Trying to get a new Tacoma sucks!

[NoNo]

In 2023 I spent the whole year trying to find what I wanted to replace my 2016 Colorado. I finally gave up and am trying again in 2024. I'd like to get a Tacoma Off Road , but the supply chain issues sure have changed the car buying process. I get a GM family discount and I can walk into any dealer with a price I get from the GM website, and I will get that exact price on the vehicle. Even when I've gone in and not told them I have the family discount, and tried to negotiate a price, the process has been so much easier than it's been with Toyotas this year.

Now in 2024, even with my GM discount, I still want to get a Tacoma as I think they have the better truck this year, and I'm willing to pay a few thousand more for that. I've gone to multiple Toyota dealers in my area, and for the most part the experience has been horrible. There is no interest in negotiating anything, not trade in value, not vehicle price, nothing. The dealers here have no interest in doing anything other than selling something that isn't selling well. I've heard something different from every sales person I've talked to. Most dealers here are selling with the ADM fee of 4-5K over MSRP. They do not care in the least if you aren't willing to pay that, they aren't going to negotiate on anything.

I've had to call a lot of dealers to find a small number that have been willing to tell me they will sell for MSRP, most of those have been out of state and 200+ miles from me. I was told by one dealer that was charging 5K over MSRP, on a vehicle with a build date in June, that they could call and get the color changed to what I wanted. I still wasn't going to pay over MSRP. I called another dealer that had something closer to what I wanted, in the build phase, and they said that Toyota is no longer accepting color changes at all, once the orders are submitted.

It's total BS. The trucks going to the lots around here are optioned out, almost all over 50K, and a lot of dealers are adding their own crap to that, tacking on another 2K or so. So far after weeks of visiting dealers and calling dealers going out as far as 300 miles, I've found only one dealer that is making any effort to get me a truck at MSRP. They said they'll search as far as 500-800 miles out, and try to get one delivered, but I still don't have confidence they'll find what I'm looking for or be able to get another dealer to give up a vehicle. Another dealer more than 250 miles aways is selling at MSRP and they said they'd let me know when they get their next allocation.

I've got 190K on my truck and a pile of cash that I've been sitting on for years now, to buy pretty much anything I want...and honestly I don't think any dealer really cares to take my money, demand is that high and supply is that low. Are most people really fine with spending 50K or more for a vehicle and not caring if it's a color they don't really like, or is missing options they really want or includes a lot that they don't want? The dealers sure seem to act that way. I mean I had dealers trying to talk me into SR5's or Sports they had on the lot, and I'm thinking it's nuts that I'm walking in wanting an Off road and they are trying to sell me something cheaper because that's all they have on the lot. I don't want to keep waiting, but at this point, I'm starting to think I might be waiting until 2025. I'm certainly not paying 5K above MSRP for any vehicle, nor spending 50K for something not even really close to what I want. Glad to see others are having more success than I am but I'm so frustrated with this whole process.

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[Tsturbo]

In 2023 I spent the whole year trying to find what I wanted to replace my 2016 Colorado. I finally gave up and am trying again in 2024. I'd like to get a Tacoma Off Road , but the supply chain issues sure have changed the car buying process. I get a GM family discount and I can walk into any dealer with a price I get from the GM website, and I will get that exact price on the vehicle. Even when I've gone in and not told them I have the family discount, and tried to negotiate a price, the process has been so much easier than it's been with Toyotas this year.

Now in 2024, even with my GM discount, I still want to get a Tacoma as I think they have the better truck this year, and I'm willing to pay a few thousand more for that. I've gone to multiple Toyota dealers in my area, and for the most part the experience has been horrible. There is no interest in negotiating anything, not trade in value, not vehicle price, nothing. The dealers here have no interest in doing anything other than selling something that isn't selling well. I've heard something different from every sales person I've talked to. Most dealers here are selling with the ADM fee of 4-5K over MSRP. They do not care in the least if you aren't willing to pay that, they aren't going to negotiate on anything.

I've had to call a lot of dealers to find a small number that have been willing to tell me they will sell for MSRP, most of those have been out of state and 200+ miles from me. I was told by one dealer that was charging 5K over MSRP, on a vehicle with a build date in June, that they could call and get the color changed to what I wanted. I still wasn't going to pay over MSRP. I called another dealer that had something closer to what I wanted, in the build phase, and they said that Toyota is no longer accepting color changes at all, once the orders are submitted.

