Toyota FJ Cruiser At MSRP To Buy

[LTDV8]

Originally Posted by Xfercase

Good question but if you do work at a dealer I'm somewhat surprised by your opinion. Anyway from a buyers standpoint I don't think its fair that dealers often charge above MSRP for a vehicle. Does this happen all over the states? Here in CT where we pay a lot for everything I see this practice done at a couple dealerships. One is at Toyota of Westport the other Colonial Toyota in Milford. The way they phrase it on the sticker is "market adjustment" As an example I recall a new 2002 4x4 Ivan Stewart Pack. Tundra Limited selling for $40,000 Which had to be about $7-8K above MSRP- easy. Another at Westport was a new 2003 D.Cab Tacoma SR5 4x4 with some accessories such as a cap and full brush guards. The price was $36K!! The funny part is both were not on the lot a week later!
I also recall a MR2 spider being advertised for $10K over sticker at Colonial. I can't believe anyone would fall for that when the same vehicles can be found for invoice price at a few other dealers around here. I would think the internet has cut this practice way down because of the fierce price competion that exists.

i've worked at a dealership as a salesperson and sometimes even though the vehicle has a couple of add ons which are ridiculously priced, it doesnt mean that the dealership sold it for that much. we've had a few cars with grills and plastic glue on wood imitations and some of them sold for very little profit. just like a car has a msrp it doesnt mean it will sell for that much. its the same way with these add ons. just keep that in mind.

at a ford dealership 5k premium on mustang gt was no biggie, and people were buying it. during the same period other dealerships 30miles away had the same car and asked msrp. it just depends on the location. chances are if you go out of your way a little you will get the same price. one thing i can say about car shopping is to shop around. many managers will sell at very low prices you just have to talk to them in sence.

[confederate2]

Originally Posted by MOREPOWER

This tampa dealer is asking more than msrp heres a picture of the sticker

That Tampa dealer is smoking crack. Even when the 05 tacomas came out the highest I saw any dealer do that added market value crap was about 3000 bucks. 6000 is out of control. I'll just wait a year and buy one at invoice.

[imjin]

Originally Posted by confederate2

That Tampa dealer is smoking crack. Even when the 05 tacomas came out the highest I saw any dealer do that added market value crap was about 3000 bucks. 6000 is out of control. I'll just wait a year and buy one at invoice.

hahaha... that dealer needs a swift kick in the teeth. Good luck with that one.

[dionysius]

I've found that most dealerships aren't hungry enough to really "deal" for your business. They undercut your trade-in price, overcharge on add-ons, inflate money rates and don't have a clue on residuals.

I've purchased my last 4 vehicles on-line with CarsDirect and have always saved alot. Tried that for the FJ and even they can't seem to get a decent deal at MSRP. But it does get rid of the "back and forth" with the salesmen and manager.

They all try to put on a pretty face with the new dealerships but old habits die hard. There's a sucker born every minute, and the sales staff don't miss any of them.

External financing, doing your homework are the best folks can do. They can't let the vehicles sit on the lots too long.

Denis

[ejsfj]

I have never, and will never pay MSRP for anything. Just bought a FJ with everything I could possibly get on it, including the first aid kit + dealer add ons, a pinstripe, tinted windows, etc, paid 800 under MSRP. You just have to know the right people.

I bought a Honda Oddyssey '06 touring with nav and dvd in June. Again dealer threw in heavy rubber mats in addition to the carpet mats, wood trim (not the crappy stick on stuff), wing bars, tint, etc etc, and paid $1600 under invoice, not MSRP, invoice.

Other then the current FJ for which you have to know someone to get a deal, such as the GM, the first thing you need to do is go on Consumer Reports and pay the $35 to find out what the dealer paid, not invoice b/c there are dealer incentives, hold backs and other breaks that the dealers get. I have talked with GM of different dealerships and they say the #'s that CR produce are very close. 2nd thing you do is build the car on CR and email that page WITH THE PRICES to every dealship you can find, but only do this when you are ready to buy. One very critcal thing, when you send out the email to the dealships make sure that every dealships' email address is listed in your address line, in other words send it out one time. What you have done is let the dealerships know 2 things: one by sending out CR page you let them know that you know how much they paid and two that you are getting quotes from multiple dealerships. All the dealerships will NOT reply, doesn't matter some will, and they don't know who did and didn't reply. If you do this toward the end of the month you will find one of those guys that is hungry. Along the way pick a dealership, pick one of the online guys who is quick to email you back and send them questions or other email, develop a line of comunication.

By this point you should have a working relationship with someone, tell him/her you will give them "last look". By the way, you should have in your mind what you are willing to pay, be realistic the dealerships do have to make money. Finally, call your guy and tell him where he needs to be and you will come in and give him a check. Again DON'T WASTE THEIR TIME, don't put them though this if you are not going to buy the car if they agree to the price. This process will take about 2 weeks, but it is just an email every now and then, again you want to do this toward the end of the month. I hate going in dealerships, I just don't do it, I have met every salesperson that I bought a car from the day I went in to sign the papers, and I make sure that everything is done before I get there.

