Buying a Used Tundra From the Toyota Dealer

For that price you can buy new!!!! So what are you waiting for?

 

I went down the same path - was looking to buy used. Was looking at SR5 double cabs 4x4 and couldn’t find anything less than $30k. Worked with multiple dealers who really wouldn’t budge on price even dealers I’ve bought from in the past.

Then realized new 2019 SRs were going for $33-34k and realized it’s stupid to overpay for a used car with such little difference in price. I ended up with a 2019 SR DC 4x4 5.7L for $31,500 (plus TTL).

I’ve also considered Vroom and Carvana but they mostly have 4x2s and in my research are $2k higher than local dealers. Used is a hit or miss process - for me personally I have to lay eyes on a vehicle and test drive first! I looked at a 2011 SR5 that from the exterior and interior was in great shape and that drove excellent but the entire engine bay was a rust pit - every bolt, clamp and metal fitting was rusted. Frame and suspension was all rusted!

 

So if one of these trucks had a cam tower leak issue how much would it be worth taking off the asking price? Or should I just make them fix it?
I'm looking at trucks 2+ hours from home and would rather not make a second trip.
When I bought my tacoma it had a squeal when you pushed the clutch half way in. Did it every time. They said it was a belt, cheap fix right? I didn't trust them and negotiated an open po# for my local toyota dealer. Turned out to be a throw out bearing and was quite expensive, but not on my end. Eventually squealed again and they replaced the whole transmission at 45k miles.

 

I'm not looking to spend that much. I like the 30k price tags much better. It seems easy to keep saying, well if I spend 2k more I can't get a truck with "this or that". Next thing you know I'm spending 10k more than I originally intended.

 

Wait until the end of the month. Then find the desperate sales guy/gal. Tell them you are willing to buy at your price and ask if they want to make a deal. If they say no just walk out. That’s how I got my 18 at the price I figured was good for a new car. Used you have to think they got that car for a steal from a trade in or auction.

 

Nice!!

 

If cam tower leak is bad, make them fix it. many out there have leaks and don't even know it. I think ot is pricey to repair, and repairs are often not permanent.

 

They said the price wont budge on my 19 pro.
They came down 2000 on the price, gave me 17,000 for my truck and new tires, cover and nerf bars.

Dont let them bullshit you and get up and walk out

 

I bought my used Toyota from a dealership and they would not negotiate at all. But it was a good deal. Also it came with a certified used warranty. I’m very happy with this purchase. Good luck.

 

I looked used; bought new and got a better deal at the end. I used cargurus.com, gives you a price guide to a fair and good price for the tundra prior to contacting the dealer. You still can negotiate that price as well. I suggest you go to three to five local Toyota dealers and get estimates. The dealers pay to have the truck listed and carguru tells you are range of what they are selling for. You should get about 10% off sticker. I would search a up to five hundred miles and put in data for the model, bed size, etc.. My real problem was I wanted a 8 FOOT BED. They are very scarce. You also can use carfax.com for used tundras. When you compare the price of a truck a couple years old or newer for the little deference in price I bought new.

There are a lot of good youtube videos on how to work a deal. There is a Toyota dealer, Earl Stewart from Lake Park, Florida that can teach you the ins and outs of buying a new car/truck. You want "the out the door price".

 

Klappy, bought my 2012 Tundra 4.6 at the dealer as a CPO 3 years ago down here in Texas. Had a similar experience to yours. They were not flexible on the price at all---almost offended when I offered less, but it was priced below the high retail at the time. Sometimes you can get them to throw in extras if they won't come down on price. I was reassured for purchasing the CPO vehicle in hopes if / when I had a problem the warranty would help.

3 years later, looking back, I realize that I paid a premium for the CPO warranty which the dealer passes the price on to the buyer, but in experience the CPO tag has given me zero benefit. Ironically, every issue (and there has not been much of any) has not been covered, and I am in the middle of a huge repair bill right now that the CPO power-train warranty is trying to avoid.

I think Toyota's business model is to price used vehicles high on the lot in hopes you will switch and buy new with better terms, and to create an image of how well they hold their resale value. In reality, if you know trucks, you can always find a much better deal away from a Toyota dealer whether another brand dealer with a Tundra on the lot, or better yet a clean one owner truck from an individual. Buying used is a gamble in itself, try not to be in a hurry, time is on the buyer's side often----there are plenty of Tundras for sale today, and tomorrow also. When you find a great one, jump on it.

 

Blueknight is right.....

Just this week, I had a contract in my hand for a brand new 2019 double cab SR5 with 0% APR for that price....then my current Tundra broke down and I got cold feet to go in debt again....they lost a sale.

 

Are you going there in person, or just email? Rarely will they negotiate via email. if they get you on their lot, 50% of their work is done, and they will try to make it work.

 

With the advent of the internet, dealers compete online by having the lowest price. Many now days will simply post it and it is what it is. The only wiggle room I have found in buying an used 1st Gen recently was their willingness to give me the advertised price out the door— all fees and licensing included. Since they do retain their value, you either take it or leave it. (This was in Central Washington market)

 

I agree also that times are changing. I looked for 6 months at used Tundras before buying new. I talked to multiple dealers and if they came off $1000 on used it a miracle.

