2013 and Earlier - Toyota Sienna Prices Paid and Buying Experience

ncnewb

I am about to buy my first new vehicle. I am torn between Quest SE and XLE LTD w/ HO pkg. This board definately makes the case for the XLE. Dealr in NC is offering $38,000 for Salsa Red/Fawn leather/HO pkg (6-8 weeks delivery). Should I hold out for a better deal. The SE with all options is apprx $37k.

tourist

Here in Ohio (using CarsDirect.com pricing) the XLE LTD w/HO (and a few other minor items) is 36,600. The fully-loaded Quest SE (Single DVD) is about 34,500. (The Sienna is about 1k over invoice and the Quest looks like 500 over invoice.)

We ordered the Sienna. Remains to be seen whether they can deliver in the 6 - 8 week time frame. Written price offered by a local dealership for the Sienna was 41,583 but I think this was for the AWD vs. FWD model (salesman was new and confused - I know I was clear about what I wanted). For AWD, invoice on this model would be about 41,600 and CarsDirect price is 38,600 - again, 1k over invoice. Once the confusion cleared up they offered a verbal price of 38,600 w/ delivery in 4 - 5 weeks. Sienna FWD MSRP (configured this way) is about 39,400.

With CarsDirect I can see prices being (relatively) reasonable in Ohio and Missouri but you have to run the price for your area of the country. They look much higher elsewhere.

Will post my overall CarsDirect.com purchase experience as this plays out.

mfab

I am looking to buy an XLE with package #15 (side curtain airbags, DVD, leather), in the San Diego area. I used the USAA car buying service (Costco doesn't have member pricing available for the XLE), and they just came back with a quote of $32250. That's about hal-way between invoice and MSRP. I also have a call in to the delaer in Marin (thanks to the "crazy guy from Seattle"), so I should get a quote from them soon.

Any comments on whether or not this is a good price?

rxman2

For LE FWD, package 9, the Cars Direct price is only $300 below MSRP in the St. Louis Area.

kenhall64

You may have better luck looking for a package 16 adds 6 disc, VSC, TRAC and DRL. I never found a dealer with a 15 in stock. Most XLE's I found have either package 14 or 16. As for price, for what I read here, any price within $1,000 of true dealer invoice is good deal. Good luck.

wildred

If you're willing to go to San Rafael(where Marin Toyota is) to catch a good deal, then you could get a much better deal by driving 30 miles less and not paying the $5 bridge toll.

I referred one member on this board in February. He got a XLE with pkg 12 for just $328 over the dealer's invoice!!! With increasing inventory, you might even do better.

Make your e-mail public, I will tell you the detail.

PS.. A quick look at Toyota's site, only pkg 14($4,845 MSRP) & 17($2,870 MSRP) are available in California. Don't know why?

valkov

The cheapest Clair have is $25,032. But this is invoice. Did you buy for the invoice price?

valkov

Could you tell me the dealer/contact name in Boston area?

sienna36

Hi tourist,

I naver got such quote so far. Lowest on XLE limited with package #6(HO) was 1300 $ below invoice in vicinity of 37800. I am in Pittsburgh and looks that OH is not too far. Can you let me have name of the dealer. I am dying to get this good a deal.I have my e-mail in profile

sienna36

shrke5

I made the deal one month ago, but I seem to remember that it was only a bit above invoice. I had a trade & they gave me approximately $300 over NADA trade value. I feel comfortable that I did well. There was no BS involved.

mfab

Wildred, I went ahead and made my email address public. Please send me the details! It seems package #15 is not common, so it will take 6-8 weeks to get it. We are looking at alternatives now.

tjnb

Toyota only make certain packages. They list 20 packages but at any ggiven time they are only making 2-4 per trim line. I would guess that this cuts cost.

brembrem

Wildred, I am also in the bay area, and looking to purchase Sienna sometime this year. Can you send me detail information for the dealer/sales person? Thanks

siennalooker

Well, I found a dealer who was able to track down a Desert Sand XLE w/ pkg 12 - it comes with Z1 (car mats, etc), Wheel locks and the wireless headphones. They were, or will be giving me a price of $30,436 plus tax/tags. It turns out about $600 above invoice. My next question is about the warranty - does $880 for 7/75/0 seem right, their 7/100/0 was $1175 and I dont want to spend that much.
Thanks for all the info and price watching all these months. I'm just waiting for the call to find out when to pick it up.

siennalooker

I know I dont have to buy the warranty right away. But do most dealers sell the warranty to you if you didn't buy the van with them? How about the ones I read about here, KC summer and Midway? Has anyone just purchased the warranty, not the van and still get those good low prices.

orioles

Garyman:

I just purchased a Sienna XLE Limited from Clair in West Roxbury about 2 weeks ago. Overall it was a good experience and I bought the car in 2 days because I knew what prices others were paying, I knew what my trade-in was worth, and I knew the interest rates for new car loans. Here's some things I learned before buying the car, culled from messages on this board, that I wish were in one place when I started looking for a new car.

