales guy.

they know what i want a new 2023 tacoma trd 4x4 off road or sport, but only let me drive a used 2 year old trd sport rwd….. sort of insulting since i am looking for a new one.
So end of test drive in not that nice of a used unit, which had some crappy mods, not feeling good.

so after that we are headed over to look at some new ones on the lot, the guy says everyone of their new cars gets a $2000 protection package, door edges and handle cup plastic coatings, plus some other crap. I said only 1 of the units they provided pricing on before i came included that.

then he said Berge Toyota will not let a new Toyota leave without these add ons, period. I asked about just window tint, he said no, every single one had to have it, i said that was a bunch of crap and left.

i went to negotiate a deal on a new car and they test drive me in a a dirty used one.

so unprofessional, i am in my 60’s, have bought at least 60 cars(maybe a hundred), and they were one of the worst dealerships I have ever dealt with.

how bad is this process……

 

It’s a free market. They are free to upcharge, you are free to leave.

Find the truck you want on a lot somewhere, get a deal in writing, go get it.

 

I'd start looking out of state.

 

I haven't been let down yet. I'm a huge Indy & Disney fan.

 

When I bought my new Red 2021 SR5, AC, 4x4 I did a 'Build my Toyota' sheet - or whatever it's called - and put in exactly what I wanted.
Walked into the dealership, sat down with a salesman I met that day, gave him my sheet and said this is exactly what I want. MSRP - which I was good with as this was the middle of the chip shortage, whatever.
He said 'OK, no problem - might be a few months'.
$500 deposit and a little over 5 months later it showed up - exactly as I had 'ordered' - or whatever you guys want to call it.
Wound up getting an additional $500 off when they realized I was retired military.
No drama, no flying around the country, no anything...just a wait, but everyone was waiting then or so it seemed.
Lots of stories on here about dealer issues, arguments, telling salesmen to f-off etc... make for interesting reading for me.
Wishing you all luck in your buying adventures and hoping your trials and tribulations are small ones.

 

we can’t be friends.

 

Suit yourself, I'll be enjoying splash mountain, radiator springs, and the Indiana Jones ride in the very near future.

 

Anyone looking for a good laugh in socal should stop by west coast toyota in lbc. They have matching sets of trd pros in solar octane (look sweet btw..) going for 80k before taxes/doc fees. I was there picking up parts from the service center and about spit my coffee out when I saw that. Basically marked it up by a 2023 corolla.