2011 SR5 - found the right one, is it the best price?

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bamos17

New member
Hi everyone,

I just signed up on this board and am actively pursuing my first 4Runner. I've always been a fan, but never been able to afford one. Luckily I was able to find a great job during the down economy so my outlook has changed. I'm also sorry if this is spamming the board, but I searched and couldn't find any similar advice to my question.

I'm looking at a 2011 SR5. I used consumer reports and cars.overstock.com to give me the MSRP and invoice price. With the options, the MSRP is approx. $35,973 and they will sell it to me for $300 under invoice at $32,573 + $499 dealer handling. Went in yesterday and they said they'd go $600 under invoice bc i told them another dealer was offering $500 under. According to cars.overstock.com, dealer cost is only $30 under the price they are now quoting me, $32,273 (+$499 dealer handling).

Seems like a great deal to me but I wanted to hear what you all think? Lower is always better as I'm just beginning my career and don't want to go overboard, but I'm certainly not interested in buying a RAV4 instead!
 
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Looks like a good deal, but get rid of that dealer handling fee. Tell them you're ready to buy today at $32,273 or else you will head down the street to (Insert competitor's name here) and offer them $32,273 for their 4Runner. Once they see you are ready to walk away and pay that much elsewhere, I'm pretty sure you'll get them to cave in.
 
you can do better!

First item that jumps out at me is the "dealer handling" fee - there should be no dealer handling fee!!

i used CarWoo.com as a negotiating tool. Multiple dealers post their prices and all quotes are visible to the other dealers so they know where their pricing stands. you get the dealers to post their lowest price and you just call every dealer until you find the bottom line price you're comfortable with. i used CarWoo and i was able to get $31,400 on a 2011 SR5 before tax and fees. the site charges $50 but it was well worth it. it was also raining that day i decided to pull the trigger so a slow day at the dealer is also important.

Good luck on you hunt!
 
Ya I must agree, get rid of that dealer handling fee. Although a lot of people on here talk about it, i don't think CA has that. I basically paid the same price +tax & lic. Make sure you get what you want because the dealers will always make money of you regardless of what they say, if they didn't they wouldn't be in business.
 
I get so mad to think about how much i got ripped off, It's only my fault. I paid 2k below sticker. Just makes me sick, it was my first "new car deal" and I was nervous. oh well next time i walk in there I will be ready and Im going to beat there freakin brains out! LOL!!!
 
bp4runner said:
I get so mad to think about how much i got ripped off, It's only my fault. I paid 2k below sticker. Just makes me sick, it was my first "new car deal" and I was nervous. oh well next time i walk in there I will be ready and Im going to beat there freakin brains out! LOL!!!
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Yeah, this is my first new car purchase and I've done a ton a research...it's a tricky game. The SR5 i'm looking at does have all the options I'd like. It's silver, power cloth seats, convenience package, auto-dimming backup camera review mirror, and running boards.

Thanks for the input on waiving the dealer hanlding fee. There are 3 dealerships within 25 minutes of me that have 13-14 4runners right now so I feel like I have some bargaining room. Especially if I'll be financing half of the cost. Thanks for the advice so far, really helpful!
 
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I would try ZAG.com (click the "Buy a Car" link). If you do not belong to one of the groups choose "Drive Your Dream." Fill out the form... within an hour I am certain at least three dealers will call you and will honor the "Zag" pricing (I picked up an SR5 for $1000 below invoice... minimal haggle).

Also, try New Cars Pricing and Comparisons Local, Regional and National Car Price Reports at TrueCar for good pricing information.

There are several posting on this subject throughout as well.
 
bamos17 said:
Yeah, this is my first new car purchase and I've done a ton a research...it's a tricky game. The SR5 i'm looking at does have all the options I'd like. It's silver, power cloth seats, convenience package, auto-dimming backup camera review mirror, and running boards.

Thanks for the input on waiving the dealer hanlding fee. There are 3 dealerships within 25 minutes of me that have 13-14 4runners right now so I feel like I have some bargaining room. Especially if I'll be financing half of the cost. Thanks for the advice so far, really helpful!
Click to expand...

If they are all in colors and options you would buy, then you have all the power in this transaction. Good luck, and just be patient... the more times you say "no deal", the more they will keep calling/emailing you with better offers.
 
"Dealer Handling Fee". WTF.

I've never even heard of such a thing. It's just a way to pump the price back up - and it's 100% profit. Tell 'em to stuff it.
 
If you're a AAA member you should be able to get a better price than that. If you use your AAA membership number you can log into their site, configure your SR5, and have quotes from several dealerships within a few minutes. I purchased a 2010 SR5 similar to the one you have listed in September. The list was $34500 and I paid $31006 + tax and tags.
 
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They don't seem to be budging (yet) on the dealers handling 'fee', probably because its the only silver SR5 they have. My local dealership has a couple Silvers w/o running boards which should give me some bargaining room.

I just emailed as I noticed a discrepancy in their MSRP price, it was $200 over the real MSRP, and told them I'm open minded to Magnetic Gray and if the other dealer will waive the dealer handling fee, I'll go with them and put running boards on myself.

I'm not an AAA member, but thanks for that advice. I used Zag.com yesterday but it gave me higher prices than cars.overstock.com. I'm interested in using CarWoo but I already spent $30 on consumer reports (dumb) and I'm not trying to spend more!
 
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bamos17 said:
They don't seem to be budging (yet) on the dealers handling 'fee', probably because its the only silver SR5 they have. My local dealership has a couple Silvers w/o running boards which should give me some bargaining room!
Click to expand...

Sent you a Private message...

I had no luck @ all w/ Boulder Toyota. Surprisingly the CO Springs dealer (same company) was a completely different story.

handling fees seem to be the norm in Colorado, but are definitely avoidable/negotiable.
 
Hi there,

I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I plan on buying a Limited Edition with Nav this week. This is how I handled it, and so far I think I got excellent results.

The MSRP of the package I chose was $49,665 (I know, we pay too much up here).

I created an RFQ (request for quote) and sent it out to the 18 dealers close to me, that I would reasonably travel to, to purchase the car. In the RFQ I told them I had no interest in coming in, or discussing anything on the phone. I told them I would accept offers until the end of next week (by email), and please send your best possible price as I have no time to go back and forth. (I did not include a phone number)

I sent this RFQ by fax this morning. I have already received 6 email responses. The two best prices were $4,600 off MSRP and $4,200 off MSRP (both BEFORE taxes).

If you're interested in how I worded the RFQ or anything else, let me know. This was zero hassle for me and it allowed me to see what incentives etc. were available without trusting one or two dealers. You involve enough of them and anything they CAN do will show up somewhere.

Good luck!!
 
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In Colorado Springs there are these two bogus charges on their 4Runners each running $499. Some kind of bird-poop protection package and another package just like it. What's up with that? Does the carwoo price include the $810 destination fee? The 4Runner (SR5) I am looking at MSRPs for around $35,970 with all the options. Zag.com advertises a price of $33,034 before "fees" and taxes. I appreciate any advice you can give.
 
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