Toyota Dealers A Little Too Arrogant

Been trying to find a Platinum or Limited Tundra to test drive in the epicenter of the truck market (Houston) and the sheer arrogance of most of these dealerships relative to their domestic counterparts has been....something lol. Basically am being told that I can't test drive one because they're all spoken for and if I wanted to test drive the one I want I'd have to order it and test drive it when the dealer gets it. Also that every Tundra has a wait list of people and don't last more than a few hours on the lot. Meanwhile the Ford dealership threw me the keys to a King Ranch and let me drive it no questions asked. And it's pretty impressive inside.

I'm trying to give Toyota a chance here coming from a domestic (which I've been pretty happy with) but their approach has been...less than stellar. I think that in terms of options it's already behind the 8 ball vs the Ford and was hoping that at least the dealer experience would be better. But it's been the opposite.

Not sure if Toyota even cares if they make a dent in the pickup truck market at this point.

 

It's true, right now they are all sold by the time they hit the lot. It's the same where I am at multiple dealers.
The only reason I got mine is because the day I called the dealer a guy decided to not take delivery of the truck he ordered. So I bought it. Otherwise, they are literally all spoken for except for some higher end models they get.

They aren't faking you or being arrogant, it's actually how it is.

There are tons of Fords because they are not a brand new model and have been higher volume due to being in production longer.

 

Seems pretty typical of any dealer in this insane market. Especially those in a large metropolitan area. I’ve talked to Ford, Chevy and Toyota dealers and most are full of it. Maybe try a smaller dealer. Good luck.

 

I figured that the market being how it is was the primary reason. Wasn't sure if others were dealing with the same thing or if it's just the new normal. I can't even test drive the thing lol.

 

Yeah it’s ridiculous you can’t even drive one. If you can delay your purchase that’s the best thing you can do. I understand some may need a vehicle immediately and buying new is more advisable in a lot of cases these days but wait if you can.

 

Yeah I sold my truck during COVID and now I'm pretty slammed and needing a truck again. Is it better to buy new than used right now? Maybe I just won't be picky and not worry about "getting what I want". Was cross shopping the two Platinum models but both appear to be scarce and suffering from supply chain issues.

 

I bought new because I got a better financing rate (Toyota financing 72 months at 2.9%), and used are selling for well above MSRP. I got a 2022 SR5 for only $100 / month more than a 2020 (30k) similarly equipped. And the 2022 is WAY better.

 

I work right next to a Toyota dealership. Same one I bought my truck from. I've seen a few 2022 on the lot and seen a truck delivering the tundra to the dealer but every truck was spoken for. I had to place a $500 deposit and took 2 months to get. My grandfather place a deposit on his 2022 in Feb when I picked up my truck and now his truck has an ETA of June.

When I spoke to the salesman, basically everything is usually spoken for before they hit the lot. The dealer I bought from sells at MSRP, so they sell even quicker. You may get lucky to find one on lot at a dealer who is charging a large ADM if you want to test drive. But most dealer probably not going to let you test drive a vehicle that already has a deposit on it. I wouldn't want someone else test driving my truck that I ordered months ahead of time.

 

Most are sold/have deposits before they hit the lot. That's why you can't test drive it. It's somebody else's truck. How pissed would you be if you put in an order with Ford/Chevy/Ram for a truck, and you show up to pick it up and it's got 40 miles of test drives on it? I can tell you that I'd be pissed if they did that with a vehicle I was buying. The shortage sucks and it makes it hard to test drive, but they are actually doing right by their customers by not allowing people to test drive trucks that are spoken for.

 

Beat me to it. You think the dealer should let you drive someone else’s truck? How’s that work?

 

TWSS

 

TWSS also.

 

Before buying my '22, the wife had a very had time finding a with my specifics. My local dealership in-town (Fargo, ND) aka Corwin was a complete, arrogant d-bag. I had a conversation with the sales manager and just walked out.

Toyota does thing differently:
-Can't order the one I want online
-Some dealerships won't sell to out of state customers. (Wife was shopping the entire country for my MGM Platinum 4x4 w/ 6.5ft bed.)
-Mark-up and market adjustments. Well not Toyota along.
...

Got lucky and found a dealer that was 2.5hrs away from home. I'll visit him again when I'm ready for a '23.