It's total BS. The trucks going to the lots around here are optioned out, almost all over 50K, and a lot of dealers are adding their own crap to that, tacking on another 2K or so. So far after weeks of visiting dealers and calling dealers going out as far as 300 miles, I've found only one dealer that is making any effort to get me a truck at MSRP. They said they'll search as far as 500-800 miles out, and try to get one delivered, but I still don't have confidence they'll find what I'm looking for or be able to get another dealer to give up a vehicle. Another dealer more than 250 miles aways is selling at MSRP and they said they'd let me know when they get their next allocation.

I've got 190K on my truck and a pile of cash that I've been sitting on for years now, to buy pretty much anything I want...and honestly I don't think any dealer really cares to take my money, demand is that high and supply is that low. Are most people really fine with spending 50K or more for a vehicle and not caring if it's a color they don't really like, or is missing options they really want or includes a lot that they don't want? The dealers sure seem to act that way. I mean I had dealers trying to talk me into SR5's or Sports they had on the lot, and I'm thinking it's nuts that I'm walking in wanting an Off road and they are trying to sell me something cheaper because that's all they have on the lot. I don't want to keep waiting, but at this point, I'm starting to think I might be waiting until 2025. I'm certainly not paying 5K above MSRP for any vehicle, nor spending 50K for something not even really close to what I want. Glad to see others are having more success than I am but I'm so frustrated with this whole process.

Yeah, so, what is your point? None of this is new and it has been going on for a longtime for any vehicle in demand. I guess if you are not willing to put the time and effort into finding what you want and what you’re willing to pay, why would a dealer waste their time for you? The guy behind you in line is there to buy it f you are not.

 

[Rover Rover]

The one resource that helped me tremendously was the dealer allocation sheet on these forums, which gave me an idea of markup, allocations per dealership, shipping status, pre-orders, and at least a place to start digging for the exact build I was looking for. In Southern California, a lot of dealers were willing to sell at MSRP but with additional add-ons. I then found one dealership in particular that had an "online" sales manager, and negotiated off the add-ons through text, so I was able to purchase my Premium OR DCLB at pretty much MSRP. It takes time, it's demotivating, but the allocation sheet really helped paint a picture of how many trucks were destined to be shipping within my area at any given time.

Edit: I would add that it's also easier to negotiate off add-ons while the truck is still in the manufacturing process, and put down a refundable deposit on the VIN with your dealer. That way, you aren't negotiating off something that's already installed, and have a small amount of additional leverage.

 

[Visa_Declined]

Finding a truck with no dealer markups is easy, finding one without port add on's and options you don't want is much more difficult.

 

[TRD _Rob]

I spoke with multiple dealerships in my search even having several refundable deposits down. But wasn't afraid to walk. Most dealerships had a 3-5K ADM. One kept pressing and said he would be in touch, and I told him not to be, as I wasn't interested in any ADM. Enlarged my search area and found what I wanted that was currently on a transport truck to a Dealership 150 miles away. They had it at 4K ADM. Told them no thanks and they called back about 10 mins later and said he would do MSRP. He said he didn't need a deposit If I was truly interested. He called the next day when it hit the lot and I drove over. Went in prepared with a Toyota dealership offer on my trade in as well as a CarMax offer. Of Course, they tried to low ball me and I showed them emails of both offers and said they would have to at least match the offer, or I would head out. They ended up matching the higher of the two offers and I drove away with my new Tacoma TRD OR. have had it for a month now and love it. I have learned not to show eagerness and that you are open to just walking away.

 

[MT-Taco]

https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/thre...as-💵-purchase-leasing.2039/page-11#post-57977

 

[ridetime]

It’s not just Tacoma’s. Any new model that is desirable is like that. If you want a brand new model of a hot selling truck and you don’t want to wait until fall when the 25’s come out consider a plane ticket or rental car and take a road trip. I know here in Oklahoma you can buy one under MSRP. This is my deal from Jim Norton in Tulsa.

 

[Tacoflvrd]

In 2023 I spent the whole year trying to find what I wanted to replace my 2016 Colorado. I finally gave up and am trying again in 2024. I'd like to get a Tacoma Off Road , but the supply chain issues sure have changed the car buying process. I get a GM family discount and I can walk into any dealer with a price I get from the GM website, and I will get that exact price on the vehicle. Even when I've gone in and not told them I have the family discount, and tried to negotiate a price, the process has been so much easier than it's been with Toyotas this year.

