How to find a TE with KDSS without calling dealers?

[apollo]

is there any online tool available for locating a vehicle with specific features at toyota dealers? sorry if I've overlooked the obvious, but I have had the most difficult time just trying to determine what options are on a TE when I find one at a nearby dealer that is in stock. websites have very little info, no window sticker available to view, and almost every dealer I've contacted in the Dallas area has associates that play a strange game where they reply to my straightforward questions about the vehicle options with other questions and won't just tell me what is on the vehicle.

is there not a simple way to search what is in stock with the ability to see the options on the vehicle?

thanks for any ideas

 

[BobsTrail]

Te & kdss

When I ordered my TE there were only 2 options available - KDSS and NAV from the factory. The rest was add on at the port or dealer installed, stuff like cargo cover, cargo net, chrome exhaust tip etc. - small stuff.

I think most TEs come with KDSS and if you find one, it probably has it. You can't ask a dealer because they don't know what to look for. I have had good luck going to the dealers web sites and checking their inventory. After that if you find a Trail you will need to go there and look under it for the cylinders on the sway bar.

If possible, try to work with an internet or fleet sales rep, they may no be as bad as the floor reps.

 

[1engineer]

is there any online tool available for locating a vehicle with specific features at toyota dealers? sorry if I've overlooked the obvious, but I have had the most difficult time just trying to determine what options are on a TE when I find one at a nearby dealer that is in stock. websites have very little info, no window sticker available to view, and almost every dealer I've contacted in the Dallas area has associates that play a strange game where they reply to my straightforward questions about the vehicle options with other questions and won't just tell me what is on the vehicle.

is there not a simple way to search what is in stock with the ability to see the options on the vehicle?

thanks for any ideas

Easy. Price.
Look for a '14 TE around $40-$41K instead of $36-$38K. When you find one in that price range it will probably have KDSS. Not always but 95% of the time it will.

 

[chmura]

You can typically estimate what the 4runner has by looking at the MSRP of the vehicle. You can easily see the MSRP on the dealers website.

But first you need to call and ask what options are on the vehicle 2-3 times with various price ranges on the TE models and than you have the data you want and can just go by MSRP price and be fairly accurate what the vehicle has. MSRP might slightly change from vehicle to vehicle since some have optional exhaust tip, etc. This is no more than $100.

For example.

$41,XXX Is typically a TE premium with KDSS and navi
$38,XXX is typically a TE non premium and KDSS/Navi

You get the point. Above figures are estimates when I was looking at the 5th gen.

MSRP does not change across the country. So you just have to call a few dealers and ASK them what options the vehicle has and write down the price.

Then you can basically figure out and search for a TE with KDSS across the entire US.

This might seem like a lot of work, but worked well for me. Takes just less than one hour to call a few dealers and boom you can easily know what options the 4runner has by looking at the MSRP.

 

[NoDak]

best bet is to ensure option code "KD" is on the window sticker.

just the have the dealer monkey, I mean salesperson go email/fax you a copy of the window sticker. and the whole window sticker that included the vin side and the option side.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Judging by your location, I can answer this without even looking.


There are none at ANY of your local dealers. Gulf States Toyota did not order any KDSS equipped TE's this year. I know this because I talked to 4 different dealers. I ended up special ordering mine.

Sorry for the bad news. :yield:

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Judging by your location, I can answer this without even looking.


There are none at ANY of your local dealers. Gulf States Toyota did not order any KDSS equipped TE's this year. I know this because I talked to 4 different dealers. I ended up special ordering mine.

Sorry for the bad news. :yield:

Ditto on Gulf States Toyota per my Sales manager and the dealership general manager.

 

[philsey]

....

I think most TEs come with KDSS and if you find one, it probably has it ....

This is simply not so...

Factory options are on Toyota.com, but are specific to region. Each sales region (there are 12) determines which factory options they will sell. Example; go to Toyota.com and build a TE using your zip code. If others are correct and GST ordered none, the KDSS option will not appear. Now, go build one using a Denver zip code and I suspect the KDSS option will be there.

You may have to travel to a different region, as many have.

