I can only assume that threads like these are why I stayed in a marriage 15 years longer than I should have ..... I hope all realize that the car dealerships are not calling emergency meetings and re-writing their business model because some folks on a forum wish they could get a better deal. I imagine they have run across that concept before.
As for Toyotas "Year End Model Clearance BlowOut come see the dahli Lamma or a Llama named Dolly SALE" They mention by model which are being included in the clearance AND what the deals are. There is no smoke and mirrors and it is nothing different than any other Company. No Company discounts their sales leaders - it simply isn't done.
The Laws of Physics can not be rewritten nor ignored neither can the fundamental principles of the free market economic system. IF something sells at X you do not sell it for X-Y.
I am not going to lie and say I understand the frustration over this reality because I do not. Any one who is considering a $40k+ vehicle has a job is probably educated to some degree therefor they possess the requisite knowlege and experience to understand the market forces at work so...
it then can only be - I want what I want because I want it and I want it now.
Oh well. That is not a chapter in the book and Milton Friedman was once heard saying "Tough, get over it"

I think we all understand the concept of supply and demand, of which you alluded to in your post.
I think what some people are wondering about is the fact that some dealers have 40 some odd 4 Runners, some "only" have a handful but there seems to be many 12s to go around and the 13s are coming in a month or 2.
Why would anyone pay anything close to sticker on a 12 now when they can just get a 13?
Take a look at cars.com and put 4 runner in your search. There are pages and pages and pages of 4 runners.
Lets give it another month or 2 and see what the street price is on a new or used 12 on a dealer lot. My guess is that it goes down.
Ive heard things abt "exclusivity" here, ive heard "resale values," and ive heard some other things....Were not talking Ferraris here folks. Supply and demand will ultimately dictate the market.

Gonna close my part with, Best wishes and Good luck to those seeking that
"Good Deal". Hope you find what you''re looking for.

I agree... I mentioned my local market because it appears we are saturated, and it's not a specific model. Each dealership has an equal number various trim SR5, LE, and TE.

Rubicon in reference to the ads, I understand the two I have seen feature a Camry in one and a Tundra in the other, but they each give the impression that now is the time to buy a Toyota because it's clearance month, which would lead most to believe that their entire inventory has reduced prices.

I get your point but most manufacturers dont discount their entire line.
Ford with its boss 302 and the shelby cobra.
Of course those are limited production models and the 4 runner is not.

Perhaps the reason why they sell sooooo many camrys is the incentives to buy them?
Just a thought.

Negotiating works 2 ways. I hear ppl saying ya shouldnt let 1500 bucks get in the way of a vehicle ya want. Ive always said to a salesman, "youre gonna let me walk for 1500 bucks?"
Its all perspective i guess.
Sometimes its not the money but the point. Just give it a few more weeks...From what ive seen of dealer inventory especially on SR5s, they will be choking on them.


I just like the icon.

I always assume incentives may not apply to special editions. Generally I assume they apply to the standard models.

I just got an e-mail back with a price of $30,995 for a base SR5 4x4 with carpeted floor mats. So I guess I'm not crazy for negotiating. I'd assume the only way I'm going to see much better than that is if they do another month of the July incentive.

You are not crazy for negotiating but at least for me there are way more important things in life than worrying about "did I get the best price possible." You know, those little things like health, family, etc. Also, you should never assume anything.

That sounds like a good deal....

By that logic, if WalMart has toilet paper on sale, they should also have wine and steak on sale.

Not meaning to pile on Jayhawk, but IMO your logic is flawed. Plus, if you paid attention to those commercials, they're fairly specific about what is/isn't on sale. Ditto with Honda; their big sale is on Accords which presently languish, but certainly not on CRVs which they cannot keep in stock.

I know that my situation isn't everybody's, I have the ability to wait because we have two vehicles currently. The decision to downsize is because my wife has a company vehicle. If my vehicle no longer worked and she needed hers the entire situation would change.

Yeah I think this is the one!

With the very strong August sales (posted today) of T4Rs I wonder when 2012 inventroy will dry up? The August sales were about 25% higher than prior year and YTD they're up about 8%.

The 2013 MSRP is about the same as 2012, but I was surprised to see a dealer offering a 2013 Limited at 9.7% off (MSRP to ePrice). Maybe the dealer figures with a sale before they take delivery from the factory it lowers their costs a bit?

I ordered mine the week before last at 8.5% off MSRP. Seems to be the standard deal for "internet sales department" quotes. At least here in my city.

The only logic I find flawed is that due to brand loyalty people refuse to admit the marketing is misleading. The commercials put out the idea that Toyota i.e. the entire line is on clearance in the month of August. This is not the case at all... if you are ok with that great, I think you can still get buyers in your store and can still make a profit with transparency. I'm not familiar with Honda's marketing as I'm not considering Honda but it sounds very similar which is also a shame.

I valu my time, and when I come to a dealership because I have been led to believe there is a sale and that sales turns out to be .01% of the vehicles on the lot I feel burned. I will be honest that based on the three Toyota dealers I have visted I have found the service to be piss poor, which is strange considering Lexus gets such high marks.

What I find amazing is that every last car the factories produce gets sold to an end user. Some are pretty horrible. Eventually they all go to a good home. I suppose that they are priced such that they sell, even if it is 6 months or more into the new model year.

They eventually sell because they are discounted.