Do the Toyota Dealers really intend to drive off customers?

Really?

 

I had a good experience buying my truck in 2017. Then again, that was before we demoralized the entirety of western society, so maybe it’s timing. In general, people seem to have a whole lot less enthusiasm than they used to about their jobs these days, and that translates into crappy sales experiences and bad attitudes.

 

The thought of dealing with a dealer is why I'm not driving a new truck.

 

I've generally had good experiences with the salesman for the six new vehicles I've purchased ... it's been their manager and especially the finance manager, who seems to be the biggest reprobate. I can't believe some of the rude comments I've heard from them? One guy I swear had a picture of his brother's family on his desk as no woman would love him other then by the hour?

 

That really explains a lot of the thought process....

 

I have had a lot of positive dealings but its when they double and triple team you that I don't like....

 

i feel it's important to state here that the chrysler minivan forum is a very real place.
https://www.chryslerminivan.net/

what makes the tacoma more fanboyish than that?

 

Not being able to get a Tacoma at msrp in todays market is not trying. Plenty are available. Pick up the phone and call 10-15 dealers you should be able to find 3-5 willing to deal. All in the time it takes to take a long shit

 

How does the Chrysler Minivan forum come into play for this discussion?

FWIW, my wife and I have had four of those minivans over the years and they've been great, that and I've not only been a member of that forum since 2006, I'm also a moderator; join us if you feel so inclined.

 

DFW dealers add $1,500-$2,000 in 'upgrades' to Tacomas. Tint, pinstripes, wheel locks, nitrogen, paint protect film, etc. Every one of them does it.
Not only is it all overpriced, I didn't want paint protect film, pinstripes, nitrogen, or wheel locks. Tint I can get on my own.
I ended up going to a dealership 100 miles away. I got my front windows tinted at Alta-Mere for 80 bucks.
Saved a couple of grand. AND I didn't have to remove all the crap I didn't want.

 

That same dealership is where I’ve bought both my Tacomas and my 4Runner. Overall not a bad dealership, but they had a 4Runner in one of the TRD trims, don’t remember which, and there was an $8995 market adjustment. Every Tacoma I looked at had the same $4995 up charge too. Convinced me to buy used this time around.

 

Biggest indicator of a fanboy, is getting butthurt when someone calls you out for being a fanboy…
@Goodnasty didn’t say anything negative about you or anyone here who loves their Tacoma. They simply pointed out the extremely salient point that when you have a brand bias, you are likely to make poor decisions as a result.
It’s part of brand loyalty.
Own it and move on.
It’s easier to say “yeah I like it because I like it” than try to justify and rationalize why you like it

 

So if you're a fanboi the problem is people are generally pretty dumb, fanbois are even dumber than average because cognitive dissonance is a powerful drug? Nothing comes across BIGGER!!

 

My experience buying cars from dealers is pretty minimal. Honda dealer in CA was being asinine about paint sealant, etc. We walked. Went back a few days later and their attitude had changed. This was 2015 so plenty of inventory.

Bought a Subaru in 2020, went well under MSRP without really having to push, fair trade in value on the Honda. Only thing is they put a clear bra on it we didn’t ask for. Ended up getting that for free. Didn’t really have to throw a fit. This was in St George UT.

May of 2022. Toyota dealer in St George decided we looked like bums off the street and they wanted $3K over MSRP, plus all their trucks had step bars on them I didn’t want. Nothing to test drive, all pre sold, didn’t want to even let me test drive a used one. $3K up front, non refundable, truck gets here whenever. We laughed and walked.

Called Mark Miller Toyota in Salt Lake City. Made deal over phone for new truck in transit. They kept every promise they made. Absolutely zero BS. And they sell to out of state customers, not all will. Paid MSRP plus TTL, 299 in fees. I was happy with that given the market at the time. I would do business again without question.

 

Very true

 

Welcome to the forum! Plenty of good advice here but, "The trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with our plans". CROFT M. PENTZ"

Some of the old rules for buying have changed. The ‘you don’t have to buy, but the seller has to sell’ rule went out the window when billions were so generously handed out during the cerveza virus lock-down.
I used to buy at the EOM when the sales report and bills for the inventory is due. Today, not so much, there’s no inventory.

Buying cash was an incentive for a cash strap dealer with large inventories, now, not so much. Fact is, it’s a disadvantage to play that card because of cash incentives to dealers by the finance companies. The latter could change in the months ahead, barring any more policy bailouts to the financial institutions…Again!

But we do have some weapons still on our side. The internet and inventory lookup is a big weapon, but it may come at the price of traveling, so you’ll have to do the math as your mileage may vary.

The biggest weapons we have is time. But you may have to make it, and then you simply have to follow some adopted rules of Physics:

The pendulum swings both ways, What goes up must come down. And one very important rule I've learned from others is: Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.

Agree

 

Play the dealerships against each other. They will screw each other in a heartbeat to get your money.
They are all scum. There is no such thing as a honest salesman and the only interest they have is their own.
I saved about $1500 when I bought my Tacoma 3 years ago doing that. I did it again when I bought my new CX5 last year but because of vehicle shortages I couldn't get them to drop the pricing but they did drop the mark ups they were trying to get when they saw another dealership was going to get my sale. This is still a bad time to be buying any cars new or used.

 

These are the best two pieces of advice I can relate to as well. I called four different Toyota dealers in my area. For various reasons, I ran from the first three. The last dealer I called beat the others on my trade-in evaluation. And the brand new Tacoma I am waiting on to get delivered next month I am getting at slightly lower than MSRP. Just have to wheel and deal a little bit, but there are dealers out there that will genuinely try and help to earn your business. They want you to come back.

Just my .02 cents...

 

I appreciate everyone sharing comments and ideas.

i am trying to practice patience and work on inquiring on specific vehicles in inventory, to sort of set a hook with a few places, but it seems like they wont discount the price, at least not more than these ridiculous add on garbage fees.

Also, since i am not really expecting to do any real off roading, I might consider an SR5 dual cab 4x4 v6, as it seems to have almost all the same equipment, except the special suspension and rear locker (?) and off road electronic things, and with the right package includes technology stuff and body colored rear bumper. And since I plan on replacing wheels and tires, no big deal I guess, except for those decals. Cant replace those.

On to a new week and “Go Bills”!!!

 

Sorry, such absolutes are absolutely false. My wife and I have purchased roughly 20 new cars over the years and I have met dealership sales associates of literally every stripe; fortunately I have always had the luxury of walking away from the crappy ones and been able to find a good and honest dealership.