Ordering 2018 w/Pricing Question

Hey guys,

New to the site. My 2001 F-150 has finally kicked the bucket, time for a new truck. I've been researching everything, finally settled on:

2018 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Sport, Double Cab (short bed), M/T, Premium Tech package.


The MSRP's for 2018's have been released, but no details on accessories/packages/other. I found a dealer that I've enjoyed working with. They have already ordered one for someone else, and so far the only dealer I've found willing to pre-order a 2018 with my specs so far. As far as pricing, they are offering $500 under MSRP.

This is my first big purchase as an adult, and the sticker shock is concerning and just want to make sure I'm getting an OK deal. Any thoughts?

Thank you!

 

Welcome to TW.

The challenge with pricing on ordering a unit is dealer incentive. They aren't sitting there with a $40k vehicle on their bank note, so their incentive is reduced. Your offer may be fair, or may be high depending on your area of the country. When I bought mine the dealer had at least 30 on the lot (2014) so a good price was easier to negotiate.

 

There’s minimal changes from 2016 2017 year model. If you can find a new old stock you can knock thousands off the stickers and walk away with less financial burden. But if you have to have the lastest and greatest you might as well post up the invoice and your location and I’m sure we have plenty of pros here can give you some insight.

Remember. No need to rush in. Shop, compare, let the dealers fight for your business. You didn’t have this truck for almost 18 years. A few weeks of waiting isn’t gonna hurt ya.

 

Thanks for the responses already. I would love to have more time to sit back and wait, but I don't have a vehicle any longer which puts me behind the 8-ball a little. The price difference between the 2017's and 2018's are minuscule, so there's no reason not to get the 2018 and get the TSS included which will lessen the insurance premiums. I've been working to find a 2017 at a discount with no luck.

I won't buy a used truck, especially a Tacoma. They hold their value so well that even 2014's in my region (Seattle area) are only about $4k less than a new one, so it's not worth whatever the previous owner did to it as opposed to just buying a new one. There are so many unreliable people selling vehicles that to me it's not worth the question of if it's got something wrong they won't disclose. I plan on holding onto this truck until it dies, just like I've done with my current truck.

Of course dealer supply/demand is going to be a factor, I am hoping that someone else who may have been in a similar situation with the 2017's could shed some light on their experience. Most of the dealers around Seattle won't give you the time of day - they just want to know the color scheme and trim so that you can order through them, they don't actually work with you and if you have any questions they refer you to corporate elsewhere, but that's just Seattle people in general.

 

In the past I have used Costco’s suit buying program, autobytel and KBB. 13 T4R response came within 12 hours on a Sunday. If you get another quote, they should match it. I also agrue that I am willing to drive 3 hours to the next dealership & up to 7 hours for the one I bought my 17 Tacoma from

 

Where in Seattle are you?

If you have the time, go see Arnold Argosino at Toyota of Bellevue. He’s a close friend of mine. They have more inventory than any other Toyota dealer around.

I was a tech there for 8 years, my wife works there, the owner is awesome, it’s an awesome place to buy a Toyota vehicle, New/used.

Plus the parts department has all your accessories needs, SCS/trd wheels, lift kits, steps, window tint, etc etc.

Anyways, if you get down there, ask for him and tell him Andy sent you. He’s very low pressure salesman and super cool guy.

 

$500 under MSRP?

My OTD price (vehicle / tax / title) was under MSRP. TrueCar isn't as good as it used to be, but between that and Edmunds TMV it will give you a good target to beat.

For example, I paid $34,900 for my 2016 in June of 2016 and it had a sticker of $37,xxx. (DCSB OR with Tech / Premium and the 6MT). Granted, regional differences may be in play, as is finding harder to find combos, but I wouldn't think $500 under MSRP is a particularly good deal.

 

The big change on the 2018, at least in the TRD models is leather for premium / tech. For some people (myself included) that would be a make or break for the truck.

Since the OP wants a manual, the impact (if any) of TSS is debatable. But otherwise, yes, identical trucks.

 

Tacoma of Kirkland. Call and talk to Johnny ( or email ) he's a straight forward guy no hassle no pressure. Super easy

 

New as well and I just came here to post the exact question. I think I might be the guy the OP's dealer is ordering for - Lake City Toyota.

