2013 and Earlier - Toyota Sienna Prices Paid and Buying Experience

elerwpdx1

Patricia 10 in Oregon. Thanks for your info! Could you tell me which dealer you were able to get the LE with VD/VSC from? Thank you!

biologic

2001 Sienna XLE
UF - Tow Pkg (incl dual auto climate control)
BE - side air bags
HE - upgrade pkg #2 (incl pass side pwr slider and pwr moonroof)
EF - bumper protector
$27,763 plus $85 doc fee. Taxes, registration extra.
Toyota of Nashua, NH. Very good experience.

maineacinva

Where did you get you 2001 XLE?
What codes (features) did it come with?
Did the deal also include a trade-in?

I am looking for an 2001 XLE, but have
been avg. $1,200-$1,500 over invoice with dealers in Virginia.
Thanks!

blizz1

I got mine in Wilmingto,NC-but got the deal only after showing them info. from the internet on prices advertised by other toyota dealers in NC. Go to www.toyota.com and look under dealers in NC. Check out Town and Country Toyota in Charlotte,Rice Toyota in Greensboro, Jim Barkely Toyota in Asheville- dealers list MSRR , and a price they sell for. I threated to go to Charlotte and buy one so the dealer matched Charlotte's advertised price.I had a trade in and did not get ripped off for that. I had took the car to 3 other dealers and got the same offer.It was fair. ( I also brought in a copy of the kelly blue book value )
I don't know the codes, but I have the moonroof and 2 power doors, tire upgrade (michelen with 80000 mile warrenty) and toyota guard.
The deal was only on the inventory at the dealer- but Town and Country Toyota in Charlotte seem to list all their cars at $300 over invoice.

samscott

Thanks to all who've posted - I've learned a lot and now as 'dckozak' said it's time to give back a little to the board.

First, I've now made deals for 2 Siennas (98 & 2001). I've found the best price is had by finding a dealer willing to order just what you want and by me willing to wait 1-2 months.

I plan my transition from old car to new accordingly so I'm not in the lurch and desperate for a new car.

If a dealer says you can't order just what you want out of allocation he's lying. I've done it twice now. Some dealers are just too lazy to do this. It's not easy for the dealer but that way you don't pay for features you don't need.

Second, From what I can tell in the first batch of Siennas made, only the XLE had options VD and BE. These are available in LE (as Toyota's own literature clearly states) now (confirmed with Toyota's call center). Perhaps it's Toyota's way of making those in the CE/LE crowd who are exited about the 2001 (like me) move up to the costlier XLE.

I just spoke to my dealer and my 2001 LE (w/ UN, EF, RB, GN, VD and BE, full gas tank and my specified color - Denim Blue) is scheduled to be built in mid October (second allocation) with delivery by end of the month. We'll see but I'm giving the dealer the benefit of the doubt that he can pull this off. It worked last time for me.

Third, my price for the above vehicle: $25,021. Not quite invoice but the difference ($711 and the 2% holdback on invoice) is a well-earned profit if I get what I want on time.

jle3

I may have missed this info., but I can't seem to find dealer invoice for stability control option for the 2001 Sienna LE. Anyone know that info? Thanks.

maineacinva

The Kelly Blue Book site says that code "VD" is a $440 invoice cost.

idahomom

Is $1700 over invoice too much for an XLE with VSC, side air bags, luxury package, heated seats, tow and rear bumper protector? Dealer seems unwilling to deal but was very up front about invoice, dealer holdback, etc. They seem to sell the Siennas they get and have none on the lot. From friends, I also know this salesman offers excellent customer service after the sale including bringing a demo to your house and driving your Toyota to the service dept. then returning your car to your home at the end of the day. No kidding.

newmom

I am just starting to look for a van and am seriously considering a Toyota Sienna. The comments at this site have been quite informative and sometimes humorous.

Does anyone know of an honest dealer near Fremont, CA? I have the info from post #322 - thanks a bunch and if need be, I'm willing to go to Walnut Creek.

