Anyone here work at a Canadian dealership?

[invisible4Runner]

The Toyota 4 year finance rates are presently 1.99%. However, the BoC interest rate was dropped this month - will the Toyota finance rates be dropped in August?

Hoping to purchase this week, but will hold off a week if rates are likely to drop.

EDIT: Okay I just signed for one - so if Toyota interest rates are going down next week, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME

 

[Hellamatic]

I doubt it, but I'd wait a month if I were you. August, especially towards the end, is when dealerships start offering more incentives (employee pricing, etc,) in order to clear the previous model year stock and make room for the next. I've always had my best luck buying a new vehicle around that time of year.

Depending whereabouts in Canada you are, you'll probably see good deals in the coming months - with the price of oil in the shitter right now, a lot of dealerships are starting to bend over pretty hard to make some sales.

 

[Jono.ful]

really, really rare that you get anything significant on a 4R though. when I bought mine, they were selling well enough that the dealers I talked to balked at even negotiating on price.

 

[KostyaK]

I had financing done through BMO I believe. When I bought dealer did all the work the rate is 1%.

 

[Whiskey Jack]

In Halifax Nova Scotia (Canada) there are no T4R's on the dealer lots. If you want one you have to order one. This is my current situation. For me, it probably means zero chance of any kind of 'discount' or deal.

1.99% for 3 and 4 years is all they're offering. 2.99% for 5 and 3.99% for 6 years, if you're into that sort of thing...

 

[invisible4Runner]

In Halifax Nova Scotia (Canada) there are no T4R's on the dealer lots. If you want one you have to order one. This is my current situation. For me, it probably means zero chance of any kind of 'discount' or deal.

1.99% for 3 and 4 years is all they're offering. 2.99% for 5 and 3.99% for 6 years, if you're into that sort of thing...

Amherst has one. SR5 Upgrade. Silver. They offered me a fair price on it, but I did not want silver. All yours if you want it

 

[Whiskey Jack]

Amherst has one. SR5 Upgrade. Silver. They offered me a fair price on it, but I did not want silver. All yours if you want it

Hey! [emoji2]

Too bad the SR5 Upgrade package has the third row seats... That and the silver color are deal breakers. We've had silver cars for the past 10 years and need a change. We're going for the magnetic metallic grey.

[emoji111]️

 

[Whiskey Jack]

Amherst has one. SR5 Upgrade. Silver. They offered me a fair price on it, but I did not want silver. All yours if you want it

If you don't mind me asking, what was the fair price?

 

[invisible4Runner]

If you don't mind me asking, what was the fair price?

I will send you a PM

 

[GabrielM]

This it what someone I know have done to get the better pricing:

• Go to Toyota.ca
• Click "Find a dealer"
• Since you seem to be close to Amherst Toyota, check all NB(9) and NS(10) Toyota dealer
• Get all their emails
• Send a message to all of them saying what you are looking for (in much precise details) and what you have in exchange(if you do). Put them all in the TO section of the email so they know you send it to everyone.
• Wait for response, you might be surprise how much some dealers(salesman) are willing to do to have a sale.

My friend got a better pricing on his 2015 Tacoma Double Cab and a better value on his 2013 FJC he had in exchange. All over email/phone without hassle.

 

[Hellamatic]

This it what someone I know have done to get the better pricing:

• Go to Toyota.ca
• Click "Find a dealer"
• Since you seem to be close to Amherst Toyota, check all NB(9) and NS(10) Toyota dealer
• Get all their emails
• Send a message to all of them saying what you are looking for (in much precise details) and what you have in exchange(if you do). Put them all in the TO section of the email so they know you send it to everyone.
• Wait for response, you might be surprise how much some dealers(salesman) are willing to do to have a sale.

My friend got a better pricing on his 2015 Tacoma Double Cab and a better value on his 2013 FJC he had in exchange. All over email/phone without hassle.

Yep, this is a good negotiating tool as well - just make sure the same parent company/owner doesn't own all of the dealerships, haha.

In my experience, Toyota dealerships are rarely willing to negotiate very much - definitely a lot less so than Ford/GM/Dodge. Maybe it's a regional thing, as out here the big 3 (maybe little 3 is more apt now?) are pretty cutthroat with trying to garner business from those of us that buy a new truck for work every 2-3 years or so.

 

[Whiskey Jack]

This it what someone I know have done to get the better pricing:

• Go to Toyota.ca
  
• Click "Find a dealer"
  
• Since you seem to be close to Amherst Toyota, check all NB(9) and NS(10) Toyota dealer
  
• Get all their emails
  
• Send a message to all of them saying what you are looking for (in much precise details) and what you have in exchange(if you do). Put them all in the TO section of the email so they know you send it to everyone.
  
• Wait for response, you might be surprise how much some dealers(salesman) are willing to do to have a sale.
  

Hmmmm... why not! [emoji106][emoji2]

 

[GabrielM]

Yep, this is a good negotiating tool as well - just make sure the same parent company/owner doesn't own all of the dealerships, haha.

In my experience, Toyota dealerships are rarely willing to negotiate very much - definitely a lot less so than Ford/GM/Dodge. Maybe it's a regional thing, as out here the big 3 (maybe little 3 is more apt now?) are pretty cutthroat with trying to garner business from those of us that buy a new truck for work every 2-3 years or so.