Now in 2024, even with my GM discount, I still want to get a Tacoma as I think they have the better truck this year, and I'm willing to pay a few thousand more for that. I've gone to multiple Toyota dealers in my area, and for the most part the experience has been horrible. There is no interest in negotiating anything, not trade in value, not vehicle price, nothing. The dealers here have no interest in doing anything other than selling something that isn't selling well. I've heard something different from every sales person I've talked to. Most dealers here are selling with the ADM fee of 4-5K over MSRP. They do not care in the least if you aren't willing to pay that, they aren't going to negotiate on anything.

I've had to call a lot of dealers to find a small number that have been willing to tell me they will sell for MSRP, most of those have been out of state and 200+ miles from me. I was told by one dealer that was charging 5K over MSRP, on a vehicle with a build date in June, that they could call and get the color changed to what I wanted. I still wasn't going to pay over MSRP. I called another dealer that had something closer to what I wanted, in the build phase, and they said that Toyota is no longer accepting color changes at all, once the orders are submitted.

It's total BS. The trucks going to the lots around here are optioned out, almost all over 50K, and a lot of dealers are adding their own crap to that, tacking on another 2K or so. So far after weeks of visiting dealers and calling dealers going out as far as 300 miles, I've found only one dealer that is making any effort to get me a truck at MSRP. They said they'll search as far as 500-800 miles out, and try to get one delivered, but I still don't have confidence they'll find what I'm looking for or be able to get another dealer to give up a vehicle. Another dealer more than 250 miles aways is selling at MSRP and they said they'd let me know when they get their next allocation.

I've got 190K on my truck and a pile of cash that I've been sitting on for years now, to buy pretty much anything I want...and honestly I don't think any dealer really cares to take my money, demand is that high and supply is that low. Are most people really fine with spending 50K or more for a vehicle and not caring if it's a color they don't really like, or is missing options they really want or includes a lot that they don't want? The dealers sure seem to act that way. I mean I had dealers trying to talk me into SR5's or Sports they had on the lot, and I'm thinking it's nuts that I'm walking in wanting an Off road and they are trying to sell me something cheaper because that's all they have on the lot. I don't want to keep waiting, but at this point, I'm starting to think I might be waiting until 2025. I'm certainly not paying 5K above MSRP for any vehicle, nor spending 50K for something not even really close to what I want. Glad to see others are having more success than I am but I'm so frustrated with this whole process.

If you’re near South Carolina, call Hendricks Toyota. I just picked mine up Monday, I called and put a deposit on it the week before on Thursday. They had several on the lot at the time. Couple optioned out and a few closer to msrp with a couple add ons from south east Toyota. They also gave me a lot more for my 2016 taco with 211k miles than anyone else offered. Sight unseen offer over the phone. The dealers in Charleston are very easy to work with because they know you’ll just go to one of the other Toyota dealers in the area if they aren’t.

 

[Mini2nut]

Exactly what the F150 Raptor market was until recently. Demand has dropped and now you can find multiple Ford dealers willing to take your order at MSRP.

 

[JED]

The one resource that helped me tremendously was the dealer allocation sheet on these forums, which gave me an idea of markup, allocations per dealership, shipping status, pre-orders, and at least a place to start digging for the exact build I was looking for. In Southern California, a lot of dealers were willing to sell at MSRP but with additional add-ons. I then found one dealership in particular that had an "online" sales manager, and negotiated off the add-ons through text, so I was able to purchase my Premium OR DCLB at pretty much MSRP. It takes time, it's demotivating, but the allocation sheet really helped paint a picture of how many trucks were destined to be shipping within my area at any given time.

Edit: I would add that it's also easier to negotiate off add-ons while the truck is still in the manufacturing process, and put down a refundable deposit on the VIN with your dealer. That way, you aren't negotiating off something that's already installed, and have a small amount of additional leverage.

Rover is on point!

 

[spenticus]

The one resource that helped me tremendously was the dealer allocation sheet on these forums, which gave me an idea of markup, allocations per dealership, shipping status, pre-orders, and at least a place to start digging for the exact build I was looking for. In Southern California, a lot of dealers were willing to sell at MSRP but with additional add-ons. I then found one dealership in particular that had an "online" sales manager, and negotiated off the add-ons through text, so I was able to purchase my Premium OR DCLB at pretty much MSRP. It takes time, it's demotivating, but the allocation sheet really helped paint a picture of how many trucks were destined to be shipping within my area at any given time.

