possible to order a custom 4-Runner?

R

r32

New member
By custom I mean, to just order the options I truly want. Seems Sport Edition models no matter what, come with the sunroof/moonroof.

One dealer so far claims no way to custom order, but judging from the grammar in his email, and from his highschool looking employee photo on the dealership site, I'd say there is a good chance he doesn't know what he is doing.

Basically I am looking for a V6 Sport Edition 4WD without the sunroof/moonroof (comes with the SE Extra Value Package which I don't want).

I realize there are 'regional' options, so why would it be so difficult to go outside our region to find the right vehicle?

Anyone out there have this combo? Dealers keep trying to push me to an SR5 since those don't come standard with moonroof/sunroof, but it doesn't have the wheels/X-REAS, etc that SE has which I do want. instead, I have to spend 1k+ for the SE Ext Value Package which I don't want, but is listed as optional in the brochure.

What do you guys think? I'm close to buying and I'm located in CC. Can't wait to get my new ride :D

Thanks.
 
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It's possible, but you'll probably be waiting a long time.... and you always run the risk of your dealership saying that they ordered it to your specs, but when it comes in, it has a slightly different configuration.

That's happened to more than one person on this forum!
 
I was told by the dealer that Toyota could reject the custom order, which seems about right for an assembly line. Could take a month to figure out whether or not its rejected too.
 
Damn, that's what i was afraid of!

Wondering if maybe it's a regional thing and somewhere there are Sport Editions being delivered without the Moonroof/Sunroof option?

Thanks for the response guys :)
 
r32 said:
Damn, that's what i was afraid of!

Wondering if maybe it's a regional thing and somewhere there are Sport Editions being delivered without the Moonroof/Sunroof option?

Thanks for the response guys :)
Click to expand...

It's probably going to be very difficult to find a Sport Edition without a moonroof. In my region, it's damn near impossible. My buddy doesn't like the rear spoiler, but he basically had to buy a 4Runner with one because every Sport Edition in my area comes with rear spoilers standard. The only way to find a 4Runner without the spoiler is to go with an SR5. Maybe the same thing is true with the moonroof. Have you checked SR5s availability without the moonroof?
 
Yes it is going to be hard to find. Can it be done, YES. There is way too much info, much of it incorrect, going around and most of it from dealers. Rather than re-iterate what I typed already, read my purchasing page about how I ordered my sport wo sunroof and feel free to inquire if you have further questions or if I left something unclear.
 
Did you special order to get it that way and if not what is your region. Also, which of the four SE models did you get.
 
I didnt need v8 i got 4wd v6


came with alarm (not the immobilizer, well that too but the actual dealer alarm, cheap damn thing) double decker (regretting that decision), no JBL (wanted it to be easy for my to put my Z-2 navi in)

I've installed an inverter that i have yet to post pics of 500W didnt need anything bigger. The plugs are on the center console, access from the passenger side (right hand 'wall' of center console)

Oh, i'm in Texas by the way
 
absolutely

you can get what ever the hail u want on there man!

I 'custom' ordered my last two cars, its worth getting exacly what u want... even a little waiting
 
J.A. said:
Yes it is going to be hard to find. Can it be done, YES. There is way too much info, much of it incorrect, going around and most of it from dealers. Rather than re-iterate what I typed already, read my purchasing page about how I ordered my sport wo sunroof and feel free to inquire if you have further questions or if I left something unclear.
Click to expand...

This may be a stupid question but where is your purchasing page at? Link please :D

Would love to see how it's done. I'm pretyt new to the whole buying game as I've only owned two cars my whole life. First one was a Mitsubishi Eclipse in highschool that went 255k, and the second one was a new Tacoma PreRunner that went about 50k before a head-on collision on the freeway.

Thanks again for your help and direction here. Stoked to here some of you don't have Sunroofs and yet you have SE models! I knew it had to be possible.

JA..you mention four SE models? How do you mean? Like v6 vs v8 and 2wd vs 4wd?

Thanks again everyone!

BTW: I'm in California.
 
JA. Found your purchasing page. Wow, what a bunch of great information you have. Awesome!

I'm sure the dealers I've been talking with don't even know all of that information!

I have faith that perhaps I can get exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks again :D
 
r32 said:
JA. Found your purchasing page. Wow, what a bunch of great information you have. Awesome!

I'm sure the dealers I've been talking with don't even know all of that information!

I have faith that perhaps I can get exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks again :D
Click to expand...

I posted this reply in this thread. I think you may find it helpful.

TRBenj said:
I know Im bringing a thread back from the dead, but I just got off the phone with Toyota Customer Service and have some good information to share on this topic.

There are 4 steps a dealership will take to locate a vehicle for a customer:

1. The dealer looks on his own lot and sees if he has the desired vehicle in stock.
2. The dealer checks with other dealers within his region to try and locate the vehicle.
3. The dealer contacts the regional sales office, who can redirect a vehicle destined for a different region.
4. The dealer submits a special request to the factory.

The Customer Relations Manager at the dealership is responsible for submitting the special request to the factory. Toyota Customer Service could not tell me if the dealership makes the request directly or if the line of communication goes through the regional sales office.

