Prius, TCH, and Tundra prices are dropping

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The Critic

The Critic

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While reading the newspaper this morning, I discovered the following:

07 Tundra Double Cab SR5 5.7L V8, $25,978 (MSRP: $29,478), 2 at price
07 Camry Hybrid, $23,995 (MSRP: $27,214), 4 at price
07 Prius, $21,998, 4 at price

I was shocked and appalled that the Camry Hybrid was already selling at less than listed invoice. Ditto for the Tundra, which I think is selling at near invoice.

With gas at $3.27/gal over here for top-tier 87, wouldn't one think that Hybrid sales should be skyrocketing?


confused.gif
 
Aren't those usually come-ons? Like when you call ahead of time and ask if they still have the advertised model at the advertised price, and they say, "Sure, come on down!" Then when you get there, they JUST sold it, but they do have some other Camrys available (just not for that special low price)....

Or am I just jaded?
 
You can get the car at the advertised price in California because they have to give you the serial or lot number over the phone. Then when you arrive they have prove they "just" sold it.They will definitely try and stonewall you but they will finally relent. The truth is, they always have some cars that are slow movers and they advertise them. They also advertise their new "demo" cars this way because the cars are still technically new cars, having never been registered by anyone other than the dealer.
 
Loss leaders.
Most states have laws against baiting/switching.
You can use advertised newspaper ads around here to shop around. I had no problem getting dealers to match advertised pricing on the last several new car purchases.

I think the majority of new car buyers are too dumb to know how to haggle. Many people just cluelessly pay sticker and drive off. I guess that ignorant shoppers drive the economy.
I don't mind researching and waiting for the right deal.
 
This is all for the better. When I decide to pick one up later this year, I can simply walk down to the dealer and cut a check...
 
I always Switch/Bait them first...a trick my Dad (40 years in the auto industry) taught me. You go find your car when the dealer is closed then show up and test drive a similar one that is $2-4000 cheaper and doesn't have the options you want. Then tell the salesman how great the car is for about 30 minutes. Fill out the sales invoice with the guy getting him to knock 1000-2000 off the price but don't sign it. Then stand up and start to walk out letting him know you would really like a blue one with all the options that you knoware on the one you saw earlier that is out back.

The sales guy will go beserk at this point and check his inventory and find they in fact do have that model....take it for a drive and then come back and fill out the sales ticket and let him know that if he will give you the same price as the stripped out one you will take it....he will then really go beserk because he now is about 4-5000 off the MSRP. This will work about 15% of the time and only if the dealership is really desperate for a sale.
 
That might work if you're shopping for a GM pick-up that is normally sold for a few grand off sticker...

Funny thing is...the advertised Camry Hybrid is already the base model with no options...
 
Quote:

I always Switch/Bait them first...a trick my Dad (40 years in the auto industry) taught me. You go find your car when the dealer is closed then show up and test drive a similar one that is $2-4000 cheaper and doesn't have the options you want. Then tell the salesman how great the car is for about 30 minutes. Fill out the sales invoice with the guy getting him to knock 1000-2000 off the price but don't sign it. Then stand up and start to walk out letting him know you would really like a blue one with all the options that you knoware on the one you saw earlier that is out back.

The sales guy will go beserk at this point and check his inventory and find they in fact do have that model....take it for a drive and then come back and fill out the sales ticket and let him know that if he will give you the same price as the stripped out one you will take it....he will then really go beserk because he now is about 4-5000 off the MSRP. This will work about 15% of the time and only if the dealership is really desperate for a sale.

Click to expand...

The really high volume dealers seem to kind of expect this anyway and do not put up resistance. Back in 2002 my parents went to a big Ford "superstore" to buy a Ranger. They said what options they wanted, the dealer searched their inventory, a guy went out on a golf cart to find the truck, brought it up front and knocked $4000 off the MSRP. Done deal. It was in October of 2002 though, so they were probably wanting to clear out some vehicles.
 
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I always Switch/Bait them first...a trick my Dad (40 years in the auto industry) taught me. You go find your car when the dealer is closed then show up and test drive a similar one that is $2-4000 cheaper and doesn't have the options you want. Then tell the salesman how great the car is for about 30 minutes. Fill out the sales invoice with the guy getting him to knock 1000-2000 off the price but don't sign it. Then stand up and start to walk out letting him know you would really like a blue one with all the options that you knoware on the one you saw earlier that is out back.

The sales guy will go beserk at this point and check his inventory and find they in fact do have that model....take it for a drive and then come back and fill out the sales ticket and let him know that if he will give you the same price as the stripped out one you will take it....he will then really go beserk because he now is about 4-5000 off the MSRP. This will work about 15% of the time and only if the dealership is really desperate for a sale.

Click to expand...

The really high volume dealers seem to kind of expect this anyway and do not put up resistance. Back in 2002 my parents went to a big Ford "superstore" to buy a Ranger. They said what options they wanted, the dealer searched their inventory, a guy went out on a golf cart to find the truck, brought it up front and knocked $4000 off the MSRP. Done deal. It was in October of 2002 though, so they were probably wanting to clear out some vehicles.

Click to expand...


