Different regions could have different guidance / approaches. I found it impossible to work with any toyota dealer in south west florida. The lead times were ridiculous - like 6 months, they loaded cheese into all deals, fake wax $500, they charged $600 for Toyota care ......which is free in New England, and they had a 15k mkt adjustment.

New England is different.
Most sell at MSRP and do not add anything that you don't want.
They work off "un-allocated" inventory once it is on board a ship in port of Japan.
If you place a deposit. they go into the un-allocated pool and claim a match for what you have placed a deposit for, or call and ask if you would take (x,y,or z) like your second choice color. I my case they had exactly what I wanted on the ship, so I just let them know I was good with it.
At that point you have your vin#
The process took 71 days - from deposit of $1000. Meaning I left a deposit that is 100% refundable. They called when the TRD PRO 4runner was on the ship in Japan, allocated to their dealership and provided the Vin#. They called me when it was at the port (NYC), and told me it would be ready for pick up in 7 to 10 days. I picked it up with 1 mile on the odometer and drove it to my garage in New England and went back to florida that afternoon.


How crazy is this market.... I have to think they sell way more 4runners in your part of the world, but seems like the New England dealers can get them in 60 to 90 days.