So I went to the Dealer Yesterday

[silver4x419]

Ok.

I do not know if everyone knows this, but I do not have a 4Runner yet.

I went to the dealer a 2nd time yesterday to have them to a search on the vehicle I wanted and it seems they can not find me a SR5 with a Leather Steering wheel/Audio Controls (it is an available option). I really only want a Titanium or if I have to I will take a Pacific Blue. Have ruled out a Gold one either.

But I went, talked to the salesman and went and sat in a actually SR5, when I went in November, I could only find a SE.

Well, to let everyone know, the SR5 is fine without Telescoping Steering Wheel, I do not feel uncomfortable at all, so therefore I do not need it.

I guess if I want to order my vehicle, the salesman said it would take up to 8 months, which I do not believe (usually 3-4) from what I heard on here.

I am going back to the dealer today to recheck the head room inside, not from the roof, but it seems my head sits real close to the drivers door top window frame and kinda causes concern for me if I am ever in a car accident. I do not know if the seat was cranked all the way down, so I am returning to find out.

I brought up the topic about a V8 and V6 and the salesman said that V6's need premium fuel and that was what Toyota told him when they were being trained on these. He told me to get a V8.

I told him the manual says regular or premium, he was not sure at that point. He thought the V6 was a High Permormance Engine, like the Celica and Trix... IE, High Compression so therefore you need Premium Fuel..... So, from what I heard from abround here, the V6 does not need premium.

So I figured I would report back on my findings. It is getting close to summer and I should be ordering or getting a vehicle in the next 3-5 months depending. I know it still seems a long ways away for some people, but I been waiting patiently since August rougly.

Any advice or opinions are welcome.

Thank you again.

 

[Kanab]

Get the V8, you then have the same drivetrain that you get on the Lexus GX470. Also drive one with the Xreas shocks, WOW!!! I liked it better than the electronic suspension on the Lexus GX470. I have the silver sport model and it has the V8 and the controls on the leather steering wheel with the 6 disk in dash stereo. Listed for close to $36,000 and I bought it for around $32,500 good luck.

 

[Good Times]

Never trust the stealer. They don't know what they sell because they're dumb (no offense to those that are in that industry). Anyway, do your homework outside of the dealership and then buy according to your research. No need to ask the dealer as they don't even know some of the basic information on those vehicles. Keep in mind that they need to memorize soo many different vehicles that they do get confused alot (esp when they jump from 1 dealer to another).

Odd because I have the sr5 and my truck has the telescopic steering... I thought that was a standard on all 4runners. :dunno:

v6 or v8. either one is fine. Just get it according to what you plan to do. TOwing? then v8 else v6. If you want the torque, v8 else v6 get the pic?

As for looking for the right 4runner, if one dealer does not have it, call another dealer until you find one. After you have exhausted all your resources then reevaluate your situation and decide whether to order or settle. personally settling on a 30k item is pretty messed up! I'd make sure I try my hardest to find the truck I want. If it means clear across the country then so be it!

Good Luck

 

[NoDak]

1. for mich. weather and roads, i would have to go the v8 4x4 route.
2. the only diff between the SR5 and SE is roughly about 1k price.
3. xreas is nice, but i dont know how it handles those mich potholes after winter

 

[boston_kevin]

Don't listen to the dealers

For the most part, they really are clueless... The first time I went to look at the '04 4Runner I asked about the 3rd row (I hadn't seen it in any commercials and the toyota website is rather vague). He looked to see if there were any on the lot and then he showed me a Highlander. Told me the seats work the same... I told him thanks anyway, but I wouldn't be looking at the 3rd row... Same as the Highlander??? Even the website shows they don't fold into the floor... Dealers are not the brightest bulbs in the pack...

Best info you can get is to talk with the service manager for the dealership. They know much more than the dealer (that's why they don't sell cars...)

 

[ayoung101]

Re: Don't listen to the dealers

Best info you can get is to talk with the service manager for the dealership. They know much more than the dealer (that's why they don't sell cars...)

that's exactly what i was going to say. talk to the service manager, or the parts manager, or really any of the mechanics that have been around for awhile. they will probably be a lot more help to you. i talk DIRECTLY to either the parts manager or one of the mechanics who has been there for like 20 years at my local toyota whever i want advice or info. hasn't let me down yet.

