Picking up a new car - what's your process?

LOLing at having the sales guy demonstrate crawl or any other feature. 99% of them won’t know anything about it or any other 4Runner features (KDSS, rear locker, multi-terrain select, etc).

I'm hoping I get the 1% ;-)

Dealership is in NH.....and they sell a ton of Tacos and 4Rs
 
Check the NAV. I didn't think to try it until the next day driving it. Dealer forgot to insert the SD Card so I had to go back over there and get it :doh:
 
I check to make sure it is what I bought. I bought mine before it reached the dealership. Other than that, I did not want them to show me and to talk to me about it.

I went up there and they dropped it off from the trailer, I checked everything compared to the window sticker, it was everything as advertised, gave them the check, did the paperwork, out the door I went.
 
I check to make sure it is what I bought. I bought mine before it reached the dealership. Other than that, I did not want them to show me and to talk to me about it.

I went up there and they dropped it off from the trailer, I checked everything compared to the window sticker, it was everything as advertised, gave them the check, did the paperwork, out the door I went.

I did mostly the same.
Told them no wash, no fuel fill up, no explaining features, no test drive (for some reason they were really not happy about that one), leave plastic on. I brought a cashiers check for the full amount and told them I want to sign whatever I need to sign in the truck and be out of there within 30 minutes or the deal was off. They made it happen and I gave them full stars over whatever the highest horseshit survey marks were available.
 
Negotiated for a TRD ORP with just running boards, sight unseen. Walked away with on with cross bars, trailer hitch, and remote start. So I just got the keys and left before they could do damage.
 
Don't allow them to wash it? You guys do realize its a 4runner right? It's not a Ferrari or something.

My wife had a Subaru with 3000 miles on it when I took it in for Dealer Service where we bought the car. I told them to put "Do Not Wash" on the service request (which they did). When it came back it had been washed... WITH A FREAKING BRUSH! The dealer had to have it detailed and polished three times to take out the bad swirls and after that, the car seemed harder to clean and never really took a good coat of wax after that. So eff dealer washes.
 
My wife had a Subaru with 3000 miles on it when I took it in for Dealer Service where we bought the car. I told them to put "Do Not Wash" on the service request (which they did). When it came back it had been washed... WITH A FREAKING BRUSH! The dealer had to have it detailed and polished three times to take out the bad swirls and after that, the car seemed harder to clean and never really took a good coat of wax after that. So eff dealer washes.



Must be a Subaru dealer thing. Ours left a nice 8" gouge all the way to the primer on the back hatch of our Crosstrek when they detailed it after regular service. Of course I didn't take it in so I didn't notice for at least a few weeks.
 
Thanks for all the great tips. Delivery process was pretty low key. Finance guy was low pressure, although seemed deflated when I declined all the extras and extended warranty.

Sales guy was patient as I pulled out my checklist and went over everything - lifted the hood, checked the fluids, on the ground to check for KDSS, no dealer sticker, no drilled bumper, took a couple of pics before pulling out, checked fit and finish, spare tire, owner manuals, window sticker, etc., etc. His basic approach "Let's get you on the road as long as you don't have any questions." Really smooth and easy.

The whole dealer process with these guys was great. Internet manager aggressive on price without any games. When we went to look at the 4R last week, the saleswoman handed us the keys and told us to pull it around ourselves if we wanted to drive it so she could slap on the temp tag. Spent 20-30 minutes pulling it out of the line-up (parked with 18 other 4Rs) to compare against the other colors, getting in, getting out, sitting....she never bothered us. ...and then test drove without her. Irwin Toyota - Laconia, NH = highly recommend them.

Took it a local school parking lot down the street, parked, read the manual for 20 minutes.

Drove home. Read the manual some more (4WD, crawl, etc.). Tried out 4WD in 4L and H4 modes on our hilly, dirt driveway.

Great day!

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Funny but very appropriate that nobody cares about checking the interior for scratches at new car delivery. The Softex material on the seats are a winner, but the rest of the 4Runner interior will scratch and start to degrade even if you enter only wearing cotton gloves. What were they thinking with those interior materials? Possibly things got better after my model year (2017).
 
I'm a retired body shop manager for a large DFW dealership and I can spot just about anything that doesn't look correct on vehicles. Now I can't see mechanical problems that might come up, or can't hear at delivery, there is only so much you can do. One of my biggest things that I would turn down a new vehicle for is any type of body damage that need repair, I will turn down that vehicle and look for another one. Yes, damage can be repaired, but it is not the same as factory original, just the way things are.
 
If the dealer drills for the front license plate mounting holes...double-check his measurements for the drill holes --- The right drill hole on my 2020 TRD PRO is noticeably tilted down 1/4" inch from the specs.

If you order touch-up scratch paint two weeks before you drive the vehicle off the lot, tell them to order it from the Toyota Parts Dept. and not the local Walmart as they did to me.

I would not subject my TRD PRO to automatic carwashes since the rotating ceiling washers could tangle up in the roof rack.
 
Make sure they didn't install the Karr Alarm and hope you want to purchase it. There are a couple threads on this you can search for info. If you did purchase it - then disregard.
 

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