I don't have the luxury of ordering what I want and waiting 30-90 days because my '95 Camry was totaled when I was rear-ended. However, I don't want to appear desperate when I approach the dealer either. I have read the Consumer Advice section at this site and now I feel better equipped to deal with the salespersons. But any other tips/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

aling

Welcome to Townhall! You may also want to repost your message/questions in the main Toyota Sienna minivan topic if you don't get a response here.

Hope this helps!
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference

sneaker4

I'm about to lease a 2001 XLE Sienna - color black- and my sales person told me it could be a 2 month wait. Black is most popular color so she says- Does this sound like an extraordinarily long time to have to wait? She says its because at this time, they're still new and not yet fully manufactured- What do you think? Any one else having the same problem?

nutter

I have read the posts about getting a price of $300 over invoice, has anybody found a dealer in the MA area that is willing to offer this type of pricing?

llees

Does any know any dealership within a 90-or-so drive from LA selling the 2001 Sienna XLE (gold or denim blue) at under $500-or-so over invoice? I also want the dual power sliding doors, sun/moon roof, side air bags and skid control. Please help . Thanks.

jle3

Just bought a 2001 Sienna LE at Darcars Toyota in Silver Spring, Maryland -- second car I've bought there. After a back and forth firm but fair negotiation, I got LE with UN (extra value package) and TO (towing package) for "only" 24,250 + taxes/tags. By my calculations, about $800 over invoice. (That's my version of invoice, with no advertising fees. If you "count" advertising, then my price is about $400 over invoice).

Fortunately they had this car in acceptable color (sand) on the lot, or I wouldn't have gotten this price. Most others were loaded, and
these were only options I wanted. As with my Camry years ago, I dealt with Charles Cole and with Eric Thompson, who were fair and nice to work with. Car drives great, and I love the new feature that you can slide the 3rd row seats up to get more storage room without folding or removing the seats.

andreas1

I just bought a Sienna XLE 2001 with following options: LL, BE, UF, EM, BE, FE,EF. Dealer's Invoice 28,500 I paid 29,100. Got it at Kearny Mesa of San Diego, Sales person Mike Gartin. Great experience dealing with him. Most dealers wanted to add an advertisement fee of 400 to the invoice but this is a gray area and buyer should not pay it.

eastcoast2

Dear Sneaker4:

Black Walnut in the 2001 is not black, it is BROWN, like the UPS truck. You may want to get another color.

snoops

I just put a refundable deposit down on a Sienna XLE. It has FE, UF, BE, HD, XL, LL. We are paying 30,500. I thought this was a pretty good deal at the time. Now I am not so sure. Any thoughts ?

maineacinva

I think that your deal is high.

It looks to me like you are paying +$1,800 over
invoice. I currently have a deal on the table for
a 2001 xle (w/ only code AJ) for +$700 over invoice (no TDA). I got this offer over the phone with a local dealer in town w/o trying to haggle. I am not offering a trade-in either.

Check out the Kelly Blue Book Site to get invoice
costs. Call around to other nearby dealerships.
Tell them your specific van for $??? over invoice cost plus dealer processing fees. (I would start at $500 over invoice, where you come up little as a final tactic to close a deal.

I know dealers try to get more $ over invoice for loaded up cars, but try it see what happens.

If you get a great deal, you can always ask the first dealer to beat it by $100 or so, else you'll walk.
Good Luck & let me know what happens

idahomom

We paid $30,661 for our XLE with FE, UF, BE, VD, HD, LL. By my calculations that works out to about $1200 over invoice. Doc fee was $129. We only have two local Toyota dealers and the other dealer was "firm" at $1700 over invoice for an identically equipped van. The loaded XLE's appear to be harder to come by than less loaded LE's. So I guess dealers can charge more. We love the van so, to us, it was worth what we paid for it.