 

[silver4x419]

1 Dealer is good so far

I went back a couple days ago and visted all the Toyota Dealers within a 40 mile radius of me, yes it was a lot of driving!

All the dealers wanted to move me up to the Sport Edition, except 1 dealer. They said, we can go ahead and order it for you, it will take 4 to 4/12 months and I said that would not be a problem.

If I order next week, I will more than likely end up getting a 2004. If I wait till the end of May or Mid June, I will end up with a 2005 more than likely.

So I am thining of waiting will June to put in my order.

Pretty much, I will be ordering the following:

1. 2005 4Runner
2. Titanium
3. 4.0 V6
4. 4 Wheel Drive
5. 5 Seater
6. No Moon Roof
7. Rear Spoiler
8. No Double Decker System (I can add it later if need be)
9. 16 Inch Rims (Debating on the 17's, but more tire selection on the 16's)
10 Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls with Leather Wrapped Shifter Knob
11. Rear Audio Controls
12. Auto Dimming/Compass/Temperature Rear View Mirror
13. 115V Outlet
14. Extra Cigarette Lighter

That is pretty much about it... Aftermarket accessories will probobly be a JAOS Push Bar with some of the shatterproof Light Force Lights and a CAI and a Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust. Also will be purchasing some Exteme Catch All Floor Mats.

 

[the_josh]

Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

I went back a couple days ago and visted all the Toyota Dealers within a 40 mile radius of me, yes it was a lot of driving!

All the dealers wanted to move me up to the Sport Edition, except 1 dealer. They said, we can go ahead and order it for you, it will take 4 to 4/12 months and I said that would not be a problem.

If I order next week, I will more than likely end up getting a 2004. If I wait till the end of May or Mid June, I will end up with a 2005 more than likely.

So I am thining of waiting will June to put in my order.

Pretty much, I will be ordering the following:

1. 2005 4Runner
2. Titanium
3. 4.0 V6
4. 4 Wheel Drive
5. 5 Seater
6. No Moon Roof
7. Rear Spoiler
8. No Double Decker System (I can add it later if need be)
9. 16 Inch Rims (Debating on the 17's, but more tire selection on the 16's)
10 Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls with Leather Wrapped Shifter Knob
11. Rear Audio Controls
12. Auto Dimming/Compass/Temperature Rear View Mirror
13. 115V Outlet
14. Extra Cigarette Lighter

That is pretty much about it... Aftermarket accessories will probobly be a JAOS Push Bar with some of the shatterproof Light Force Lights and a CAI and a Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust. Also will be purchasing some Exteme Catch All Floor Mats.

hey silver4x419,
i going to get a v8 sport 4x4, but i am not gonna go get it til late may or early june. did the dealer say when the 2005 will be out? because i was thinking maybe ill just order one too and it will give me time to save some more money...

 

[silver4x419]

Re: Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

hey silver4x419,
i going to get a v8 sport 4x4, but i am not gonna go get it til late may or early june. did the dealer say when the 2005 will be out? because i was thinking maybe ill just order one too and it will give me time to save some more money...

I would say order it in Mid to Late June to get a 2005. That is what I am going to do to be on the safe side.

 

[the_josh]

Re: Re: Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

I would say order it in Mid to Late June to get a 2005. That is what I am going to do to be on the safe side.

did they know of what changes there are going to be on the 05?
how are you dealing with the price issue? did u set a certain over invoice or something?

 

[silver4x419]

Re: Re: Re: Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

did they know of what changes there are going to be on the 05?
how are you dealing with the price issue? did u set a certain over invoice or something?

I basically went in there and told them I plan on paying about 2% over invoice and I am going on this years prices, so therefore it would be about $560 dollars on a $28,000 vehicle.

I do not know what the prices will be on the 05, that is why I am going to wait till June and then the dealer might have the prices by then.

I will be a fully loaded SR5 without the 3rd row and moon roof, but I will have a Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls and Rear Audio.

 

[the_josh]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

I basically went in there and told them I plan on paying about 2% over invoice and I am going on this years prices, so therefore it would be about $560 dollars on a $28,000 vehicle.

I do not know what the prices will be on the 05, that is why I am going to wait till June and then the dealer might have the prices by then.

I will be a fully loaded SR5 without the 3rd row and moon roof, but I will have a Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls and Rear Audio.