As soon as I would call they would say you care calling because it is priced right from the get go. I always would get 20% off of asking price on used in the past. I had to swallow my pride and eat some Crowe as an above average car buyer.

I pulled the whole walk out of a dealer trick 5 times and told them to call me as they know my price. I offered them $3k to $5k under asking price. All 5 times I never heard a single peep or call back ever!!!! Truck was sold and off their site within 2 weeks. End of the month made zero difference with Toyota. Toyota is a different ball game.....

If you want to negotiate I hate to say it but walk into a Chevy, Ford, or Ram dealer.

More dealers are going to the less haggling policy.

Another thing, is you have to go in person. I talked to probably 15 dealers in the Southeast through email and not a single one would negotiate through email. Everyone would just quote the asking price+dealer fee+tax.

With that being said, someone will want to sell and work with you a little!

 

My approach is...Attack..Attack...Attack...I just tell them....'look, dont waste my time...im Not gonna pay that price'...BUT i am gonna buy a truck today....so its up to you..if they say ok, then im off to another dealer..most of the time they stop you before u leave....I dont take buying a vhicle personally...SOMEONE will take your $$...there. are too many guys starving out there.
Funny thing is that im in sales too and basicly use the same process to my advantage....

 

This has been my experience as well. I bought my Tundra and my Jeep at ford dealers and got great deals. Bought my wife’s Highlander at a Toyota dealership and it was a few days fight to get the deal. We walked the first day at finance when they didn’t deliver what they said they would. The manager called us as we drove off the lot and I gave him an earful. When we went back 2 days later I told them we were starting from scratch since they screwed it up. We got 4K off the online price and $3500 up on their first trade in offer. It does help to go at the end of the month and be willing to walk away. I was helping my son work a deal on the last day of the month and it was going great. Then a couple came in and test drove the same car while we were negotiating. They said we could counter offer since they were willing to pay the asking. We walked. You don’t have to be a jerk just tell them your price and say that’s all you can pay. Never split the difference. Just thank them and be ready to walk. There is always another for you and it might be better.

 

In my experience the dealer prices on used Tundras won't wiggle much as there typically isn't as much over head on them - just check out KBB and other dealers online and compare. Couldn't believe how well Tundras hold their value. That being said I went with a new one due to the fact it was only about 6 grand-ish more than 2-3 yr old.

 

The last time I tried to negotiate a used car deal we were about $1000 apart from the dealers price and he wouldn’t budge. I walked and ended up buying a different car from another dealer and happen to see they had lowered the price on the first vehicle below what I originally offered the dealer.

I had to take the opportunity to call the sales manager and explain had he taken my price he would have sold it more than he was currently asking. He couldn’t give one rats a**! Just didn’t care. Never bothered to call me and say “hey we can sell it at your price”. I never figured that one out.

 

First of all, if you do the math [the dollars off you are getting on a used Tundra in comparison to the added mileage], buying new is usually a better deal due to the reliability and high resale on Tundras.

That said, if you want to buy used at a lower price point [which is also perfectly understandable], you need to be INFORMED: by this, I mean that you need to know what used Tundras of similar years and mileage are going for within a 200 mile area. [Focus on private sellers.] This translates to spending time on cargurus.com and other websites learning what the basic price points are on used vehicles. [Check out the dealer prices too.]

I think your best bet is to look for a used Tundra with the following specs: a ONE OWNER truck that is 5-8 years old, with 75,000 miles or less on it [bcuz it was only driven locally]. I would prefer to buy from an older gentleman who kept the truck in a garage. This is how you can get a Limited or 1794 at a more reasonable price, btw.

You have to be PATIENT. Good deals don't come along every day, and if you don't get a good deal, buying used isn't such a good idea in my book.

Your looking for the right person, as much as the right truck: older, financially stable dude who maintains his truck properly, as a local driver.

The reason you are having a difficult time negotiating is because you haven't spent enough time comparing mileage and prices on used vehicles to confidently know what is and isn't a good or bad deal.

Figure out how much you want to pay [top dollar limit] and how many miles you are willing to accept [top mileage limit]: then, spend time looking at trucks at those prices/mileage until you know what an average and good deal is and isn't. And don't get in a hurry.

P.S. Last time I bought a used vehicle off a lot, I went in and told them, this is what I'll give and not a penny more. You gotta' be willing to walk away.

P.P.S. If you have good credit and buy new [I think, even up to a year old], you could extend the payment to 7 years, which really doesn't cost you that much money in the end.

 

^^ This. Our Toyota dealerships within 200 miles wont move on the used price of vehicles less than 4 years old, so they can push new car sales. Demand is high, so someone will eventually buy it. The good thing is this is what keeps the resale value so high. I've bought and traded in two Toyotas that I've gotten nearly all my money back on. Every time I do the math, I come out ahead on a new vehicle. - Lower financing rates, warranty and 2-year Toyota care maintenance. (This only works assuming you want a couple year old low mileage vehicle.)

 

I ended up buying brand new. I was looking for a 2-3 year old used Tundra but the prices were almost the same as new. Only a few thousand off at best unless it had 80+k miles on it. The best I could get was a few hundred off their "no haggle" price which is just another phrase for "firm" these days.

 

^This was my experience exactly. Only way to get a price break was if it had 90k+ miles!