minimom4

I just closed a deal on an 01 XLE at Kent Brown Toyota in Elmira, NY. The salesperson was Bill Peters, and he was a joy to work with. This was not my local dealer, I traveled 50 miles. I started with 2 local dealerships and several others in a one hr. radius, which I obtained from the Toyota website. Six dealers engaged with me, but when they realized they would have to work on locating what I wanted and that I was very educated on price (thanks to this website and KBB,) it quickly came down to 2 dealerships. The other dealer was Jack Sherman Toyota in Binghamton, NY. Vic Merril was the salesman. Vic was also very easy to work with. In the end, Bill Peters beat the price by $300 and I had a strong sense he would find what I was looking for. We had finalized terms on the phone and by the time I arrived at the dealership 2 hours later with my deposit, he had located a vehicle with exactly what I wanted (no extras,) in the color I wanted, and had a confirmed trade on the vehicle from another dealer 100miles away! I take delivery in a few days. The price wasn't exceptional compared to some of your deals but I feel good about it, especially since the dealer does have to work for this one and probably isn't going to get the full 2% holdback. Here's what I got:

XLE in Vintage Red with HF,UF,AJ,BE,EF(FE&XL)
MSRP was $31,386 and my price was $28,454

They also include a complementary oil change and free annual state inspections for as long as you own the car. Thanks to all who contributed. I actually had fun buying this car!

grinder3

I've hardly ever seen any posts for the price of CE's on this board. What do you think of the following price for
2001 CE with HV,EF,V3 Price :$ 22,665
Destination:$480
TAx - 5%: $1,157
Total: $24,302
Title + Docs Feest :180
Total: $24,500
Thanks

bakelly11

You said:
"Van arrived in port 6/23
Van arrived at dealer on 6/30"

When you say Van arrived in port, where did it come from? Was it made in IN and ready. Is that what you mean by "In Port"?

Was your van made in IN?

Thanks,
Bev

srivnava

Here is a response from a local Toyota Dealer (Raleigh NC). I have seen many comments in this forum about XLEs with LL package. Is this option not available in NC (Easter Seaboard Toyota Distributors) or nation wide ...

Here is the e-mail from a dealer here...

Hi Sriv! It's Denise. I recieved your reply. I understand that getting the Sienna you want with all the equipment you want on it is important to you. I cannot give you an accurate price on a Sienna with the LLAT package on it just yet. We have not yet received our pricing book from SET. We were basing our price on Siennas that have already been built. They will not start building Siennas with LLAT until sometime this month. And even then, there will only be 6% built with LLAT and VDAT together. That may or may not be a problem with color choices. I appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. I assure you that I will do everything that I can to get you the Sienna you want at the price you feel good about.
I will contact you just as soon as I either get the pricing book or they start showing up on the locator.

llees

We are in the process of buying a fully loaded XLE. The dealer is now searching for the van for us. He has agreed to $750 over invoice. And if he cannot find one without the running board (which we do NOT want), he will sell us the one he has in his lot for $550 over invoice. So, I think anything more than $1000 over invoice is way too much.

ricardo202

I am trying to close a deal and I am stuck on the "Toyota Dealer Advertising" cost. Did anyone come up with a good deal where they didn't pay it?

snoops

Thanks maineacinva and idahomom for the feedback. This is what I did. I called the dealer and discussed my concerns with him. When I had first approached my dealer (I bought my last car with them). I went armed with the information off of this site (special thanks to KBB). I explained to the dealer that I was happy with their service department and wanted to purchase my Sienna from them,but, that they would have to match or do better than the deal I could get at Prestige Toyota (KBB) So I pretty much was willing to do $1300 over invoice. I am in Northern NJ and based on info I had reviewed on this site I thought that was the best deal I could get.
Anyway, when I explained to the dealer that based on the Kelly Blue Book values it appears that
I am paying 1800 over invoice he reviewed the deal. He insists that his invoice price is 29177 and that is the price his dealership is paying for the Sienna. He can not explain the difference in invoice price. He plans to show me all his paperwork when we pick up the car. So he insists that I am paying a little less than 1300 over invoice (I had them throw in wheel locks and a cargo net) I am wondering if the car also has VD and maybe that is where the difference in price is coming from.
At this point my husband wants me to just stop worrying about the deal and sit back and enjoy the car. So I am trying to take his advice.

