What's so tough about special ordering a new Tacoma?

I know exactly what I want:

2020 Tacoma
TRD Off Road
Access Cab
3.5 liter V6
4WD
Automatic transmission
Quicksand

No packages. No accessories. No add-ons.

This is not a configuration that most dealers are going to stock. But I should be able to special order it, no? The problem is that no one is returning my emails. I emailed the Sales Depts at SIX Toyota dealerships within a 100-mile range. No one has replied.

Are they just too busy selling Tacomas, or is special ordering a vehicle (one that is not already ordered, in stock, or with no additional add-ons) somehow frowned upon?

Any suggestions on working with a dealership to special order this?

 

In 2017 I special ordered one exactly like this (AC OR 6cyl auto in QS) from Sierra Vista Toyota in Sierra Vista, AZ with no trouble. But 2 other local Toyota dealers wouldn't do an order. So it’s possible to special order but you have to find a cooperative dealer.

 

They want to sell what they have, not what you want. That would be a hassle to them. If things are a hassle, you will pay the premium.

My sister went through this on a Honda Accord so she now drives a Touring model w/ pleather heated seats and a sunroof when she wanted a poverty spec. with cloth. They made it seem like the same price but in reality, they weren't ever going to do it.

 

Call them or walk in. Or try to find that combo on cars.com and find one to bid on.

 

You have to find a dealer that will work with you and it might have to be several states away.
Why?
A Tacoma is one of the fastest selling vehicles, meaning they sit on the lot the least amount of time, usually less than 28 days. What this means is the dealer has no trouble selling what they have and quickly. This is bad for people like you, who want something that not many dealers stock or order.
I would suggest approaching a small Toyota dealer as they would be more apt to work with you versus a high volume dealer.
Good luck.

 

Most dealers are independently owned and thus they own the cars they buy from the manufacturer. There isn’t much incentive to purchase a vehicle that you may back out on. This is why many dealers purchase the most popular packages.

 

I ran across the same problem back when I was a Ford guy. I wanted an F-250 diesel MT-5 Supercab. Dealer 1 blew me off. Dealer 2 blew me off. And dealer 3 said "No problem".

I special ordered my '07 FJ and my '14 Taco from a local dealer. The first sales guy I talked to about the FJ was a dork (his handle was "Tail Lights Johnson". lol), and wasn't cooperative at all, so I walked away. But I wanted that truck, and 3 months later I was back talking to a different sales person, and he got it for me!

In '14 I wanted a Taco, but one that none of the dealers would stock (AC, MT-6, TRD). And once again I talked to the right sales person, and he ordered it!

You have to have a cooperative dealer, and a cooperative sales person. Otherwise you're pissing into the wind!

Charlie

Note: 2008 was the last year that a manual transmission was offered in an F series pickup. Ford ceded the entire MT market to Toyota! lol

 

Pretty clear from their literature you get what they build.

 

How many times does this have to be explained. YOU CANNOT SPECIAL ORDER / BUILD a Toyota or Tacoma, not how Toyota operates. Its an allocation based system, each region will have set builds / specs for their allocations, meaning you can't always source a truck the way you want it. In that case the dealer will have to reallocate it either from another region / state / dealer or they can put in for a special allocation request. They do not order straight from the factory nor can you build one the way you want from Toyota, anyone that thinks they did that was just sold that story by the dealer and one of the above processes was done to get you your truck.

 

You need to find one at a dealer and buy it, or find a dealer that will find one at another dealer or headed to another and trade for it.

 

Unfortunately this is how Toyota works. I sent an email in Sept. 2015 to my closest dealer at the time, Lia in Colonie, NY, and wanted a silver Off-Road, AC cab. Pretty basic. I also told them I'd pay $500 over dealer invoice. They contacted the factory (or corporate) and found that one of that description was scheduled to be built in December. So my dealer grabbed the allocation and I took possession (at the agreed-upon price) in early January. My guess is any dealer can do that but you may have to wait 3 or more months to receive it. From a dealer's standpoint it makes more sense to sell a vehicle that's already on the lot. So you may have to shop around, maybe interstate as some folks have mentioned.

 

What exactly are the trucks on the dealer lots coming with that you don't want? I feel like although unconfirmed that you can't get a stripped TRD model.

I'm sure if there are accessories the dealer would probably move them to another truck if you didn't want them.

You also have to consider that of you decide totsell it at some point the more stripped down it is the less desirable it is.

 

The dealer that I generally do business with right off the bat told me if you don’t like what we have on the lot we can just order you one to your liking. Told me it would take About 6 -8 weeks to come in.

but I am thinking you have much less bargaining leverage on a vehicle they special ordered for you.

 

Most dealers wont move accessories, they'll negotiate them off the price. Accessories are usually a port installed option and on the sticker / addendum.

 

All good advice here so far. My advice is to be up front and honest with the dealer right out of the gate. You MUST be clear to them that you will ONLY do business with them if they get you exactly what you want, and that being said please realize that it can't be some wierd, off the wall configuration. Keep searching and be patient, and if/when you do find a dealer that will get you what you want absolutely get it in writing and now be prepared to be really, really patient. Unless they have something allocated to them that is similar you will most likely be in for at least a 3 month wait.

Some dealers may say they will "order" what you want, but beware. After they have a down payment they will go changing their tune and trying to sell you either what they have or locate something close to it. Stick to your original request and don't change your mind unless they get you EXACTLY what you want. They do NOT want to give up their allocations, especially for Tacoma's! This is particularly true if in fact you scored a solid deal. For example, say you scored a $3000 discount on your truck. They use one of their allocations for you. Next day a guy walks in, wants the same truck and will settle for $1000 off, but now they have no more allocations. So they kinda just shot themselves in the foot.

It can be done but it takes a lot of time and more often than not, patience. Good Luck with your search.

 

I sat with my salesman and special ordered my 19 PRO.

 

Again it was not "special ordered". Come on people, again, as many of have mentioned dealers will use those words but its not how the process works, nor can you build one to your liking like a Ford, Chevy, etc.

 

That’s weird, I still have my imaginary build sheet. Ha

 

Not how it works, have friends who work for Toyota (fleet manager, sales, etc.) and have bought over 6 of these trucks new, all different regions, dealer probably printed you out your allocation or wrote some B.S. down that says "build sheet" it was not a SPECIAL ORDER.

 

Ok