$560!!! thats way too much...
im getting invoice on any runner i want to order, you should get way more off that 2%

anyway, i did some researching and i found that the 04'runner release date was 09.01.03 so that means it's pretty close to being a year old. i called several dealers and talked to only the fleet managers (since salesman are a dime a dozen) and the said that the new runner should be available mid july-august and they will probably know mid-june about ordering one and the new goodies on them. so im thinking that i might just hold out for a few more months and hopefully by the 05' debut toyota will finally have all the kinks worked out...


p.s. i called toyota headquarters (closed now) but i will try again first thing monday morning and pursue to find more info on the 05' unveiling...

p.s.s. when you get closer to ordering try to get more money off the truck, a lil tip for ya: instead of just calling one dealer and trying to find out info on the new one. call lots of dealers, so therefore the load can be spread thinner among lots of dealers. so when it comes to getting ready to pay for your runner the dealer can justify giving more off because he really hasn't spent much time on it with you. try to make it as easy on him as possible in the beginning but when u go to sign the papers really grind him cause there is plenty of room, trust me... even at invoice they are still makin dough!

 

[silver4x419]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 1 Dealer is good so far

$560!!! thats way too much...
im getting invoice on any runner i want to order, you should get way more off that 2%

anyway, i did some researching and i found that the 04'runner release date was 09.01.03 so that means it's pretty close to being a year old. i called several dealers and talked to only the fleet managers (since salesman are a dime a dozen) and the said that the new runner should be available mid july-august and they will probably know mid-june about ordering one and the new goodies on them. so im thinking that i might just hold out for a few more months and hopefully by the 05' debut toyota will finally have all the kinks worked out...


p.s. i called toyota headquarters (closed now) but i will try again first thing monday morning and pursue to find more info on the 05' unveiling...

p.s.s. when you get closer to ordering try to get more money off the truck, a lil tip for ya: instead of just calling one dealer and trying to find out info on the new one. call lots of dealers, so therefore the load can be spread thinner among lots of dealers. so when it comes to getting ready to pay for your runner the dealer can justify giving more off because he really hasn't spent much time on it with you. try to make it as easy on him as possible in the beginning but when u go to sign the papers really grind him cause there is plenty of room, trust me... even at invoice they are still makin dough!

I did not call the dealer, I personally went to the dealers and talked to them face to face. 5 dealers and 9 hours later I came up with one dealer that would order for me. And the price was 2% over invoice, not 2% off of MSRP.

And there was nothing in writing, he just said the price would be locked into a % over invoice because that is what I wanted. I might just order the vehicle with no % on the list and when I put my deposit down and sign and 4 months pass, I can negotiate the price.

That is what most likely I will do, I am not going to be too picky on the price if they are willing to order it for me and so on. I ran into a bunch of problems with dealers around here.

 

[linhsy]

silver4x419

You mean 2% over the invoice price...is this included tax & all the fees..?

 

[silver4x419]

The price of the vehicle would be 2% over invoice and then 6% sales tax, title and plates.

So say invoice was $28,000 dollars, 2% over invoice would be $28,560. Then sales tax (6%) on $28,560 is $1,713.

So final price would be lets say would be $30,273.

What deals have other members been getting on a SR5 out the door?

 

[the_josh]

The price of the vehicle would be 2% over invoice and then 6% sales tax, title and plates.

So say invoice was $28,000 dollars, 2% over invoice would be $28,560. Then sales tax (6%) on $28,560 is $1,713.

So final price would be lets say would be $30,273.

What deals have other members been getting on a SR5 out the door?

I envy you and your 6%!!!

 

[the_josh]

i have a ridiculous 8.25%

 

[silver4x419]

8.25% is tuff to take, but how is that for a deal?

I mean, has anyone gotten their vehicle below invoice?

 

[Kanab]

I got mine for 2.1% over invoice off the dealer lot. Only one dealer in town and they are hard to deal with. Made sure they new I was willing to go out of town to buy. I was happy with the 2.1%, plus I had them switch the 17" Brigstones for a set of 17" Michelin Cross Terrains off another 4runner. I'm sure they had to pay service some $$ to do the 10 tire dismount and remount and balance. I figure having the Michelins was worth $400 more to me than keeping the Brigstones. So I guess I got it for less than 1% over invoice when I include the increased value of the Michelins.

 

[Biff]

I got mine off the lot for $3500 under invoice. Its pretty hard to get an order vehicle under or at invoice.