Truck Shopping - Update: now with build, bikes, and colorado

[I_squared_r]

Tacoma front end held up well when struck by a deer. Still road worthy, Hadn’t made the first payment yet. Was fixed and back on road less than 2 weeks. ( pre covid).

Nice. I am sold on the Tacoma. I found a nice build a few hours away and the guy would give me 9% off msrp. VERY good for the time. Im waiting for the window sticker to confirm the numbers and options are correct and then i'll go to my credit union. The website says 2.8% for 72 months and maybe give automatic payment discount of 0.3% like my last loan.

2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Offroad
Double Cab
5ft bed
Color Cement Gray
V6 4WD
Advanced Technology Package
Mudguards
5" Oval Tube Step
All weather floor liner/door sill protector
TRD Premium off road package (heated leather seats, moon roof)
LED Headlights

MSRP $45371
selling price $42371

This is my 1st time buying a new car so i'm trying to plan how to get everything I want and at the price im looking to spend lol. Is it common to ask to remove things like mudguards and running boards? I prefer a different running board and tonneau cover. Also I want paint protection film. Like what is the best way to tackle negotiation? Ask for these things last?

Also I have a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD, 125k miles that I want to maybe trade in. The damn truck has this strange transmission problem that happens very rarely - it will drop into neutral and have to restart the car. I'm hoping they will give me a fair trade in, I can save on taxes, and wash my hands with this car. Otherwise i'll pay $1500 to fix it and then sell it..

 

[I_squared_r]

I've been watching this guy Taco Rick on youtube. I like his truck it has a TRD pro grill, TRD taillights, 3" lift, 33" tires and wheels, and he blacked out everything. It looks real nice and he says it drives the same with the lift, just feels stiffer on bumps.

 

[I_squared_r]

I went to another Toyota dealer and they were willing to work with me. They found 3 Tacomas in the northeast that fit. I put a deposit on a 2021 that was fully loaded except for multi-terrain monitoring.. thats the technology that has cameras at all 4 sides so the screen will give a overhead view. I asked for 10% and he came back with 5.5%, so I asked for 6% and he agreed. I think it's good considering people are buying trucks before they arrive at the dealer. So on monday their inventory manager will try getting the Tacoma from the other dealer. Wish me luck!

 

[mrcleanr6]

Good luck with it. I never towed with mine so im not sure how they do with that but overall im sure the truck will be great. My canyon is rated for 7550lbs towing so im sure the tacoma would have to be somewhat competitive.

 

[I_squared_r]

Good luck with it. I never towed with mine so im not sure how they do with that but overall im sure the truck will be great. My canyon is rated for 7550lbs towing so im sure the tacoma would have to be somewhat competitive.

Towing spec is only 6400lbs but i saw a youtube video that compared the tacoma to Colorado and it did surprisingly good. Initially I was worried about towing capacity, but i think the next few years ill build the tacoma into a good truck for weekend mountain bike trips and start to explore the northeast. And ill keep with my 19ft boat.

Crazy how just a few weeks ago I was only concerned about finding a decent truck, but now I've found myself down the youtube rabbit hole and planning my overland build. The internet is a dangerous place lol

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

I think it may be an ok deal. I think I’ve been spoiled by the 1500 market, where it’s common to get 20-30% off sticker.

Do not have the dealer do anything with accessories. Take them off your self (easy) then you can resell (also less chance of dealer damages).

PPR is great but find a local shop to do that, will be much cheaper than the dealer. I’d also ceramic the whole car after that. Don’t let them talk into any adds on (tire protection, warranty, etc.). Everything they offer can be found cheaper elsewhere.

As for negotiation, get a few more dealers involved. Get somewhat close to a price you want and then ask for the sweet stuff to be tossed in when they can’t get to your initial price. I’d prob use other vehicles as leverage. I.E tell them you can get into big better truck for cheaper so they need to come down significantly. Don’t do that blindly though, be ready to respond with details if they ask.

You can also check things like TrueCar to see what a good price for your area is. It’s not as good as it used to be but it’s a base line.

One last thing, get on a Tacoma forum and there should be a thread of what people are paying. You can also use that to find a high volume dealer that sells for dirt cheap. For example there is a Ram dealer in Iowa or something that sells for like 30-40% off sticker, people use that as a leverage point.