 

Agree 100% I would be pissed if my truck was used as a test drive truck when I left a deposit on a new vehicle ahead of time. I would ask to get the used price for it when I pick it up if it was used as a test truck but it would probably cost more then, the way used car prices are now LOL. This isn't like it was a couple years ago when they had 10-20 of most trims of Tundras and they would have a demo truck for test drives. Then they would sell it for a cheaper price when it had a few hundred miles on it.

 

I went to a local Toyota dealer wanting a platinim, but could only drive an SR5. I liked the way it felt and rode, which was my main reason for wanting a test drive. That was good enough for me to leave a deposit for a Platinum. I figured the Platinum can only be nicer, so while it would have been preferable, I didn't need to drive that specific trim level.

 

That’s exactly what I did. Was able to test drive an SR5 and a Limited. Never saw a Platinum in person before putting my deposit down. Did see a 1794 though.

 

I have a ‘21 Ford F-150 Platinum I’m selling here on the west coast now that I finally got my ‘22 Tundra if you want to stay with the domestic trucks, lol.

 

I was able to test drive Limited Off-Road before placing an order here in Calgary. They had around 5-6 other Tundras on the lot but of course all of them spoken for already. I was told I'll be lucky if I get mine before the end of the year.

 

I got lucky. After losing a deal on a very specific Silverado in Texas I walked into my local Toyota dealer here in Kona Hawaii. They had a tundra that someone backed out of the day before and it was almost exactly what i needed in a truck. Double cab 6.5 bed, 4x4 was a requirement and it checked those boxes. I ended up with a sport in Lunar Rock, had I ordered a unit it would have been an off-road in white. Glad I pulled the trigger and switched teams to Toyota.

 

Man if you are happy with domestics no way I’d trade to a tundra, and I own a tundra lol.

 

Pretty much it. Almost went to drive a Limited a few weeks back but it had since been sold by the time I got there (guy who ordered it backed out). My issue isn't that I want to drive someone else's truck (I dont) it's more about the general attitude of the dealerships. But guess that's just how it is now. They know that there's just way more demand than supply so they can pretty much act how they want I guess.

 

This

 

Yeah, the stereotype of sleazy car salesmen exists for a reason. One thing to keep in mind, though, dealerships are separate, privately owned entities. They are not Toyota. You may have dirt bags at the local place, but that's a reflection on the local management. I won't swear of a manufacturer for dealership BS, but I'll surely tell a dealership to FO and I'll travel elsewhere if I've been treated poorly.

 

When did you put down deposit? I did feb1 in Manitoba. Originally they said I’ve have it in 3-4 months. Haven’t heard a thing.

 

This. And I have. Then the GM called me up and asked me to come back and they would have the truck I want in the color I want on the lot with a guarantee to sell.

It's a seller's market right now but it won't last forever then they'll be kissing butts to get your business again.

 

I knew I wanted a Tundra (drove a Tacoma) so I really didn’t need a test drive although I was offered one in a Limited…told them I didn’t want anyone driving mine when it came in and didn’t want to drive someone else’s. First time I drove one was driving mine off the lot on the way home. Felt great snd still does!

 

Just last Friday. I am very late to the game.

 

Hell, I got that same attitude at the first dealer I went to a year ago looking at a 21 Tacoma. Got laughed at when I wanted to test drive one of the six they were showing as “On the lot” (as per the salesman “we get to show them as “on the lot” as soon as they’re allocated, found out the closest two supposedly “on the lot” vehicles were two weeks out and already sold). Was told that if I wanted one I had to give him a non-refundable deposit (despite no ability to test drive or even sit in anything remotely similar) and they’d hold it for “maybe 24 hours” after it came in. The second dealer wasn’t any better. Finally, with the third dealer, I got somewhere, was able to test drive a couple trucks (realized I wanted a Tundra instead) and was able to call dibs on one that was about two weeks out built almost exactly as I’d have spec’d it. Two out of three dealers were not so great, and that was with the 21s, can only imagine how much worse it is with the 22 Tundras.

 

I had dealer problems BEFORE the whole shortage thing happened. It took four dealerships before I found someone willing to get off their ass and look for a truck that was IN STOCK.

After I bought the truck I had to file a complaint with the State's Attorney's Office to get my title. They threatened to pull the dealer's license. It took all that to get the title for a truck on a CASH DEAL. There wasn't even a finance company to deal with. I don't trust dealers. I always approach them with the thought that the situation could go sideways at any time. I can't imagine trying to buy a vehicle in this market.