Edit: I would add that it's also easier to negotiate off add-ons while the truck is still in the manufacturing process, and put down a refundable deposit on the VIN with your dealer. That way, you aren't negotiating off something that's already installed, and have a small amount of additional leverage.

This is exactly what I did. I went through sheet found the trucks with the exact build/color I wanted and that were also not being charged a markup. Luckily I got mine only an hour away.

 

[bking]

In 2023 I spent the whole year trying to find what I wanted to replace my 2016 Colorado. I finally gave up and am trying again in 2024. I'd like to get a Tacoma Off Road , but the supply chain issues sure have changed the car buying process. I get a GM family discount and I can walk into any dealer with a price I get from the GM website, and I will get that exact price on the vehicle. Even when I've gone in and not told them I have the family discount, and tried to negotiate a price, the process has been so much easier than it's been with Toyotas this year.

Now in 2024, even with my GM discount, I still want to get a Tacoma as I think they have the better truck this year, and I'm willing to pay a few thousand more for that. I've gone to multiple Toyota dealers in my area, and for the most part the experience has been horrible. There is no interest in negotiating anything, not trade in value, not vehicle price, nothing. The dealers here have no interest in doing anything other than selling something that isn't selling well. I've heard something different from every sales person I've talked to. Most dealers here are selling with the ADM fee of 4-5K over MSRP. They do not care in the least if you aren't willing to pay that, they aren't going to negotiate on anything.

I've had to call a lot of dealers to find a small number that have been willing to tell me they will sell for MSRP, most of those have been out of state and 200+ miles from me. I was told by one dealer that was charging 5K over MSRP, on a vehicle with a build date in June, that they could call and get the color changed to what I wanted. I still wasn't going to pay over MSRP. I called another dealer that had something closer to what I wanted, in the build phase, and they said that Toyota is no longer accepting color changes at all, once the orders are submitted.

It's total BS. The trucks going to the lots around here are optioned out, almost all over 50K, and a lot of dealers are adding their own crap to that, tacking on another 2K or so. So far after weeks of visiting dealers and calling dealers going out as far as 300 miles, I've found only one dealer that is making any effort to get me a truck at MSRP. They said they'll search as far as 500-800 miles out, and try to get one delivered, but I still don't have confidence they'll find what I'm looking for or be able to get another dealer to give up a vehicle. Another dealer more than 250 miles aways is selling at MSRP and they said they'd let me know when they get their next allocation.

I've got 190K on my truck and a pile of cash that I've been sitting on for years now, to buy pretty much anything I want...and honestly I don't think any dealer really cares to take my money, demand is that high and supply is that low. Are most people really fine with spending 50K or more for a vehicle and not caring if it's a color they don't really like, or is missing options they really want or includes a lot that they don't want? The dealers sure seem to act that way. I mean I had dealers trying to talk me into SR5's or Sports they had on the lot, and I'm thinking it's nuts that I'm walking in wanting an Off road and they are trying to sell me something cheaper because that's all they have on the lot. I don't want to keep waiting, but at this point, I'm starting to think I might be waiting until 2025. I'm certainly not paying 5K above MSRP for any vehicle, nor spending 50K for something not even really close to what I want. Glad to see others are having more success than I am but I'm so frustrated with this whole process.

Did you try in Ohio? I see that you're from Indy. There are 3 around me that are MSRP. I think Toyota Direct in Columbus is MSRP as well, but I could be wrong. Actually, just checked. They are discounting them. Might be worth a ride to Columbus. That's what, 3 hours to you I think?

https://www.toyotadirect.com/searchall.aspx?Year=2024&Make=Toyota&Model=Tacoma

 

[Muckle]

I'm running into dealers simply not getting back to me. Whether it's through text, email, phone, or any other method, the lack of follow-through is astonishing. Even when I say I'm ready to make a deposit. It's frustrating.

 

[AnotherRandomWhiteGuy]

These sorts of things are why I'm waiting for inventory to build up and to save more cash. With interest rates holding for the foreseeable future I think the Tacoma will sell but not as well as in the past. The new high price plus higher rates makes it unaffordable for many people. That is a good thing for those who are patient. No way in hell I'm taking a loan out right now. All cash or nothing. If we're lucky, there may be better deals in 6 months or so, but I'm not holding my breath for that.

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