1. A fair number of people seem to be getting the Sienna for between $300 over and 3% over invoice (for my car, this is around $1,000 over). A few people claim to be getting it for less, many for more, but I think in Boston you should be able to negotiate around $500 to $600 over invoice without too much aggravation.

2. TDA (advertising) works out to about 1.5% of base invoice (i.e., invoice without an option package). Dealer will expect you to pay this, although it is not shown on the Edmunds site. This was around $500 for my car. The destination charge of around $540 is also non-negotiable.

3. The dealer's base invoice price was actually about $200 lower than what Edmunds quotes. Come in with your invoice info from this site, then ask to see the dealer's invoice. Clair was happy to show me the invoice on the car.

4. As many others have noted, there are only a couple option packages available for each trim line. For example, Toyota expects to sell more sunroofs in Miami and more traction controls here, so they only provide a couple of option packages for the CE, LE, and XLE -- I think they were #12 and #17 on the XLE. We upgraded to the XLE Ltd because we wanted a sunroof, the nav system, and the traction control. The XLE only has one option package with the Nav system and it doesn't include the traction control (and it wasn't sold in Boston either).

5. The cost of the 7/100,000/0 warranty to the dealer is $775. You can get this from any dealer, and there's someone in Kansas City who is willing to sell it to you for $795 (according to other posts). Clair wanted to charge $1175 -- I split the difference and paid $1000. To me, it was not worth the aggravation of getting the warranty elsewhere to save $3 per month on my car payment.

My salesguy was nice and seemed honest, although he didn't have as much knowledge about the car as I would have liked. I'm happy to e-mail you his name if you like. One thing Clair did -- I have 3 children and only 2 wireless headphones come with the car --- I asked if they could throw 2 extra headphones in at no charge and they said fine.

I've bought an Audi from Clair also and they are overall a reasonable dealership. Hope this helps.

tourist

Sienna36 - says your email is still private.

I don't know the name of the dealer - they are in Cincy. If you go though CarsDirect.com you should see the prices I mentioned (try using an Ohio zip code when asked so you will see what I saw - say, 43215).

This is my first experience with an Internet car-buying service (in general) and CarsDirect (in particular) so I can't tell you what to expect.

Open up your email if you need additional details.

Good luck

virgochamp

Hello all,
 As an update to my post #3717 I took delivery of a Silver Sienna XLE FWD with,
  + pkg 16 (GJ)
  + CF (carpet floor mats)
  + WH (2 extra headsets)
  + AW (All weather mats)
  + WL (wheel locks) on April 28,04. The OTD price was:
 Vehicle .... 32590.19
 Doc fee .... 50
 Tax ........ 2284.81
 TTL ........ 25
 TOTAL OTD .. 34950
 
 The vehicle has about 600 miles on it and we all love it. The one nice surprise was that it did come with Michelin tires, we were expecting the Bridgestone's. If anybody needs any more details, please email me.

siennabuyer68

Hello all...I can't believe I didn't find this forum until now! Been doing my homework, but still have some Sienna questions. I'm interested in the XLE AWD GK CF.

1. Any way out of paying "destination charge"? My understanding is that this fee is to cover the cost of moving the vehicle from the factory to the dealer. What I don't understand is why it is the same charge whether the car is being delivered to a dealer in Indiana (where the factory is) or a dealer in my home state of NC. Seems fishy...similar to the built in holdback that a dealer doesn't like to talk about.

2. What charges does one pay state sales tax on? Obviously the cost of the vehicle & options, but what about destination, documentation, etc.?

3. Thinking about the hitch receiver...Any reason not to simply buy an after market one and install it myself?

4. DVD system
If installed by a dealer, does it come with the two 115 VAC outlets? If not installed by a dealer can I buy a DVD system from Toyota and install myself? Can I have Circuit City install one? Will I lose features?

