Review of several Portland, OR area dealers...
When looking for my recently purchased Limited I visited several dealers. Some were good. Some were not. This may help in case any of you in the Portland area are looking.
Beaverton Toyota: Not responsive and simply would not deal. At all. I went there to look at some cars. When I started talking about getting what we wanted and price. He told me once I knew what I wanted he would hand me off to the finance guy. I asked if he was the guy who negotiated. He looked at me and said "we don't really do that." I work for a large company that has a corporate discount service. (Edit for clarity: the corporate program has pre-negotiated auto prices with specific dealers. They pointed me to Beaverton Toyota.) So I went that route to see what they would do on the pre-negotiated price. It was ~$300 below MSRP - I'd already gotten quoted prices much better than that from other dealers. Once I get that price I asked if there was any room to move. They said no. When I decided to get a 2015 since there were no 2014s in the area with the color/options we wanted, I called to see if they'd do the same deal. No response to my calls. Multiple calls to the person who gave me the $300 below MSRP price. No return calls. I honestly don't know how they stay in business. EDIT: These guys also played up that they give 2 years or 25K miles free service. When I asked if that was just them or all Toyota dealers they said "It's just us. You have to come here to get the free service."
Broadway Toyota: Never got to the point of negotiating. Went there two times. Both times they had no idea what 4Runners were on the lot. They were clueless about model differences, features, and options. And even more crazy to me, they literally could not find them on the lot. "I think they moved them last night - they're over here." (After walking across the lot. "No, they must be over here." We never found any 4Runners on their lot. I can't say how they would have been to deal with. Pretty frustrating to visit. Also one of those places where they're lined up like vultures when you drive up. When you sell cars you gotta know where they are on the lot.
Ron Tonkin Toyota: I'd heard nothing but bad stories about Ron Tonkin. However the sales guy we worked with was great. He knew exactly what they had in stock. He knew models and features. He told us what we likely wanted, and he was right. He did a couple of test drives and wasn't pushy at all. I really wanted to buy a car from this guy. We just couldn't get to a price. They would not get anywhere near invoice for a 2014 when the 2015s were already starting to come in. Not a big issue, I just couldn't pay that. They also had a demo Limited that was loaded - $49K MSRP car they were selling for $42K. Great deal - just not the car we wanted. Except for the price I liked everything about this experience. Still feel badly that guy didn't get a sale from us.
Gresham Toyota: This was a really interesting place. Another awesome salesman. Came up, asked a few questions, told us what we likely wanted, and was absolutely correct. Also saw our Rover and asked why we weren't at the Rover dealer rather than there. We talked a little and it was pretty clear they weren't going to move much on price. I said "Why would I pay close to MSRP for a 2014 when 2015s are already coming in?" He replied "When you're right, you're right." Another guy I would have been happy to buy from. He gave us a lot of info and is actually not a fan of 4Runners. Appreciated his directness and honesty.
Toyota of Gladstone: By this time I was tired of nobody negotiating and decided to try the Costco program. After submitting a Costco request online they contact us immediately. We told him what we wanted. Said they had the car we wanted in stock (black Limited) and another one in blue. We walked around the lot and could not find a black Limited. There was a blue one, but not with the options we wanted. (So now we're already irritated.) When we sat down the guy started going over the process, talked about features, and finally asked me to fill out some paperwork. They wanted my DL, SSN, and a credit check authorization. I told him I didn't need financing. He said "this is our process." I said "I just want to see the Costco price" and said nothing else. After starting at me for a few seconds he got up and left. The sales manager came over to help us. I told him the same thing: "please quit wasting my time and give me the price." He showed me a number and I have to admit I don't recall what it was. But I was not impressed. I threw out a counter offer just to see where he was and he refused. He said "Look, I'm going to sell this car in the next 3 days for near MSRP. I don't have any reason to discount it." I'll give him big credit for being direct and honest. I give these guys no credit for anything else.
Vancouver Toyota: Note that this is Vancouver, WA, not Canada. At this point I'm completely fed up with Portland dealers and I asked Costco to send me another referral. Went to these guys, talked for about 5 mins, and she shows us the Costco price: $100 below invoice. I honestly thought I could do better for a 2014, but they didn't have the color/features the wife wanted and they couldn't find one that was close enough. We agreed to buy a 2015 for $300 over invoice (Costco pricing for 2015s wasn't in yet.) Could we have done better if I kept looking? Maybe, but I doubt I could have beaten that by much. When they got the 2015 Costco pricing and saw it was lower, they gave us that price ($150 over invoice). This was very straightforward and no BS. The car we wanted was still on a boat. They gave us estimated arrival time and said it would be a week or two later. It came in one day later than they estimated, which was surprising good. This was a very good car buying experience.
I really don't know what to say about the Portland dealers. Demand drive prices and they're selling cars. So everybody else must be paying close to MSRP for their 4Runners around here. I have no idea why that would be.
When looking for my recently purchased Limited I visited several dealers. Some were good. Some were not. This may help in case any of you in the Portland area are looking.
