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But, 4WDs can alleviate the need for a "VD" car (the skid/trac extra) when there aren't another choice to be had. I know there will be "VD" and "heated seats" cars out there a bit more next month due to the ordering status of these, both in 4WDs and 2WDs as well. Patience may make you verrrrry virtuous!
Di
Each market seems to have some differences, for instance I received a price for 4 floor mats, not the 5 mat set from my dealer. You need something for the cargo area, I don't have one yet. Actually the mats appear to come in different configuations and styles (if you can get the dealers to work with you on this) they are (as far as I know, Steve, Dianne - correct me if I'm wrong!): CF - Carpeted Front and Rear Mats (Dealer Installed Option); CFA - All Weather Front and Rear (Dealer Installed) and CM - Cargo Mat (Dealer Installed). I believe the Gulf States distributors use different codes (M5 for a 5-mat set, CR for the console). Has anyone found any after-market all-weather mats, or it's too soon to be looking?
Living on a planet with an atmosphere tends to do that to you.
Second question. Like many others, I don't like the light colored leather and want grey. Anyone know about what the going rate is to have aftermarket leather installed? Can the consumer do better going direct to the installer or does the dealer get protected so they can add on their markup.
Didn't matter though, he wouldn't budge from MSRP, so we quickly walked out anyway...
1. $540
2. $250
3. 1.8% of base vehicle
Anyone else smell something fishy?
People keep asking me if that's a 4Runner!
Wally
toyota usa breaks up the use into selling regions. each region has its own Advertising Fee (TDA) based on a % of the price of the car in question. ex. in the NE region i got and dealers invoice faxed to me. all prices matched www.kbb.com. the only difference was the TDA. for the 2 fax's i got the TDA was $420. the dealerships told me this fee is part of the dealers invoice and is NOT nagotiable. the only thing thats nagotoable is the sales fee between the dealers invoice and the msrp that goes into the pockets of the dealership and salesperson - any cash incentives from the manufacturor.
ex. in NY/NJ there are NO cash incentives at this time so the CAMRY, COROLLA is selling over invoice. in PA there are cash incentives and the CAMRY, COROLLA are selling bellow invoice.
hope this helps.
TDA (advertising fee?) - $432
Dealer Holdback - $501
Whsl. Financial Reserve - $250
I had almost the exact same experience as the article's author. It was great! I had about 20 dealers competing for my business! I faxed my letter to 49 of the 52 dealers (fleet managers) in Florida. One exception to the authors view is that I had success when this vehicle was not widely availible. I did it at the end of Jan.
With several of those responses, the fleet manager faxed me a copy of their invoice. The only thing that resembled an advertising fee was the Southeast Toyota admin fee. Without looking (I am not by my files) I remeber the fee to be $325. Unfortuneatly it looks like the dealers in the souteast states are forced to pay this fee. If they have to pay it, then it will be passed on to us.
This is a lot like the Toyo Gaurd (rustproofing, VIN window etching, and upholstery protection). Southeast Toyota adds Toyo Gaurd at the port and passes these vehicles on to the dealers. Unless you order from the factory and ask to have this option left off, it will be a part of your vehicle and invoice price.
Jon
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
A question: Does anyone have any experience with any of the GULF STATES dealerships? (TX, LA, MS, etc.)
Run away and tell Toyota about the "Beige Sand" this dealer is tossing around!
As daltex says Toyota most certainly will accept custom orders. While delivery CAN take longer than for other means, there is also the possibility that it will be no slower than from a domestic based automaker.
My FIL wanted a Camry SE with everything except ABS & sunroof and at first some dealers were trying to steer him into "something on the lot or in the depot" but he stuck to his guns and about 40 days he got his car.
By the same comparison, you may actually see a trend of people insisting that they went to a small out of the way dealer for a better deal, but that smaller out of the way country dealer also probably pays more for their cars too. One thing balances out the other.
For the fellow in Northern CA at MSRP, an example is that their dealer pays $432 TDA where mine is maxxed at $300. Means my car invoices for $132 cheaper to begin with. Before you say "lucky you", allow me to share with you the flip side of the coin: a dealer in a metro area, I have higher overhead, higher tax costs, higher expenses for employees and far higher costs of flooring and such because they expect me to take more cars and every single car they allocate me, regardless of how many I already have. At times, that $50 or $100 or even $150 a car seems to add up, but it's eatne up just as quickly on a Landcruiser I floor for 4 months in a not-so-great color that I already HAD one of. Flooring on a $52000 car is about 350 a month, and if it sits 4 months, well, you get the picture.
This is big business, and the accountants get to the bottom line quickly and quietly. It all washes out. Believe me.
Di
Steve
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Matter of fact, there is really only one car we make that I refuse to build order and that's a Landcruiser when someone wants no 3rd seat or rear a/c package. Why? It's a 5 month wait for those, and if something happens and the customer changes their mind, I am stuck with a pretty saleproof rig. The possible sale of the car with no rear seat/rear air isn't worth the risk of the customer not taking the car when it's ready almost half a year later. I am all for the customer but also have to protect the dealership on that one.
