I leased an 03 Tacoma and can share similar experiences.
> I have some tips for those in the market. A lot of this is probably
> common sense but I overheard a few deals at these places where I
> wanted to slap sense into some guys who were clearly without a clue. >
> 2. Then call the nearest 3 or 4 dealers and ask for their best price.
> The offers will probably be very close, but still not their strongest > deals.
There were only 2 dealerships close to me. The dealership farthest away had the better price and I used a faxed quote from the fartherest dealership as ammunition for the salesman at my local dealership
3. Go meet one of the salespeople for a test drive. If possible, as
> crazy as it sounds, try to target a salesperson who is younger or
> seems quiet or timid, and avoid ones that are loud, brash, call you
> "buddy" or "sport", smile a lot, or just seem sleazy in general. You
> can also do this kind of screening over the phone. Hang up and call
> back until you are connected to someone who seems easier to work > (with).
I lucked into a young guy and he was easy to deal with.
5. DO NOT BUY ON YOUR FIRST VISIT, YOU WILL OVERPAY. String them
> along for a week. They NEED your business, you just WANT a new truck.
> Prey on their desperation. Every salesperson wants as many sales as > possible.
I walked out many times, even on the day I was suppose to sign the papers. I was to get the bedliner at no charge, $250 value. They added it in at the last minute. I told the salesman I wasn't going to take the deal because they told me they give me the bedliner. I never said another word. He wasn't sure what to do so he sent me home with the promise he call me back. I got the bedliner for free in 2-3 days.
7. Before you go to sign the final paperwork, speak to the finance
> guy and find out the doc fee and any extra fees. Feed the numbers
> into Excel and get the bottom line price yourself, then send it to the
> dealer and say "This is what I expect to pay. Please check these
> figures and make sure they match yours." In my case, they tried to
> add $211 in tag fees, but I got the real figure from the DMV web site:
> ahem, $20.00!! Watch these people like a hawk, they make a living on > these tricks.
I always brought my Palm Pilot with me that had a Loan/Lease calculator. He hated when I took that out haha
Good tips Mark.