NC Toyota Dealer Reco

[sarca]

Around Jville there are a total of 3 tundras at the dealer - and waaay overpriced for end of year models.
Here's what Im looking for -
Tundra sr5
Double cab
5.7 4WD with tow package

Any suggestions for dealers? We are willing to drive as far Charlotte...

Sent from my EVO using IH8MUD

 

[Burt88]

Most Toyota pickups are gonna be priced high due to their reputation and resale demand. When I'm looking for a truck I usually sit down with a salesperson who I know well and they do the searching for me. Any dealer can check the inventory of other dealers and find exactly what you want and get you the best price and bring it from another dealer. When you negotiate the price just remember that they really really want to sell you a vehicle. It never hurts to even walk away from the table and let them call you back. Just be realistic on your end and they will bite. Oh, and check for the recently traded in vehicles in the detail shop, before they hit the lot. If they can turn a truck over in a matter of hours they will give you a great deal. I once got a chevy z71 that they took in for 14k, I told them i'd pay 16k tops and walked away. Next morning the salesman called and we settled at 16.5k. They were gonna list the truck at over 21k on the lot. They made quick money and I got a great deal.

 

[lt1fire]

While others will disagree over pricing on toyota pickups is the reason why I would almost never buy one (unless I found a crew cab hilux somewhere) They are very good trucks but the price is ridiculous on some models. I have one friend who bought a 1/2 ton 4wd top optioned tundra and another who bought a top optioned diesel 4x4 F350 1 ton. The F350 was actually cheaper. That coupled with the lack of a diesel option makes me look elsewhere for pick up trucks.

Depending on what you want the pick up for domestic trucks are still kings of the market and great deals can be had.

If you're set on a tundra call Scott Clark and ask for Barry tell him your from the club and what you're looking for

 

[Fort Knox]

While others will disagree over pricing on toyota pickups is the reason why I would almost never buy one (unless I found a crew cab hilux somewhere) They are very good trucks but the price is ridiculous on some models. I have one friend who bought a 1/2 ton 4wd top optioned tundra and another who bought a top optioned diesel 4x4 F350 1 ton. The F350 was actually cheaper.

The "1/2 ton" monicker on a Tundra is kind of a joke.

The thing is, that Tundra is probably worth way more than that F350 is upon re-sale. For example, a 2007 fully-optioned Tundra CrewMax has a private-party blue book of just under $33k today. A fully-optioned 2007 F350 SuperCab has a current private-party blue book of just over $27k.

Yeah, you pay more up front, but you get Toyota build quality, reliability, and then you get more back when/if you sell it or trade it in. My Tundra has a blue book value today that is still a few hundred dollars MORE than I paid for it 4 years ago. Granted, I got a great deal on it back then (when gas prices were first hitting near $4 per gallon), but still.....not many vehicles hold their value as well as a Toyota truck.

I'm not saying a diesel F-350 isn't a great truck, or that it doesn't have some advantages over a Tundra, or that I wouldn't be tempted if I was in the market, but I'm pretty happy with my Tundra. It pulls the 4Runner on a trailer with all my camping gear, tools, and parts, and doesn't even break a sweat. My only real complaint would be gas mileage.

 

[Smplybttr]

First of all, I'm not sure why anyone pays for the depreciation on a new vehicle, but that's just me.

That being said, you could the method that my stepfather used when we were growing up: if there was a vehicle that he wanted, he would take me and my brother up to the dealership everyday after school and we would sit in the salesperson's office while they negotiated. My stepfather would leave the office 'to think about it' and leave us there to do our homework. After a few days of keeping the salesperson from being able to bring anyone else into his office, he would pretty much give the vehicle away, just to get rid of us.

Fast forward 10 years and my brother found a truck he liked. He sent him over to look at it and when my brother went after work, the sales guy says' i didn't know you were sending THAT guy!'. Stepfather had already negotiated a deal and saved my brother a couple of grand.

 

[Fort Knox]

First of all, I'm not sure why anyone pays for the depreciation on a new vehicle, but that's just me.

Completely agree. I don't know if I'll ever buy a new vehicle again. I found my Tundra used with 7,500 miles on the clock. The Honda that I had before that, I also found with about 7k miles on it. Not sure what the PO paid for my Tundra, and I'm sure they lost a little dough trading it in so quickly, but down the line, a Toyota truck will always be worth more than a comparable domestic truck.

 

[Fort Knox]

http://youtu.be/_7rcctRe4LQ

"1/2 ton". lol

 

[NCFJ]

Resale value aside, my next truck will be a 3500-5500 duallie of the Dodge flavor, a 2002 would be nice. I need pulling power with fuel economy that can be dialed in with a little work. Toyota just has nothing that fits the bill. Till then I use a one ton 4 tire with a gasser. Figure less than $17K with purchase and any mechanical work. Far better than $45K and up for something new

 

[lt1fire]

The 1/2 ton moniker is pretty much a joke in all 1/2 ton trucks these days. Toyota's Marketing this time was that it is a 3/4 ton truck in 1/2 ton trim.... which any of the big truck making companies could have done.... and been right. Toyota jumped on this because the 1st gen tundra was ridiculed for being a mini truck (tacoma) in a 1/2 ton trim. Which while had its merrits, the 1st gen tundra was more than enough truck for most people. With a pretty good price tag.


