Trying to decide which one: Colors and Nav/KDSS or Not

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suryo

New member
I just joined today but I've been reading everyone's posts for weeks. I want to get a 2011 TE but there aren't a lot available in my area. So my choices are: Grey TE with no KDSS or Nav or Black TE with KDSS and Nav.

My dilemma kind of goes with color, since I have owned a black truck before and the scratches and dings on the paint show so much. I prefer the grey one in looks. However, I wanted one with KDSS and NO Nav on in, but the black one is all that they can find right now. It's about $3K difference between the two.

I will be going to the dealer today to have them price my trade and see if they can get one for me, but I'm still in this dilemma if I should get the one with the KDSS/Nav or not. Either that, or just sit and wait for a TE with KDSS to come along.
 
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suryo said:
I just joined today but I've been reading everyone's posts for weeks. I want to get a 2011 TE but there aren't a lot available in my area. So my choices are: Grey TE with no KDSS or Nav or Black TE with KDSS and Nav.

My dilemma kind of goes with color, since I have owned a black truck before and the scratches and dings on the paint show so much. I prefer the grey one in looks. However, I wanted one with KDSS and NO Nav on in, but the black one is all that they can find right now. It's about $3K difference between the two.

I will be going to the dealer today to have them price my trade and see if they can get one for me, but I'm still in this dilemma if I should get the one with the KDSS/Nav or not. Either that, or just sit and wait for a TE with KDSS to come along.
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Forget the trade for a moment, treat it as a separate transaction that has nothing to do with your 4Runner.

Tell them what you want, tell them you will put down a $500 deposit so they can place a "preference request" with Toyota, and negotiate the final price. If they tell you that they can't do that, they are lying (I had to get mine via preference request) and you should walk away. The preference request is submitted with their normal allocation request and might take a few weeks to fulfill, meaning you have to wait for it to arrive.

Only after you have a deal on the price for the new 4Runner should you discuss your trade.
 
Yeah, I'm definately waiting until they have the vehicle priced before I incorporate my trade. I already have the prices since I'm doing it through USAA/Zag. I'm just more trying to decide if I get the grey (the color I want) will I regret not having the KDSS. And if I get the Black, will I regret getting that color.
 
TE without KDSS makes no sense, it's kind of like buying a new anything and then chickening out on the last 10%. It makes the ride all manner of better and is badass for off road use.

Order the color and options from your stealership, it would probably take a few more weeks to arrive or they could dealer trade for it.

For what it's worth, i would get the nav package. It upgrades the sound system, which needs it IMO. Yeah the head unit is kind of craptastic, and unless you have a connection it's hard to do better for the money.

And like mike said, offer to put a deposit down and they will do almost anything because they're man whores.
 
I went through USAA as well, just purchased my Silver TE with KDSS/NAVi this past week. While USAA is great and their Car Buying Service can really get you a great deal, car dealers will always be car dealers.

I went through multiple dealerships some as far as 500mi away to get what I wanted. All of them tried to sell me the car on their lots vs. helping me find what I wanted.

I knew too, that black/grey would require to much upkeep (and I'm finnicky about that) and I wanted Silver. I also wanted KDSS and NAVi. If I didn't have all of those things, I would regret my purchase and I plan on keeping this truck 10+ years. I didn't find any who were willing to work with me to find me the vehicle I was looking for, until this last one.

If you are set on a 2011, it is still early in the year and trucks are still coming from overseas. I wanted a 2011 (there were only three 2011s nationwide in Silver with KDSS/NAVi, and none of those dealer would match USAA's price )until I found a loaded 2010 Silver TE, couldn't beat the price so I ran with it.

I would wait for what you want and find a dealer who will actively look from your vehicle. Patience is key here...I waited 10 months =)
 
To add to the above post. Make it crystal clear that you're willing to wait/shop around/travel to get *exactly* what you want and upon getting said exact 4R you'll buy it at "agreed price".

Get everything writing (price too), and keep harassing the sales guy/manager. Being a pain in the ass about an investment is the smart thing to do.

Use the web dealers to your advantage. It will light a fire under the local guy's collective asses.
 
I have the black TE with KDSS and nav, and can attest to the fact that while the black is more work to maintain, it is worth it.

Also, FWIW, Ive been paying more attention to other paint colors as I drive and and walk through parking lots.

Bottom line is unless you put effort into maintaining a vehcile, everything gets dirty, everything gets scratched whether its red, black, white or silver.

This was really driven home today when I saw a blue 2004 SE 4runner. The owner has taken good care of the paint, and it literally looks like it just came off the showroom floor. I had the 2003 version of this vehicle, and it was just as hard to maintain as black...
 
Get what you want. You'll drive this for years - what's a few weeks' wait?
Any dealer telling you otherwise is lying, and that'd be a mark against them imo.

Don't trade your vehicle unless you must, you're losing at least $1k, nearer $2k - unless your trade is crap.
 
I have to agree with everyone here on KDSS. If you're getting a Trail edition, you should get KDSS. A TE doesn't make much sense without it. Additionally, KDSS uses huge swaybars, which makes on-road handling really quite good.

The color, though, is a personal choice. None of us can really help you with that one. :)
 
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1. Preference a gray one with KDSS.
2. Join the TE club.
3. ???
4. Profit!

(I might be partial to grey)
 
I wound up not getting either. The more I read the forum, and thought of it on my own, I have never gone off roading in my Xterra (which I'll be trading in). However, I would want the 4WD available to me when I do. So I asked another dealership to find me a Magnetic Gray SR5 4WD. They found one for me and I put the goof faith deposit. I'm hoping they will give me enough for trade in, but if not, I'm ok with walking away. I chose this dealership because of the 4 I've been dealing with, the one in Lake City has been the most honest and up front and doesn't have insane fees. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the next few days.
 
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