By the way, the guy I bought the Honda from introduced me to the GM of Toyota as a "loyal friend of the __ __ dealerships". I got my FJ in two days and was in the dealership for less then 20min the General Manager took care of all of my paperwork before I ever stepped foot in the place. The first time I ever even drove a FJ was when I drove down the ramp from infront of the dealership on the way home. I now have a Chevy, Ford, Honda and a new Toyota salesperson and I am loyal to them. This works for everything, got my Honda 680 Rincon the sameway, there were no "deals" on those at the either but I got mine for $900 less then one dealship said "you can't buy it for less then X". Now I don't even have to do all this, I just call the sales guys, if I need a new truck I call Dianna, Honda call Mike etc. But I am not stupid I still pull the report from CR.

The internet is a great tool, use it to your advantage!

[merbesfield]

Originally Posted by ejsfj

I have never, and will never pay MSRP for anything. Just bought a FJ with everything I could possibly get on it, including the first aid kit + dealer add ons, a pinstripe, tinted windows, etc, paid 800 under MSRP. You just have to know the right people.

I bought a Honda Oddyssey '06 touring with nav and dvd in June. Again dealer threw in heavy rubber mats in addition to the carpet mats, wood trim (not the crappy stick on stuff), wing bars, tint, etc etc, and paid $1600 under invoice, not MSRP, invoice.

Other then the current FJ for which you have to know someone to get a deal, such as the GM, the first thing you need to do is go on Consumer Reports and pay the $35 to find out what the dealer paid, not invoice b/c there are dealer incentives, hold backs and other breaks that the dealers get. I have talked with GM of different dealerships and they say the #'s that CR produce are very close. 2nd thing you do is build the car on CR and email that page WITH THE PRICES to every dealship you can find, but only do this when you are ready to buy. One very critcal thing, when you send out the email to the dealships make sure that every dealships' email address is listed in your address line, in other words send it out one time. What you have done is let the dealerships know 2 things: one by sending out CR page you let them know that you know how much they paid and two that you are getting quotes from multiple dealerships. All the dealerships will NOT reply, doesn't matter some will, and they don't know who did and didn't reply. If you do this toward the end of the month you will find one of those guys that is hungry. Along the way pick a dealership, pick one of the online guys who is quick to email you back and send them questions or other email, develop a line of comunication.

By this point you should have a working relationship with someone, tell him/her you will give them "last look". By the way, you should have in your mind what you are willing to pay, be realistic the dealerships do have to make money. Finally, call your guy and tell him where he needs to be and you will come in and give him a check. Again DON'T WASTE THEIR TIME, don't put them though this if you are not going to buy the car if they agree to the price. This process will take about 2 weeks, but it is just an email every now and then, again you want to do this toward the end of the month. I hate going in dealerships, I just don't do it, I have met every salesperson that I bought a car from the day I went in to sign the papers, and I make sure that everything is done before I get there.

By the way, the guy I bought the Honda from introduced me to the GM of Toyota as a "loyal friend of the __ __ dealerships". I got my FJ in two days and was in the dealership for less then 20min the General Manager took care of all of my paperwork before I ever stepped foot in the place. The first time I ever even drove a FJ was when I drove down the ramp from infront of the dealership on the way home. I now have a Chevy, Ford, Honda and a new Toyota salesperson and I am loyal to them. This works for everything, got my Honda 680 Rincon the sameway, there were no "deals" on those at the either but I got mine for $900 less then one dealship said "you can't buy it for less then X". Now I don't even have to do all this, I just call the sales guys, if I need a new truck I call Dianna, Honda call Mike etc. But I am not stupid I still pull the report from CR.

The internet is a great tool, use it to your advantage!

ejsfj, i have been doing this for years, since i bought my first new car. it amazes me how many people on these forums have no clue how this process works. i guess that is what keeps the dealers in business and allows us smarter buyers to do so? people, take note, read the above and educate yourself before you buy your next car/truck.

[drewski]

Well, consumer will pay for a car whatever the consumer thinks the value of the car is. Could be more or less then the MSRP. The last two cars I bought, Subaru Outback and Toyota FJ, I paid 2% and 3% above the dealers cost. About 3.% less then the MSRP. I did not even look at the MSRP, just asked to see the dealer’s invoice and started negotiations from there. Gave them my fair offer and they shook my hand.
Don’t dealers get some sort of factory kickbacks if they sell a lot of cars? I guess a dealership has a choice, either sell a lot of cars or sell less but for more the MSRP.

[philthy]

Where I live it's 2,500 off MSRP without asking it's on the window.