 

[I_squared_r]

I think it may be an ok deal. I think I’ve been spoiled by the 1500 market, where it’s common to get 20-30% off sticker.

Do not have the dealer do anything with accessories. Take them off your self (easy) then you can resell (also less chance of dealer damages).

PPR is great but find a local shop to do that, will be much cheaper than the dealer. I’d also ceramic the whole car after that. Don’t let them talk into any adds on (tire protection, warranty, etc.). Everything they offer can be found cheaper elsewhere.

As for negotiation, get a few more dealers involved. Get somewhat close to a price you want and then ask for the sweet stuff to be tossed in when they can’t get to your initial price. I’d prob use other vehicles as leverage. I.E tell them you can get into big better truck for cheaper so they need to come down significantly. Don’t do that blindly though, be ready to respond with details if they ask.

You can also check things like TrueCar to see what a good price for your area is. It’s not as good as it used to be but it’s a base line.

One last thing, get on a Tacoma forum and there should be a thread of what people are paying. You can also use that to find a high volume dealer that sells for dirt cheap. For example there is a Ram dealer in Iowa or something that sells for like 30-40% off sticker, people use that as a leverage point.

Wow 20-30% that's really good. At those rates I could get a fully loaded 1500 for the same price as my fully loaded Tacoma. But people on the forum say that even 1/2 ton truck deals are gone. Before COVID people were finding 10% off last years model Tacomas at volume dealers in Texas and Arizona. They just started the 2021 pricing thread and people are reporting anywhere from 0 to 7% off MSRP on 2021. I got 6% so I guess i'm doing okay.

1. 2021 Toyota Tacoma, TRD Offroad, Cement, AT, 5' bed
2. MSRP(before dealer add ons) - $44,871 with delivery
3. Tech package, premium package, floor liners, black emblem overlay, door edge guard, mudguards, paint protection film, predator tube steps, wheel locks
4. Price before Tax Title License (TTL) including incentive/rebate - $42,200 with delivery
5. Total discount: 6%
6. Price Out The Door (OTD) - don't know yet. I calculated $46000 with crazy 8.635% NY taxes
7. State purchased - NYC

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

The only reason it may be tough to get a killer dealer right is that the '21s just came out this month. Find a '20 and you should be good. Rams have been going 20-30% off for a few years now. I believe November is the best time to get a deal without much effort for a '21.

A few examples (and you can get them lower)

Rebel: 2020 Ram 1500 for sale in Collinsville - 1C6SRFLT8LN418019 - Laura Auto Group
Laramie: NEW 2020 RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X2 5'7" BOX
Big Horn: 2020 RAM 1500 Big Horn/Lone Star | Franklin, TN

 

[I_squared_r]

The only reason it may be tough to get a killer dealer right is that the '21s just came out this month. Find a '20 and you should be good. Rams have been going 20-30% off for a few years now. I believe November is the best time to get a deal without much effort for a '21.

A few examples (and you can get them lower)

Rebel: 2020 Ram 1500 for sale in Collinsville - 1C6SRFLT8LN418019 - Laura Auto Group
Laramie: NEW 2020 RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X2 5'7" BOX
Big Horn: 2020 RAM 1500 Big Horn/Lone Star | Franklin, TN

Wow great deals on the full size trucks. That 2020 Big Horn is a great deal. In all my research, it doesn't seem like Toyota gives mark downs like that. They had a 2020 Tacoma but they have to trade inventory with a dealer in Maryland. Toyota has an incentive $1000 on 2020 and he quickly applied that to the 2021, I assume so they won't have to drive 10 hours round trip for the 2020.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Wow great deals on the full size trucks. That 2020 Big Horn is a great deal. In all my research, it doesn't seem like Toyota gives mark downs like that. They had a 2020 Tacoma but they have to trade inventory with a dealer in Maryland. Toyota has an incentive $1000 on 2020 and he quickly applied that to the 2021, I assume so they won't have to drive 10 hours round trip for the 2020.

I have never seen Toyota mark stuff down like that. I guess that's why the Big 3 stay the Big 3 lol. Last time my mother went for a Honda, they had a bunch of crap added like Nitrogen for $500 and they wouldn't budge a dime off anything. Needless to say we walked out pretty quick. Foreign manufactures don't seem like they deal much. I know their margins are similar to American manufacturers so they just manage to get away with it better.