I'm looking at a TRD Off-Road, DCSB, Manual, Tech, Prem, Cement. I just stopped by this morning and they have one allocated for a late November build that is everything except Premium. My guy said they couldn't allocate it - the tool wouldn't allow them to request Tech and Prem with a Manual. Seems strange as that was a pretty common combo in the 17's. I'm trying to decide whether to take the bird in hand or wait for the Premium. I'm kind of under the gun as well (my current daily driver got hit and totaled last week). The 18 Premium is heated seats, back seat ac controls, moon roof and partial leather. Manual doesn't get JBL, and of those options, the leather and heated seats was the only thing I was kind of hoping for. Could just do the leather after market, but are there any after market seat heaters?

My first truck as well, so input from the community would be appreciated.

 

Taocow -

Interesting, I didn't go through Lake City but we're in the same area. I have the printed handouts of the 3 that are allocated to our area, one is an Inferno color, one magnetic grey, and then the cement one. Talking to the dealer I was working with, they actually ordered the Inferno one for a client, since in Toyota's ordering system you can only get the Premium Tech in Inferno right now, and just requested a color change - No extra cost. So there are "limitations" of what you can order in certain schemes, but the dealers can override it - Just so you know.

Did they quote you on anything for pricing? Right now I've been talking to Rodland, Magic, Seattle, now trying Kirkland and Bellevue per other poster suggestions. $500 off MSRP isn't great, but I know there's really little incentive for a dealer to order something not on a lot somewhere. Curious what you've been offered as well.

And looking into it, since it doesn't make a difference, I'll be doing the Off-Road instead of a Sport. Just more value there, and I take back-roads fishing enough.

 

Yeah, my guy at Lake City is looking to see what he can find out. I'll email him and tell him he can override. Funny, given my research here I was more informed on packages than he was (told him that JBL didn't come with the Manual Premium). I'm just trying to decide whether then Premium is really worth it.

We just now started talking pricing and he just gave me a sheet below. Honestly, I figured since we're getting in early and there really is no incentive that you get what you get, but I'd be interested in what others think. I've only ever bought one other car and that was a late year inventory deal, so I got a really good deal.

 

Buy a 2017 at 4k below MSRP.

 

Best offer I've fielded on a 2017 in my area is $1500 below MSRP.

 

Taocow:

I would scan mine in, but it's not worth it. Everything is zero'd out for pricing. The final invoice sheet has:
Sale Price $37,500
Total Cash Price: $42,115.00

And that's an estimate, not binding. Your tech package looks a little light on price to me, which is great. Honestly I just really want the moonroof and dual climate control.

 

Adaptive cruise is one of the major changes. After driving on long road trips in my wifes car with it, saving a little from the year before wouldn't be worth it to me.

 

Watch out for the guys at Lake City. They charge you $895 for their "green" package. Basically nitrogen for your tires and a free car wash. They don't negotiate on it. It's Seattle Liberal Crap.

 

I’ll be shortly taking delivery on a 2017 that had a msrp or 38,314. I offered 34,792 and they took it. I think there are deals to be had on 2017s still if you can find one that is being allocated to your specs. The manuals are hard to come by. I had to wait a while for mine to come along inside of 250 miles away.

 

I think it is a little harder to negotiate on a manual trans tacoma, since they are relatively less common.
I bought a 2017 DCSB TRDOR manual a few weeks ago. Ended up having to drive about 30 miles away to get it, and the best I could get was $1700 off MSRP.
Still, I think it would be worth looking for a 2017, since the MSRP will be a little lower and you probably will at least save a few thousand. Best way to search for one would be to use the different search sites: cars.com, autotrader, edmunds - when you put in manual trans it will drop the number a lot.
Using Toyota.com, you need to put in lots of zip codes to be able to search.

 

This is exactly how I was doing it but what I was finding was even the trucks listed on cars.com were already sold. I ended up having to get a dealer to look at trucks that are being allocated and put a deposit down at a far away dealer even before they took delivery. It really sucks that Toyota won’t let you special order a truck.