The search for the 18 Pro Cavalry Blue

Hi all, I’ve been a lurker for a few months collecting info ever since I decided to get a new tacoma. I went back and forth between an OR and a pro and was pretty hell bent on getting a cement something (17 Pro or 18 OR)... then cavalry Blue came out and that changed. The search began as I got serious and I was really surprised at the absolute crazy prices dealers wanted for these trucks. I think I called almost every dealer in 100 mike radius and all but 2 had quoted 5-10k over MSRP just because they can. Now, I really want a pro, but out of sheer principle won’t pay a penny over MSRP (if they were worth 5-10k more, then Toyota should change the MSRP, right?). Anyway, I find a dealer who charged MSRP in 2017, or so I thought and tried to put a deposit on one and they wouldn’t take it. This same dealer now has 3 2017 Pros sitting on their lot with a dealer add on sticker for wheels, tires and tonneau cover for get this....TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. (They are pro comp wheels and tires for those who are curious...if memory serves). So, this kind of stealership behavior from this particular place made the search go on. I called more dealers and found a dealer that said they don’t do the big mark ups like their competitors. I told them I wanted a 2018 Pro in Cavalry Blue and they said they had one allocated that was scheduled to be built at the end of November. I asked to put a deposit to hold it, which after checking to make sure the truck wasn’t already reserved and much to my surprise it wasn’t, I put my deposit down.

Has anyone else outside of California had problems with dealer mark ups? I was surprised to not find more threads on this topic here. Anyway, if all goes well, I’ll have my Pro in a few weeks....

 

Dealer markups are unfortunately fairly common. My selling dealer doesn’t mark up on the pros, so I feel fortunate in that respect. Most all of the dealers I contacted wanted $5-10k over msrp.

 

Don't call them. Go through internet sales department. Try this thread. Good ideas
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/so-you-want-to-buy-a-tacoma.475482/

 

I went throug internet sales. We agreed on whatever the MSRP is, is what I'll pay. Took a deposit, but since I want a cavalry blue Pro with a manual, I could be waiting until late spring, depending on how their allocations shake out.

 

Understood. I could not do waiting part. Lol

 

The dealer added 5-10k “market adjustment” makes me want to not buy anything from that dealer. It’s like ticket scalpers who sell hard to get tickets for twice the face value. Just a complete lack of ethics in my opinion. Dealers are entitled to make a profit for sure, but if they want to screw me, they should take me out to a nice dinner first.

 

From the dealer perspective, markups are totally common on hard to find models. I came from ford where if you wouldnt pay 20k over MSRP for a Raptor, the gm’s wouldnt even entertain the offer and they were asking 30k over.

When it comes to the way everyone tries to take every dollar of profit out of a normal tacoma, the only ones we make our money back is on hard to find models or special orders.

Keep in mind, most dealers are given 2-5 TRD PRO’s each year depending on the volume of the dealer.

We also get about 150+ people a month wanting a PRO.

If you are only willing to pay MSRP, make them the offer and maybe they will take it but I highly doubt it. As an employee if we want a pro we have to pay $2500 over.

Now you are looking for a MT Pro in Calvary Blue which is MAYBE 1 out of 100 TRD pros made?

Needle in a haystack much?

If you want to get a good deal, go buy something that is common that there is an abundance of...

 

After rereading that i kinda sound like a douche lol not trying to just trying to lay out a different point of view

 

There's one on my local Craigslist with 1100 miles for $53K.....LOL

*edit: the one I saw was a 4runner

 

