Was at the dealership today...

If you buy a car especially a new car in 2021 you paid too much, no matter how good a deal it may have looked like at the time.

 

Felt the same a few years ago when I dropped 250k on a house.
Five years later it's worth 420k.
Intel is busting ground on a 20 BILLION dollar plant 7 miles from me.
They will employ 3,500 high-tech jobs, trickle down will add another 7,000 jobs.
I expect my house to be worth 500k in a few more months.

New and Used car prices going nowhere but up...

I ( well my son eventually ) will drive this Tacoma for 15-20 years easy... pennies on the dollar... pennies I say.

 

Highjack? Probably saved it from being locked

 

So what's someone to do if they absolutely have to buy a vehicle? Life's to short to get mired down in such things in my opinion.

 

As for the 2021 SR5 4x2 for 45K the OP described, that truck is priced at least 15K too high. I would say if you had to buy something new, you might look at something else and get screwed just a wee bit less....but....YOLO...

 

The MSRP on a 2021 SR5 4x2 AT with a technology package is $34,325. If you want bare bones, delete the tech package and subtract $570. However, MSRP is just that: a suggestion. Vehicles are sold by independent dealers who set the actual asking price and negotiate the deal. The actual value of that truck is the price at which a willing buyer would buy and a willing seller would sell, neither being under undue pressure. So, if someone is willing to pay $45k for that SR5 in an arm's-length transaction, then that is what that particular truck is worth at that moment. To say it's priced $15k too high really doesn't take current market conditions into consideration. It's a market that no longer exists. It may not sell for $45k, but I would bet a year's salary it will sell well for quite a bit more than $30k. Is it crazy? Of course it is. But that's the crazy market we are in.

 

Having been through the the late 70's early 80's you just look at your situation reevaluate your priorities and buy just under your means the less you are in debt the better off you will be. Right now everything is nuts 4 months ago our dealer had 5-6 new Tacoma's on the lot now nothing the sales staff look like vultures ready to tear you up . Went in for a part and 6 were by the door asking if they could help. I was escorted to the parts department by one of them. I would hate to be in that job right now. They have a large amount of used inventory but not much new. I'm happy to have gotten the one I have.