Ordering a 2016 4runner to get exactly what you want?

[bluecollarjock]

05runner, I am not in love with KDSS, just reading forum threads it seemed like people loved it, hence me thinking it was something to get. however I will try to track down your posts to see what your counter opinion is I am assuming. I am a blank slate on a 5th Gen 4runner so open to learning from all.

Donovan, we should get in touch. I would not scratch Montana off my list at all. I went to undergrad a few years in Colorado (Air Force Academy), and despite having little time to get out, I fell in love with that state and said I would move back someday. Outdoors activities out the wazoo, descent cost of living, hunting, fishing, four wheeling, I love the seasons there, plenty of other things I enjoy like multiple D1 college sports programs in the Denver area (I like volunteer coaching and sports ministry). But I have a buddy from Montana and it sounds legit too. What little TV I watch I like the show Longmire which I guess is not filmed in WY, but the show is supposed to be there. The Sheriff drives a 90s Bronco as his patrol vehicle, carries a lever action 30-30, a 1911 .45 as his sidearm, and wears jeans for his uniform hah. So I could be open to any Rocky Mountain state. Now with that being said, since i have lived outside of NYC, DC, and now LA, part of me appreciates diversity. I nearly moved to WV after my medical retirement, and friends who know me well said I would go bonkers since I am so used to the amenities of a big city. They could be right. Hence Colorado has conservative cowboys, liberal hippies, tree huggers, and everything in between. I do not mind diversity, heck I thought I would hate LA and I love it here. Plus I do need descent doctors that do functional and integrative medicine, and Denver will have some of those too but SoCa is best place for progressive medicine.

Anyhow I am so thankful for all this feedback. I am going to keep learning about 5th Gens and the buying process, thinking that February is more like the time frame I would be looking to purchase or try to "order" what I want whatever the process turns out to be. And I would not be shy about getting it in another state if need be. I can do the leather if I got a TE Premium or TRD Pro, but I also would be plenty happy with a Trail base with cloth if it turns out I could add a better lift for the same price and not void the warranty. Practically would I really need a lift out of the gate, probably NOT. I am not very materialistic and a simple guy, but if I have one issue in my life that I cannot grow out of it is enjoying 4x4s with a lift...even though as some of us have discussed earlier, the lifts are getting smaller. A small lift and some 32 mild ATs with a locker, a front bumper, sliders, and skids can take me pretty far and still be nice on the highway. The pics you guys have of your TE with lifts look so darn good it would make me want to lift it immediately!

 

[off-road runner]

The '10 trail I have has no KDSS and cloth seats with moonroof. The '15 trail premium has KDSS and softex with moonroof. I didn't particularly want or need KDSS and softex at the time I initially began shopping but wanted another moonroof so I had to get a Premium meaning I'd also have to get softex. After doing some research on softex I thought it was worth a shot and so far (12,000K in) so good. When I talked to my dealer, told him I want a Trail Premium in white he said the ones on the boat he could get allocated/trade in white all had KDSS so I thought what the hell, one with one without. Probably could've bickered around and waited a couple more months to get exactly what I wanted but it all turned out good. That '15 premium with KDSS is the cats ass, wish the '10 had it also and the softex HEATED seats. Premium with KDSS has much better road manners.

 

[delloro]

OP, buying a 4runner can be frustrating. it was for me. what I learned:

you cannot order what you want. toyota tells us what we want. from what they have decided we want, you can hope to have a dealer divert a particular incoming build, but there is no guarantee.

some dealers will tell you they can order, some will say they can't. some dealers will tell you nto come down to look at 4runners, when they don't have one on the lot *ahem* Moss Bros. in Moreno Valley *ahem*.

try to buy one without the nav "option." there are none. some "option." they all come with the nav.

I wanted a not-black interior. toyota shows a tan interior but guess what: they don't sell them in so cal. wtf? some option.

I went out of state to Findlay Toyota in Henderson, they had what I wanted, and honored the True Car price.

find one on a lot, get the true car price for that particular build, and buy it.

BTW true car is not perfect either, just because they say the found one, doesn't mean they have. it might have options on it you don't want.