EDIT: This may help:

Determining Your Region for Toyota Deals
Toyota divides the country into 12 regions, offering different deals in each. The territories are listed below. As you research your purchase, keep in mind that you’re not limited to the region you live in.
If there is a significantly better deal available in another region, it might be worth the trouble to travel and buy there. If someone offered you a few thousand dollars to drive to a nearby state and back, you might very well take the deal -- why not make the same drive to save that money on a new car? Once you know your region, make sure you check out the Best Toyota deals available to you.
New England Region -- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Greater New York Region -- New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
Central Atlantic Region -- Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, District of Columbia
Southeast Region -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida
Western Region -- Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota
Ohio Valley Region -- Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee
Midwest Region -- Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Mountain Region -- Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
Gulf States Region -- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
Northern CA Region -- California north of the Los Angeles metro area
Southern CA Region -- Los Angeles metro area, and areas south
Pacific Northwest Region -- Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana

 

[harper7]

is there any online tool available for locating a vehicle with specific features at toyota dealers? sorry if I've overlooked the obvious, but I have had the most difficult time just trying to determine what options are on a TE when I find one at a nearby dealer that is in stock. websites have very little info, no window sticker available to view, and almost every dealer I've contacted in the Dallas area has associates that play a strange game where they reply to my straightforward questions about the vehicle options with other questions and won't just tell me what is on the vehicle.

is there not a simple way to search what is in stock with the ability to see the options on the vehicle?

thanks for any ideas

Best bet is to look over across the border in New Mexico or Colorado unless you special order one and wait. They are in a different region and have KDSS ,or at least did, and not too far a drive home.They seemed to work with you on the cost too as the dealers around Dallas here don't like to come down much on TE's and stick together.

New Mexico.....http://www.toyota.com/dealers/New-Mexico/index.html

 

[apollo]

Great info fellows, much appreciated. I'm strongly considering a NM or CO purchase in light of the news that the gulf states region did not order any KDSS-equipped 4runners this year.

thanks again for the quick replies

 

[apollo]

Question about using toyota.com to build--i took the recommendation to plug in other zip codes, and i notice that for every zip i enter outside of my region, i can actually use the build tool--but for zip codes near me, there is no tool, it just goes to browsing inventory in my area. Is this normal? specific to everyone's 'home' region? a gulf states region anomaly? thanks for any feedback. This happens on every machine i've tried, cookies cleared, etc.

This is simply not so...

Factory options are on Toyota.com, but are specific to region. Each sales region (there are 12) determines which factory options they will sell. Example; go to Toyota.com and build a TE using your zip code. If others are correct and GST ordered none, the KDSS option will not appear. Now, go build one using a Denver zip code and I suspect the KDSS option will be there.

You may have to travel to a different region, as many have.

EDIT: This may help:

Determining Your Region for Toyota Deals
Toyota divides the country into 12 regions, offering different deals in each. The territories are listed below. As you research your purchase, keep in mind that you’re not limited to the region you live in.
If there is a significantly better deal available in another region, it might be worth the trouble to travel and buy there. If someone offered you a few thousand dollars to drive to a nearby state and back, you might very well take the deal -- why not make the same drive to save that money on a new car? Once you know your region, make sure you check out the Best Toyota deals available to you.
New England Region -- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Greater New York Region -- New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
Central Atlantic Region -- Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, District of Columbia
Southeast Region -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida
Western Region -- Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota
Ohio Valley Region -- Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee
Midwest Region -- Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Mountain Region -- Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
Gulf States Region -- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
Northern CA Region -- California north of the Los Angeles metro area
Southern CA Region -- Los Angeles metro area, and areas south
Pacific Northwest Region -- Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana

 

[philsey]

Question about using toyota.com to build--i took the recommendation to plug in other zip codes, and i notice that for every zip i enter outside of my region, i can actually use the build tool--but for zip codes near me, there is no tool, it just goes to browsing inventory in my area. Is this normal? specific to everyone's 'home' region? a gulf states region anomaly? thanks for any feedback. This happens on every machine i've tried, cookies cleared, etc.

My guess is that that is the way GST wants it to work... ETA: Ppl outside this Forum will assume the only way to buy a 4R is the GST way - clever, eh?

 

[The Waco Kid]

My guess is that that is the way GST wants it to work... ETA: Ppl outside this Forum will assume the only way to buy a 4R is the GST way - clever, eh?

This bugged the crap out of me when I started looking for a new Toyota. What I ended up doing was putting in zip-codes from other regions just to get a feel for what was being used. Specifically I used a CO zip (80001), as I thought I'd have to purchase from there if my special order fell through.

