Finding the right new Tacoma + package

I can't find a thread that covers this even though I'm sure there is one, and I have tried to search.

Went to the local Toyota dealer today to order a 2018 Barcelona Red off road with manual transmission and premium package. They say the can't get those options in any color but grey. I know I've built it before and in fact the dealer did when he changed it to a Texas zip. So my question is what is the best way to buy the truck I want from the idiots at Toyota and have it shipped to me? Has anyone done this?

Thanks for your help

 

They don't build what you want. They allocate a truck to your regional distributor who offers it to your dealer. If it's early enough in the process of allocation, before its built, dealer can request changes like color, trim, parts, etc.

 

It can happen, maybe just not now. Early on in the year production schedules give certain options and colors priority and maybe a red manual is not one of them. Dealers do not order anything from the factory. They order from one of twelve master distributors and those distributors order from different factories around the world.

 

Each color/package is allocated per regional distributors... You are not buying a super car which you buy can build straight from factory in any combination. You can build on what they already have scheduled/slotted which is why they are saying they can only build/order it in grey. Also, I was told only a certain amoun of red, quicksand, cement, and blue will be made for 2018. There were literally only 2 2018 quicksand offroad in 100 mile radius of me. On top of that I paid distributors price (different from MSRP and dealer asking price) cause of the rarity, but I still got a good deal cause I knew how to work the system ;p.

 

The part I bolded is a little bit of an extreme statement. I factory ordered my ford focus st and my f-150....both of those combined don't equal a 1/3rd of a supercar.

That said, it is interesting on how Toyota does their orders and I had trouble finding the combo I wanted too. Knowing what you guys explained about the process, OP should go to autotrader and search. I did a 500 mile radius everyday for a few weeks before I found my perfect build about 100 miles away a state over.

 

I ran into the same type of issue. Several local dealers said “ you can’t get one like that”. I then found a dealer who “swapped allocations” with another dealer. My truck will be here at the end of the month with the exact options and color I wanted. It will take some work and perhaps
A bit of time but if you can configure it....you can get it if you can get someone to search production.

 

The other day someone mentioned that the configurable options on Toyota’s website r also based of our your area. So u can “build” a truck on there website, but even then some options/colors may not b available like others have said due to the regional allotment. I say if u can get a manual and the tech options u want, maybe consider other colors.

I know it’s not ideal, but many dealers with offer u a better price based on the fact that the truck is either on the lot, or easy to go and get. The bottom line is that no matter the color u will have a fun and extreme capable truck. The fact that u r getting a manual is def gonna make it even more fun!

 

I’m located in Pennsylvania. My dealer swapped allocation with a dealer in Indiana. All that changed was where Toyota shipped it after it was built. Not sure if that helps but that’s what happen d in my case. I also shopped 5 dealers before I found one savvy enough or willing to do this to sell me a truck.

 

Dealer I just bought from in CT said they send stuff to Denver and out west all the time if people ask. He did say that when someone won't give them a car they return the favor. So depending on how nice your dealer plays with others, plays a large role in the chance they can get someone elses allocation for you.

 

Do a Cars.com search. I did a quick search and found a 2017 which looked like it matched what you were looking for. Maybe you could do a search every couple weeks and something may pop up.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/719024923/overview/

 

I don’t know the science behind the allocation strategy, but if u r set on something specific... Just keep searching if they can’t get u exactly what u want. That way u will b fully satisfied. I know the southern region gets all kinds of stuff and there is a way to search specific allocations also but I am not 100% on how to do it. Hopefully others will chime in and give u some more ideas.

 

If what you say is true?? then why last year (Dec 2016) when I told my dealer(s) I wanted a blue 4x4 SR5 AC AT with the only option being tow pkg, after they could not find one -- they put the "order" into the system and I had one in 7-8 weeks. One just has to be persistent. Sure its more paperwork for the dealer, but if what you are asking for is within the standard options --IT CAN happen. Now, if I would have asked for something like crawl control on my SR5 -- that is not made -- they would not/could not do it-- it is not available built that way

 

Because a distributor had it already coming. The dealer worked with their distributor (not Toyota) to get your specific truck. Now, if the distributor does not have it coming, then you have to go to a different geographical region to get it. If no distributor has the specific truck you want allocated from Toyota, even though Toyota could build it, then you are just out of luck.
Here is the way it works: Customer>Dealer>Distributor>Toyota. The customer and dealer cannot buy directly from Toyota, only the distributor can. Toyota, nor the distributor, can sell to the dealer or the end customer. And all distributors do not buy the same exact inventory. For example, Southeast Toyota does not buy the same inventory as Mid Atlantic Toyota. Southeast Toyota also does some funky options that no other distributors add, like special grilles, racks and wheels. It's just set up that way and it's not going to change.

 

@hiPSI already covered it but yeah...your dealership just found or waited for an allocation that matched what you want. They didn't place an order for it.

 

They waited until that truck became available. Requested it be allocated to them. And then changed what you wanted

 

If you haven't figured out.... the you and/or the dealers can't just place an order for exactly the truck you want like you can with Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, etc. Toyota just doesn't do business that way. They may be able to find one for you from somewhere else, if that particular combo has been made or allocated.