Need guidance from recent buyers esp. the manual transmission crowd

I need some advice on how to succeed in getting what I want because it just ain't working out for me no matter how I try.

I’m not sure if I’m a) unlucky, b) ignorant, c) lazy or d) stupid. Please help.

I know EXACTLY what I want:

• TRD Off-Road
• MANUAL transmission
• Lunar Rock
• Premium interior package
• Advanced Tech package
• Straight MSRP

I do not want to compromise because I intend to keep this truck until its wheels (or my wheels) fall off. I’ve been driving my old 1986 Toyota for the past 30+ years and it’s time to sell and move along.

I started very early - before the model year - planning on how to find an area / dealership where manual transmissions are more commonly sold. I Googled and found a few areas of the country where supposedly manuals were more common. I called dealerships in these areas (all which were in other states) and got the same answer, “uh, yeah. I hardly ever see a manual come through here.” So much for Google.

I also wanted to avoid being screwed so I simultaneously hunted for a dealer where I could buy this truck at MSRP. I was living in California and decided to do business with Longo Toyota in El Monte because of their policy of not selling above MSRP. EVERY dealership in Northern California was charging $3K or more above MSRP and I wasn’t having it. I figured Longo, being the biggest Toyota dealership on the planet, would have outsized sway in being allocated what they ordered. IOW, their “earning power” would far exceed that of other dealerships. So, I put my refundable $500 down with them in August, 2021 and waited….and waited. In January, I discovered the inventory spreadsheet folks have been using on this site and something became very apparent: Longo El Monte had not received a single manual transmission Tacoma. Something stank. The only conclusion I could come to is, given Longo’s size, the only reason Longo hadn’t received any manual transmission Tacomas is simply that Longo does not order manual transmission Tacomas despite my order and that I was led to believe it was only a matter of time by the Longo salesman. I still was “#1” on their list for this truck so I let them hold onto my deposit for the time being.

In the middle of all this, I was planning a move out of California for Illinois. I got in contact with a dealership (don’t ask me which one) in the Chicago area that also had a strict MSRP policy and made an order with them (approximately the same time as the spreadsheet discovery). No deposit was required here. Approximately three months after placing my order my salesman called telling me that, after badgering the higher ups, my order was accepted and they should have an allocation and a build date shortly. YES! At this point, I pulled my deposit with Longo. Due to the world supply chain situation it took a month longer than expected for the allocation but along with it came a gut punch: due to a parts shortage my order was changed by the factory - the advance tech package could not be installed. Fuck me… I told the guy I wasn’t interested and to re-order the truck.

I’m living in Illinois now and need transportation. My girlfriend and I have only her car.

This is how I believe this jacked up Toyota system works as it comes to manual transmission vehicles:

• only those dealerships with a track record of selling manual transmission vehicles get new allocations of manual transmission vehicles. Dealerships with no or a scant track record of selling manuals will be bypassed in the allocations EVEN IF they have a standing order for a Tacoma with a manual transmission. QUESTION: does this theory hold water or am I just too conservative in my reasoning?
• due to this, the list of dealerships now has shrunk even further. I must find not only a dealership that has a track record of being allocated manuals but also sells at MSRP.

I need some insight here. Common sense would dictate I continue searching until I find an MSRP dealership that also sells a lot of manual transmissions. Part of me wants to remain loyal to the guy in Illinois who made it happen, after all it wasn't his fault the factory ran dry on parts and the order got screwed but, with what he claimed it took to get the order accepted and that his dealership has not received any manuals (per the spreadsheet), I'm not so sure it's a good idea to stick with this plan.

I could place orders thousands of miles from where I live but many dealerships won't sell to out-of-staters. I found this out early on in the hunt. I also want to break the engine in correctly and a long road trip is not the way to do it. The spreadsheet is my friend but, to a vehicle, each truck I found on the spreadsheet that matched my specs was either, a) pre-sold or, b) $3K+ over MSRP.

Maybe the answer is obvious but I'm burnt out and would like a little sage advice.

 

My dealer, Sandia Toyota, gets a few manuals a month and that is where I got mine, waiting two months, but it all worked out. Got it for MSRP, but only could get what was allocated. I had no choice on colors, but everything else I wanted I got and then some.

 

Longo does receive MT’s. I just don’t trust whomever is managing the “waitlist” of people for the MT’s.

I have a deposit at Longo and a dealer in Phoenix. I also have a “lead” at a Vegas dealer. The Vegas one has a $3200 addon for some door guards, tint and gps trackers. All bullshit. The only thing I can contest is asking to not get it tinted.

no call from longo and Phoenix called me today saying no MT this week.

Tomorrow I’ll be expanding my search to Fresno and Bay Area.

As frustrating as it is, I think persistence will pay off.

 

You have to be patient. I would check websites like cars.vom or car gurus. Put your zip and a search radius you are comfortable looking within and find a truck from there. Or check Toyota’s website and use different zip codes to find an available truck with the specs you want and track down which dealer has it.

 

Unless I am wrong, MTs can't be optioned with the Prem Package? Check the online configurator to confirm. No JBL audio either, but IMHO that is good as the Entune Premium was easier to upgrage.

 

MT’s can be combined with the premium package. No JBL audio but that’s not an issue for me.

The dice came up snake eyes when my number came up for my allocation. It was dumb luck. Poor timing. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it doesn’t happen for a 2nd time - if my dealer can even get another truck allocated.

It’s how it is now, I guess.

Concerning patience, I’ve been waiting 8 months at this point.

 

This is where I was able to snag a MT as well.....