I've been interested in the 2003 for a while now. I was thinking of the Stratosphere Mica Sport Edition V6 with just a few options.
I'm just wondering how much you payed and what options you had, plus what was the original sticker price?

Gaslight,

Try Edmunds for the "TMV = True Market Value" and invoice price. Here is a link to start with:

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/toyo...ent..0.Toyota*

Or, you can try KBB.com:

http://www.kbb.com/

Hope this helps...and good luck!

thanks for the info. just wondering how close everyone got to those prices .

I got a couple hundred over the invoice price

Diablo did you check anywhere to see if 'Thier' invoice price was close to the real invoice price from the factory? Some sites claim to have the real invoice price and list any dealer incentives.
The prices are looking even better with the low finance rates. I'm really tempted but thinking of waiting to hear of any more recalls or potential problems.

actually the dealer showed me the invoice price, he went over it all with me.

I got mine for about 500$ under invoice, but they made a killing on my trade in.

they get you one way or the other if you aren't careful. I take my sweet time while buying.

Patience, it took me 2.5 weeks of haggling and acting non-interested in the vehicle to get the price (new car) and trade-in that I expected. The dealer always called back with a better deal. To really add frosting to the cake, I had a $500 teacher appreciation rebate that I dropped on them at closing. YEAH! My wifes long hours finally paid off. I paid $250 over invoice, comparing KBB, Edmunds and Consumer Reports and received $22,500 for my trade ('02 Sport 4x4, 37,000 miles). KBB on the trade was $19,500. I feel pretty good about the transaction. Then, I haggled for them to install $450 running boards at no charge. The Toyota brochure says the vehicle comes standard with running boards, the dealer said running boards are now an option. Bottomline-be informed, be patient and be willing to walk. Worst case scenario, there is a dealer in Maryland, Laurel Toyota/Carmax, they sell new Toyotas at 'no-haggle' prices. On my '02, I ordered the vehicle and drove to pick it up, no haggle and I only paid $500 over invoice. If your negotiating skills are suspect, order from Laurel, drive/fly pick it up, and have a mini vacation driving home.

Check for incentives....

here's a sample but this only applies to CA... I'm sure other states would have the similar incentive programs

Southern CA incentives for Toyota! Good June 3rd thru July 7th, 2003.

* 2003 Camry models and 2003 Solara models - 4cyl models get a $500 cash rebate and the V6 models get $1000 rebate.

* Tundras - the 2WDs have a $1500 rebate and the 4WDs have a $2000 cash rebate OR reduced APR of 0.0% for up to 60 months in lieu of cash rebate. (tier I & II credit thru Toyota only)

* All Highlander - $1000 cash rebate or reduced APR of 1.9 for up to 60 months (tier I & II credit thru Toyota only).

* All 2003 Corolla (very few remain)- $500 rebate or reduced APR of 1.9 for up to 60 months (tier I & II credit thru Toyota only).

* All 2003 Matrix - $750 cash rebate or reduced APR of 1.9 for up to 60 months (tier I & II credit thru Toyota only).

* All 2003 4Runner SR5 and 4Runner Sport models in 2WD or 4WD with factory standard gray cladding - $1500 cash rebate.
This means model #'s that follow without "AP" or "AZ" or "YU (sports only)" appearance packages: 8642 (V6 2WD SR5 with cladding), 8646 (V6 2WD Sport - with cladding), 8664 (V6 4WD SR5 with cladding), 8666 (V6 4WD Sport with cladding), 8672 (V8 2WD SR5 with cladding), 8676 (V8 2WD Sport with cladding), 8682 (V8 4WD SR5 with cladding), 8686 (V8 4WD Sport with cladding). ::whew::

*Tacomas (excluding Doublecabs) - all 2WDs get a $500 cash rebate and all 4WDs get a $1000 rebate or reduced APR of 1.9 for up to 60 months (tier I & II credit thru Toyota only).

kbb or edmunds should have these info for you..

gj

Lance

The dealers always call back a couple of days later with another final or best offer. Sometime they call back a month later after you already bought one from their competition.

I find the best way (and my family has recently purchased 3 cars this way), is through the internet departments. You use a internet car service (can't think of any off the top of my head), the ones that garauntee you low prices, and generally you get a bottom line price from the dealer. All dealers are different... i got 3 different internet prices from 3 dealers, and one happened to be far lower than the rest. The original place i went to wanted sticker for it, and was not willing to go down below 40k...of course I did not buy from them, i got it a couple of thousand dollars cheaper at another dealer that was about 40 min away.

Even if you deal with the internet pricing scheme, you still have to deal with the boofs who try to sell you extended warranty, gap protection, advanced maintenance, etc. Unfortunately, you still have to deal with a car salesman eventually. I bought my '02 Runner through the internet, best car buying experience I have ever had! The '03 was haggled the old fashioned way.....tylenol and patience.

sac:

bummer to hear that your 03 purchase was a pain

Mine was pretty simple. I emailed the stealer and asked for the exact option/color and they had one. They gave me a quote which was very good at the time and I took it No nonsense stuff btw, walked in the next day and signed paperwork.

yea, see i had a great experience with the guy i dealt with...he didn't try to get me in on all that crap, just made sure i understood what was available. He showed me the invoice price, my price, and the price on my trade in (which was less than i owed on it ).... but still, very good experience.