Toyota Smartpath, anyone use it? Will it work to get a MSRP Tacoma?

I'm already seeing it in the search tool.... definitely NOT putting a roof rack on my truck and I don't want a spray on bedliner.

 

they have been doing that bullshit for a while... and stupid lemon consumers lap it up like a two bit whore

google schaumburg toyota mandatory sign for a good time

 

I know. Thankfully a few somewhat nearby dealers dont have any of that BS and I use it against my dealer just saying I'll drive there. The last few times they've caved and waived their add-ons. They wont when the ball is in their court though on demand for the 24'.

 

Speaking of this, anyone ever use the cheaper dealer to see if they will price match oil changes? The dealer 60 minutes away is $49 synthetic oil change and local (30 min) is $72.99.

 

i've used coupons from competing dealers.

49 is a great price for synthetic....

i used to get my regular oil done for 33 at the local dealer.. they built a new building and now it's 60 plus there... so i do it myself.

 

There are not many Smart Path dealers. Those that are…are volume dealers. It was a night and day difference for me. Very little conversation with a salesperson…the deal was made over the phone…a written quote emailed to me…I paid a $500 deposit the next day to hold the vehicle on its way from Mexico. Picked it up a month later.
Very boring…and I loved it.

I had many dealers tell me they could get me close to MSRP and then add a 5-10k premium when I got there just because it was a manual. And a manual is 2k cheaper than an automatic! I thought Smart Path was a gimmick until I picked up the phone and called.

If you know what you want and know what it costs, most car deals can happen over the phone. Get a written quote emailed to you before you step foot in a dealer’s lot. It sucks that most dealers won’t do this but just move on to the next dealer. I had to drive 200 miles to get my 2023 manual.

 

Do all of the regional distributors participate in SMARTPATH?

 

Not sure but here in California, Longo Toyota is a Smart Path dealer. FYI: Longo Toyota is the biggest Toyota dealership in the country…and actually the biggest auto dealership in the world. I bought my 2023 at Toyota of Clovis, a relatively small dealership but they are now part of the Penske Group which is a huge.

Volume dealers care about, well, volume so they’re not concerned as much about nickel and diming you.
I was asked if I was interested in warranty and protection packages through the document signing process but at that point, I can opt out without any pressure from a real salesperson.

 

yeah, thats where I'm going, and I'm already having good conversations with my dealer and have informed THEM of the prices we are seeing here in TacomaWorld. feel kinda lucky though, there's like 12 smart path dealers within 50 miles of me.

 

I thought Toyota dealers were the only ones not adding markups. All the ones here locally are selling 2023 models 1k below msrp and 2024s at MSRP.

 

Where is here?

 

Basically the entire northeast.

 

Interesting. I wonder how much dealer profit (margin) is built into the new higher prices. If everyone sells at MSRP, that will be telling.

thanks!

 

Well here is at least one smartpath dealer adding $2500 markup to their smartpath price. Frankfort Toyota in KY.

 

Yeah I get free market but folks never forget crap like this. When the economy slows dealers like this are going to get what they deserve. When I bought my 2009 I paid $1200 more at a dealer one state this type of nonsense.

 

Agree.....Markups.org is a thing and a lot of dealers have basically blacklisted themselves from ever getting a sale from a certain segment of the population. It might not be a lot, but when I have at least 5 Toyota dealers within 45 minutes of me then I will always go back to that one who didn't play games.

 

I played a game yesterday and "checked availability" on about 6 or 8 Sports/SR5s and heard back from about 5 different dealerships... all located at least 150 miles away :/ but about half of them are doing markups, and i know the one local dealership that I was talking to is doing about a $3k markup to start with.... but I was able to find 2 dealerships who don't do markups and one that outright brags about not going over MSRP... and those guys are gonna get my business if they pull the truck I'm looking for.

 

Yeah, I guess it’s buyer beware. There may be dealers who aren’t true SmartPath participants who will give a ‘Smart Path Price’.

 

I find it mixed in Norther NJ. I have seen $6k listed adjustment on 24's at one dealer (East Coast Toyota) and have called others (Empire Toyota) who said no mark ups. I don't get how a dealership can sell a truck with a $6k markup when there are a dozen dealers within an hour.

 

Sucker born every minute.....got to have it now and to lazy to do research....a fool and his money will soon be parted....take your pick.