 

[bluecollarjock]

It is a long shot but I might get employee pricing, I do not want to ask the person who offered until I am actually ready to buy. Then I would see if anyone would actually let me grab a TRD Pro with employee pricing as in past dealers do not like it when you have that code as they apparently make no money, so probably do not want to give up a vehicle they can charge over MSRP on.

If I end up with employee pricing on Trail or Trail Premium, then I will have the "extra" cash to do a front bumper and sliders earlier on. And still would have to research lifting a brand new vehicle and how much of a gamble that is or is not with warranty issues.

 

[Desert_Runner]

OP, buying a 4runner can be frustrating. it was for me. what I learned:

you cannot order what you want. toyota tells us what we want. from what they have decided we want, you can hope to have a dealer divert a particular incoming build, but there is no guarantee.

some dealers will tell you they can order, some will say they can't. some dealers will tell you nto come down to look at 4runners, when they don't have one on the lot *ahem* Moss Bros. in Moreno Valley *ahem*.

try to buy one without the nav "option." there are none. some "option." they all come with the nav.

I wanted a not-black interior. toyota shows a tan interior but guess what: they don't sell them in so cal. wtf? some option.

I went out of state to Findlay Toyota in Henderson, they had what I wanted, and honored the True Car price.

find one on a lot, get the true car price for that particular build, and buy it.

BTW true car is not perfect either, just because they say the found one, doesn't mean they have. it might have options on it you don't want.

Local to Las Vegas, Findlay wanted $4000 over MSRP for a TRD Pro.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Local to Las Vegas, Findlay wanted $4000 over MSRP for a TRD Pro.

I imagine in LA it will be the same, unless I do get employee pricing and a dealer actually lets me have it hah...

I am pretty busy right now but slowly trying to read thru the posted 5th gen threads and threads about KDSS...

The benefit to the TRD Pro to me would be a lift right off showroom floor with zero warranty hassles - especially if I got employee pricing. I do trust that there are way better lift kits, but they seem costly, and labor prices in LA are outrageous, and tires/rims will be expensive too. I am all about stock rims if need be but seems like potentially spacers needed, so that still is an additional cost. If Toyota allowed for lift kits installed by certain places to be covered by warranty I would more easily go with Trail or Trail P. Heck the generic type lift kit companies 4 Wheel Parts uses like Pro Comp and others advertises full drivetrain warranty with their lift kits, would be nice if some of the Toyota lift kits did the same as I suspect they are way higher quality.

Some of you nearly have me convinced to do Trail, then it comes down to I do prefer cloth but I would want a sunroof and rear slider, so seems like I might have to try this "pleather" and do Trail Premium...and KDSS if I delete that option would pay for a lift....but still trying to read up on those long threads!!

 

[2ndRun]

I was interested in finding a tp in nautical blue w/kdss. I went to truecar.com back in the spring it set me up with a certified dealer that was about 40 minutes away they offered me $2,900 off msrp for what I was looking for. I took the offer they sent me that was in writing (email) to a salesman I new at a local dealer in mid august. He told me they could match that discount but the only way we can get you what you want is to get a 16 they put in an allocation request and they earned it on the second allocation after I put down my deposit. It was roughly 9 weeks from when I put down my deposit till the day I drove it home. Sale price was $38,600. I've had it less than two weeks. I was set on getting the trail premium w/kdss in blue and for me it was definitely worth the wait. As far as the 'Pleather ' I was a bit apprehensive at first.. thinking it might look cheap but it actually looks pretty nice plus I think it will be much easier to clean and maintain than actual leather. which is good because my girlfriends 4 year old definitely knows how to make a mess in the back seat lol.
I read through a lot of threads on here before deciding to go with the trail initially was thinking about the pro. I'm sure you'll be happy which ever route you take after all they are both runners

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I would have liked a sunroof on my Trail but vehemently did not want Softex so the choice was simple. I had a sunroof in my prior T4R but to be honest I really don't miss it much. I bought a 2015 Trail that has every option you can get (it was stickered higher than many of the LTD's they had on the lot) and couldn't be happier. The KDSS is well worth the cost. My .02. Here in Colorado they don't really haggle on the Trails much because they sell them before they even hit the lot. If you want one, you will pay the price. I got a decent deal. Not spectacular but decent.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Thanks guys for the continued feedback, it is very helpful.

