Can I order a configuration from toyota?

S

shine668

New member
I want to buy a 4runner SR5 premium with white exterior and beige interior. 3rd row is always good. But the local dealer told me currently there is no SR5 premium with white/beige and 3rd row in the whole north California. They said, "4runner rarely comes with beige".

Based on your experience, it is possible to order a new 4runner specified by my configuration? I can wait for several months for the color I like.

I asked dealer this question. They avoided to answer and only told me they will let me know when this configuration is collected.

Any advice on how to get the configuration I like? I checked on toyota.com and this configuration is totally possible with my zip code.
 
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I'd try another dealership then. I had ordered mine in Mag Gray, it was going to a month or so from the factory. The next day I saw a Salsa Red on the highway and I loved it. I called the dealer and changed the order, no problems.
 
After my ordering ordeal I can tell you this: if you can configure it on Toyotas website, they can build it.

Finding a willing dealer is the hard part. I spent 2 months talking to 8 different dealers in Colorado to try and order me a Mag Grey SR5 with Beige interior. 7 dealers told me that It wasn't possible to order it even though several confirmed that that they did make one and it got shipped to CA. They all wanted to make me a deal on one they had inbound that was "close" (meaning grey interior). I finally had to get a little pissed and call out a salesman for being lazy before one said he would try. It took several phone calls to a district manager and then to the home office in Japan to confirm they could make my 4Runner as I wanted. Then it took another 4 months for the order to be accepted, built, and shipped.

It took a lot of time and energy but since I wasn't in a hurry and because I refuse to compromise due to someone else's laziness, I came away with exactly what I wanted and paid exactly what I felt was a great deal. Now I have one of only a couple in my configuration.

Stick with it and don't be scared to
a) Shop as many dealers as possible and
b) Call out a dealer... If they want the business they will put in the effort.
 
shine668 said:
Based on your experience, it is possible to order a new 4runner specified by my configuration? I can wait for several months for the color I like.

I asked dealer this question. They avoided to answer and only told me they will let me know when this configuration is collected.
Click to expand...

Your dealer should be able to place a FACTORY order for any currently available 2015 configuration in your region. That said, there are several reasons they may refuse to:

a) They want to sell you something NOW or they want to take your deposit on something that they can sell you in the next week or two.
b) They understand that many buyers are wishy-washy and will change their minds about what they want just as soon as the factory order is placed. This leads to hard feelings, disputes, demands for deposit refunds, etc. that the dealer doesn't really want to deal with.
c) They know that many buyers will say they can wait months, but then grow impatient and buy something else; again leading to everything mentioned above.
d) etc.

Rather than risk insulting a buyer with the facts, I think they prefer to just pretend that factory orders don't exist and a "special order" means them just going out and trying to swap with another dealer (either off the lot or with incoming allocations).
 
Thanks for the sharing of your experience! [MENTION=50813]FoCo-4Runner[/MENTION]

One key question: how much money did they ask you to deposit, before the factory order? Did you pay the whole money (including via financing) before the place of the factory order?

FoCo-4Runner said:
After my ordering ordeal I can tell you this: if you can configure it on Toyotas website, they can build it.

Finding a willing dealer is the hard part. I spent 2 months talking to 8 different dealers in Colorado to try and order me a Mag Grey SR5 with Beige interior. 7 dealers told me that It wasn't possible to order it even though several confirmed that that they did make one and it got shipped to CA. They all wanted to make me a deal on one they had inbound that was "close" (meaning grey interior). I finally had to get a little pissed and call out a salesman for being lazy before one said he would try. It took several phone calls to a district manager and then to the home office in Japan to confirm they could make my 4Runner as I wanted. Then it took another 4 months for the order to be accepted, built, and shipped.

It took a lot of time and energy but since I wasn't in a hurry and because I refuse to compromise due to someone else's laziness, I came away with exactly what I wanted and paid exactly what I felt was a great deal. Now I have one of only a couple in my configuration.

Stick with it and don't be scared to
a) Shop as many dealers as possible and
b) Call out a dealer... If they want the business they will put in the effort.
Click to expand...
 
shine668 said:
Thanks for the sharing of your experience! [MENTION=50813]FoCo-4Runner[/MENTION]

One key question: how much money did they ask you to deposit, before the factory order? Did you pay the whole money (including via financing) before the place of the factory order?
Click to expand...

I gave them $1000 deposit with the final price decided with the exact specs I picked (the only add on I wanted was all weather mats). That was it. Took care of the financing when it hit the dealership. No use running financing when rates are going to change and I couldn't lock in a rate 4 months out. The hard part was getting anyone to actually put the order through...

If you want something specific, don't compromise and don't be scared to politely tell a salesman to go pound sand if they won't make it happen.
 
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I had the same experience placing a special order for a Chevy pickup in 1997, which I still own. I went to every dealer in the area, only two were willing to do it. The closest dealer to my house actually laughed and said he could sell pickups all day, he didn't need my business. 3 newer cars later, he still isn't getting it. It took them 5 months to build it and I didn't get a build date until I called in a complaint.

It's worth it though. For almost 18 years I was driving a truck that was exactly what I wanted. I still get chills firing up that 454 V8. Keep at it and good luck.
 
 
Yes. It can be complicated if the dealer does not want to co-operate though. I go through Fleet sales usually.

You can also look in different Toyota regions to see if another dealer has one equipped the way you want. Equipment offered is usually marketed to the specific region.

Northern California dealers didn't want to order what I wanted on the past two Toyotas I purchased. Bought my last 4runner in Santa Clarita.

Be patient and find a good dealer to work with you.
 
As many others said - find a dealer who is willing to do an order.

I ordered a TE in July 2012 and received a 2013 in late September. I gave a $500 deposit check that they never cashed.
Internet sales rep gave me a list of choices and I picked what I wanted.

I sent my sales rep an email recently asking if they still do orders due to all the posts on the forum about restrictions and districts. Here is his response:

Hi Bob!
yes we still do special orders. send them my information id be glad to
help them out :)
Depending on how complicated the order is, we can usually switch out
some specific options at the factory that is already scheduled to be
built which would minimize wait time.
_______________________________________________________________

If you want to use this So Cal dealer let me know, maybe I can get a Toyota shirt for a referral.
 
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