[wjrodgers]

Did you have less negotiation / wiggle room with the dealer by ordering? I had planned on following several member's advice regarding car purchase, and starting off with the internet quote route, pitting the dealers against themselves, etc. I am not the strongest negotiator, so I really feel this approach will benefit me the most. But... I cannot decide on an SR5 or a Trail, and right now I'm leaning towards the Trail. Finding the Trail I want though is a pain in the hiney. If I order one, do I need to resign myself to paying full price?

[rickwol]

I did not order my TE but I think generally you may pay a bit more for the same vehicle if you are placing an order. Remember that there are dealer costs associated with existing inventory ie. storage, interest, insurance, so the dealer may be more motivated to sell and in turn give you a better deal. But by doing so, you may not have the luxury of getting exactly what you want in the way of options, color etc that you would by ordering. I bought mine off the lot and and judging from what people here have stated they paid by placing an order, I might have saved $1500 or so.

[LiquidGx]

Just ordered one at $1300 below dealer invoice on a loaded LE.

[wjrodgers]

Awesome... how'd you get to that point? Did you walk in saying you wanted $X below invoice?

[Renegad44]

I didn't order one from Japan, but, when I bought my LE in April, 2011, inventory was low because of the volcano eruption/Tsunami. I was dead set on a Mag Grey, black interior/leather, NAV, slide out rear tray, fully loaded, well, they had to go outside their "Regional" area to find one, and they kept trying to sell me something else, but they knew I was serious. They found one, I got it at a good price, and they paid to have it transported here, from Oklahoma. Some dealerships will work with you, others won’t, I went through two, before I found this one who found what I wanted.

Good luck with your decision.

[Ukie]

Originally Posted by wjrodgers

Did you walk in saying you wanted $X below invoice?

Here's my experience buying available (sitting on a lot) inventory.

Step #1 - price negotiation:
I went straight to a sales manager (via email, usually you can find them in a Staff section listed on a dealership's website), asked how low below invoice they can go and got a good below invoice price.

Step #2 - financing negotiation after price negotiation is done:
You need to be prepared and know the lowest advertised APR on the market. I've pointed out to a local credit union web site with low financing offers and manager said it was doable.

[Gasdoc]

It probably depends alot on the dealership. The first dealership I tried to order my LE from said I would have to pay full MSRP because they are flying off the lot. He really didn't seem very interested in ordering one for me though. I called a couple other dealers in the area and they weren't real interested in ordering me one either.

I ended up calling a dealership that is about 3 hours away in a neighboring state. This guy was young, hungry and said he could get me anything I wanted. He told me he would get me one at $500 above his cost. I think he basically called around and just had it rerouted to his lot from the dock. When I picked it up it had all of the options I specified and still had all of the tags, stickers etc from the factory, only 4 miles on it. This guy was very helpful and I will be giving him my business the next time I want another Toyota. He even stayed after hours so that I could pick it up on the weekend after I got off work!! He called me a couple of times over the next several weeks to make sure everything was fine and that I was satisfied with my rig. This kind of service is very hard to find these days and I can't say enough good things about my experience with him.

I guess the best advice is to shop around. Most of the dealerships tried to talk me into something off their lot and tried to tell me why I didn't really need the specs that I wanted. It helps to tell them that you are in no hurry to buy unless you get the exact model, color, specs that you want.

Good luck with your search.

[wjrodgers]

Thanks guys. I think my main concern is that the TE I want is pretty hard to find... there might be 1 within 500mi, and I think it's a 2011 (hoping to get a 2012)... so that's why I'm thinking these approaches might not work for me.

Anyone else order a vehicle and haggle also?

[Jtraskell]

For those of you who still think you can "order from the factory", please do a google search as to how Toyota sells their vehicles, especially the TR4 since it is made in Japan. Ones does NOT order from the factory. You get what comes into port, then one of 3 or 4 distributers tries to come as close as they can get to your wishes (dealers request), then the vehicle is shipped to the local dealer in hope you will but it. If it is exact, then great lucky you. If not, then they hope you will be happy with what is there.

Now, Toyota vehicles made here in the USA might be a different story, but I have not checked into that. Be safe. Happy New Years!

[offroadingatc]

Originally Posted by Jtraskell

For those of you who still think you can "order from the factory", please do a google search as to how Toyota sells their vehicles, especially the TR4 since it is made in Japan. Ones does NOT order from the factory. You get what comes into port, then one of 3 or 4 distributers tries to come as close as they can get to your wishes (dealers request), then the vehicle is shipped to the local dealer in hope you will but it. If it is exact, then great lucky you. If not, then they hope you will be happy with what is there.

Now, Toyota vehicles made here in the USA might be a different story, but I have not checked into that. Be safe. Happy New Years!

I put down a deposit on a vehicle that hadn't been built yet, and that gave me the impression of 'ordering from the factory'. I'm not sure what the actual mechanism is, but when I got mine there were none that met my criteria in Canada, or on the boat over, but there were some scheduled to be built that did, so I was able to scoop one of them... then 3 months later i got it

The dealer I used gave me a decent price on ordering it in. I also didn't want anything doing to it, it was a simple transaction for them to make some $ on.

[Jtraskell]

Originally Posted by offroadingatc

I put down a deposit on a vehicle that hadn't been built yet, and that gave me the impression of 'ordering from the factory'. I'm not sure what the actual mechanism is, but when I got mine there were none that met my criteria in Canada, or on the boat over, but there were some scheduled to be built that did, so I was able to scoop one of them... then 3 months later i got it

The dealer I used gave me a decent price on ordering it in. I also didn't want anything doing to it, it was a simple transaction for them to make some $ on.

I am happy you got exactly what you wanted, (if that was the case). But the highlighted statement above tells the story. That is a key statement. YOU did not order it to be built, it was already a done deal, all your dealer and/or distributer did, is place a "I already sold this one" on that particular build and you got it. Good for you! And I think your were lucky that build came up and transported in 3 months.

The point I am trying to make is that in years gone by, I could (at least with US Manufacturers), order vehicles that were NOT pre offered. I mean, different items from different "packages" which to me meant "custom" build.

Obviously, the vehicle cost more. But I could do it! Don't think I could even do that with US cars let alone vehicles built overseas. Very sad. Be Safe.

[wjrodgers]

Well just to clarify, I am looking for a 2012 Trail, Mag Gray with Nav and no KDSS. Pretty simple configuration, but still pretty hard to locate. I don't need a 'custom build'. Whether I am placing a direct order to Japan or earmarking the next trail on the boat that fits that description is inconsequential as far as I'm concerned.

[thebwlife]

I did 5 state search from Bob Howard in Edmond, OK and they searched their area Gulf States Toyota and got me what I wanted. It only took 3 weeks and 3 different 4Runners. I was opposite of most everyone on here I wanted the most basic 4x4 possible.

Here is all my info.

Finally bought one

Let me know if you have any questions.

[LiquidGx]

Ordered, requested, close enough. Technically I ordered the dealer to request it. So, i ordered it. ;)

[4FL]

I am going to five different dealers, who ever will get me what I want for the price, they have my business. I do not care how they get it, whether ordering or finding on a lot.

Just went through something similar buying a car for my mom, went to five different places, told them I am going to other dealerships, and stated who ever gives me the best deal at the end of the day I will buy it. I got what I wanted at the price I wanted, they even dropped the price by $700 FOR NO REASON while I was waiting for the paperwork stuff. But of course the reason could have been I showed them the written offer from another dealer?