dardson

the problem is...figuring out the real invoice numbers....my dealer (as in the above post) also insisted his invoice was some $800 over my calculations....he showed me a very loooong and official looking paper that included a laundry list of distributor fees...yes, no, are they real numbers or something generated by a funny-money Toyota distribution system....in the end I decided to stick to a 5% deal (aprox. $1400) over MY internet reasearched invoice numbers for a 2001, and was willing to walk away. They called the following morning and took my offer.
Do your homework! Use the True-Market-Values posted on Edmunds (they were right on in my case in spite of my dealer's protestations). Be willing to walk away.

maineacinva

I just put a deposit down on a 2001 XLE Sienna.
MSRP on the van is $29,526. I got it for $26,800.
The car cannot be located in my Toyota region,
so I have to wait a month or so for the vehicle to be built. I also have the option of choosing another similar vehicle that can be located, if Toyota cannot build it (Woodland Pearl w/ gray interior--very hard to find). There was no trade-in involved and no financing through the dealer(additional ways the dealer profits from the sale and thus might accept a lower offer from you.)

Here's the detail of my deal.
Both the dealer & I agreed on these numbers.
Base Invoice $24,895
Destination $480
AJ $316
UF $128
EF $36
Kelly Blue Book Invoice $25,855
Gasoline $6
Dealer TDA $508
Dealer Invoice $26,369
$ Above Invoice $431
Signed Deal $26,800
Dealer Processing Fee $89
Taxes/Title/License $874
Total Cost $27,763

Some general thoughts on the deal.
Insist on seeing the paperwork/invoice. Be on the same page as the dealer with numbers and what is "Invoice". The deal I thought I had for $730 over invoice (w/o TDA)--see post #370 was actually
$730 over invoice cost that had +$500 charge for TDA and other small "Dealer Costs". I was premature in thinking I had a good offer. We were not on the same page. Have them fax the invoice if you are using the phone.
If they won't show you/tell you what makes up invoice cost for your specfic vehicle (based on VIN#)...walk (or run) away. What they say is dealer cost probably isn't. Be careful, some of the items they list might be a clever way to get you to pay more for costs that are not real.

Don't absorb all the "fluff talk" that dealers use on you. "I won't make any money on that deal"... well they do. Certainly my dealership did not lose on the deal. One dealer in town said that he is "the lowest guy in town and he won't get beaten by price". Well he wasn't and he didn't. (He was banking on me not being an informed consumer. He is now waiting for the uninformed person to walk into his dealership.)
The dealership 45 minutes away from me, beat his deal (over the phone) by $350. Not a bad return for 30 minutes of my time. It pays to shop around.
somebody put there might be hungry for your business.
Thanks to all the previous posts in this forum. It certainly made a difference for me. I hope I have "raised the bar" a little in our common quest to buy a good vehicle at a fair price.

pyu1

a dealer in St. Louis area is willing to sell a Sienna LE with extra value package and towing package for 23657, which is 255 above the invoice, it looks like very good deal ( if he is honest, just a phone conversation deal), Is this because the high oil price making the Minivan sale slowing down?
Thanks

maineacinva

First, is it a 2000 or 2001 Sienna.
If it is a 2001 model, then I think you have a good deal. Sales may be slowing for some reason. Maybe the dealership has several on the lot and wants to move them quickly.
If it is a 2000 model...I couldn't tell you.

Get it in writing so that you know all of the costs involved. Don't let them slip anything in a the last minute.

pyu1

I heard from other dealer that the specific dealer I mentioned, he usually got sienna from brokers, the brokers get them from Canada ( Minivan not hot there), because metric system in Canada, they need to change the odometer from kilometer to mile, I need to find out this also.
There is another dealer offer $351 above invoice for Sienna LE 2001. I also need to find out any nitches.
Thanks for your response,

cpfc

BDCLARK,
In post #374 you mentioned that you bought a 2001 XLE from Walnut Creek Toyota for $600 over invoice. Did the invoice price you quoted include the Toyota Dealer Advertising (TDA)fee? (mentioned in other posts to be around $440)
Thanks,
cpfc

bdclark

I believe the invoice price on my van did include TDA - though I am not positive. The bottom line for me was this - the sticker on the van was roughly $33,500 - making my price about $3,400 below sticker (no additional dealer markup on the sticker).

