ksneubec
New member
So my quest for a new 2013 TE started at my local dealership (Lynch Toyota in Manchester, CT). After being lead on for 3 weeks that they could procure the exact 4Runner I wanted, I finally pulled the trigger and gave them the down payment. Surprise surprise, the car I wanted "disappeared" and they could no longer get the one I wanted (2013 TE Red with KDSS). The explanation given to me was that "things change."
So do dealerships. I found the 4Runner I wanted at Aubrey Alexander in PA, via that wonderful thing called the internet. In summary, this is how things went:
I used the Fair Market Value guide on Edmunds.com to price out the average price people payed for their 4Runner with all the options I wanted in the region. I told the dealership this is what I wanted to pay and they agreed to it, no haggling needed.
I told them I was trading in my wife's Mini Cooper S and again, using the Fair Market Value Tool, gave them the trade in value I wanted for it. Again, they agreed without questioning it.
I told them I wanted an extended warranty. 8 years/125k. They said $2500. I told them to come to www.t4r.org and look at the thread on warranties. I told them I would pay $1400 for it. We settled on $1437. Close enough.
I then told them I had to postpone my planned drive from CT to PA to pick it up due to the blizzard we had a few weekends ago. They said, and I quote, "Well, would it be a problem for you if we drove it out to you instead, ahead of the storm?"
That actually ended up not really being a problem for me.
They drove the Mini back to PA, giving me what I asked for it, sight unseen.
I think they did an excellent job every step of the way. Chris Shaffer, the salesman, was excellent. I would highly recommend the dealer.
And BTW I had the truck in time for the storm. As a deputy fire chief I ended up using it to respond in the middle of the storm, with 18 inches on the ground, 30-40 mph winds and the snow coming down at 4 inches/hr. She did great.
So do dealerships. I found the 4Runner I wanted at Aubrey Alexander in PA, via that wonderful thing called the internet. In summary, this is how things went:
I used the Fair Market Value guide on Edmunds.com to price out the average price people payed for their 4Runner with all the options I wanted in the region. I told the dealership this is what I wanted to pay and they agreed to it, no haggling needed.
I told them I was trading in my wife's Mini Cooper S and again, using the Fair Market Value Tool, gave them the trade in value I wanted for it. Again, they agreed without questioning it.
I told them I wanted an extended warranty. 8 years/125k. They said $2500. I told them to come to www.t4r.org and look at the thread on warranties. I told them I would pay $1400 for it. We settled on $1437. Close enough.
I then told them I had to postpone my planned drive from CT to PA to pick it up due to the blizzard we had a few weekends ago. They said, and I quote, "Well, would it be a problem for you if we drove it out to you instead, ahead of the storm?"
That actually ended up not really being a problem for me.
They drove the Mini back to PA, giving me what I asked for it, sight unseen. I think they did an excellent job every step of the way. Chris Shaffer, the salesman, was excellent. I would highly recommend the dealer.
And BTW I had the truck in time for the storm. As a deputy fire chief I ended up using it to respond in the middle of the storm, with 18 inches on the ground, 30-40 mph winds and the snow coming down at 4 inches/hr. She did great.