Going forward, I won't order another vehicle from Toyota. If it's not on the lot, I'll check another region, or look at another brand. To much of a hassle to go through all over again. (Disclaimer: The 4r is fantastic and the Dealer was great, and very responsive the whole time, but the wait was just too long)

 

[philsey]

This bugged the crap out of me when I started looking for a new Toyota. What I ended up doing was putting in zip-codes from other regions just to get a feel for what was being used. Specifically I used a CO zip (80001), as I thought I'd have to purchase from there if my special order fell through.

Going forward, I won't order another vehicle from Toyota. If it's not on the lot, I'll check another region, or look at another brand. To much of a hassle to go through all over again. (Disclaimer: The 4r is fantastic and the Dealer was great, and very responsive the whole time, but the wait was just too long)

Well, when you think about it, really Toyota is little different than any other brand's dealer. They order what they order and you choose from what they have, or they make a swap with another dealer, or special order - right? And, if you don't like those 3 options, you go find another dealer that has what you want - right?

Just how long do you think you'd wait for a special order Honda, or Ford, or Lexus?

Hell, is it even possible? :noidea:

 

[Maz]

Best bet is to look over across the border in New Mexico or Colorado unless you special order one and wait.

This's a great suggestion ------

I'd be surprised if you didn't find a lot of Trails have KDSS in those two states.....especially Colorado. In addition I can tell you from personal experience California has a significant percentage of Trails ordered for dealer stock with KDSS. Arizona wouldn't be far behind.

Good luck on your search, and there are lots of people on this forum who've traveled to buy exactly what they wanted....whether for options or color. Don't be afraid to ask for advice on their experience, and I think you'll be helped tremendously.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Well, when you think about it, really Toyota is little different than any other brand's dealer. They order what they order and you choose from what they have, or they make a swap with another dealer, or special order - right? And, if you don't like those 3 options, you go find another dealer that has what you want - right?

Just how long do you think you'd wait for a special order Honda, or Ford, or Lexus?

Hell, is it even possible? :noidea:

I don't think it would be any different at any other brand's dealer. But I would look at the next best option that matches my wants and needs, rather than waiting around for 6 months for a special order to come in. Whether its Toyota or something else would come down to whichever one ticks the most boxes on my list, which is what most typical people do. But I wasn't exactly the typical buyer this go round. I wanted the KDSS, and I wasn't going to settle. All I meant was that I don't want to do that again, and I would weight my alternatives a lot more heavily.

I probably should have elaborated on that.

I'm not looking to start another fanboy pissing match about there's nothing better than a 4runner/toyota/etc... and that they're worth the long wait. Who knows what my next vehicle will be. It could very well be a Toyota. I'll deal with that in another 10 - 20 years (hopefully).

EDIT: Also, If I had to have a certain option, and my dealer/region didn't carry it, I would consider going out of state rather than special ordering again.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Great info fellows, much appreciated. I'm strongly considering a NM or CO purchase in light of the news that the gulf states region did not order any KDSS-equipped 4runners this year.

thanks again for the quick replies

Look in AZ as well. Some other Texas members have mentioned getting good deals from there, and have had them shipped to Texas at a reasonable price.

 

[nothings_shocking]

i have a 2012 trail edition..i didnt have the option to order anything on it in canada , it was either the base model, trail edition or limited....how do i tell if it has the kdss?

 

[IFD933]

Toyota bs

Well, when you think about it, really Toyota is little different than any other brand's dealer. They order what they order and you choose from what they have, or they make a swap with another dealer, or special order - right? And, if you don't like those 3 options, you go find another dealer that has what you want - right?

Just how long do you think you'd wait for a special order Honda, or Ford, or Lexus?

Hell, is it even possible? :noidea:

I would actually say Toyota is different. I went through the same bs this spring. If you use the build tool and then go to inventory, you can't get a window sticker and you don't know what dealer has any vehicle you find. They just direct you to your local dealer. With Ford and others, you get the actual window sticker and dealer - that is a big difference. Then swaps aren't like they are automatic. The dealer I bought from had difficulty getting what we wanted from other dealers. It is a bs system Toyota has. I even called Toyota corporate and asked them where the 4 vehicles that showed up in NY and New England regions were located (what dealers) that we wanted. Of course they wouldn't tell me. So they are trying to sell cars, but it is a secret as to what dealer has what you want. Their system may work for dime a dozen Camry's, but not for a low volume vehicle like the T4R.

 

[scott78945]

I used cars.com and that is how I found mine. Great tool but it certainly doesn't tell you ALL the vehicles available at a certain location though.