As for TRD Pro, IF a big IF I get employee pricing, and IF I can find a TRD Pro and get it at a ridiculous price I might very well do it because then I have no concerns about warranty, has a lift already, tires, rims. All I would do is slap a front bumper and sliders on it and be done.

However, everyone on here has me pretty seriously considering the Trail if I do not get employee pricing. It is not about the looks of the TRD Pro, its getting the lift done without me needing to trust anyone installing a lift kit and warranty issues down the road. But if it really is just a 1.75" level up front with Bilsteins I could buy and throw on a Trail, or perhaps a "better" lift (but that gets confusing with all the opinions and I have read many of those threads what lift is good for this or that etc), then the Trail does seem to be a better deal.

I have caught up on some of the KDSS debate...those who have it love it and would not go without it on another 4runner, or those that say its a pain to add the lift with it and if it fails down the road it will cost buckoo bucks...I will have to keep reading and when the time comes probably drive both and see if I feel a difference enough to get it.

I do love cloth, leather I am not a fan of so much mainly because I think it looks horrific down the road no matter how well people take care of it, if I buy a new 4runner i want to keep it for 200k miles but do not want leather that is all nasty and cracking, and I am not a fan of how it feels. BUT this is not technically leather so maybe it will not look like hell ten years from now, and maybe it is durable and stain resistant. I am so anal retentive with my interiors I have never had issues with my cloth, and usually can sell my used 4x4s at a good price because they look well taken care of. I have no kids and no pets, but that can change. And my girlfriend does have kids I want to take camping and wheeling.

So IF I get employee pricing and IF I can find a TRD Pro, that might be the easiest ticket for me.

If I do not, it will most likely be a Trail or Trail Premium, and maybe end up being Trail Premium because I do like Sunroofs on SUVs and rear sliding windows. So it could end up a Trail Premium and then the decision will be KDSS or not.

 

[77Bronc]

OP, buying a 4runner can be frustrating. it was for me. what I learned:

you cannot order what you want. toyota tells us what we want. from what they have decided we want, you can hope to have a dealer divert a particular incoming build, but there is no guarantee.

some dealers will tell you they can order, some will say they can't. some dealers will tell you nto come down to look at 4runners, when they don't have one on the lot *ahem* Moss Bros. in Moreno Valley *ahem*.

try to buy one without the nav "option." there are none. some "option." they all come with the nav.

I wanted a not-black interior. toyota shows a tan interior but guess what: they don't sell them in so cal. wtf? some option.

I went out of state to Findlay Toyota in Henderson, they had what I wanted, and honored the True Car price.

find one on a lot, get the true car price for that particular build, and buy it.

BTW true car is not perfect either, just because they say the found one, doesn't mean they have. it might have options on it you don't want.

I am 57 and been buying vehicles for a long time and I can tell you my recent purchase of my 2015 TP was the most frustrating I ever went through. The dealers don't even know how the vehicles come, they get what they get, and don't even know when they are getting them. For those of us in the Gulf States Toyota district, you might as well be in Russia. GST could care less about the customer, adds on the ridiculous accessories, $700 paint sealant, $100 nitrogen in the tires, and other BS.

I happened to find a 2015 TP in transit at 2 AM in the morning, no accessories, just floor mats, $220 for a set of $22 mats, but what the heck, it was what I was looking for, took the dealer 2 days to confirm he could redirect the shipment.

I ended up purchasing from a dealer I never even considered talking to, the dealers in Baton Rouge are arrogant and a PITA

I don't want to do this again...

77

 

[kingofZroad]

I can second the Colorado issues with the Trail models.... I had to speak for one that was being built and nobody will budge much on the price. I guess when they sell them as soon as they hit the lot, they don't have to...

That said, it's worth a months wait to me to get exactly what I want. Only one week of waiting left, so the dealer says....