The factory DOES NOT GUARANTEE that they will build the vehicle requested. It is exactly that- a REQUEST! Toyota Motor Sales does not have total control over Toyota Manufacturing, though they do have some influence.

Dealerships submit requests for vehicles once a month as part of their regular ordering schedule. They will submit the special request at this time. The exact date of the submission may vary by dealer. There is no way to verify that the dealership submits a request to the factory (as opposed to attempting to have a vehicle redirected from another region- #3 above). The customer is completely reliant on the dealer to do as he says.

Whether the factory accepts or denies the request depends largely on the manufacturing logistics. If the factory denies a request one month, that does not necessarily mean it will be denied the following month. Customer Service is careful not to influence a customer in regards to a particular dealership, so they are very careful with their words- but after some prodding they said it "may be possible" that a large volume dealership may be more influential in getting the the factory to accept a special order.

As far as deposits go, they are normally required by the dealer to place a special order. If the request is denied by the factory for two consecutive cycles (60 days) and the customer wants the deposit refunded (and the dealer refuses), the customer can call Toyota Customer Service who will in turn contact the dealer. This is not a guarantee of the deposit being refunded, however. How the deposit is handled is completely up to the dealer, and they often want something in return for all the time they have invested locating the customer's vehicle.

It is not a bad idea to be in contact with Toyota Customer service throughout the special ordering process. They will create a record documenting important dates- when an order is placed, etc.

Hopefully this info will help anyone considering placing a special order!
Click to expand...

I placed my "special order" at the end of December last year. I told the dealership that I wanted a V8 4WD 4Runner Sport in Shadow Mica with a sunroof and NO SPOILER. I told them I was flexible on all the other options, which I figured would improve my chances of getting the order accepted by the factory. My truck was delivered in late April just as I ordered it (plus side curtain airbags). My exact configuration (V8 4WD Sport, no spoiler) was not available in any region, so it had to be built special by the factory. If your desired combination is available in another region, it can likely be allocated to your dealer much quicker.

The key is finding a dealership that knows what theyre doing. My salesman had never done a preference order before, but the dealership had- and everything worked out great. Also, dont let them screw you on price. They'll be able to turn a truck around instantly (with no $$$ tied up with it sitting on their lot) so dont let them convince you that a preference order will cost you extra. I worked out my price at the time of the order, which was about $500 below invoice (before the rebate). Since my truck came in with the side curtain airbags, I came out even farther ahead.

Good luck.
 
TRBenj thanks for sharing. I'm going to push my local dealer to find one to my specs or submit a request then!

I feel better knowing all of this information.

I don't understand why it's so difficult to come up with a universal training method for all the dealerships that deal with Toyota. This great information that you guys provide on the forum should be available through the stealerships but they withhold for !

Everyone says something different it seems, even in my same local area which is total BS.

Thanks again for the feedback and arming me with knowledge on this stuff.

Now..one last question. Can anyone on here tell me they have a Sport Edition WITHOUT sunroof and WITH 115V AC?

If so...what region do you live in based on the 12 regions listed on this map:

http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/2007/purchasing/regions.jpg
 
r32 said:
Now..one last question. Can anyone on here tell me they have a Sport Edition WITHOUT sunroof and WITH 115V AC?

If so...what region do you live in based on the 12 regions listed on this map:

http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/2007/purchasing/regions.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice find on the map of the regions- I had looked all over for one with no luck. If I were you, I would just go to buyatoyota.com and try and configure the truck how you want it. Try a zip code from every region:

Boston 12108
New York 10001
Central Atlantic 23219
Southeast 30303
Gulf States 75201
Denver 80012
Los Angeles 90001
San Francisco 94102
Portland 97086
Kansas City 64101
Chicago 60601
Cincinnati 45202
 
i'll post pics of my install later tonight but i didnt want the 115v, its too weak... so i wanted it without and installed my own 500 :-)
 
r32 said:
By custom I mean, to just order the options I truly want. Seems Sport Edition models no matter what, come with the sunroof/moonroof.

One dealer so far claims no way to custom order, but judging from the grammar in his email, and from his highschool looking employee photo on the dealership site, I'd say there is a good chance he doesn't know what he is doing.

Basically I am looking for a V6 Sport Edition 4WD without the sunroof/moonroof (comes with the SE Extra Value Package which I don't want).

I realize there are 'regional' options, so why would it be so difficult to go outside our region to find the right vehicle?

Anyone out there have this combo? Dealers keep trying to push me to an SR5 since those don't come standard with moonroof/sunroof, but it doesn't have the wheels/X-REAS, etc that SE has which I do want. instead, I have to spend 1k+ for the SE Ext Value Package which I don't want, but is listed as optional in the brochure.

What do you guys think? I'm close to buying and I'm located in CC. Can't wait to get my new ride :D

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Don't know if you ever got your 4Runner or not but just to let you know that I am down in Miami, FL and I have an 05 SE without a sunroof. I did not special order it...I just went to the dealer and it was sitting there. I can also tell you that not all SE's have the sunroof...at least down here.

One more thing, I beleive the rear spoiler is installed by the distributor...not the factory. For Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida the distributor is Southeast Toyota Distributors. They are the ones that install most of the options. i.e. Rear spoilers.
 
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