Wish I knew for sure on the TDA to help you.

2kidsnadog

We’re still amazed... we contacted dealers via email and asked for their best "bid"(see post #364 by “scottyb5”,THANKS!). Sent 15 emails, got 8 responses with #’s. Paid $29,194 (plus tax, lic and $45 doc. fee) for a 2001 XLE (options EF,FE,UF,BE,EM,XL,LL has a MSRP of $32,811). We dealt with Garrett Smith (Internet Mgr) at Irvine Toyota in Orange County, Ca. Not only did we get a great deal, but a great buying experience (we usually loath buying a car). We agreed to the price of our trade (very good price, also) and the new Sienna. We made an appointment, Mr. Smith was on time, the Sienna was ready to go, full tank of gas, no haggling, no pressure, he didn’t try sell us anything else, didn’t hand us off to anyone, even when his phone rang numerous times .... totally professional. A very good deal and an awesome car buying experience!

rward99

Everything is negotiable. I can tell you that $380 is a 'fair' charge in my area. Here is what Edmund's says:

Advertising Charges: Most vehicle invoices include a legitimate advertising fee levied by either the manufacturer or regional dealer groups. Ad fees can range from less than 1 percent of the vehicle's MSRP to more than 3 percent, depending on region. You should try to pay 1.5 percent of MSRP or less for the advertising fee. Metropolitan-area dealers are more likely to charge higher advertising fees than rural dealers. When you comparison shop for a car, be sure to ask the dealers how much the advertising charge is on the vehicle.

stevenk4

Looking for a reputable Toyota dealer in metro Boston,MA Route 128 area to get a Sienna LE or XLE at close to invoice. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

spdygnz

I have been searching for an honest deal for the 2001 XLE and am still searching.

A word of CAUTION to Buyers in Colorado area....
Based on my first hand personal experience......

STAY AWAY FROM LARRY MILLER TOYOTA

(Boulder turnpike and I-25) I had the worst experience EVER. So many lies and mis-representations it was unbelievable!! Complaints filed with Toyota Customer Service for follow-up.

tjno1

Just order a new 2001 Sienna LE today. According to the honest salesman that I dealt with, (at least it appealed to me) all LE model has mandatory options which must included extra valued package UN and Towing Package TO. I also like to have the Alloy Wheels SS not AW. This dealer only carried SS. For $60 extra, it's a better material. I also ordered Rear Bumper Protector EF (a must have option to me) and a Center Console Box SK. He is willing to sell me $1200 over invoice, but I refused. After 1 hour of dealing, we finally settled with a price of $25398 + which includes the following options:UN,TO,SS,EF,SK+Shipping. That is about $1000 over invoice. Anyone had a better deal around NYC area? This is a brand new 2001 LE in Silver Shadow color. 2001 Sienna had a new engine which produces 210 horsepower & the headlights are completely different from the 2000 model. It look much better! Hope this info can be a help for anyone shopping for a minivan.

srcd00

Hey tjno1 I just bought a 2000 LE similar to your 2001. I hope I got a good deal. Paid $25,400. My options included (which were already on the van) AW, J2, P5, PN, RF, TO, UN & SK. After about 2 hours of haggling they gave me the alarm system fro free. I know it's only a 2000 but I think I got a good deal. Let me know. Thanks...

dardson

there is nothing harder than figuring out what you paid for a car...particularly if you have a trade. On my lastest trade, using Kelly and Edmunds trade-in values, I managed $400 under their suggested value (all I could squeeze outta the guys). So...add $400 to my deal. My XLE was $477 over invoice or $877 with the $400 added. In Texas the sales tax is figured on trade difference. If I had no trade, my sales tax woulda been $1500+ instead of $369. Go figure. I woulda had to sell it for $1100+ more than their offer just to break even. Then you have to consider time, trouble, and newspaper ad costs. According to my math, I paid 11.95% under MSRP which is less than Edmund's TMV. My XLE listed for $31,316 and paid $27576. Whatever, I was satisfied. I always try to turn the buying process into 2 to 4 weeks. It gives me plenty of time to think and gets them to their bottom number. By the way, this is a great automobile, better in every way than the 98 Expedition I traded....quicker, smoother, bigger inside, and 40% better gas milage. Good luck folks. Take your time!