 

[2kwik4u]

I have never seen Toyota mark stuff down like that. I guess that's why the Big 3 stay the Big 3 lol. Last time my mother went for a Honda, they had a bunch of crap added like Nitrogen for $500 and they wouldn't budge a dime off anything. Needless to say we walked out pretty quick. Foreign manufactures don't seem like they deal much. I know their margins are similar to American manufacturers so they just manage to get away with it better.

I had an opposite experience with the local Nissan dealership. They were damn near giving away Rogues when we were shopping in late '18. Gave us a $32.5k Rogue for just over $26k. Was like 22% off MSRP or something like that. Only caveat was we had to choose from dealer stock, of which they had 25 or so available. Wife got all the options she wanted EXCEPT the exterior color.

 

[mark_m]

Wow great deals on the full size trucks. That 2020 Big Horn is a great deal. In all my research, it doesn't seem like Toyota gives mark downs like that. They had a 2020 Tacoma but they have to trade inventory with a dealer in Maryland. Toyota has an incentive $1000 on 2020 and he quickly applied that to the 2021, I assume so they won't have to drive 10 hours round trip for the 2020.

@OCMD picked up a ram truck and believe he really likes it

 

[I_squared_r]

I had an opposite experience with the local Nissan dealership. They were damn near giving away Rogues when we were shopping in late '18. Gave us a $32.5k Rogue for just over $26k. Was like 22% off MSRP or something like that. Only caveat was we had to choose from dealer stock, of which they had 25 or so available. Wife got all the options she wanted EXCEPT the exterior color.

I think it comes down to what people are willing to pay and the current market. I guess people are willing to pay for Toyota. When I was a car mechanic, Toyota had developed a name for being super reliable. During the same time, Nissan had some very serious problems. The 2000s Altimas were a disaster for the company. So many Altimas went to the junk yard with bad motors. Their Maximas would have the STEERING LOCK go bad on the steering column and not start. $1000 repair. Some Nissans had a seal go bad on the back of the motor and dump 5 quarts of oil within minutes. Meanwhile, I had a customer with a Honda Civic with over 300k miles and he would come in for basic maintenance like belts, tires, and oil. Chrysler also had issues around 2008 with Hemi's going bad. Another customer had an Audi that he always had expensive repair bills. He was a really nice guy and I felt bad for him. I told him to go get a Lexus. He used to come in for oil changes and I told him "you dont need anything." to which he would reply "are you sure? did you check everything?" .. "yeah. do you miss the audi repair bills?"

But not all Nissans are bad. The older pathfinders and xterras are known to be reliable. Only some years had issues with radiators and timing chain guides. None of which are too expensive to repair. I've been out of the business for 6 years now so things couldve changed with the newer models

 

[2kwik4u]

But not all Nissans are bad. The older pathfinders and xterras are known to be reliable. Only some years had issues with radiators and timing chain guides. None of which are too expensive to repair. I've been out of the business for 6 years now so things couldve changed.

I'm not sure if it's what people are willing to pay for, as much as bending to market pressures. It's pretty easy to offer huge incentives and move units. It's a race to the bottom though with incentives IMO. Resell value SUCKS on these types of vehicles because why would anyone buy used when a new one has enough incentives to cover the difference. You can see lots of markets where resale values are held higher on brands without incentives. Yamaha boats are a great example.

I think it's hard to find a truly BAD vehicle any more. Every single make/model/brand has some quirky something or the other that doesn't work quite right, fails too often, or is a poor design. GM V8's are "bullet proof", if you don't count the lifters on the active fuel management system failing. Honda's have exceptionally well done engines, but pretty often have small interior problems, or underdesigned suspension components. Nissan and Toyota are somewhere in between, and the Germans over-engineer everything so heavily that when it does break it costs twice as much to address.

Total cost of ownership between my Audi/GM/Mazda/Ford vehicles have all been within the same range. Audi was a shade high, GMC's a shade low. The Audi had a fuel pump cam follower issue that I had to keep an eye on for years. The GMC had an A/C issue that would rear it's head once every 2 years. They were both excellent vehicles, but had some poorly designed or manufactured pieces.

I think you'll enjoy your new Toyota, and I'm certain it'll give you many years of service.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

I'm not sure if it's what people are willing to pay for, as much as bending to market pressures. It's pretty easy to offer huge incentives and move units. It's a race to the bottom though with incentives IMO. Resell value SUCKS on these types of vehicles because why would anyone buy used when a new one has enough incentives to cover the difference. You can see lots of markets where resale values are held higher on brands without incentives. Yamaha boats are a great example.

