First Time Cary Buyer Here. Need Opinions and Advice.

[vikingfrog]

I am about to graduate from college and this will be my first time buying a vehicle. After looking at Acadias for a while I really got turned off by their "mini van" look and fell in love with the 4Runner. I am really liking the look of the Urban Runner and don't know if I can get away from it at this price. The only thing I don't like about it is the badging, but I plan on debadging it as soon as I get it. My question to all of you 4Runner owners is can I still utilize the $1500 cash back incentive if I am getting this fleet price? It is my understanding that this rebate comes directly from Toyota so I should be able to still get it as it has no effect on the dealer. Also, I relly want this baby in black, but I just read a couple of threads about keeping black cars clean. I have never been much of a picky person about having a super clean car, but I was wondering if you would suggest going for the Blizzard Pearl model?
Thanks for the help and I look forward to owning my first 4runner in the next week or two.



I have aBlack one due in in just a few days.

Here's the vehicle:
MOD 8646A 2008 4RUNNER 4-DOOR SPO DMG ST W
CLR 0202(BLACK )/FL13(FL13 )
AB ----DESCRIPTION------
FE 50 State Emissions
QY Value Package Includes: Power Tilt/Slid
Moonroof w/Sunshade, Double Decker Carg
System w/Cargo Net, Garage Door Opener
w/Homelink, and Auto Dimming Rear View
Mirror w/Compass
RL Daytime Running Lights
SE Urban Runner Package: (Includes AM/FM C
w/ 6 speakers and detachable TomTom
Personal Navigation Device / WMA & MP3
capability / Bluetooth Capability, Ston
Alcantara Fabric Seat Inserts w/ Charco
Leatherette Bolsters, Chrome Door Handl
Leather Shift Knob, Black Wood Grain
Style Interior Trim, 18" 6-spoke
Aluminum Alloy Wheels with P265/60 R18
tires, Color Keyed Grille, Black Painte
Tubular Roof Rack w/Black Cross Bars,
Black Painted Tubular Side Steps, Rear
Spoiler, Chrome Exhaust Tip, Urban Runn
and XREAS Badging. Deletes the followin
Sport Edition Standard Equipment -
AM/FM CD with 6 Spks, Urethane shift kn
w/silver insert, Silver Interior Trim,
CF Carpet Mat Set
Carpet Floor Mats
Rear Cargo Mat
DH Receiver Hitch / Wire Harness
P4 Vehicle Shield Package
Sound Shield
Rental Car Assistance
G1 Vehicle Fueling - no charge

MSRP: 34210.00

Your Fleet Buy Direct cost : 29789.00

TT+L is additional.

When do you want to take delivery?

 

[toto]

I don't believe you can combine a fleet purchase with a rebate.

Rebates on a car are generally factored into the sale and used to reduce the price of the car. I've never heard of someone getting a check for $1500 in the mail 6-8 weeks later. It's usually to your advantage to take the rebate at the time of sale; if nothing else, it can reduce your sales tax (depending on your state).

I'd contend that you can do better than the fleet price if you negotiate and get the rebate. Sounds like you might have a "friend in the business" or other connection. People assume that's the best way to buy a car, but not always. It's better to be a smart shopper.

4Runners are selling very near invoice... they have been for a long time. There's about $4,200 between MSRP and invoice on an SE with the Urban Runner package. So, if we do some math:

MSRP - 34,210
-> Invoice - $30,000 (roughly)
Rebate - $1,500
-> Great deal: $28,500

Even if you give the dealer $500 over invoice (which is fair, in my opinion), you're at $29,000 before TTL. That's the price I'd be willing to pay.

Edit: Most car manufacturers offer recent grads an additional $500 on any model. If that's not in the $1500, be sure to add it.

 

[toto]

Since you're a first time buyer, I'm also compelled to point out that the dealership makes the most money when you walk into the finance manager's office. Negotiating the sales price is only step one!

You don't mention if you're leasing, paying cash, or financing. If you're doing any financing, use Excel or a payment calculator to know within $1 where the monthly payment should be. I've had too many dealers try to sneak life insurance into the loan payment. They may not even tell you they're doing it unless you catch the fact that the payment is too high, or you read the fine print for 10 minutes.

They'll also try to sell you other stuff like extended warranties and pay-in-advance maintenance plans. You can buy all of that later, so even if it sounds like a good deal, you can think about it and come back here and find out if it really is a deal. For example, it's amazing how much profit (and therefore, room to negotiate) there is on an extended warranty. Whatever price you're quoted, it can be had elsewhere at half that price if you shop around!

You have to keep your guard up even after you agree on a price. It's not over until you've signed everything and you're walking out with copies of everything you signed and the keys. Until then, the dealer will continue to try to make money off of you!

 

[vikingfrog]

I have been doing my research on car buying as a whole and am somewhat knowledgeable on the tricks of the trade. Everything I have read alerts me to make sure to read everything and not get suckered into shady financing, poor warranties, or odd charges applied by the dealer. I just acquired $30,000 from my grandmother so I am not too worried about figuring out financing because if I have to finance anything it will be such a small portion of the price that it won't have much affect.

Any tips or help for buying my new car would be great.

Thanks guys

 

[4runDiZZLe]

I have been doing my research on car buying as a whole and am somewhat knowledgeable on the tricks of the trade. Everything I have read alerts me to make sure to read everything and not get suckered into shady financing, poor warranties, or odd charges applied by the dealer. I just acquired $30,000 from my grandmother so I am not too worried about figuring out financing because if I have to finance anything it will be such a small portion of the price that it won't have much affect.

Any tips or help for buying my new car would be great.

Thanks guys

yup... all the stuff said in this thread is true... people at the dealership are shady they try to push financing on you even if you want to pay cash...

they try to push it on you because they get a money when you finance either by commission or giving you a rate 2-3% percent higher than what the bank is offering so that they can keep the difference...

my advice... DO YOUR RESEARCH... and go in to the dealer with your set price including tax, title, and licensing fee... and DO NOT BUDGE they will try every tactic to get you to finance or buy a more expensive car... they will tell you all sorts of lies just to get you to sign...

especially since you have that 30k from your grandmother... i would get a USED t4r... these truck LAST FOREVER so really it reliability is not an issue... plus with the money you save you have more money for doing MODS!!!

besides depreciation in the first 2-3 years is when it depreciates the most... although toyota's don't depreciate as fast as other cars they still depreciate....

just my $.02

 

[rook]

I have been doing my research on car buying as a whole and am somewhat knowledgeable on the tricks of the trade. Everything I have read alerts me to make sure to read everything and not get suckered into shady financing, poor warranties, or odd charges applied by the dealer. I just acquired $30,000 from my grandmother so I am not too worried about figuring out financing because if I have to finance anything it will be such a small portion of the price that it won't have much affect.

Any tips or help for buying my new car would be great.

Thanks guys

Its great that you are doing research, I will preface my post with this: make the smart decision, not the emotional one.

30 grand is a lot of money. Although you can easily get a 4runner for that money, does it really make sense for you financially to put all of it towards a new vehicle? Look at it this way, would it be reasonable for you to buy this truck, just out of college if you did not have all that cash in hand?

I have seen many 0% financing offers for 4Runners lately. That means Toyota is motivated to move these trucks. It also means you should squeeze the dealer for every dime when negotiating. 4runners and other suv's are not flying off the lots any more.

The 0% also means you do not need to take all of your money and pay cash for the truck. Put as little as possible down to have a reasonable payment and invest the rest for your future.


As for fleet pricing, make sure you read the fine print. Sometimes the warranty is different. There may be other caveats.

Good luck!