thecase

AVOID DENBIGH TOYOTA IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. !!!
I got a decent internet quote from Denbigh Toyota in Newport News, VA for a 2001 Sienna LE. I went to the dealership, test rode the vehicle and sat down with Todd Alderman. I was just about to sign on the dotted line when he went to verify all the numbers with his manager. Well guess what ? He comes back and says he's just sooooo embarrassed, he feels soooo bad, but his manager gave him the wrong price (can you beleive it ?) ! He's really mad, but managed to get me a really, really good deal that's just $600 more than the quote. Boy oh boy Todd, that's tempting !! I've filed complaints with the attorney general and better business bureau. The scams are still there, I guess they just get you into the showroom a little differnetly. Again, AVOID DENBIGH TOYOTA IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. THEY'RE SCUM !!

gasmizer

In the VA Beach area, I had a good experience with Checkered Flag Toyota - salesperson Chris Meyer. He was no-nonsense, no-hassle, very straightforward. He made our buying/trading experience very easy. I am pretty frugal, and after doing all the math here on Edmunds, we came in at just over invoice (within 200), and he gave us exactly what we expected for our trade. For a 2000 LE, we paid 24,100 (in April). He didn't try to sell us anything extra (in fact, the infamous "back room" salesperson took one look at me and said, "You don't look like the kind of guy who wants rustproofing", and didn't waste any of our time. Chris Meyer is a good guy - ask for him.

enviroman

Had a dealer in the Dallas Ft. Worth area give me a first offer of $24,500 for a LE with UN, UP, FE and TO (excludes TT&L). How does this sound?

bolen

I went to the Milton Martin Dealer in Gainesville, GA today and received a quote on a 2000 CE 5-door. MRSP is $24,956 and he quoted me $22,980. He showed me some paperwork that stated they paid $22,500. It has the CE extra value package, which drove the price up, but does this sound like a good deal? Anyone had any success in the Atlanta or Columbus, GA. area?

murocflyer

Does anyone know if Nevada charges the full tax on a vehicle at time of purchase, or do they do it like TX does and charge tax on the difference of your trade-in and new vehicle?

grinder3

I think your offer is probably ok. I had a quote for $22,654 in MA,for the 2001CE with HV,EF & V3. This is was 2001. I did not buy only becuase of of fear of the dreared TC problem. So If I were you, I would make sure that the vehicle was not made in May - Aug then atleast your odds of beating these guys are a bit better. Nothing agaist Toyota. I will buy the Sienna in Jan2001.
Thanks

murocflyer

The options you list cost (Invoice)
UN-UP $624
FE $0
TO $128
Base on a LE $22,547
Dest $480
Gulf States $15
This adds up to $23,794 giving them a profit margin of $700 on that vehicle. You could probably do better than that, unless the Siennas are a hot seller in Dallas. Remember the dealer will be getting a %2 holdback fee from Toyota, meaning they will make money even if they sold it for cost. Also, remember that the salesman is not your friend, he is only trying to depart you from your hard earned money, and get as much as he can. I always try to think this way when I buy a new car. Hope this helps and good luck. I'm no expert, but if you have anymore questions feel free to email me at murocflyer5@hotmail.com and also let me know how it turns out, I'm looking to get a 2001 LE soon also, and I might just do it when I get back to TX since the sales tax is figured differently there.

murocflyer

What is the TC problem that you speak of?

srivnava

We have ordered an XLE Silver Shadow. However, we would like to change the color to Stratosphere.

Its says in the brochure that this only comes with Gray Interior. Does anyone know what color the body cladding and bumpers have ? Gray, Black ??

Thanks.

maineacinva

Great deal!
Did you trade in a vehicle and/or finance the new Sienna through Toyota?
It looks like he sold you the car at cost...
am I correct?
Since I am still waiting for my vehicle to be built, I may want to give Gary a call myself.
You're deal is about $600 higher but you got the Leather package (HF-$1,200).