5. rear seat audio
Is it already set up for the wireless headphones? Can I buy these from a source other than Toyota?

6. Does Toyota offer an XM radio option?

Thanks Everybody!

kenhall64

1 - no way to avoid destination fee. I would think manufacturers use average cost and spread over all country. Some vehicles are made in different factories, how could destination fee be different just because where build and where you buy from.
2 - Varies from state to state. I would check your states web site to see what charged on.
3 - I thought about aftermarket/bolt-on hitch but could not figure where it bolts on. Only place I could see was floor of well - but that does not seem too strong. I'd go with factory.
4 - Outlets only come with factory installed DVD.
5 - The headphones are Panasonic. The ones from our Chevy Tahoe and Sienna work in both trucks. The Tahoe also has Panasonic DVD player.
6 - Not at this time - I think will be available for 2005.

stever

Instead of getting too worried about destination fees (or any other fees), concentrate on your best out the door price.

Here's a Dealer Holdback article that you may have missed in your research.

Have fun shopping!

Steve, Host

sarniasting

You can buy the two inch receiver hitch cheaper aftermarket. The Toyota hitch is 1 1/4". I bought one from Zeibert and had it installed for alot less then Toyota's price. If you check under the van it has holes already drilled into the frame for a hitch. It is not a difficult job but you may need someone to support the hitch while you get the bolts on and threaded unless you have access to a hoist. Seems to me someone commented they had to loosen one of the exhaust hangers to make it easy to get a wrench on one of the bolts. Just my 2 cents but most have found the aftermarket hitch to be better.

petronio

Anyone had this problem? I told the dealer that I would be arriving to pick up my Sienna with a Capital One check, and they told me that the corporation that owns the NY dealership (along with about fifteen others in NY and NJ) has a policy of not accepting "sight drafts" (?) such as the Capital One program where they send you a blank check where you fill in the information regarding the dealer and the amount. Is this legal? Can they refuse outside financing? The finance guy told me this, and was pushing in-house financing, so I am suspicious.

brembrem

Wildred, I got your e-mail. Thanks a lot for all the datail explanation. That helps. We may be looking sometime this fall/closer to the end of the year. I will keep you posted. I appreciateted all the info you gave me.
Ted.

weedshasta

I was told by the dealer in Medford that Costco excluded the Sienna, but I got the Costco price through Hanlees Toyota in Davis CA (just west of Sacramento). He gave me the price on the phone (which beat the CarsDirect price), and then he called me when he found a car with my specifications. I drove 240 miles and had no hassles at all. I got the XLE AWD with package 18 (DVD, leather, 6 disc) + floor mats for $32,750. That is about $3000 off MSRP.

bigben

What kind of prices are people seeing in the Southeast for this version of Sienna?

cman

Anyone recently purchased a LE package #9 in the St Louis area lately? If so, what price range (out-the-door). What was your advertising dealer costs? Thanks

rxman2

cman: I too am looking for LE, FWD, option package 9, in St. Louis area. Keep in touch on this board if you make a deal and I will do the same. rxman2

tourist

I have an XLE Limited on order and am third in line at the dealer. During the most recent round 1 of these was allocated. How often are allocations announced? What determines how many are allocated - that there would be 0, 1, 2 or more XLE Limiteds set aside for this dealer? How long after allocations are announced to the dealer might a car be delivered?

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of a bouncing baby Sienna...

sienna_me

I was posting to this board a few weeks ago, lots of very helpful information here. We just picked up our new XLE Limited.
Does anyone have any experience/details around the availability of Toyota manufacturer extended warranties in the Southeast region. Apparently, they are not so easy to come by. The dealers I've spoken to so far offer their own versions, and do not even offer Toyota's, which I have asked about. One finance guy indicated that this is because all dealers in the southeast tie into one distributor. This distributor evidently dictates quite a bit, as in this case, the type of extended warranties that are available. My concern is if these dealers offer different programs, will they really honor a warranty purchased from another dealer? Has anyone ever heard of or used United Auto Care as a warranty provider? They have the similar platinum 7yr/100K/$0 program as Toyota's and the coverage "appears" to be the same. I can get it for $840. It lists for over $1,600.

lj225

Hello its been a while since I have been here. BUT here goes. Last year I was going to get an ODY or Sienna, but as usual the dealers looked to play games where I just wanted a fair deal. Since the experience was more of a hassle I decided to hold onto my car.

Since Im in the SI NY area its not to easy to get a deal from my experience's here, and I did email dealers but they did not budge. Through my browsing online I noticed carsdirect.com as always I used them to configure the car, but when I seen the price $27,050.00 I did not think it was too bad. And if I dealt with them directly it looks like I can avoid the dealer headache. Has anyone EVER bought a car this way? Is there any reason WHY I would not want to this this way?

Lastly the Sienna in question is the following

04 Sienna LE
LE #7 package

Auto dimming mirror
Floor mats
Rear spoiler
Running boards
wheel locks
V.I.P. RS3200 Plus Security System

( I wanted a DVD RES but its not available here in this package. And If I go with LE8 I lose the tracktion etc)

This is from carsdirect.com

Now I would have a trade, and would hope to get the car by Aug. If I decide to go for it. I dont know how the toyo finance is but I guess that can come later. I just need to decide weather I go through the above directly, or shop the few dealers here for quotes.

Any suggestions, comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ram52

Has anybody out there been able to buy a Sienna XLE with package #19? I am being told by my dealer in NJ that the only way to get navigation is to go with the Limited, as Toyota does not build this combination anymore! Is it possible to get this package ordered thru a dealer and still get a decent price through places like carsdirect.com?
-Ramesh

bigben

Not sure an extended warranty is a good idea on a new vehicle. You can purchase an extended warranty at any time. Wait a few years and then purchase one, if you still think it's necessary. You can still get about the same price, or better, that you've mentioned and same duration of coverage. Given Toyota's reliability, premium warranty coverage shouldn't be needed in the early years. My advice would be to at least wait until the original warranty expires, and keep the premium $'s in your pocket.

bigben

I recently purchased a used Land Cruiser from an individual. Then went to my local Toyota dealer and purchased an extended warranty. I'd guess you could do the same with the Sienna, or any other Toyota vehicle. You can also purchase an extended warranty from a third-party. But after doing some research, I felt most comfortable going with the Toyota extended warranty.

newmum

Hi, May I know the broker name? I'm in Seattle and shopping for XLE FWD+option 12. THanks a lot!

bigben

I'd like to get the name of the salesperson you're dealing with(and email address). Thanks.

newmum

Hi Wildred,

I'm looking to buy XLE + option 12 too. Could you email me the detailed info? hliu_5121@hotmail.com

Thanks a lot! Also, do you think it would be helpful to wait till August to buy in terms of pricing?

mfab

Just purchased a silver XLE with package #17 (leather, airbags) and CF (floormats) from a local dealer in San Diego. Got it for $29,700 (MSRP is $32,086, invoice is $28,348). Not the best deal I've seen listed, but I haven't seen any other posts from San Deigo. I spoke with some of the dealers in N. Cal. where others got good deals, but they did not have the model I wanted, and their prices were close enough that the trip about eliminated the difference. And I drove off with it the same night.

I tried to get Costco pricing but was told the XLE did not qualify. I also tried USAA's buying service, but it came in $300 higher, and I would have had to wait 6-8 weeks to get the car. Most local dealers told me it would be at least several weeks to get what I was looking for. I ended up getting an internet quote and haggling for a few hundred off of that from a dealer who had just what I was looking for.

The finance guy was kind enough to offer me the fleet deal on the 7/100k extended warranty for $500 off their normal price of $2500, but thanks to some very helpful people on this forum I know I can get the same warranty from a dealer in IL for $795.

We also went with an aftermarket DVD setup (Audiovox PROV916 - 9" screen) that the dealer had installed for us yesterday. The kids are in heaven!

wildred

mail sent! my pleasure! good luck!

wildred

Ted, You're welcome! It's my pleasure! Thank you for keeping me informed, not everyone is as courteous as you are. Best of luck in your search!

fredo

Hi I am from Long Island, NYC and have been researching pricing on an XLE with package #12 (with additional running boards). I have been to 2 dealers and the quoted prices are both basically $33,148 (including running boards). This seems high to me so I was wondering what others have paid for a similar vehicle. One of the dealers indicated they would come down.

Fredo

sylshop

(SE Michigan) 8 months ago I ordered LE 8pass Pkg 11 , finally it is ready to pickup. The dealer calls me to tell me that on April 1st, 04 the base price increased $220 and Pckg 11 got a de-content and lost the alloy wheels ($550 invoice/$699 retail) (Toyota actually did do that).
The dealer's stand is that I should pay the $220 and live with the steel wheels and plastic cover; unless I want to buy the alloy wheels (say $625)
Toyota's stand is that this is a dealer issue, and will not give a cashback or incentive or attempt any solution; their excuse is that the dealer knew the vehicle was not available 8 months ago.
Here I am after 8 months, in order to get the vehicle I wanted, I have to pay an extra ~$900 including tax because Toyota would not allocate the vehicle in reasonable time, raised its price and did a de-content...
Any similar experience out there, or any suggestions that may help alleviate this problem?

stever

I've seen similar reports now and then. Check Capital One Auto Financing (was People First) - GOOD or BAD?? and/or the Any Questions for a Car Dealer? for info (try a Discussion Search in the latter).

Good luck!

Steve, Host

pompeii

Email me and I'll give you the name and email address of the salesperson I dealt with. You're in NC right?

mpgeden

I ordered my LE 8 passen in Desert Sand, from Modern Toyota in Winston Salem. I began talking to them back last month explaining what I was looking for. LE 8 pass, LE#1 option (RH power door) and floor mats. The salesperson first quoted me a price of $25238 plus tax, tags and $375 doc fee on MSRP of $26,255. I thought this was a good price. Then last week I found that a sales guy goes to my church, so I emailed him and he said he could get me the same car at $100 over invoice or $24,355 plus tax, tags, & doc fee. Well, I emailed Modern and asked them if they could beat it, and they said yes if I agreed to finalize agreement. Well, I got a copy of the sales contract. FINAL Price--$24,159 plus tax, tags, & doc fee of $375. for out door price of $24,835 (SC tax is only $300). Is this a good deal? Also, I was able to finance through Capital One 3.54% for 60 months, no money down. Let me know what you think.

beatones

has anyone leased an xle with the popular #12 package? I am being quoted at $469 a month for 39 months (12,00 miles allowed a year), with only taxes and tags up front (no fees or cap cost reduction). Anyone can share their leasing experience, and most important, noting the residual value and money factor that was used to determine your lease. thanks

daddy

pompeii: Your dealer is not going to honor your below invoice price to anybody else. First they told me it is an one-time offer, then they said you had a trade-in, and later they admitted they did an error in your quote but honored it anyway. Hence I ordered my Sienna elsewhere for $400 over invoice.

heywood1

As frustrated as I am sure you are, I'd walk away from this dealer. I'm not up on the supply/demand situation of an LE-8, but eight months seems like an incredibly long wait. Is there something special or unusual about this color & configuration? If not, I'd look elsewhere for a van in stock (or soon-to-be-delivered) that meets your criteria under the revised pricing and option packages. If you're willing to travel, I would think you could locate a vehicle somewhere in your part of the country in a matter of days. Maybe even find one sitting out there that was manufactured before the price/content change?

siennadent

I live in NJ, got a good price on 2004 XLE Artic Frost Package 16, Z1, (32,251 + Tax/Tags/Fee). Six weeks after I ordered it, I drove the 2.5 hours to the dealer to find the Van had a dent/scratch under the sliding door. The sales person did not inform me until I arrived!

The Van is being fixed at Fitzgerald Gaithersburg Auto Mall, they gave me a rental.

I am very upset with their unprofessional way of doing business. They know I am not happy & have not offered me anything in return……..

ANY COMMENTs Please? Advise?

racerx1

In 2000, I bought a Honda Odyssey from Carsdirect when the vehicle was the hot minivan. Dealers were charging $1000-1500 over MSRP and there was a waiting list. Got the van for $250 over MSRP and got the car in 4 weeks (it was delivered to my door on a Saturday!). I got my own financing, so all I did was hand them a check. It was a flawless transaction.

I think the Carsdirect route is good for vehicles that are scarce/high demand. You can get a better deal from a dealer for cars that are being discounted. Use the Carsdirect quote as a base price for your negotiations. However, many cars are pre-configured at the dealer, so you need to use the same configurations/options from Carsdirect to do the comparison. I don't know how good Carsdirect is at getting the car EXACTLY configured with the options you want.

As for trading in a vehicle, Carsdirect will send you to a dealer for an appraisal. It can be a hassle if the dealer isn't that close to you. I ended up selling the car myself.