 

[bluecollarjock]

I am 57 and been buying vehicles for a long time and I can tell you my recent purchase of my 2015 TP was the most frustrating I ever went through. The dealers don't even know how the vehicles come, they get what they get, and don't even know when they are getting them. For those of us in the Gulf States Toyota district, you might as well be in Russia. GST could care less about the customer, adds on the ridiculous accessories, $700 paint sealant, $100 nitrogen in the tires, and other BS.

I happened to find a 2015 TP in transit at 2 AM in the morning, no accessories, just floor mats, $220 for a set of $22 mats, but what the heck, it was what I was looking for, took the dealer 2 days to confirm he could redirect the shipment.

I ended up purchasing from a dealer I never even considered talking to, the dealers in Baton Rouge are arrogant and a PITA

I don't want to do this again...

77

No that does not sound so great....getting stuck with overprices accessories seems absurd. Growing up I remember going to dealers with my dad, he ordered exactly what he wanted from the factory. He likes his vehicles simple. We got a stripped down 79 Malibu station wagon with a 3 speed stick on the floor and V6. I have NEVER seen another stick shift station wagon in that era. It had AM radio, vinyl seats, and all around was the most memorable hunting vehicle we ever had! He also ordered an 88 F-150, same thing, stick shift, none of the fancy stuff, bumped it up to cloth, but again get exactly what you want from the factory and just have to wait a while...but no paying for stuff you do not want. Guess times have changed.

 

[popey]

I am seriously going through the same issues as above. GST dealer. SO hard to communicate what I want, etc. Bone headed salesmen...

 

[SirBarton]

Good Day to buy in LA

If you are looking for a Trail Premium in LA, it's a very good time. Use CarGurus.com and search for new inventory. Toyota's website is always behind.

I just did a search and there are 14 trail premiums for sale in Los Angeles today. Every color is represented. You should be able to get a fair deal.

Most of the guys on the big dealer lots don't even know the difference between a Trail and a Trail premium or a TRDPro. You will get no help from them. They spend 95% of their time working out the monthly payment for a prius buyer.

I bought my Trail in LA when there was only ever 1-3 Trails and TEPs combined on all the LA area lots at any given time for over a month. It was not a buyers market. Whenever a Trail popped up it was gone within 2 days.

If you want a TRD Pro, your best bet is to call Longo or one of the other high volume dealers and order it. You will not find one sitting on a lot in Los Angeles for more than a day.

Also - My favorite toyota dealer in Los Angeles is Cabe in Long Beach. They feel like an old family owned dealer. They are so nice and have intelligent people selling the cars. On the flip side, they have low inventory of 4Runners, but when one popped up there that I wanted, I made the deal over the phone and was in and out in 1.5 hours with all paperwork signed.

 

[77Bronc]

If you are looking for a Trail Premium in LA, it's a very good time. Use CarGurus.com and search for new inventory. Toyota's website is always behind.

I just did a search and there are 14 trail premiums for sale in Los Angeles today. Every color is represented. You should be able to get a fair deal.

Most of the guys on the big dealer lots don't even know the difference between a Trail and a Trail premium or a TRDPro. You will get no help from them. They spend 95% of their time working out the monthly payment for a prius buyer.

I bought my Trail in LA when there was only ever 1-3 Trails and TEPs combined on all the LA area lots at any given time for over a month. It was not a buyers market. Whenever a Trail popped up it was gone within 2 days.

If you want a TRD Pro, your best bet is to call Longo or one of the other high volume dealers and order it. You will not find one sitting on a lot in Los Angeles for more than a day.

Also - My favorite toyota dealer in Los Angeles is Cabe in Long Beach. They feel like an old family owned dealer. They are so nice and have intelligent people selling the cars. On the flip side, they have low inventory of 4Runners, but when one popped up there that I wanted, I made the deal over the phone and was in and out in 1.5 hours with all paperwork signed.

There is a 2014 red TP for sale in my LA, Louisiana, at a dealer in Slidell, LA...it has an advertised 22K miles and is $1000 more than I paid for my 2015 TP three months ago...go figure. If anyone wants me to go look for them, let me know.

77

 

[77Bronc]

I am seriously going through the same issues as above. GST dealer. SO hard to communicate what I want, etc. Bone headed salesmen...

You might as well beat yourself in the head, these guys are so hard headed and never found one that knew jack crap about the 4Runners.

