Austin, TX - Soon-2-Be owner

How ya'll doing? I'm just outside of Austin and currently own a 2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail edition. My wife and I are about to close on a tract of land to build our retirement home on and along with this parcel, I need a lot more towing capacity so I'll be selling the 4Runner and getting a new Tundra. Who here is in the Austin area? What dealers have you had good or bad experiences with? Which one is willing to deal? I've checked prices with dealers all around the area and Autonation in South Austin seems to have the better deals but I am open! Autonation also said they'd give me $32k for the 4runner but we'll see about that.

Thanks to any of you who can offer your sage advice. BTW, I ask because I moved here just over a year ago with the 4Runner from NH so I've never dealt with any of the dealers here outside of schedule maintenance.

This is the current beast that will be replaced.

 

Welcome from Canada! Nice 4R. Your ganna love the tundra!

 

Thank you! I'm not new to the Tundra. Back in the mid-2000's my wife and I each had our own Tundra trucks She had this blue one and I had the TRD step-side. When gas prices were approaching $4 a gallon, we sold them and got more economical Toyotas. I really likes that truck a lot and I'm anxious to get back into one. She current owns a 2014 Corolla. We both ride motorcycles so there's our economy.

I know they have changed a TON since I've owned this truck but knowing Toyota, it can only be for the better. Looking at interior views, it looks about the same as the 4Runner, just more space! Same layout and controls.

 

Welcome from CO! Hope you find the answers and truck you are looking for.

 

welcome bud

 

Welcome from TX

 

Welcome from MO...i bought my truck from autonation but in Frisco, tx back in Aug and I'm still dealing with them and have not been finalized...went through different sales people 3 financial director and the gm...signed 4 contracts because the were "lost" not sure how someone can lose it 3 times and now I'm just waiting for my plated to get here...its been very stressful dealing with them and it will be the last time...only reason why I kept doing what they asked is because I just love my truck and got a great deal on it but it was almost to the point I was going to just tell them forget it take it back..so maybe you might have better luck than me but beware

 

Welcome to Austin!

I got my truck and my wife's 4Runner at autonation. Overall they're pretty good as far as dealers go. I had them throw in a maintenance plan and haven't had any problems with that dept. either aside from a dude named Terrance being an idiot. Al is really good and there's another guy named Ebi or something who's also a straight shooter.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome the the forum from Las Vegas!! Nice Tundras, you'll def love the new one you're going to get.

 

Welcome from NH

 

If you don't mind driving to Houston (just down the road), I would recommend you talk to Mike Wolff at Sterling McCall Toyota. Bought 5 Toyotas for the family there - 2 of them Tundras. He's always been up front with me on what he can find and for the best price. He doesn't play those back and forth negotiating games. BTW - Love my Tundra and love retirement!

 

Charles Maund would be the most aggressive. My suggestion would be t go at the end of the month and don't be scared to walk out.

 

I bought mine from Charles Maund a few weeks ago. I drove an hour away. We negotiated pricing before I stepped foot in the door. In the end they ended up giving me more for my trade in and a lower price than any other dealership around I could find. My sales guy was awesome and we still communicate daily if I need anything. He responds almost instant.

 

Welcome from Texas!

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and advice offered thus far. I will certainly visit all of the dealers in the area and play them against each other.

In fairness, I've been comparing pricing and options for not only the Tundra but the other full sized trucks as well. If I thought I could get a decent truck that was comparable for less money, I'd entertain the thought, however, in all the comparisons I've seen on the web and all the Youtube videos I've watched, the Tundra nearly always comes out on top. I'm not surprised... I do these comparisons every time I buy a vehicle... looking for that WOW factor from one of the other brands, but it never happens, or if it does WOW me, it comes at a very hefty cost.

After owning two TRD Off-Road Toyota trucks (A Tundra and a Tacoma), I doubt I'd pay that premium again. For what is paid for the OEM options, a guy can source the same 3rd party parts and still save money, or spend the same money and get even more options. I almost went TRD Pro with the 2015 4Runner but the price difference was almost $7k more. I bought the Trail without KDSS, the Toytec 3" suspension lift kit (no spacers!), SPC UCAs, Bora wheel spacers and Open Country tires and saved myself about $4.5k.