Hi Jake, this sounds like the same sad story I’ve gotten from most dealers. ”ford adds 30k (like that somehow justifies a meager 10k mark up) “We should be allowed to make a profit, on an exclusive item that you can only get through us, yadda yadda yadda”. This is the same type of reason why people hate ticketmaster. Last time I checked, they aren’t giving 40k tacoma’s away at any dealer at any trim level. Dealers are making profits and could probably make more if there was more transparency and honesty (I would certainly be more interested in buying from a dealer who could show me some honest numbers instead of talking poor mouth and pretending to be the victim when people don’t want to pay rediculous mark-ups. Its so easy to do a little research today that the antiquated way cars are sold isn’t conducive to old car sales tactics. Instead of trying to make a small group of buyers make up profits on the whole line, why not just stick to what MSRP is and not try to gouge customers and also work harder to make profits on all models, not just the “rare” ones. Even at Full MSRP, dealers are getting fairly treated in the profits department.....especially by the time they are done adding all the factory options (the price list is floating around). For 5 or 10k over msrp, that lets me be picky on where I shop. I can fly to any dealer in the country for that kind of cash and drive the truck back. For the folks who gladly pony up several grand at the dealers beckoning, more power to you. That’s not how I could operate even if I had unlimited money. I see it as an ethical issue and I’ll gladly work with the dealer who doesn’t make me feel gross after I walk away. #endofrant.

Ps-I hope your employee discount of $2500 over MSRP comes with a nice dinner

 

Thanks for your second post that I just saw after my small rant.

 

Haha all good man

 

The morons at Dublin Toyota in CA are trying to charge $65K for their TRD Pro Tacoma’s.
Link is below for proof.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/d/2017-tacoma-trd-pro-4x4/6363464461.html

 

Believe me... if we could sell all cars at msrp it would be no issue. Its not really a sob story at the end of the day. If our price is X and you are only willing to pay Y, then no hard feelings business is business. If you can find someone willing to sell the one you want at MSRP then more power to you! I want you to have your truck almost as bad as you do! Lol

At the end of the day they are all pieces of medal but there is a difference in what a jeweler will sell silver and gold for. Same with a TRD pro vs a TRD OR.

If I have 150 people that want to buy 1 of 3 trucks then why would it be “bad” or “dirty” of me to ask more money for them if the 3 out of the 150 are willing to pay more?

Thats like getting mad because someone buys a collector car at an auction for more than Kelly Blue Book?

MSRP does not stipulate what every person is willing to pay for a vehicle.

Shoot man ill even help you locate the dealer that has the truck you want going to them lol.

 

Jeez, that makes the dealers I talked to seem downright saintly. I hope this one come with a nice dinner and a bottle of lube.

 

You should see what they are asking for the T4R Pro’s.

 

Well Jake, I see where you are coming from, but part of the problem is that the dealers are fueling the market adjustment by adding these huge adjustments and telling people that these trucks are impossible to get. I just don’t believe them. I tried to put a deposit down on an 18 at one dealer who wouldn’t take my money because he said he had 11 people on a waiting list already. The same dealer had 3 2017 pros sitting on the lot with a nice dealer added set of wheels and tires to the tune of 10 grand. So basically, he was full of . I had my brother call the same dealer and act interested in an 18 Pro and the dealer told him that it’s just first come first serve and that they don’t take deposits. So maybe I just don’t trust car dealers when they have something to gain by lying. I called a few more dealers and told the guy what I wanted and that I only was willing to pay msrp. He banged a few keys on the keyboard and saw they had one slated to be allocated in November and took my money. Easy peasy. I bet that dealers doesn’t have 2017 Pros sitting on the lot. If dealers worked harder at being honest, they would make more money and wouldn’t have to work so hard at being dishonest. They might not make as much per unit, but would surely sell more units and probably be farther ahead....but what do I know, I’m not a car salesman.

 

The T4R pros are in the same boat.5-10k over msrp from what I’ve seen.

 

This convo could go on forever discussing the ethics back and forth but it gets much deeper than you could ever explain on a forum.

Maybe someone will write a book one day on why it is the way it is.

But regardless... MT FTW!!!

 

Lol. I think a lot of folks will agree with you there. My first truck when I was 15 was a MT (which I loved). I’m older, lazier and drive in too much traffic now, so.... MT or AT FTW!