Picked up my first 4Runner, 2wd Limited, Blizzard Pearl 43,700 OTD.

1. Use Cars.com or something similar to find exactly what you want.
I found that if a dealer had to order or trade for the vehicle that I wanted, they were unlikely to work with me very much on price. On the other hand, if they had the exact model/options/color combo that I wanted on the lot, they knew that there was a greater likelihood of making a deal. Still, you don't want to seem too eager to buy

2. Purchase through a high volume dealer, if possible.
I'm from Central KY yet it was worth my time and trouble to fly to DC to get exactly what I wanted and at the right price. I have never seen a dealer do as much volume as Koons Toyota in DC. According to their website, they have 70 4Runners on their lot, seemingly priced below invoice. I'm assuming that they depend so much on selling volume that they're willing to take a hit on the sale price in return for a higher hold back or bonus from Toyota.

I was able to get my blue TE Premium w/KDSS for $37k. Not the lowest I've seen on here, but certainly on the lower side of the spectrum. It beat any Costco or TrueCar price, as well as any other dealers' offers by $1500.

Thanks for the info... I think your right on when you say a better deal can be had if the dealer has the one you want on his lot. Unfortunately for me trail premiums are rare. I checked there website and it seems they only have BASE trails and no premiums.

We paid too much - however it was what we wanted and it is very difficult to find KDSS equipped runners in the Gulf South area - I had to go to Alabama. any way we got a Trail Premium with KDSS and Rear Cargo tray Nautical blue. Also had the usual adds that no one wants but we had to pay for them - Nitrogen tire fills, edge guards on the doors, tint, Toyo Guard (Useless to us as we can only use in the territory that the vehicle was sold), and the all weather mats - $39,500.00

On Cars.com I did a search for Trail Premiums within a 500 mile radius. There was maybe 15 of them. I don't know, maybe a half to 2/3 of those had KDSS. Only two of them were blue. One in DC and one in Alabama. I emailed both of them and DC was able to sell at $37k. Alabama on the other hand, refused to go below MSRP so it doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't work with you very much. Considering your geography, I think you did just fine with $39.5k.

Yea they were not interested in negotiating much at all. However they did drive the vehicle over 300 miles to meet me half way with delivery.

So It seems they had TE Premiums on the lot but not listed on the website.Today I gave them a deposit to hold a 2014 TE /KDSS rigid running boards carpet crossbars Barcelona Red Metallic. Looks like road trip next week. Thanks for the heads up on the Deal in the making.

Excellent! Congrats, man. Good go'n on the color, too. Where/how far you going to pick it up?

Yeah, I'm just a firm believer in buying EXACTLY what you want and going to whatever inconvenient lengths you may have to in order to get it. If I'm going to hold onto a vehicle for 10+ years, I want to make sure that I have no regrets.

Doesn't truecar.com give you a range of what people are paying for new vehicles. All I know is I paid for a 2010 Limited in 2012 what some people are paying for a brand new one now...I do believe I got duped.

Thanks, your post save me some money... I was going to go with gray or silver till I saw the red at dealer hear in New Jersey. I have black now and wanted to feel I really have a new vehicle. The red gives me that feeling. It will take about three hours to get there, so no big deal. I'm trading so I hope I get a fair price for my 2010. I was thinking they may try to short me on the trade to make up for the low asking price.

51,000

This is what I'm shooting for. Plan to buy a TE with KDSS/NAV this week.

Update: brought home a MGM KDSS with Nav tonight. $200 below invoice $36,088 and they added a few accessories to match a similarly equipped 4runner at another dealer (about $500 retail). Not a smoking deal but required very little negotiation, spent some time at Seattle/Bellevue dealerships and they were $1k-1.7k higher and would not budge (similarly equipped except one had auto start.)

sr5 white, black interior, premium, 39k after taxes n stuff. 4x4. 3rd row.

Ohh san diego.

Finally got my new '14 trail edition Friday. Mag grey base version of the trail purchased in MD for a hair over 34K after tax, tag, title. Going price around the nova/dc/md area seems to be 36K for the base trail and that's before the extra fees so I feel pleased with what I paid.

FWIW I was only able to fine one TE prem. in the area listed at 42K. Dealer was firm on price saying they kmew it would go quick, lowe and behold 2 days later it was gone.

I will miss the KDSS as I was able to drive a used one with it but wouldnt have been able to swing that price right now. Figure down the line I can have High-Tech work work some magic on mine anyways.

Regardless, absolutely thrilled to finally have my 4Runner!

- Jeff

Sweet! Now post up in the pic thread!