Good Deals on Tundras?

My experience was very similar to yours. The DCs just aren't made in the same numbers as the Crewmax. Had to extend my range to 800 miles to find one at a decent price.

 

Good deals will vary by market conditions.

For example - last year I looked, found a 2018 SR5 CM w/31k...asking 32k...I offered 29 and they wouldn't budge below 30...I passed....keep in mind this was late April 2020 - so sales were at a standstill and just coming off lockdown.wanna bet a similar deal is out there a year later.

Right now sticker is a fair deal for most. If you don't buy - someone will. Dealers have more leads than vehicles these days. Inventory brings buyers in - so not a bad thing to have a few on the lot not sold.

 

Just saw this article. Looks like “good deals” on Toyota trucks are going to be gone for quite a while.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/toyota-tacoma-tundra-prices-chip-shortage/

 

The TSS have big mark ups and big mark downs like the big 3. When I bought mine I got it for within a few hundred dollars of a TRD that a dealer let me walk away from. In the end I got more with BFG KO2s and a few other options. Market is crazy right now and not just Tundras. None of the big 3 are offering discounts like they were a year ago.

 

Check Toyota website for the truck you want, I did this and saw the number of Tundra inventory get smaller every day, and you might be able to like me find your Tundra at an another dealer like I did a lot farther away.

 

If you like the 1974 and don’t want to/can’t wait much longer, I’d say pull the trigger. I have a feeling supply will continue to be tight the rest of the year. All manufactures are struggling and some of the big 3 are having to do more production cuts due to chip shortage.

 

With the new Tundra coming soon I doubt they really ramp back up production. They may be getting ready to switch over production to the new truck. I am so glad my nephew works for Toyota. I just tell them I want the employee pricing and no haggling.

 

Like they say, "It's all about who know, not what you know"

 

Just checked Toyota website for a new Tundra, and they only show six for sale and not sure if that's for the entire use market but think it may be.

I guess there is a reason they call it the Tundra, as the truck is drying up in the desert and not many Tundras available and was glad to get mine last month with the only missing option leather, and going with Katzins.

 

Didn’t get call back from dealer that was supposed to find a limited for me. Guess that’s it, maybe there aren’t any.

 

If you want something you gotta order it. Inventory isn’t sitting on dealers lot. I ordered a limited in January. Showed up Wednesday. It’s mine. But a salesman who didn’t know took a deposit on it and while I was dealing with them they took another call about it guy wanted to come next day.
Asking a dealer to find one is a lot like work and people are lazy. Find one you want and go buy it. Or order exactly what you want and wait 3 months for it to come in.

 

That's not really working these days, my allocation order was not guaranteed to be delivered, put it in late February. The numbers are limited on how many Tundras are going to be built before the new year model takes priority.

 

I guess the best bet is to get a sales guy who wants to work with you. They can find out exactly what’s coming and when it is due to arrive. Last three vehicles we ordered we got the day they rolled off the hauler.
“It’ll be here such and such a day”.
Such and such a day comes
“Trucks here give me a few hours to undress it and prep it. See you at 3pm”

 

So, first of March I went in to have the oil changed on my 14CM. While there I wanted to look at this used 21 Cav Blue CM that was already lifted/35's on it. My buddy the service manager put me with a sales guy he trusted to "give me a straight deal". While talking to the sales guy he said this truck was on the loaner line and they pulled it to put up for sale since they didn't have much inventory. It only had 1400 miles on it at the time. While I test drove it, the sales guy had mine appraised. All this story to say, I was floored at the offer they made on mine out of the gate. It was a 14CM 4x4 Limited stock height mammoth wheels. Very clean but had 114000 miles on it.
I know you don't have a trade, but to show you how crazy things are right now. I thought possibly 20 to 21 for trade value. Out of the gate they offered me 25. At that time I thought there may be some more room to go, and countered with 30. When he came back, he came up to 27500. I about fell out. My new one they had stickered at 63000 with all the lift and liner and tires. Autotrader had listed at 58000. I owed 12600 on my old and 14900 for the trade that put me at 43100 +all the ttav's and we also pay our drive on the road tax up front. I drove out at 50000 owed. At one point I almost walked telling the sales guy I still owed 3000 on the wife's 4 runner. To get me to close the deal they went ahead and gave me 2000 to go toward paying hers off. All in all I think I got a great deal.

 

$5000 off sticker 2021 limited nightshade crewmax.

 

You should feel lucky my friend, 5k off is the best deal I have heard in a few months. Congrats!

 

Thanks. I’m lucky to have a great sales guy. And we have bought 3 new vehicles from him in the last year and a half.

 

I have to admit I am very tempted. I actually went by the dealership 2 days later and was relieved it was gone so I wouldn't keep feeling tempted.

However, I went past today and it is still there. (Not sure where it went for those few days, but it has returned).

I am now thinking of at least asking my sales guy what kind of deal there is to be had. I am partly surprised it has lingered this long considering what everyone is saying. (Unless they are just turning down offers to get someone to pay 5k over sticker).

At this point I would feel happy to pay the sticker price as the out-the-door price (about 58k). I am not exactly under pressure to buy now, so part of me keeps thinking that waiting until May or June will be enough time to settle all this drama.

