My head really hurts today because I did a 180.
The Platinum I bought came in with the wrong color. I gave them two days to find me another Platinum in Black or Artic Pearl with a Graphite interior and they could not. I got my (non-refundable) deposit back and started my search all over. I needed to buy this year so I could not let them take every last day to fail me once more.
I called a previous dealer I had spoken to and they said they had an Arctic Frost Pearl with Tan interior and would beat my previous deal’s price by another $500 relative to invoice. I really wanted a Graphite interior, but the extra $500 would help convince me to consider Tan. I went and saw it, and thought the Tan looked fine. I was, however, concerned about how I would put two kid’s seats in the 2nd row and get access into the 3rd row with the non-removable center-console. I saw two bolts inside the console and figured I could remove it and unplug the heated-seat controls, but it seemed like a waste to do that (being uncertain if there was carpet under it and to scrap the heat controls).
I noticed a Slate Metallic SR5 on the lot with a Graphite interior and decided to check it out. I had not considered Slate (or an SR5), but in person it was *really nice.* There was something else about the looks which I could not pin down at the time. Now I think it is that the SR5 does not have chrome mirrors or door handles. It looks better without the chrome – or at least no worse. Also it had a bench seat, which I now decided would be better for our child-seat situation than even captain’s chairs with a pass-through. Also it keeps the dog from getting forward as he loves to come into the driver’s seat when I leave him in our other car. Biggest downside is you have to fold a seat to get into the 3rd row, but the upside is we will need the 3rd row much less and hence can keep it folded more often for cargo.
The Graphite was by far the best interior color – especially on an SR5 as many of the plastic-dipped-in-fake-chrome bits were black in the SR5. The fact that the top insides of the door was hard plastic rather than covered in soft fake leather did not look worse as the hard plastic looked nice in black (probably looks not so great in tan). I had previously only seen a grey-inside on a Tundra and this looked better than I remember that. The Tundra had grey upper door panels. These areas being black on the SR5 Sequoia were a bonus.
Also it had a leather-wrapped steering wheel -- in an SR5! How could this be? I previously ruled out the SR5 because I 'knew' it was not possible to get it with a leather wheel and I didn’t want an aftermarket wrap as they are thicker and never look right. Other features: 5.7L 4x4 with 6 speed, locking center diff, cold kit, leather interior in all rows, heated power seats, heated side mirrors, Bluetooth, headlight washers, power folding 3rd row, fog lamps, power moon roof, nav, JBL, backup camera, running boards, rear spoiler, DRL, tow prep, carpeted floor mats, and door sill protectors. This is almost $9,000 in retail options. Why not just get a Limited? I might have, but this was in front of me and there was just one more day of the year. Also -- a Limited with adding nav, DRL, sunroof, rear spoiler, and cold kit (options this car had) would have been $3700 more. So what would a Limited have that this SR5 did not in exchange for $3700?
1. Leather-trimmed console lid. (The plastic I have looks ok).
2. IR glass.
3. Optitron instruments. (I Looked at this and could not see it as better. It was white instead of orange but not ‘nicer’ though also tells you in words things like which door is open).
4. Electrochromic mirror. (Don't mind flipping it but it would have been nice). I can add one if I want.
5. Chrome-door handles. (SR5 is body-painted which looks better to me. Saw a Lexus and Mercedes GL450 and they had painted door handles).
6. Sonar. (I do wish I had this).
So about $800 worth of stuff in my mind. Not worth $3000+ to me.
And, compared to the Platinum I intended to buy, I also gave up:
1. 20 inch wheels (tossup -- 18s should be better on the dirt road I drive on).
2. Memory on seats (Would be nice as my wife sometimes drives it).
3. Perforations in seats and AC through them. (this seemed kinda cool (pun)).
4. 2nd row heat (do not care).
5. Power rear hatch (I did want this. Love it on my Honda minivan – dog jumps out, etc.)
6. H-TEMS (I tried this and could not feel any difference).
7. Ride height control. Useless and it changes back to normal when you move.
8. Power steering wheel (pimp but whatever).
9. Headlamp cleaner (this is nice).
10. Turn signals on mirrors (don’t care). Mirrors that power fold? (kinda pimp and fun)
11. rear DVD. Kids do sometimes use it in the other car, but they also like kids CDs.
12. Laser cruise (I never use cruise control, but probably because it does not track the car in front of me. Perhaps this one I would use).
13. Remote start. (I am adding a much stronger two-way system to the SR5).
All of this is worth, to me, about another $4000. $5000 at most.
So I am rationalizing that I am better off giving up some fluff and saving the almost $12K on stuff that to me is only worth about $4000 and gaining the bench seat. Also it was the only way I could quickly get the Graphite interior. But the best part is – I no longer have to wonder if it was silly to spend $55+K on a Sequoia that was an AWESOME truck but not quite a luxury SUV. Now that I paid under $44K, I no longer need to ponder that. It seems like a nice sweet spot and I doubt it will feel under-equipped. It still has a nice leather interior, nav, JBL, and the good engine.
Re: How to get a great deal on an '08 Platinum Sequoia...
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