Finally - a VIN number

[AgeOfEmpires]

Well, finally after what seems like an eternity, I got a VIN number today.

Won't go into a long story, but I've been watching toyota.com for about 2 weeks now waiting for one like mine to show up - I doubt there is another one configured exactly like mine.

I was about to cancel with this dealer because of all of the date push backs. About 4pm yesterday, still nothing on the website and then around 9pm or so, there is was - showing 6 day availability. Got a call this morning from dealer saying mine was "on the ground" (confirming the website inventory) and that they were requesting the port to get it out for delivery tomorrow (2/28). We'll see. Port only has 2 things to accomplish - night vision mirror and spoiler. I sure hope they don't get in too much hurry installing that spoiler though.

Hopefully over the next day or so, my F250 SD will be gone (although I really hate to see it go) and I'll be in the 4Runner.

 

[H2OU]

What website were you watching? How can you see what vehicles the dealer is expecting? Thanks!

 

[HiVel-JR]

That is pretty interesting, I had no idea that was possible to do.

 

[AgeOfEmpires]

That is pretty interesting, I had no idea that was possible to do.

For those of you that asked - here is what I did....

I had no success searching for a vehicle like I wanted using the "New Vehicle Inventory" on any of the dealers here in TX, in OK, LA, or AR (yes, I searched high and low).

I kept watching the individual dealer sites for anything to show. Since the "in stock"/"available" numbers for the Sport 4x4 V8 is fairly small within a given area, I noticed that within a "region" (ex: Houston, Austin or San Antonio, Lake Charles or Baton Rouge, Dallas or Fort Worth, etc.) all dealers in that "region" are going to show the exact same set vehicles (a fact most of you probably already know). The only variation across dealer website is the status - either "in stock" (if at that particular dealership) or "available" if in a surrounding dealership. For example, currently the same group of 8 Sport 4x4 V8's will show as in stock/available to any of the dealers in the Dallas area.

I discovered that toyota.com, using the "Build and Price Your Toyota" (or whatever it is called) gives a larger number of vehicles for my particular region (large metro) and there is another status category listed as "# Days" showing additional vechicles a little "further out". It seems the "available" pool there is a little larger too. I had been told my 4Runner was due into the port well before the 20th, but then I kept getting "it is delayed" message, so I had been searching toyota.com for anything that would pop-up similar to the config I ordered.

Well, like I mentioned above, I searched there for a couple of weeks to no avail (they were always either the wrong color or they had moon roofs and/or leather). Last night, all of the sudden, there was one that matched my config EXACTLY - all the way down to the first aid kit I ordered because my daughter wanted it - showing availability of 6 days. This lag time calcs about right because the port does have to install a couple of items.

Sure enough, the dealer calls this morning saying mine had arrived late yesterday.

Therefore, the confirmation (at least via circumstantial evidence) that mine was the one showing at toyota.com. Too much of a timing and config coincidence for it not to be the one "tagged" for me, in my opinion.

 

[AgeOfEmpires]

Well, I'm guessing my dealer was successful in gettng the port to rush. My vehicle is now showing "in stock" from toyota.com's link to my dealer. It went from 6 day availability on Monday night to 3 days about 11pm last night, to the in stock as of this morning.

Maybe the wait is finally over...

 

[toto]

It's really cool that AgeOfEmpires' region has such good Internet connectivity. Not all regions are like that. The Midwest region is more bare-bones, as each dealer chooses to post their own inventory or not, and Toyota.com tells you what configurations are being shipped to the region, but with no information about how many are around.

Maybe someday we'll all get that... it would sure make it a lot easier to buy a Toyota!

 

[H2OU]

Thanks for the info AgeOfEmpires! I will try this out to see if it works for the 4Runner I ordered. It is supposed to be in any day now. I'll keep the board posted...