Factory Order question???

[Mdrei]

I ordered a T4R TE from a local dealer about a month ago. Originally, they were trying to find a match via allocation. Since one couldn't be tracked down they went ahead and processed a factory order.

My question: with the vehicle being made 'for me' can I request leather trim installation even though it's not an option on the TE? From a mechanical standpoint I figured the seating/steering/gear shifter packages would be interchangeable between versions. However, my guess is that processing that change may be impossible.

I'd appreciate any insight into the feasibility of this request.

 

[Quentin]

I ordered a T4R TE from a local dealer about a month ago. Originally, they were trying to find a match via allocation. Since one couldn't be tracked down they went ahead and processed a factory order.

My question: with the vehicle being made 'for me' can I request leather trim installation even though it's not an option on the TE? From a mechanical standpoint I figured the seating/steering/gear shifter packages would be interchangeable between versions. However, my guess is that processing that change may be impossible.

I'd appreciate any insight into the feasibility of this request.

I don't think Toyota works that way. I've heard of being able to do weird stuff like that w/ the domestics way back when, but that really isn't the case these days. The manufacturing of the vehicle probably has a certain "code" that follows the chassis through the line and that tell the assembly line what parts go in. I don't expect they'd have a custom code.

Assuming the seat shape is the same, you could always just order the leather seat covers from an SR5 through the parts department or have leather covers made in the aftermarket. You'd probably get better materials, in fact. I'm sure you could offload the TE seat covers for a couple hundred bucks to someone w/ the base cloth.

 

[LyteFly]

Assuming the seat shape is the same, you could always just order the leather seat covers from an SR5 through the parts department or have leather covers made in the aftermarket. You'd probably get better materials, in fact. I'm sure you could offload the TE seat covers for a couple hundred bucks to someone w/ the base cloth.

:thumb3:

 

[Uneek]

No, you can only have options that are available to that specific trim only. If leather isn't available, you can't get it with leather, even though another trim of that model does. Same goes for the color, you can only get what's available to that trim, or putting the Limited's 20" rims on a SR5, SR5 rims on a TE, etc., etc. The only way to deviate from this are port and dealer installed options. Some regions the port will add (aftermarket) leather to trims that are cloth only interior, or the dealer will swap a set of rims from another trim.

So really, a "special order" isn't anything special. It's merely the dealer telling the factory, I want this particular configuration which my regional doesn't normally order in their allocations. Toyota with the exception of the Southeast region, the regional distributor determines what configurations (different option combinations) they want to order for particular model and trim. Southeast Toyota (SET) is different than the rest of the US. So even though options like nav/KDSS is available on the Trail Edition, the dealer may tell you those don't exist.

I went through the same thing getting my '06. Only one dealer and rep was willing to get me exactly what I wanted. All the other dealers said, it doesn't exists and I can't get that trim with those options.

 

[Mdrei]

Quentin & Uneek, thanks for the good feedback...that's what I figured. Re-selling the cloth covers is a good idea. I planned on adding leather a few years down the road but if I can sell the originals I may upgrade after taking delivery. Apparently I've got a few months wait-time to ponder it.

 

[T4Fun]

toyota should do right and allow us to order what we want. they will be hurting come april when they report the massive loss