advice for buying a 04 sport...

[the_josh]

hey everyone!
i dont own a 4runner just yet but im getting one really soon, the only thing holding me back is trying to get the right price...
here what i want:
04 4runner sport
4x4
v8
jbl 3in1 6 disc
115v outlet
sunroof
spoiler
compass mirror
titanium

how would i be able to get exactely what i want and at the price i want? is it possible to special order one? and would that effect getting a good price? i have talked to a fleet mgr at walnut creek toyota that claims he will sell it to me for invoice just because he just cares about moving the unit. he said he would order it for me but he has been kinda flaky about getting back to me.
i would ideally like to get the 4runner around the end of may so i can save a bit more for the down payment, so am i doing this all to soon or is the early prep good?
thanks in advance for all your help!!!

joshua

 

[NoDak]

there are threads with some info in them, but the shorthand answer, goto edmunds.com and figure out the TMV there.

 

[the_josh]

i already have, ive gotten all the invoice prices already... i guess the question im asking is what is the best way to get my 4runner from the dealer, a way in which they would be most likely to give me a better price? (and i dont really mean give, because it depends on my nego skills to get it) is it possible to special order a 4runner with what i want? and how long would it take?

 

[HuiDaddy]

for one thing, a sport is hard to find PERIOD! dont go from dealer to dealer trying to find your car. they'll just keep on trying to sell you the crap they have leftover in their lot and trying to fool you into buying something that they have, not what you want. go through www.carsdirect.com and have someone else find it for you. they get PAID to find you a car and if they cant find you a car, then tell them to look harder! negotiating is a piece of history from the times of PRE-INTERNET.

remember the days when everyone had pagers and only the elite had cell phones. well now, everyone and their moms has a cell phone. things change! forget that salesperson, most of the time they dont even know "shiznitz" about what theyre selling! i had a salesman tell me the JBL 6 disc changer is am option only for LIMITED 4Runner because thats all they had in stock on their lot. BOLOGNA!!! Its all about the internet these days. i went through carsdirect and i got an awesome deal. i hope this is enough info for ya.

oh yea, i think if you special order it straight outta japan, i think it takes 6 months. dood in 6 months, you'd probably forget you even ordered a car!

 

[EXTEX]

Car Wars [the epic]

the_josh -

Huidaddy gives some really good advice there - and he's just been going thru it! There are two good threads for you to read, under General Dicussions: "Did I get Jacked/" and "Offered 40K for a Limited."

He is correct, salesmen know alot LESS about the truck you're shopping - especially if you read around this forum. In their defense [let the record show, I AM defending car salesmen here], they must sell every model Toyota, not just 4R, and it's YOUR $, so they're not remotely passionate about YOUR deal.

Tne internet/phone is the way to go. Ask for the internet manager - often times you'll see their name posted. Internet sales are an ever increasing sales segment, and the dealerships seem to have a more knowledgable [BSer] person @ this post.
Recognize how he got his job: sales success, made $ for the company, the $ came from buyers, see a trend? He will be good @ it!

Whenever you start hearing something over the phone approaching a deal you think is decent GET IT IN WRITING! This doesn't mean you have to take the deal, or that the deal can't be bettered. It just sets a written baseline to work from.

Like Huidaddy said - this technology world has changed - there is no reason in today's world not to have something faxed to you. Even if you don't have your own fax machine, there's a copy shop on every corner for $1 a page.

Putting something in writing FORCES them to move from BS, lies, I didn't say that!, I told you that!, or a total runaround. You want to force them into substantive dealmaking, otherwise, they'll BS you as long as you let them.

In a new car transaction, only one party can have a deal to be REALLY happy with. It will surely be the dealer, if you allow them to have their way with your $.

 

[barneyfife911]

Extex is right on the money about the internet. I pick up my V8 Sport tomorrow, and I did the whole deal via the internet. Only time I visited a dealer was to take a couple test drives and figure out exactly what I wanted. I then did my homework, contacted 8-10 area dealers by email, told them exactly what I wanted and what I was willing to pay. No hassles and no pressure and everything is in writing.

Originally, I was going to order exactly what I wanted, but be prepared to wait at least 4 months if you go that route. Sometimes the dealer can run a locater and find what you want on another regional lot to be shipped to him, but that's harder if you want a lot of certain options. Remember that things like the rear spoiler (even leather) can be added by the dealer, and don't have to be on the vehicle to begin with. I would suggest not paying extra for Toyota's audio upgrade unit and buying aftermarket. Much better quality/sound for just a little more price.

Good luck with getting your vehicle. Hope it all works out like you want it to.

 

[HuiDaddy]

I would suggest not paying extra for Toyota's audio upgrade unit and buying aftermarket. Much better quality/sound for just a little more price.

Why didnt i read this BEFORE i committed!!! i think the quantity of 10 speakers and 6 disc changer DID originally sell itself to me, but now that i got it, i think the system stinks! Its too late and i dont want to spend money on the system that i paid for! i think i'll learn to be content and appreciate it. some people dont even have a CD or tape deck in their car.

If i wanted to create an entirely new system, i would have to do the whole, route around the factory amp ETC, not looking forward to that. Also, for some reason, when i take something apart, it never really looks the same as it did BEFORE i got my tools out. Funny, im a degreed mechanical engineer too!

 

[Mark86]

I also did a print out of all the options available for the 4Runner and I marked down the ones I wanted. I then went to the salesman and he told me that there is not a 4Runner on any dealer's lot with some of the options I want in it (homelink, compass mirror). I ended up adding these options after I got it. I was shopping in September so the dealer was anxious to get rid of the 2003's. They had three silver sport V8's on the lot and they wanted to get rid of them. They gave me a great deal so I ended up buying off the lot! The deal was just too good to let go! :bugeye: