Price drop for the 2000 Tacomas

olwalls

I experienced something similar. I was quoted $18166(included rebate of $700) for a 1999 4x4 Regular Cab but ordered an identical 2000 truck for $18074. For 2000 the Sport Value Package is included in the Value Edition Package Plus and a new color was added and two old ones dropped. Sounds like a good deal to me.

zbad71

My 99 Silverado has almost double the tow capacity and payload and has every option the top of the line Tacoma has and MORE and is only about 4k more than the Tacoma.

I have an LS Ext Cab Z71 with many add ons.
I literally have every option available on my truck with the exception of leather and power seats and I paid 26,2XX.XX for my truck.

I fail to see the reasoning for paying so much for so much less vehicle.

The dealers party for days after you leave the dealership.

olwalls

Mr. Zbad71,

I need a compact pickup so I can stop scratching the roof of my car from hauling drywall/plywood, lawn mower, snow thrower and etc.. I full size truck would be overkill for this kind of hauling. I compared the Tacoma to the Ranger, Frontier and S10 and the S10 was my last choice because it is the most unreliable truck in the class. The Frontier does not come in 4x4 Regular Cab with automatic transmission. The Ranger would have been more comfortable but it cost as much as the Tacoma. I decided to go with reliability and chose the Tacoma. Let me know when your truck starts to crap out on you. Because, maybe by that time I'll be in the market for a Tundra and can sell you my Tacoma. On second thought, forget about buying my Tacoma I'm positive I want outgrow it in just one
year.

zbad71

You guy's all have the same story. LOL!

It's your money. Throw it away if you want. I could show years of proof that my Chevy is just as reliable as the Toyota, but all you see is red.

"The Ranger would have been more comfortable but it cost as much as the Tacoma."
What are you smokin? I hate Fords, but I KNOW for a FACT that the Ranger is much cheaper in price, just as reliable, and has many more standards and opions available than a Tacoma.

I owned a Tacoma. Good play truck, but not worth the sticker price. If paying too much gives you a security blanket, spend away Linus.

rotorray

Last Toyo I had was a 76 SR5 with the 20R engine. A real piece of junk that matched the local dealer to a "T". 1 qt of oil every 400 miles. They gave me the magnum runaround until I finally said "fix it" and left it there. They never did do it right. I like the Prerunner but I can't figure out for the life of me why Toyo still sticks with solid lifters on their 4 cyls. Even old VW 4-banger engines can be had with hydraulic lifters now. The better warranty on the Frontier also a plus. I know this is off the topic somewhat but you get what you pay for. If they lower their price what is being cut?? I'm drawn to the Toyo because I like the style but the Frontier has the better warranty and hydraulic lifters so there's less maintenance. Mazda/Ranger nice style and reliability but posts show some problems. Seem to be minor but they irritate owners. Had an 89 Mazd B2200 and drove it for 82K with NO PROBLEMS whatsoever. Not the same truck now...now they're a re-badged Ranger but they do have a better warranty than the Ranger, which I can't figure out. Mazd a better deal but you don't see many on the road.. Hope Toyo cuts the price. They have to to stay competitive with so many other reliable makes out there. Sorry about changing the subj somewhat but you have to look at the big picture when buying anything for years. Don't be stuck on Toyo because of reliability...all makes improving. Stop by your Toyo dealer on Monday morning and see what't being serviced and why. You might be suprised. Do that with every make. Talk to owners, etc, and make an educated decision. Maybe Toyo will drop the price somewhat but their dealers are consistently in the toilet when rated in Consumer Reports and based on my experience and my sons, who has a 96 Toyo 4X4. I'll stop rambling now...sorry, but I had to vent..

zigster38

...you post the same blah blah every message to justify your purchase. Learn how to bargain and you won't get taken at ANY dealership...including Toyota.

zig

zbad71

I buy a new truck every 2-3 years. Have for the last 16 years. I also buy a new car about the same time. The only vehicle I have bought for more than 500 over invoice was the Tacoma.

That blah blah blah could save you some money if you weren't so loyal to Red.

zigster38

GM, Chrysler and Ford have the highest Lemon Law buy backs. However the imports are more expensive to fix, if something goes wrong. Pick your poison.

ziggy10

I Think I got a good deal on a new Tacoma over the internet. Check it out.
Edmunds Invoice
2000 V6 2wd EXT Cab 13,803
AW (alum wheels) 296
BU (bucket seats) 52
CF (Floor mats) 41
CQ (convenience pkg) 365
LX (SR5 Pkg A/C,tint, etc.) 1,449
PO (power everything) 376
SR (sunroof) 312
KX (color keyed pkg) 140
Destination charge 480 _____________________________________________
TOTAL 17,316

The "fleet manager" (all this was done over the internet, by the way) is gonna let me have it for 17,427. That's only a hundred bucks above Edmunds.com's invoice price. Do you think it's a good deal or what???? Also, the lady says that she goofed on the price and that I'm getting it 150.00 "below" invoice. I don't know if she's right or not, but I think I got a good deal. Plus I haven't even set foot in the dealership (100 miles away). Does anybody know why the truck's base invoice price dropped 800 bucks from 1999???? AND does anybody know why the LX SR5 package DOUBLED in price from last year????? Please help.
Thanks

dont24

For starters, KX is not available if you choose
LX. Look at the options again. That's $140.00
you can knock off. The 4x4 v-6 xtracab's LX also
increased from last year, but it's not $1449.00.
The only thing they added to LX in 2000 is a cd player. Also QA doesn't have Cruise C. in 2000.
You have to buy seperately. My 2000 should be in
next week. Good Luck. I'm getting mine for < 2%
over invoice. ( about $400.00)

zbad71

Well Zig, due to the "fact" that the domestics sell more than three times the amount of trucks each your per model class, I would agree that there will be more lemon law buybacks. Just because the American vehicles have more buybacks (if this is even true. I have no facts either way on this) doesn't mean that the Foreign jobbies are more reliable or have less problems. If Toyota sold as many Tacomas as Chevy S10's or GMC Sonomas, or Ford Rangers, or Dodge Dakotas, they would most likely have as many buybacks. Since each of the preceeding sell more than 3 times the amount, the ratio's also increase.

Foreign vehicles may have had a legitimate reliability advantage over the domestics 10 years ago, but I know they no longer have that advantage. They still sell to the same people but because of past reputation, not because of present reliability advantages.

The imports cost more in initial sale, still rely on old reliability reputation for their sales, cost more to fix when they do break down, have less standard and available options than domestics, have less payload capacities than domestics, and take away from supporting our own country.

I am no union worker or anything like that. I don't believe in or support the union. I do know that our Government already "supports" the foreign countries by all the give away tax breaks so that foreigners can come to the US and open businesses tax free. This is why Japan owns more of our financial institutions than Americans.

Wake up America. Have you no pride? At the rate we are going, Americans will wake up one day as slaves to third world countries. NAFTA was the start and the end.

zigster38

...well, uh....the Toyota Pre-runner that I am considering buying is made at the Nummi plant in Fremont, Cal...it looks better, the six gets better mileage, and will have less little squeaks and vibrations initially and be more reliable than a domestic truck. And have better trade-in value, should I decide to sell it. That's why I'm getting it.

Competition is tough. This is a global economy now. Even Harley Davidson's have quite a few japanese components. The US economy is booming, Japan's is in the midst of a five year bad spell. And it's because our economy is open and Japan's is closed. And our economy is booming because of our superior technology. You are obviously not in the technology field....I don't care what YOU drive, so don't have a cow over what I drive. Have another bud, sit in your GMC whatever and get over it.

axrana

The reason as to why foreign vehicles cost more is because of the trade sanctions and tariffs that the US charges them - NOT tax advantages. I never thought that I would be screwing over the country when I bought my car that was made in Indiana. Also, why are you strictly against Japanese cars/trucks?
What about the German companies? Does that mean you support Hitler? No, it simply means that you like their cars. If I like Japanese cars, all it means is that I like them. I (and probably) most of the world, really don't care about your opinion, just as you (and once again, most of the world) don't care about mine. So just don't get your panties all in a bunch on this issue. Let's move on and talk about the "PRICE DROP IN THE 2000 TACOMA".

Interesting FACT: The most made (percentage of the car) car in the US is the Buick (I think Century). The next is the Honda Accord.

zbad71

I only used the tax break thing as a comparison, not to imply the reason for higher cost of imports.

I owned a Tacoma new in 96. Very good and reliable vehicle, just way overpriced. I too bought it under the pretense of what I experienced with domestic autos 10 years ago.

I now know, at a much more mature and clearly thinking age, that the imports do not provide any more benefit over the domestics. The quality of domestics is equal or better than imports these days and I won't go into a bunch of hoopla about it, especially since I know you all don't care to hear it.

What I don't understand is why, (as you have said yourself) when these import vehicles are "assembled" (not made) in the US do you think that quality is any better than the domesic vehicles. Like you all also said, much of the parts on domestics are made overseas also, so how can either the import or the domestic be better made or be any more reliable than the other.

That being said (both having overseas parts, both being assembled in the US, and both having the same quality), why would anyone be stupid enough to pay a LOT MORE money for one over the other.

You are just spending money for a false security blanket and giving more money to the overseas countries due to the fact that the imports have "more" parts made overseas than the domestics.

Import buyers never seem to be very prudent.

axrana

This has got nothing to do with import buyers. You yourself were one, and I am one right now. This has only got to do with the car buyers' perception. If I WANT a Toyota, and if I can afford it, I will get one. I then have to deal with the consequences of my choice. If it breaks down the day after the warrantee expires, tough luck. If it lasts a long time, it creates BRAND LOYALTY. I would be more likely to buy another Toyota in that case.
You just bought a Chevy. If you got the one in a million lemon that EVERY company has, the chances of you buying another Chevy are slim.
Personally, I looked at the F-150 and the Silverada. I would pick them over the Tundra, because I feel that they have a better history. Once I had test driven a few, I realized that I really did not want a full size. So I looked into compacts. I like the Toyota most, out of them. Not because they are imports, but because of their history (BRAND LOYALTY, etc). In full size truck, imports have the clear advantage (regardless to how good/bad the Toyota may be. In compact trucks, there is no company the has a 100% clear advantage over the others. Hence, there are a lot of good choices. I choose the Toyota, you choose something else. That is what is great about this country. We all don't HAVE TO get a Lada.

Also, about supporting the economy: what about those "good-old americans" who work for Toyota, Mitsubishi, etc? Are they not part of the same economy as those who work at Chevy?

Anyway, I got my point across and don't want to continue harping on this subject. Why don't you get the last word in, and then let's both drop this. We both have a right to our own opinions - even if mine is the right one (just kidding).

axrana

In full size truck,DOMESTICS (not imports) have the clear advantage (regardless to how
good/bad the Toyota may be. In compact trucks,
there is no company the has a 100% clear advantage
over the others. Hence, there are a lot of good
choices. I choose the Toyota, you choose something
else. That is what is great about this country.
We all don't HAVE TO get a Lada.

zbad71

You have good points. If you are buying the Toyota simply by preference and not because you feel it to be "more reliable", then fine, I agree you shouldn't be slammed for your preference and I wasn't trying to. I just get tired of hearing about how unreliable and how poor quality the domestics are. That is just not true. If one were to research "technologies", which is my living, the fact is that US auto compannies far exceed Japan auto's in techology. Toyota makes a good product, but they have fallen behind in technology where they were once the leader. You have driven the Silverado so you know what I am talking about.