I'm looking at a CrewMax with a 5.7L and the SR5 upgrade option. The only thing I don't like about the SR5 trucks is all that chrome... The grill is big enough and then the chrome the face bezel too? All the chrome will be covered or replaced over time.

I do miss the Taco... the 4Runner is my first ever SUV and it is awesome but I've always been a truck guy since buying the first Toyota mini back in 1984. So, I'm very happy to know I'll be back in a new Tundra soon. Now, it comes down to which sales guy will take the worst beating.

This was the Taco that was traded for the 4Runner. I had this truck for nearly 8 years and got $16,800.00 trade for it.

 

Welcome from TN!!

 

Welcome from Obx

 

Has anyone dealt with a Cavender dealership? They are opening a new Toyota dealership in Cedar Park on May 1st. I wonder how anxious they will be to sell trucks on day one?

http://www.cedarparktoyota.info/

 

Welcome from Texas! I know people who have bought from Cavender. They are a well known dealer in the Texas market. I used truecar.com before I bought my truck and Cavender was the cheapest price I received for an online price. I took their price to RedMcCombs Toyota and saved another $500 more. Best of luck to you on the new Tundra shopping!

 

Thanks! I just used truecar.com and I got the same prices back they all are advertising on their sites. I plan on making the rounds the last weekend of the month to get the best prices and I'll play them off each other and see who is willing to deal. I have no problems walking off with a "Thanks for your time." I plan on being in a Tundra before the first week of May is over.

 

I've been very busy with the dealers and pricing the truck I want. 4x4 CrewMax, 5.7, SR5 upgrade package for heavy towing. Nothing fancy, extra or special... Today, I'm putting a deposit on a 2017 fitting my exact needs from Charles Maund. I stopped in and listened as they lined up what they considered their best price and best trade allowance. After they were done, I showed them emails on my phone with better pricing and far better trade-in value for the 4Runner. They beat them all, so I now have a deal aligned that gives me the best price of them all and the most for my trade. I'm happy with the deal they put together last night so I'll call them today and put the deposit on the truck. I hate to see the 4Runner go because I really do like it a lot... if only it could tow more weight. But, having had a Tundra or two in the past, I'm OK with driving away in a new one. I won't complete the deal until the weekend of the 29th though.

Autonation came in a close second, the others were too far off the mark. Seems a lot of the dealers are willing to lose a customer rather than move a truck. Charles Maund made it very clear that they'd prefer having a new customer than lose one to the competition.

 

Welcome from eastern CO!

 

Well, that all went to pieces. I had the gray one I wanted and before I got back to them the next day (waiting for my sales person to come in), they sold the truck! They offered me a black one, same truck but alloy wheels instead of the nerf bar steps and wanted $1k more. Since then, AutoNation got a magnetic gray in that is exactly what I am looking for so I spoke to the salesman Captain America sent me to and Nassir is hooking me up with an even better deal on this gray one and giving me the same trade allowance. The keys have been pulled, I put a deposit on it and will visit them Saturday to ink the deal. Nothing special, just the SR5 upgrade 4x4 CrewMax with a 5.7 engine. No TRD anything. At some point, I'll snag a set of wheels off Craigslist local to me and put some better trail tires on it. For now, it's a working truck!

 

Nice! SR5 is the best!!

 

Maund offered to go find me a gray one after telling me they only had a black or white available. I told them "No thanks." I'll be visiting with AutoNation Saturday and inking a deal on their offer.

With the SR5 upgrade model, what are some of the first mods you all have done? Tell me what you like or don't like? What did you first change about the truck?

 

I was glad to see they tagged it as "Pending sale" so we'll see on Saturday!

 

I'm not sure about Austin but Toyota of Buerne is a solid place. Also, before you trade, take the 4-runner to carmax just to see what they'll give you for it. It'll give you a great starting point to work your trade.