 

Certainly none of my business but if your at an age or stage where a few bucks don’t matter in the grand scheme of things buy it, enjoy it! With the continuing cut backs over no supply of chips etc, still shaking off COVID issues, V-8 might be replaced by V6 turbo seems time isn’t a friend. Now if money is tight, time isn’t an issue, you don’t care about V8, sit back and wait. Seems like they are getting harder to find, people going hundred/thousands of miles to get one i for one think get them while you can. I’m sure you’ll make the right call and good luck!!

 

I traded a 2019 4.6L for a 2017 5.7L. I got $3k more for the 2019 than I paid and the 2017 only had 20,000 miles and was priced low. I think the 2017 are the best year, no TSS, has trans cooler and big gas tank. Side note, I only bought the 4.6L because I got such a smoking deal.

 

Just did a nationwide search on Autotrader.com for New and CPO Tundras. There are a lot more than 6 in the US market.

 

I got unlimited mileage on my new tundra - bumper to bumper and powertrain for life of vehicle (as long as I own it) for $675 add on. $100 deductible (after the 3 year warranty expires) for 'each repair' item whether it's a transmission, or sensor $$$. I thought that was a good deal, and wasn't expecting that to be offered. My tacoma just lost tranmisson at 220,000, and the estimate was $4000.

 

Just picked up a 21 Limited for $4k off sticker. Deals to be had if you find the right dealer.

 

4k off a limited is very good in this market.
Congrats.

2 or 4wd?

 

So far I'm looking at $1200 off MSRP and free window tint all around, as dark as legally possible. Other dealers in the area where giving me much less.

 

2WD. Dealer did add $1k worth of adds - so net savings $3k. I went in 2 weeks ago towards the end of the month.

 

It has been 4 months now but I bought my truck in Dec 2020. Final number was 12% discount off the sticker price and received the KBB "Excellent" (top 3% condition) value for my trade (Honda Accord) off that discounted number. That trade value was about $1500 less than the local Honda dealer was selling an almost identical vehicle on their lot. Given the sales tax "savings" by trading in, I figured I could have MAYBE been $500 ahead selling it myself...um..no thanks. I went to the dealer after some research that indicated getting 11% off MSRP is a very good deal. So I went for 12% and held out for max trade value after that. It was so funny. Being retired I had all day and no urgency to buy a vehicle. I sat there with my arms crossed like a petulant child refusing to eat his vegetables. I almost burst out laughing twice. I made my very low ball offer, about $5k lower than my target price (hey they asked "what would it take for you to buy this truck today"..I gave them my answer) they came back with their very high counter offer and all I said was "that is not my number..where are my car keys?" absolutely refusing to counter even 1 penny higher than my original number. After they dropped 3 times to get to a reasonable number, only then did I engage them with a counter. There was a big delay towards the end. Come to find out a few days later, the salesman actually bought my trade...I think he was negotiating that purchase parallel to my negotiation to buy the truck.

Forward Fast to today...the car I traded in last Dec is worth about $1000 more in trade today per KBB. So used Tundras are not the only vehicle that have gone up in price!

 

Thats like the deals I read about last year but I am hearing have no chance in getting now.

So my question to you as a firm negotiator is....what would would your strategy and target price be in this market?

 

My strategy is to have a target price and be willing to walk if you cannot get it. And be firm. Even $500 would make me walk!

Frankly if they are really getting MSRP or higher, I probably would not be a buyer right now.

 

I think "everyone's" strategy is the walk away - problem is - dealers can hold out longer than the average consumer can. It's all a game and dealerships have invested thousands of dollars in training for this game.

Your right though - if you are buying new, determine your price and say here it is. Keep fishing till you get a dealer who will sell what you want at the price you want. Eventually someone will find a way to make deal profitably - or you will be shut out if your price is just too low.

Used is a whole different game - keep in mind its cost of acquisition and maximizing profit/quickest resale. Some people don't understand that certain cars pull eyeballs - and dealers love having them on the lot to bring in fresh buyers...bait the fish with a loaded late model used - sell them a new mid trim for example. Sometimes the dealers hang a low price then add it back with add ons and refuse to budge - knowing if they sold at the advertised price it would cost them $$.

As to current conditions and pricing - the chip shortage is a overhyped story. Simple facts are "money's cheap" - banks are having a hard time giving away money (to qualified borrowers) - rates are low and the Fed keeps throwing more liquidity in the lending pipeline. Just like housing - buyers in general shop by payment - NOT sticker/list. If $650 a month is the budget to spend and your $650 now gets you a 64000 truck versus a 52000 truck (thanks to a 12 month longer term being offered and a full 3% lower rate) - then the dealer makes it a 64000 truck...moment money gets hard, it drops it back to a 52000 truck. Joe consumer just knows he has a 650 payment - but at times like this thinks he is "winning" with increased value.

It's just like housing - very few can "cash out" i/e sell what they have for a gain. They need something to drive just like they need something to live in. Sure - you could sell a 2018 SR5 for what you paid 2 years ago likely and have enough equity to buy a 10k cash vehicle and ditch the payments - but who wants to trade down that far? Those 10k specials don't quite equal modern trucks.