Most dealers are "in the moment" but there are those of us like Cliffy and me who are more focused on getting our people exactly what they want vs. stuffing a car down their throats becuase we think it's close enough.
Di
On a special order, it's never a *maybe* 2 months, 4 weeks, 6 months, or maybe never.
There is proper process to go thru that ensures a car will be built. You will get exactly what you want, and in most cases, it's 4-6 weeks for USA or Canada-built Toyotas. Japan built cars are up to 16 weeks.
Lots of dealers do not like this process because it means tracking a car for weeks and months, and watching for it. Candidly, I don't like it either, because it means I have to babysit 20-30 build orders all the time, every day. There are times it takes me over an hour every single morning to carefully check my inventory to see where the sold units are in process, make sure they get the proper PIOs, that they are being built right with color combos requested, and that they don't land without me knowing about it. Would it be easier on me if I didn't have to do that? Oh yes. That's the double edged sword here. I wish I didn't have to, but I do it because people ask me to and because I offer it openly.
Di
Any knowledge on the aftermarket leather question?
Are you familiar with any dealers within 100 miles of Portland OR. who are decent to work with? I'm one of those who orders and doesn't care how long it takes to get. Out of about 30 cars purchased in my life, at least half were factory order (American). I have generally found it much easier to get a good price that way. No flooring cost and on repeat orders from same dealer, we both know what to expect from each other and we usually do it all over the phone until the vehicle arrives. I offer what I consider a fair price and don't shop it when a dealer accepts my price. I only do no trade - no finance deals which doesn't excite dealers much since those are two more opportunities for them to make more $$$$$$.
When:
Tues, March 13th (Tonight) at 5-6pm Pacific/8-9pm Eastern
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Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
etc, etc, ad naus.
Imagine you went for a job interview, and somewhere along the way you were asked "what kind of salary are you looking for ?" And you sat there and said "well, my daughter takes voice lessons, they cost $35 a week, and my son is in the midget football league, that's $20 a week and oh yeah, I'm paying off a coupla hundred a month on my Visa card...so, let's see, add that to what I need for food...."
These Toyota people have you coming and going. Why the heck should you care one iota about what dealer A is paying vs dealer B ??? What you need to get from them is their bottom line price and go with the best one. How they go about it is their problem, not yours. Once they convince you otherwise, you are lost.
Llloyd Bridges in Airplane!: "Damn, I picked a bad week to give up sniffing glue."
Don't like the answer? Dunno what to tell you. That's how things work. All I can say is that if you don't like the way Toyota Motors handles their invoices in Detroit, Seattle, or Los Angeles, then don't become a dealer there. Besides, truthfully, why should you be so concerned about what the invoice is. Be more concerned about the price you are paying. Not what a dealer pays.
I could type for HOURS on the things I have seen and heard and how I feel about this. I have folks checking with me all the time about their deals in their states, and asking for advice in regards to these things. I believe it's a privilege to be here as a recommended dealer/fleet manager by so many in this and other arenas that I do take the time to reply to everyone with as best advice as I feel suitable. When I ask someone where they are geographically, it's to get a feel for their market area, not to see if it's worthwhile to answer! I can't tell you what a 4WD ought to sell for unless I know if you are in Tennessee, Tallahasse, or Upstate NY!
To end this rambling on here of thoughts, I have to say it isn't always about 'what a dealer's invoice is' vs. the next. I know for a fact that I, in the past, have given someone $x. amount more for a trade-in because it was worth more here than in their own area. Same can go the other way as well. And, when someone comes to a dealer who's advertising loss-leaders to bring trafficv to the store and someone wants the car n the ad, do you think they offer them their 7.5% if it's financing available? Usually not. Consider that there are many components to a deal. TDA for the invocie on a Toyota is the least of your worries!
Di
The dealer said they may fix the "problem" with the quality of this color and start production on them again...but do I really want one in a color they have questioned??!!! He also said of course he has no idea of the time frame of this stoppage....AYYYYY!!!
Bobincanada, I am not the expert on this but I don't think Toyota currently has a option for changing the rear seat on the HL to Captain's chairs. The seat has a 40/60 split and there would still be room for two people to sit if you folded down the 40% side. You can also get the roof rack to put the skis on.
That CRAP (and it is CRAP) about paint quality is an excuse to sell you what they CAN obtain more easily. Logically, might I ask, if they are all painted in Japan and treated with clearcoat, why would ONE color have poor paint quality? That's a good one. Or, actually, it's one of the worst. Did his nose grow right afterwards?
Di
GMTA?
DW
Diane...Cliff...any comments!!!
still a very happy owner of a black V6 AWD LTD,
John
I can't answer your question. It is up to you to decide how much you're willing to spend to know you can't have a major mechanical expense.
Unrelated to warranty information, but I just returned from a 360 mile trip .... better than 23 mpg. I have never gotten below 21 mpg, so I am real pleased. I suspect come summer, my mileage will be in the 23-25 mpg range. That friends, is pretty darn good for a Unlimited, V6, AWD.
I hope everyone is enjoying theirs as much as I am.
Happy Motoring.
Does Toyota offer a space saver that would fit the Highlander?