Beaverton Toyota: Not responsive and simply would not deal. At all. I went there to look at some cars. When I started talking about getting what we wanted and price. He told me once I knew what I wanted he would hand me off to the finance guy. I asked if he was the guy who negotiated. He looked at me and said "we don't really do that." I work for a large company that has a corporate discount service. (Edit for clarity: the corporate program has pre-negotiated auto prices with specific dealers. They pointed me to Beaverton Toyota.) So I went that route to see what they would do on the pre-negotiated price. It was ~$300 below MSRP - I'd already gotten quoted prices much better than that from other dealers. Once I get that price I asked if there was any room to move. They said no. When I decided to get a 2015 since there were no 2014s in the area with the color/options we wanted, I called to see if they'd do the same deal. No response to my calls. Multiple calls to the person who gave me the $300 below MSRP price. No return calls. I honestly don't know how they stay in business. EDIT: These guys also played up that they give 2 years or 25K miles free service. When I asked if that was just them or all Toyota dealers they said "It's just us. You have to come here to get the free service."
Broadway Toyota: Never got to the point of negotiating. Went there two times. Both times they had no idea what 4Runners were on the lot. They were clueless about model differences, features, and options. And even more crazy to me, they literally could not find them on the lot. "I think they moved them last night - they're over here." (After walking across the lot. "No, they must be over here." We never found any 4Runners on their lot. I can't say how they would have been to deal with. Pretty frustrating to visit. Also one of those places where they're lined up like vultures when you drive up. When you sell cars you gotta know where they are on the lot.
Ron Tonkin Toyota: I'd heard nothing but bad stories about Ron Tonkin. However the sales guy we worked with was great. He knew exactly what they had in stock. He knew models and features. He told us what we likely wanted, and he was right. He did a couple of test drives and wasn't pushy at all. I really wanted to buy a car from this guy. We just couldn't get to a price. They would not get anywhere near invoice for a 2014 when the 2015s were already starting to come in. Not a big issue, I just couldn't pay that. They also had a demo Limited that was loaded - $49K MSRP car they were selling for $42K. Great deal - just not the car we wanted. Except for the price I liked everything about this experience. Still feel badly that guy didn't get a sale from us.
Gresham Toyota: This was a really interesting place. Another awesome salesman. Came up, asked a few questions, told us what we likely wanted, and was absolutely correct. Also saw our Rover and asked why we weren't at the Rover dealer rather than there. We talked a little and it was pretty clear they weren't going to move much on price. I said "Why would I pay close to MSRP for a 2014 when 2015s are already coming in?" He replied "When you're right, you're right." Another guy I would have been happy to buy from. He gave us a lot of info and is actually not a fan of 4Runners. Appreciated his directness and honesty.
Toyota of Gladstone: By this time I was tired of nobody negotiating and decided to try the Costco program. After submitting a Costco request online they contact us immediately. We told him what we wanted. Said they had the car we wanted in stock (black Limited) and another one in blue. We walked around the lot and could not find a black Limited. There was a blue one, but not with the options we wanted. (So now we're already irritated.) When we sat down the guy started going over the process, talked about features, and finally asked me to fill out some paperwork. They wanted my DL, SSN, and a credit check authorization. I told him I didn't need financing. He said "this is our process." I said "I just want to see the Costco price" and said nothing else. After starting at me for a few seconds he got up and left. The sales manager came over to help us. I told him the same thing: "please quit wasting my time and give me the price." He showed me a number and I have to admit I don't recall what it was. But I was not impressed. I threw out a counter offer just to see where he was and he refused. He said "Look, I'm going to sell this car in the next 3 days for near MSRP. I don't have any reason to discount it." I'll give him big credit for being direct and honest. I give these guys no credit for anything else.
Vancouver Toyota: Note that this is Vancouver, WA, not Canada. At this point I'm completely fed up with Portland dealers and I asked Costco to send me another referral. Went to these guys, talked for about 5 mins, and she shows us the Costco price: $100 below invoice. I honestly thought I could do better for a 2014, but they didn't have the color/features the wife wanted and they couldn't find one that was close enough. We agreed to buy a 2015 for $300 over invoice (Costco pricing for 2015s wasn't in yet.) Could we have done better if I kept looking? Maybe, but I doubt I could have beaten that by much. When they got the 2015 Costco pricing and saw it was lower, they gave us that price ($150 over invoice). This was very straightforward and no BS. The car we wanted was still on a boat. They gave us estimated arrival time and said it would be a week or two later. It came in one day later than they estimated, which was surprising good. This was a very good car buying experience.
I really don't know what to say about the Portland dealers. Demand drive prices and they're selling cars. So everybody else must be paying close to MSRP for their 4Runners around here. I have no idea why that would be.
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imp: He asked if I wanted to drive it, I said sure and he introduced me to a salesman. We're talking, and he mentions that since my 4runner is here I could always just trade it in and he'd be more than happy to go check out what trade in value was. As the salesman and I are walking out to the truck I flat told him I wasn't there to buy but I liked the FJ and he offered to drive it, if the trade in value is there I'll think about it. So I go drive, and its a sweet rig, I didn't get to use the locker or winch though, it was just a quick lap around town and on the freeway. When we get back I thank the salesman and the manager happens by, I asked if he looked up trade in and he hadn't, too busy, but he'd do it now and it'll take a few minutes. No problem, I'm in no rush. I go back to the lounge and chill, they've got the People's Court with Judge Milian on. :biggrin1: A few minutes later he comes out and we talk, he says there's a lot of miles on it and it needs a lot of work, he could do $500. I must have had "STUPID" on my forehead or something. I kindly refrained from telling him to **** off, and chuckled and said "NOPE. No deal" and that was that. He asked if I wanted to see what payments would be and maybe I could sell it privately for a down payment. I said no and I wasn't going to buy. We shook hands and he walked away. 