Fact of the matter is you get more for your money buying a 1 ton diesel than a Tundra.

Yes the toyota will most likely be worth more on resale.... and that is an important thing to think about, but if it costs more to begin with then it should be.


It all boils down to what you want. Most people I know that has a new tundra loves them. I've ridden in Allen's and driven many of my friends and they are very nice. My initial post wasn't meant as a knock on them just a different perspective. Tundras are a great truck.

For me if i'm going to fork money over of a big pickup i'm always going to get the biggest bang for the buck and pretty much always going to pick a diesel. Resale value is less important for me and i've never once considered that when buying a car just due to other factors being more important to me.

Now if you have the cash and want a gas powered truck and you are a toyota fan then a tundra can't steer you wrong.


Like I said call Scott Clark and they will work with you.

 

[onemanarmy]

Yall better be glad people buy new cars, so you have something used to buy.

 

[lt1fire]

Yep true dat


I'm not saying i'd never buy a new car..... if I made a ton of money I most likely wouldn't think twice.

I think my muscle car days taught me to seek out the deals and pay less. It has spilled over into other corners of my life.... I rarely buy new anything. Most of the time if I do it is to get the warranty.

 

[CruizerHound]

How many tons does a space shuttle weigh?

 

[lt1fire]

the "tons" in 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton and 1 1/4 ton has nothing to do with how many lbs/tons it can pull.

That's also not a great example of actual towing since the back of the shuttle where most of the weight is is rolling on its own tires and suspension.

The little tugs that pull around 747 jumbo jets actually have less power than the tundra and a 747 weighs more. The "ton" designation has to do with the frame/chassis and the payload haul.... as in, in the bed. But its an old weigh to describe trucks and really should be abolished.


Cool pic.... got a cell phone pic from the other side of the street from my buddy that works back home at JPL.

 

[CruizerHound]

Do you think they go 2" or 2 9/16" on the trailer ball to pull that shuttle?

I bet since its NASA they have one of those expensive U-Haul Multi-Ball setups.

 

[lt1fire]

Do you think they go 2" or 2 9/16" on the trailer ball to pull that shuttle?

I bet since its NASA they have one of those expensive U-Haul Multi-Ball setups.

Just a whole lot of duct tape


Actually I think toyota footed quite a bit of that bill because they wanted that footage for promotional stuff

 

[Yukon LX]

a little bit off topic, but is there any talk of Toyota ever taking on the big 3 with heavier duty pick ups? A 2500HD/ 250 super duty tundra if you will. . . or even the "1 ton" with some duelies. Does Toyota make larger engines (gas or diesel) anywhere else in the world. forgive my ignorance if this is common knowledge.

 

[lt1fire]

Lots of talk and even a few concept vehicles.

Yes they do, they own HINO which is a large heavy truck company.


They dropped it though when they figured out they couldn't compete right now with the output from D-Max, Navistar, or Cummins.

The 8 liter HINO motor they were promoting as using had a max tq output of around 525 or something like that. This was years ago when the biggest of the big threes was at around 650.... now they are hitting 850 and that new generation of that HINO motor is at 535. Add to that that it is more than a liter bigger than the other motors and is never built for MPG just extreme low end TQ and you have a bad recipe in the large light truck market.

That's the problem. They could custom make an engine but it would be fore extremely low sales and they would have to price the truck out of the market to make up for it.

They wouldn't offer it in their medium and heavy duty trucks to offset coast because there isn't a need for it and they don't want to compromise any reliability that the extra stress the power would put on the motor for those lines.


This came from a HINO NA corp member that was a client of mine at my last job.

 

[lt1fire]

This is the concept that they made in 06 or 07

Cool looking truck and even better in person when I saw it at the SEMA show.

Love those cool blue HINO gauges

 

[Yukon LX]

well it certainly looks cool. but from what you say, there just isn't the engine, or the market. I like the pink DDs on the brush guard too. Is ther anyone else out there they have though about buying? kinda like the GM/ Isuzu thing to get the duramax?

 

[lt1fire]

They talked to CAT about doing it but there again the price would be super high to offset the price CAT would have to incur to custom make an engine that would work..... the other problem is CAT has some linkings with Ford for the engine they put in the F650 for them.

The GM/Isuzu thing worked because it was a joint venture that was good for both partners.

Isuzu and GM engineers developed the original duramax engines at a joint owned plant in Ohio (now completely GM owned) They also made civilian type engines in V6 and I4 configurations from the same technology that made it into many Isuzu and GM passenger cars and mini trucks around the world. Many Hondas in japan also get the D-max I4 and Renaults in Europe get the V6 model
In addition to the big 6+ liter variety they also made some V6 and I4s from the same technology that made it into GM and isuzu medium duty trucks around the world and the 6 liter models made it into many box/stake bed medium duties around the world also. That and GM sells way more full size trucks than toyota anyway so there is less time to payback the initial cost.