The issue is the 4Runner is such a low volume seller, that they don't have it on the lot (here the usually only have Limited, often black, when they have one). So if you want one, they know that you really want one and don't need to work the price down to make you sign.

 

[invisible4Runner]

I read all the articles talking about emailing all the dealers at once, and I tried a variation of that with the 11 local dealers, but I found that none of them took me seriously. They were far more willing to give me a good price if they met me in person or spoke over the phone.

I think part of it is them understanding you are serious, and another part is them being terrified of putting an offer in writing by email, as they expect you to email it to everyone else.

Maybe in a more competitive market or with a higher volume car it would be easier. But I found I had to resort to speaking with everyone if I wanted to get their actual best price.

 

[Hellamatic]

I read all the articles talking about emailing all the dealers at once, and I tried a variation of that with the 11 local dealers, but I found that none of them took me seriously. They were far more willing to give me a good price if they met me in person or spoke over the phone.

I think part of it is them understanding you are serious, and another part is them being terrified of putting an offer in writing by email, as they expect you to email it to everyone else.

Maybe in a more competitive market or with a higher volume car it would be easier. But I found I had to resort to speaking with everyone if I wanted to get their actual best price.

It's because the dealerships know all the same 'tricks' everyone else does, haha.

One of my apprentices has been truck shopping for the last couple weeks - he's been to a bunch of places, phoned a few, etc for some basic prices and to see what they have. He's made a couple lowball offers, but nothing too serious.

As the experienced voice of reason, I told him to not make any impulse decisions and to make sure he checks out all his options. I used the analogy of courting a beautiful woman - you don't want to seem too desperate, so play it cool and don't seem needy.

Lo and behold, a couple weeks later and most of the sales guys he's chatted with are phoning him now and leaving voicemails asking for a call back. Again, I told him to play it cool - wait a few days before returning their call.

It's all just a game. An elaborate ballet. The trick with buying a vehicle is to take it slow. Do your research and decide what you think you want to pay. Make sure you're well-versed enough about the vehicle/options that you know as much or more than the salesperson. I always joke that I don't go vehicle SHOPPING, I go vehicle BUYING - that is to say, I know exactly what I want/need before even heading to a dealership.

Bottom line: as the prospective customer, YOU are the one in control and they want your business. Just shop around and the right deal WILL come along.

As a side note, can you tell the oilpatch in Alberta is slow, haha? Nothing like downtime from work to give me the time to type out long-winded BS about vehicle shopping, haha.

 

[Whiskey Jack]

Great advice, everyone. Lots of different approaches to car 'buying' . Keep it coming!

 

[Peyto]

Yep, this is a good negotiating tool as well - just make sure the same parent company/owner doesn't own all of the dealerships, haha.

Believe it or not, when I was negotiating (by email using the same method [MENTION=111795]GabrielM[/MENTION] mentioned above) it was down to two dealerships with the same owner. So while they may have the same owner, the sales teams are certainly competing with one another.

The nice part about the email method is that the dealerships can get a sense of how serious you. You're telling them that you've done all the research and have decided on the exact vehicle you want, but now it just comes down to price. For me it was pretty easy because you negotiate by email for a few days, and then when you've reached an agreement you go in and sign the paperwork. The dealer isn't getting that windfall from someone who pays MRSP, but the flip side is that it becomes a pretty straightforward sale without the hours of humming and hawing.

 

[Hellamatic]

Believe it or not, when I was negotiating (by email using the same method [MENTION=111795]GabrielM[/MENTION] mentioned above) it was down to two dealerships with the same owner. So while they may have the same owner, the sales teams are certainly competing with one another.

This is true - I suppose they all need to get their numbers up. Depends on how badly the individual salespeople need to eat too, haha. You'll definitely get them taking a bit of a hit to their commission if the economy is slow and it means the difference between putting hot dogs in their Kraft Dinner that night or not.

 

[Peyto]

This is true - I suppose they all need to get their numbers up. Depends on how badly the individual salespeople need to eat too, haha. You'll definitely get them taking a bit of a hit to their commission if the economy is slow and it means the difference between putting hot dogs in their Kraft Dinner that night or not.

I would imagine that it also has to do with having 8 dealerships in the immediate area so its not quite as easy for a salesperson to know who the other potential sellers are. Mind you it's not tough to pick up the phone, but even if dealers decide to collude (for lack of a better word) on price there are 6 others with different owners all competing. That being said, I recognize that in Atlantic Canada their isn't as much choice in dealers and therefore competition to use in negotiations.

For what its worth, my experience is from last spring when crude was over $100. Give us one more oil boom and we promise not to piss it away this time!

 

[Boardmember]

I can't imagine passing up the opportunity to on-site shop. I absolutely love the process, and agree that I always remember I'm in control. I'm nice and I'm fair, but I like to go see, shake hands, exchange business card and say "This is what I'm looking for, can you help?" And each dealership I visit, I've learned enough to be a better shopper.

"Oh, OK. I saw that at X dealership yesterday." or "Wow. I've gotten better offers from two other dealerships (naming them is optional."