Question on how to secure a brand new truck

Hey everyone!

I am looking to get some advice on how to go about securing a brand new 2024 i-Force Max (the hybrid). I see post and comments of people getting the non-hybrids right now before they hit the lot. I’ve never bought a brand new model of a car that isn’t out yet.

I’m in SoCal and I’ve been contacting dealers about this very inquiry. I’m not having a lot of luck trying to find someone that will work with me. It feels like they don’t even know what the i-Force Max is and try and sell me something I don’t want. For example, i want a TRD OR i-Force Max, and they reply with we have a basic sport.

so I’m turning to you guys, the pros. How do I go about this to secure one of these trucks when they start rolling out. Is there a dealership out there that knows what’s up, maybe even a specific salesman. I’m willing to put down deposits, whatever it takes. Any advice on what steps I should take would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

You have to keep looking for a dealer who will take your deposit/reservation for the truck. There is not much info out on it since it is not due to go in to production until April...which could get pushed back. I would think you may have better luck once the allocations start getting allocated.

The only one people are getting now is the regular iForce and not the max.

 

that’s sort of what I figured. That I’m a tad early. My question then is, how does one find out when things start rolling with the Max and when allocations start?

 

Bookmark this page. It is pretty self explanatory on what it is, but it is a sortable sheet of all the current allocations. The author is cool enough that he has the scripts updating every day or so. I am hoping that he will add a new file when the MAX comes out like he did with the Tundras.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/131kwPy9x2bwci1NVE0tetG3jG57TxdJE/edit#gid=642682877

 

this spreadsheet is gold, I've been searching for a new RC F for a while and couldn't find it, this is great to keep track.

 

I came across this spreadsheet a few days ago doing some research on this subject but I wasn’t able to open it. I’m still not able to. Gets hung up on loading.

Edit: Works much better on a computer. Doesn't work on my phone.

Thanks for this!

 

Wait for one to show up on the lot walk in and buy it.

 

When I purchased my new 2021 truck it started by looking at listings available at a local Toyota dealership. A simple inquiry on a particular listing elicited a response providing guidance on how they did business. Notably, if I was interested in a new truck, I should come in and put down a $500 deposit and chat with a salesperson to determine what I was looking for. So I did that. The salesperson told me that based on my vehicle preferences she would start sending me fact sheets on trucks coming in, but not yet reserved. She also told me they would send me the VIN and window sticker showing the final cost of the vehicle. No markups from MSRP. No pressure. This dealership paid salespeople straight salary then a group performance bonus at the end of the year. I started getting the fact sheets, selected my truck, and got the VIN allowing me to track manufacturing and transport. It was a great transaction. If I purchase another Toyota truck I would not hesitate to do it all over again with this dealer. I know someone is going ask... it was Marysville Toyota in Marysville, WA.

 

That spreadsheet is awesome. I couldn't figure out whether the trucks have long bed or short bed. Sorry if I missed something obvious.

In case you didn't notice, there is a link in the spreadsheet to "Buy me a coffee" for the author. It would be nice to support him if you get to use this spreadsheet to locate your vehicle. I will do it for sure when I buy mine.

 

Do a filter search for "long". You should catch ones with the long bed inverter package.

 

It's probably going to be a good 3 or 4 months until the Hybrids become available.

 

i may be looking at that too. saw a few more dropped. would love to find one like the one in Cali, but with the stereo upgrade.

 

I think most come with Mark Levinson, I haven't found any base bare bone RC F without one.
Now the truly hard to find one is the carbon package, Fuji edition is such a rip off that nobody wants and there are plenty

 

I would ignore dealing with dealers and trying to hunt for MSRP and just deal with this broker directly to get below MSRP.

 

Never understood how there is a middle man between dealers making $500-1000. The dealer is already a middle man between Toyota and you.

 

Because brokers can get access to wholesale volume pricing that you, an individual purchasing on your own cannot.

 

I can’t make sense of that business model. The car salesman is the “broker”. Why there is another person inbetween the two marking up the price to make a profit makes no sense

 

Think of it like a service fee paid by the dealer, the dealer carves out pricing for a broker as a service for moving more vehicles quicker for them...the quicker you turn them the higher the dealers profit, if the broker can turn them quicker..its worth giving up a point or two on the dealers end. Its also more consistent cash flow month after month (from broker) lacking the yo yo affect of retail sales which in turn is more profitable.

It's a common model in lots of industries. . It is just another sales channel filtering sales for the dealer, some channels are more profitable than others. Pretty common and really no different than having to pay a salesman commission on a sale.

 

I see it as advantageous for the dealer. Broker acts like an outside salesman. A contractor. Don't have to pay benefits, etc. So, yeah the idea he is a wholesaler is not at all accurate.

For the buyer/consumer any in-house salesman can look up available vehicles anywhere. You can further negotiate more closely not only on the vehicle but accessories. From the figures I have seen, pricing wise it is a wash for base vehicle, fee, transport, whatevah.

In the upcoming buyers market, I would rather be able to put pressure on a local salesperson. You can get a good read of the salesperson within15 minutes. The dealership and overall market a bit longer. I had one salesperson begging in tears one time. You just have to be a psychopath like me to get a deal.

I don't begrudge this guy his business. He is providing a service. One that in my opinion is more about self-soothing illusion for a buyer. That's just me. Others carry on.

 

Agreed but then what’s the point of the on site sales staff if they can’t deliver the same level of sales as a 3rd party broker. Seems inefficient. You’re paying your own sales guys and a random “contractor”, through discounting beyond what you would to a “normal customer”.

it’s a lose lose situation where the consumer is paying higher prices