Price Tug-Of-War

You're cutting into his commission. Since December is slow, he needs to make more per car. Try again in March...

A dealership's web site is probably not the best method to determine retail deliveries because pre-sold vehicles probably would not appear on any on-line inventory.

Automakers hold sales in December because it is the last chance to make profits and to establish bragging rights, like #1 passenger car, #1 truck, #1 small truck, #1 brand, etc.

There are several possible reasons why the salesperson/dealership has not called you:

- Someone else may have purchased the vehicle (even though it still appears on the dealer's web site);

- The salesperson is lazy, forgetful, or busy;

- The dealership is not making enough of a profit to make it worthwhile to complete the transaction at the price you want (the other dealership could have a lower price because they are at a higher incentive level, they have a lower overhead, the vehicle is not equipped the same, or they have a vehicle from a lower price level.

Yes, dealerships take delivery of vehicles all year long because the automakers are making them all year long. In other words, automakers do not save an entire model year production in a giant lot somewhere and then ship a dealer's entire year's sales at one time. Toyota dealers used to maintain around a 45 day supply of vehicles, that number is probably closer to 60 now, which is about the industry standard.

I dunno. I might just spend the extra $750 in order to buy locally, and skip the 100 mile trip.

Would you spend the extra $750 and pay 18,950 instead of

Are there advantages to buying locally? I heard something about preferential treatment in the service center? Is that worth $750?

Thanks a lot.

I heard that preferential treatment crap too. In fact, I was given a VIP card by the dealer after I bought the car. Haven't seen any difference yet.... ;>0

I made my original offer in April. It took until August for the dealer to meet my price for the LE (17,400). I made periodic visits in between. Keep telling I didn't need a car in any particular hurry, that I was shopping three other dealers, as well as Nissan, and I would buy, but only if my price was possible....

I'm probably the wrong guy to ask. I have developed a relationship with a dealership and my parents, sister, and I have purchased all of our vehicles for the past 20 years from him, which works out to about a car a year. My dad and I also each send him an additional dozen or so referrals a year, and so he continues to give me and my family the same purchase deal we got when I was still a Toyota employee, which is about $100 over his cost for a Toyota, $300 for a Lexus.

I will mention that the local dealer I eventually bought from is a small-town dealer, 20 minutes from my home and the salesman did the entire deed, from selling the car, accepting the offer, acting as the finance officer, etc., so we dealt with one person throughout, none of that handing off as is common in the big dealerships.

Also, it was no pressure. Probably the most enjoyable experience I've ever had.....

opps, meant to say most enjoyable while buying a car.....

I may give in to my local dealer's price. Over the phone today, the sales manager came down to 18,800 from $18,950 (out-the-door with a $50 Doc. fee).

It's still above the 18.2 I can get one-hundred miles away, but the local sales manager said that subtracting the current $500 rebate from the LE's INVOICE price of 19,250 gives 18,800 (with $50 doc fee).

Hmm, Edmunds says this car has an INVOICE of between about $18,800 and $18,950, not the $19,250--yet two different dealer's today both stated the invoice as 19,250 ($300 to $450 more than Edmunds). Somebody's messing with the invoice figures?? Could it be Edmunds or the 2 dealers? [chuckle]

Anyway, I'm having a hard time deciding between the following 4 colors. In alphabetical order, they are:

Desert Sand Mica (light brown/tan) Lunar Mist Metallic (silver-like) Mineral Green Opal (sort of a greyish silver with just a hint of green) Salsa Red Pearl (dark red)

If anyone's familiar with the '06 colors, which do you like best of these 4?

Thanks.

I don't think Edmunds includes Toyota Dealer Advertising Association fees, which would account for the price difference.

This whole thing is bloody bullshit. Can you imagine buying ANY kind of appliance, for example, with an advertising charge tacked on to the invoice price?