I don't dog the Toyota. I just think that they are too expensive and don't offer what a domestic can offer, even in the compact trucks. Things like auto vs manual 4X4, "luxury" interiors vs those hard drab interiors, on board diagnostics vs. no diagnostics, quality sound systems vs. cheap tin can sound systems (not a slam, its true). I can go on. Toyota has a reliable vehicle, and I always got top notch customer care, but they need to accomodate to the US market. They need to #1 be more competitively priced. #2 They need to have more standard options and more optional equipment #3 quit using the hard plastics and cheap interior materials #4 If they build a "full size" truck, have it be full size comparible to a domestic truck. The Tundra is far from "full size".

Just my peace and not "the last word", but I am willing to drop it.

I know you will not have problems with your Tacoma. Its a good vehicle. I just know there is more truck, even in a compact, that will provide more truck for your money.

zigster38

...your help over in the "Chevy Silverado Vibration" topic, or even in the 2 new "Chevy clunks" topics...

Ok, ok, in the interest of fairness, I will say I am now considering the Ford Sport-trac...looks cool and is based on the Explorer, not the poor Ranger...reliability should be on par with the Explorer, which is about average...

zbad71

I never said that domestics were flawless. They still have human error built in same as imports. However, can you say Toyota 3.4l blown head gaskets. I can and did with my 96 Tacoma. Still I consider it a well built truck and would never use that to say it was unreliable as you just tried to do about the Chevy. There are only certain model trucks with the problem, Chevy is buying back the ones they can't fix without hesitation, which has been very few. If you read some of the posts from those who have had their trucks bought back from GM, they have turned right around and bought another GM truck a year newer. Couldn't have been too disappointed with GM products!

My point has been here that your Tacoma is no more reliable than a domestic and costs way too much. I think you got my point, but you just wanted to make an attempt to invalidate my point with a little jab. Sorry, it didn't work.

Glad you are looking at the domestics as a possibility. I think you will see that quality has improved greatly since the bad rep domestics got 10 years ago when I admit, quality in domestics was very poor.

Take care.

axrana

I think that the domestics (full size) are going to improve even more. They already have the advantage of brand loyalty, and they really do make good truck (except Chrysler - excellent technology, not made to last -my opinion).

However, with more competition coming up from outside, they are going to be giving even better deals. Toyota already has a following. Until now, Ford/GMC/C had the advantage in full size truck. They were each others only competition - even though it was a very strong competition. But now, with imports entering the same market, they are going to be raising the bar even more in order to keep their customers happy.

Now, the compacts. Everything aside, my perception is that the Tacoma is a better truck, or what I hope to use it for. It IS overpriced, but I am willing to pay that for my peace of mind. Is it better than the Chevy or Ranger? I hope so, since I am going to pay more than what they ask. They seem to last longer, but also depends on whether they are used or abused. I like the Toy and plan to go with it. That said, NO WAY IN HELL WILL I PAY $25000 for it. I would not go over $22K, with EVERYTHING I want. I just have to be able to wait long enough and not give in to those bastards...I mean salesmen.

Just have to manage to play Toyota, Nissan and the domestic dealerships against each other, and hope the Toyota guy goes low enough. If not, I wait.

scape2

NO way does a Ranger cost as much as a Tacoma option for option. I have been there and have compared price for price option for option. The Tacoma is by far the most expensive compact truck on the market today. Prices have come down some in the last 6 months due to the introduction of the Tundra. What does this say? That all those folks who paid that high price paid too much? Now their 96/97/98 Tacoma is worth less? Tacoma's are still high priced trucks. There are better values out on the market. The Ranger/Mazda are by far the best compact trucks for you hard earned dollar.

zbad71

I agree, and I am partial to GM. I like the Ford ranger better than the S10 or the Sonoma as far as cosmetics, 4 doors and such. However, I personally think the 4.3l V6 is a much better built engine and has higher torque and hp ratings.
I would still probably buy a Ranger over the S10 because there are more things I like about the Ranger than I like about the small GM trucks, overall.
Just my opinion. I

meredith

As a result of 30 or more days of inactivity....

this topic is being "frozen." It will be archived or deleted in the next 10 days or so.

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