Good luck...

77

 

[bluecollarjock]

timing is not good right now for me, thats why I project Feb or March....jeeze hope that does not make it impossible to get a good Trail Premium with what I would probably want....

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

Hello, month long lurker here. First post! Just committed to the 4Runner family and ordered a 16 Trail Premium last week. I was told it was arriving in the Port of Houston (TX) last Friday (11/6/15) and I should expect it within 2-3 days after clearing through the port. Called Saturday (11/7/15), I was told the car arrived in the Port on Saturday. Fast forward to today, (Tuesday 11/10/15) and I'm told it arrived on the port yesterday (11/9/15)...WTF?

Since then, I've inquired of the latest status, and no one can give me a straight answer. I need to know when the car will arrive, planning everything around a business trip.

I called the dealership asking for a VIN, 1) for verification that I do have a car assigned/ordered in my name. 2) Insurance purposes. Here are the responses I've been given:

• 
  The car salesmen and his assistant could not give me a VIN due to "it being an order straight from Japan, and no VIN is on record...once it's on our lot, we can give you the VIN"

• The finance manager gave me a VIN, with the advice that the VIN might change.

What's exactly is going on? Was I duped into pre-ordering a non-existing vehicle? Are they stalling to locate a truck? Will they locate a stock Trail Premium and add the rest of the options that were guaranteed to me on the pre-sell sheet?

Someone, please help me make sense of this circus act. :thanks:

 

[1engineer]

Hello, month long lurker here. First post! Just committed to the 4Runner family and ordered a 16 Trail Premium last week. I was told it was arriving in the Port of Houston (TX) last Friday (11/6/15) and I should expect it within 2-3 days after clearing through the port.

Since then, I've inquired of the latest status, and no one can give me a straight answer. I need to know when the car will arrive, planning everything around a business trip.

I called the dealership asking for a VIN, 1) for verification that I do have a car assigned/ordered in my name. 2) Insurance purposes. Here are the responses I've been given:

• 
  The car salesmen and his assistant could not give me a VIN due to "it being an order straight from Japan, and no VIN is on record...once it's on our lot, we can give you the VIN"
  The finance manager gave me a VIN, with the advice that the VIN might change.

What's exactly is going on? Was I duped into pre-ordering a non-existing vehicle? Are they stalling to locate a truck? Will they locate a stock Trail Premium and add the rest of the options that were guaranteed to me on the pre-sell sheet?

Someone, please help me make sense of this circus act. :thanks:

They are full of it. First, a dealer cannot order "straight from Japan." They can only order through their distributor. Next, the distributor will try to fill the dealer order from their stock. If they can't, then THEY will order it from Japan.

Look guys, regardless of what some say, you CANNOT order a 4Runner however you want. You can only get "packages" that might or might not include items you want or need. For example:

I want a 4Runner with dual climate control and KDSS. This will never happen because the Limited package cannot combine with the Trail Edition package.

You CAN order (maybe, depending on your location) an LE, TE, SR5 or TRD PRO package and within that specific package get a few options that you like. Another example is you cannot get a TRD PRO with a sunroof.

The way to pick out a 4Runner is simple. You can get:
1. SR5
2. SR5 Premium
3. Trail Edition
4. Trail Edition Premium
5. TRD PRO Edition
6. Limited Edition

Each model above has a list of features. Some of these features are offered on other models (sunroof, 4WD, etc) and other model features are only offered on one specific model (KDSS, XREAS, FT4WD, dual climate control, etc). You have to pick a model and then get a few options within that model.

Now, this changes depending on your geographic location. If you want a TE Premium in Florida then you might have to go somewhere else to find that model.

I know this is as clear as mud but remember 80K people have figured it out so far this year and bought a 4Runner so it can't be that hard. Good luck.

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

Right on. I was presented a presell sheet that had the model/color with package of my liking. I selected that specific package 1) because I liked it 2) I was told it was on the way. My concern is the fact that they pre-sold a non-existing car under the premise of "yeah, we can have it in a few days"...only to wait for 3 weeks...

Not sure why they can't be more transparent and set the expectation correctly. I guess this is the nature of the business. They got me.