Getting a new Tacoma finally!

I can't argue with you there about them not knowing much about the trucks. I wanted a TRD Offroad and the first kid I was dealing with had no clue about horsepower or that it even had a locker lol

 

Yeah, my sales guy was 24 years old and had worked at several different brands' dealerships in the past two years. He was basically silent during the whole test drive.

 

Not unusual.

I don't know why it matters if you have done the research already. I didn't ask my salesman anything, I walked in and placed my order.

I could really care less what the salesman knows unless he can't answer a question that I have. Do your own research. Half of what they say anyway is made up on the fly, the only usefulness they serve is a middle man between a buyer and finance guys who are always annoying.

 

I work in the bike industry, and customers rely on us to relay information about the products we sell. The same should be able to be said for any product being sold. I think that's a reasonable request.

 

Sure.

But again, small annoyance if you already know about what you are buying. An hour on TW yields more info than anything you'll find in a dealership in twice the time.

I have a contact at a dealership north of you, if you end up wanting new. Two members here have gotten new trucks from my referral.


I work in sales also. I know how it works.

 

Yeah, I'd be interested in a new 2015 if they had what I want. Do new trucks carry a better warranty than certified pre-owned?

 

I knew what I wanted before I went into the Dealer so there was very little the sales guy could say that I didn't already know.

 

See I'm not a truck guy. I can take apart everything on a bicycle and rebuild it to factory specs, but I can't tell you what part of an engine does what, besides the obvious stuff like the fan belt and drive shaft. So sometimes I like to pick the brain of the sales guy, asking little questions about the displacement or capabilities of the vehicle.

 

I'm a bike mechanic, also. And just purchased the truck you're after (minus the lift, etc).

PS - I fully admit to not knowing various nuances about every particular product. I guess that's one of the positives about being in a non commission-based shop. I know more than most about a lot. But still have to ask for help.

 

Yeah...I don't mean to brag, but I don't ask anyone else for help at work. I'm the service manager, and I've been in the industry for over 15 years. I know a lot about bikes.

But anyway, back to trucks. What was I talking about? Oh yeah.

I apologize for my newbiness, but could we discuss the pros and cons of buying new versus pre-owned?

 

New.
No one to beat it up before you get the keys and think it's cherry and well kept because it doesn't have any large debts and the seat is clean.
Lower interest rates.
Possibly cheaper in the long run.

Used.
Unknown history of owner.
Unknown history of use.
Unknown history of maintenance.
Higher interest rates.
Possibly more expensive in the long run.

The bigger difference is that you only save a few thousand buying used because resale values are so high on Tacoma trucks.

Obviously there's more nuances to it, but consider the above the main points.

Personally I wouldn't ever buy a used 4x4 anything, but that's my own deal.

 

I had the same experience of some of the other posters here. I saved about 2k buying new. Got a 2015 DCSB TRD Sport for just over 30k. I tried to buy 2 different used ones but they would not come down below 32k.

 

Would you say that there's a significant advantage of buying a certified pre-owned Tacoma from a Toyota dealership versus from a private party? Do they actually do computer diagnostics and check the engine at all?

 

I think CPO is largely a marketing thing. I've had a CPO Toyota and it had issues. The only benefit is a warranty, but it isn't always worthwhile IMO