I think it's hard to find a truly BAD vehicle any more. Every single make/model/brand has some quirky something or the other that doesn't work quite right, fails too often, or is a poor design. GM V8's are "bullet proof", if you don't count the lifters on the active fuel management system failing. Honda's have exceptionally well done engines, but pretty often have small interior problems, or underdesigned suspension components. Nissan and Toyota are somewhere in between, and the Germans over-engineer everything so heavily that when it does break it costs twice as much to address.

Total cost of ownership between my Audi/GM/Mazda/Ford vehicles have all been within the same range. Audi was a shade high, GMC's a shade low. The Audi had a fuel pump cam follower issue that I had to keep an eye on for years. The GMC had an A/C issue that would rear it's head once every 2 years. They were both excellent vehicles, but had some poorly designed or manufactured pieces.

I think you'll enjoy your new Toyota, and I'm certain it'll give you many years of service.

I agree mostly with everything here. One thing though, resale value on full size trucks is ridiculous and is not affected by new discounts. Yes you can buy a brand new one for a few thousand more than used... but that doesn't hinder used sales at all. I got almost $30,000 for my 2013 Ram with 70k on trade in 2018. I could have bought a similar brand new 2019 model for 38ish. From what I have seen, this hasn't changed and doesn't seem like it will any time soon.

 

[2kwik4u]

I agree mostly with everything here. One thing though, resale value on full size trucks is ridiculous and is not affected by new discounts. Yes you can buy a brand new one for a few thousand more than used... but that doesn't hinder used sales at all. I got almost $30,000 for my 2013 Ram with 70k on trade in 2018. I could have bought a similar brand new 2019 model for 38ish. From what I have seen, this hasn't changed and doesn't seem like it will any time soon.

Agreed. Not quite Jeep level resale values, but dang close. I think this speaks strongly to the "hard to find a bad one" case as well. These things are so overbuilt at this point that they last for years and years. I'm not even a little bit afraid of taking a vehicle into the 200k+ mile range.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Agreed. Not quite Jeep level resale values, but dang close. I think this speaks strongly to the "hard to find a bad one" case as well. These things are so overbuilt at this point that they last for years and years. I'm not even a little bit afraid of taking a vehicle into the 200k+ mile range.

I hope I can grow into the mindset of keeping a vehicle that long. I'd like to keep mine 10 years. I didn't need to get rid of my '13 but really liked the new gen. Hopefully I can pay it off and be content for a few years lol. At the rate I am going it will only have 50,000 miles in 10 years.

 

[I_squared_r]

I hope I can grow into the mindset of keeping a vehicle that long. I'd like to keep mine 10 years. I didn't need to get rid of my '13 but really liked the new gen. Hopefully I can pay it off and be content for a few years lol. At the rate I am going it will only have 50,000 miles in 10 years.

When I was 21, I bought a 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora that I bought for $2500 with 32k miles. I had that car for over 6 years. I would've went longer, but like most GM cars of those years, they start to grenade at 90k miles. It also was one of the the lamest cars that a early 20s guy can drive. I keep my cars a long time because I grew up poor so I always tell myself to be grateful for everything I have. I used to shame myself for everything that I bought and I still lived like I was broke, but i'm starting to outgrow the mindset.

 

[I_squared_r]

I saw another cement color in person and its not doing it for me.. I told the dealer to order a black with the led headlight option. He was straight up and said I will have to wait a month or 2. I'm going to wait and it will arrive just in time for the end of bike season. Then i'll be busy modding it.

I want to change the grill, wheels, and running boards to look like the TRD Pro. It will look exactly like the video below minus the hood scoop. Then I will buy a similar bed rack, tent, and bike mounts like below. I'm already thinking about trips to Moab and Colorado with this set up! It's going to be expensive for me, but I think it's going to be worth it!

 

[2kwik4u]

@I_squared_r I love the look of that bottom Tacoma there.

I have visions of doing "overlanding", but I don't know of locations in the southeast area to do that sort of thing. Seems like most of the OHV areas in the country are out west. Even then, with little ones, the work required to camp is pretty high for me.

I do want to trade my road bike in on a mountain bike though