Let's clear-up the misinformation:
First, Canada and the United States do not get identical packages from Toyota so make sure you know which side of the border your advice is coming from.
Second, Toyota itself initially decides what packages and options it is going to offer. For example, you cannot get a TE with Leather interior and you can't get an SR5 in Shoreline Blue Pearl. Their initial production run is largely decided by Toyota.
Third, the regional distributors then place large orders and decide if they are going to add items at the port, like the running boards that came with some SR5/LE 4Rs in the south east.
Fourth, the local fleet managers then place "orders" for what they think is going to sell in their market, which get placed with the regional managers or with Toyota directly depending on how large the "fleet" operation is and how many dealerships they cover.
Fifth, individual dealers get what the regional and/or fleet sends them but they can and do trade with other dealers or make what is called a "Preference Request" with Toyota, although that might get funneled through regional/fleet first. Regardless, it is submitted with their monthly allocation request and will be filled by either rerouting an unclaimed vehicle already on a transport from the plant or added to the build plans of the next production run. this is why most dealers who take "special orders" (which is really a preference request) give the usual 60-90 day estimate and won't guarantee it will ever arrive.
Lastly, Toyota's own "Build your own" website is FUBAR'd for the 2011MY. I can build something in Portland but it's not possible in Seattle... yet they all land in the same port.
I know all this because back in January my local dealer told me that they couldn't get a Trail Edition in blue. Then I showed them the website. They then told me they couldn't get it with Nav and with KDSS in blue, so I showed them two sitting on a lot @ Big Island Toyota in Hawaii. He then called his "sales manager" who supposedly told him they couldn't order them. A month later, after I had already done all the homework and talked to dealers in 5 states, a different local dealer was willing to place the preference request and take my deposit. I have never worked so hard to spend $43k in my life. Hopefully this will be the last car I ever have to buy in person.
Seems random to me but apparently they know what they are doing when they allocate... Ok maybe not!
