Opinions on trade value?

As a guy who will one day buy a newer truck, no way am I spending 45 or 46k for a 3 or 4 year old Tacoma when I can get new for pretty much the same price.

 

That's not my experience though. Last time around I forced them to add on the TRD pro grille and install it for free for me to sign the papers, no hassle, done and that costs north of $500 plus labor of replacing the grille from the showroom model.

they quoted me at a 2-3 month wait for the 4runner so these no quickness anywhere in this deal.

 

Don't tell me, tell the guys who buy used Tacomas at these prices.

 

When you bought a new vehicle? Sure, but that's a bit different for a number of reasons.

 

Good for you if you can sell it for that, I do want you to get as much as you can. It just seems crazy to spend that much when new is close to that.

 

It's actually really simple, leasing company has the buyout price, they offer the best trade. the difference between the buyout and the trade in is what I keep towards the next truck.

Well they'd care if they were selling me my own truck but fine let's call a wash on the accessories and even the tires. This is still a low offer. they will make a few grand on the new 4Runner and what, 8-9K on my truck? That's a bit much even for a Toyota dealer.

It better not, they're the ones who serviced it for 3 years. Not all wholesale offers are equal and there is a difference between a solid trade value, a really good one and a low offer. "wholesale" doesn't mean "let me take all the value from your low miles off of your hands".

 

How so? I'm getting a new vehicle from them? Well I'm not now but I was planning to.

 

I agree, that's why I'm not looking at used 4Runners for the same reason. But as long as market is what it is why wouldn't I want to cash in? Anyone else would.

 

Ok, so forget about the lease aspect. That's a whole other discussion and I don't want to conflate the two...

Sure they may care if they are selling a new vehicle with accessories. That's called "value add" or "pack", but forget about that too. Also, forget about what they will sell the 4Runner for. Again, separate transaction...forget about that for now as well and focus on your trade in.

You are correct that there's solid trade in and low ball. That's why I and others recommended getting other buy bids and verifying against internet resources. You'll get a good idea quickly if it's a good number or not, but... It doesn't matter whether they serviced it or not (remember: sales and service are different business units?). That rarely, if ever, factors in at all.

When you go to "trade" your car, the used car manager gives it a quick visual inspection. Paint, interior, tires, overall wear and tear, miles. Then he goes into his office and tracks recent transactions on Mannheim (or whatever the wholesale auction company is in Canada) to find out what its wholesale value is on the ground, right now. There may be a little tolerance...a little...either direction. New (by date code AND condition) tires? Maybe a few hundred uplift. Smell like cigars and taco bell farts on the inside with tons of aftermarket crap everywhere? Demerit. You get the picture...

If they get rid of it after buying from you, that's where they will likely send it. If they keep it, there's a cost to clean and recondition.

It always stings to see the wholesale buy number on your trade - no matter if its a Tacoma or a Bugatti. Your job is to make sure that number is in line with what the wholesale market is currently bringing, to the best of your ability.

 

Everything you said here I agree with pretty much 100%. Going to another dealer tomorrow to get their "best offer". I won't want to tour the city though and I have an idea of what I will pull the trigger on but $36K ain't it and especially not if they won't even give $500 off the next truck.

Personally I think a fair deal would be $39K or at least $37500 plus $1K off an SR5P or TRD ORP 4Runner.

 

Well, you were asking them to swap out a $500 or so retail part that may have likely only cost them half that, and it took zero time to install. Hell, it's not entirely inconcievable for the dealer to make Toyota pay for it as port damage or something...the car biz can be wild west crazy sometimes. I should write a book...

Compare that to swapping rubber on two vehicles. Take off x2, mount and balance x2, tie up two lifts, recalibrating TPMS, employees and bay space that isn't earning any money on other work. Plus, what happens if one of the wheels slips and is damaged? Who pays for that snafu? In short, lots of headache, hassle and potential liability there for a dealer who frankly just isn't in that game. I know it sounds inconsequential, but it's a big ask behind the scenes.

 

These places are still "customer service" minded or at least should be, not like I'm buying the truck from a third world black market, it's still an official Toyota dealership representing that brand.

But push comes to shove I would go half on the labor if It meant keeping my $1300 tires.

 

Yeah, I don't disagree with that. Without knowing what sort of deals or factory incentives there are in Canada, it sounds like you have a shitty dealer on your hands. There are Toyota factory incentives worth at least $1K in the US if you show up and prove you can fog a mirror. 6-8% off MSRP is fairly reasonable in most places as a generally reasonable "deal". Even though Tacos and 4Runners are in "demand", don't forget that they aren't rare at all.

I'd suggest firing off some emails to other dealers - and do not mention a trade of any kind - to get them to spell out their best deal. You'll see who is hungry and who isn't. Then...and only then do you bring up your trade. Keep the two transactions separate in your mind!! Know their quoted number for the new one, know what is a reasonable wholesale expectation on yours (and seriously...be knowledgable but reasonable) and you can find yourself in a decent deal.

 

yeah, these guys were basically acting like they were doing me a favor by ordering a 4Runner for me... lol

Yeah, I was hoping to avoid that and just have a serious, transparent deal but that's a big ask for some salesman. think I would get decent results doing a big group email to the local dealers? or would that just rub everyone the wrong way?

 

If by "customer service" you mean customer pays for a service, then yes. Otherwise, and again...under that scenario you would represent a giant hassle that would require the sales hand to work out a deal with the service hand and, yes, LITERALLY pay them for the work. I know that sounds jaded and harsh, but it's true. It's not their fault or their policy, it's the way the business and industry are structured. Every little extra ask that Joe Customer may think is benign can be nothing short of a kick straight in the balls to the dealership. That's one of the reasons why I sold out and left years ago.

 

There is sucker born every day.

 

No, not group. Just type up one quick form email and copy/paste to each through their "contact us" portal on their websites. If you send it to 10 dealers, you'll get 6 lazy responses, 1 that wants you to come in and give them personal info in exchange for stale coffee and shitty popcorn and maybe one or two who say, yeah we're ready to offer you a reasonable deal...it really can be easy. Just don't let them be lazy and don't let them look up your skirt before it's time.

The only two things I can guarantee is that you'll do fine if you are diligent and reasonable, and they'll never go hungry. Go forth and conquer and leave your emotions at home.

 

You could have 2-3 offers in less time then you’ve spent on this post. No need to go to a dealer. Literally input info from your truck into a few websites and click the agree to send to participating dealers and the sales people will email you.

 

Walk away and and let them sit for a few days - some salesperson may get creative. They are used to people showing up all eager to get the shiny new object (me as well) and getting a deal just to "get it done and over with". There is always another vehicle...

 

That $36K trade in should save you $4680 in sales tax on the new truck (13% tax in Ottawa I think?) so factor that number into the “value” as well.