Yeah but $4000 is nothing for a Ford product....I got a GM dealer to knock $11,000 off a 2006 leftover Suburban last year then $6,000 off in rebates then I hit em with my $3000 GM card rebate......$19980 off in total.....they said "take your truck and get out"
laugh.gif
 
Those are called "AD" car's. They go out in advertisements with really low prices. Yes, you have to have some on the lot as well. When you are doing a needs analysis you are trying to get to know the what and how the customer use's on their exsisting vechile and what they need in the new one. It also give you the opertunity to move them up to a more expensive trim level as well. You basicly have to let the customer move them selfs up buy what they say they want other wise you come off like you are trying to do the old"bait and switch"! Most most "AD" car's for Toytoa are CE's and LE's and it is not hard to get someone to opt up. IF they want power window on some models,moon roof,alloy wheel,sport tuned suspension, navigation etc...... you normaly have to move up. SOme seating packages are only on higher level trim cars etc.... The "AD" cars are definately a loss leader and the salesmen usualy only makes $37-$100 dollars per "AD" car unless their dealership has some minimum set for their commission wich is rare! On the other hand if a salemen sells an "AD" car at full MSRP not only does he get the normal commission but they normaly get a $200-$400 dollar bonus depending onthe difference in gross between "AD" price and full MSRP for that particular vechile.
 
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I always Switch/Bait them first...a trick my Dad (40 years in the auto industry) taught me. You go find your car when the dealer is closed then show up and test drive a similar one that is $2-4000 cheaper and doesn't have the options you want. Then tell the salesman how great the car is for about 30 minutes. Fill out the sales invoice with the guy getting him to knock 1000-2000 off the price but don't sign it. Then stand up and start to walk out letting him know you would really like a blue one with all the options that you knoware on the one you saw earlier that is out back.

The sales guy will go beserk at this point and check his inventory and find they in fact do have that model....take it for a drive and then come back and fill out the sales ticket and let him know that if he will give you the same price as the stripped out one you will take it....he will then really go beserk because he now is about 4-5000 off the MSRP. This will work about 15% of the time and only if the dealership is really desperate for a sale.

Click to expand...

The really high volume dealers seem to kind of expect this anyway and do not put up resistance. Back in 2002 my parents went to a big Ford "superstore" to buy a Ranger. They said what options they wanted, the dealer searched their inventory, a guy went out on a golf cart to find the truck, brought it up front and knocked $4000 off the MSRP. Done deal. It was in October of 2002 though, so they were probably wanting to clear out some vehicles.

Click to expand...


Yeah but $4000 is nothing for a Ford product....I got a GM dealer to knock $11,000 off a 2006 leftover Suburban last year then $6,000 off in rebates then I hit em with my $3000 GM card rebate......$19980 off in total.....they said "take your truck and get out"
laugh.gif


Click to expand...

The Ranger's total MSRP was less than the discounts you got, lol.

My dad was happy with the Ranger's price. I think it was probably the least amount of money he spent on a brand new vehicle since he bought his 1986 Ranger new for $8000.
 
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Quote:

I always Switch/Bait them first...a trick my Dad (40 years in the auto industry) taught me. You go find your car when the dealer is closed then show up and test drive a similar one that is $2-4000 cheaper and doesn't have the options you want. Then tell the salesman how great the car is for about 30 minutes. Fill out the sales invoice with the guy getting him to knock 1000-2000 off the price but don't sign it. Then stand up and start to walk out letting him know you would really like a blue one with all the options that you knoware on the one you saw earlier that is out back.

The sales guy will go beserk at this point and check his inventory and find they in fact do have that model....take it for a drive and then come back and fill out the sales ticket and let him know that if he will give you the same price as the stripped out one you will take it....he will then really go beserk because he now is about 4-5000 off the MSRP. This will work about 15% of the time and only if the dealership is really desperate for a sale.

Click to expand...

The really high volume dealers seem to kind of expect this anyway and do not put up resistance. Back in 2002 my parents went to a big Ford "superstore" to buy a Ranger. They said what options they wanted, the dealer searched their inventory, a guy went out on a golf cart to find the truck, brought it up front and knocked $4000 off the MSRP. Done deal. It was in October of 2002 though, so they were probably wanting to clear out some vehicles.

Click to expand...


Yeah but $4000 is nothing for a Ford product....I got a GM dealer to knock $11,000 off a 2006 leftover Suburban last year then $6,000 off in rebates then I hit em with my $3000 GM card rebate......$19980 off in total.....they said "take your truck and get out"
laugh.gif


Click to expand...

Next time im buying another truck im bringing you along.
 
I bought an "ad" truck when I got my '99 F-150. The only option it has is air conditioning. I was looking specifically for a truck with no toys on it and the salesman never pushed me to look at a more expensive model. That truck had sat on their lot for 9 months so I'm pretty sure they were happy to get rid of it. Funny thing is, I got a great deal on it, still drive it and it still has never had any problems whatsoever. Just maintenance, a set of brakes and tires are all I've ever done to it. Easily one of most pleasant auto purchases I have ever made.

-Doug
 
Tundra 5.7l doublecab for $25k? Yeah......not around here.....
shocked.gif


Last time I checked, the cheapest Prius's on my dealers' lots are stickered at $25k...

Hey, why no $19k FJ Cruisers???
laugh.gif
 
There's a chain of dealerships here that use "ad" cars to bring people in. Only thing is...The salesman that sells the "ad" car gets fired.
No kidding! Happened to a guy I worked with at a different dealership. He had a penny pincher come in, and insisted that he buy that particular stripped down Dodge truck. Unsucessful at trying to up-sell, he was more or less forced to sell the truck to the guy for the advertised price. That was his last day working there.

I almost fell over when I heard that, but others have confirmed what I was told was indeed true.
 
Well the Dealer I got my 2004 Grand Prix from is a big wholesale ford dealer and advertises a lot on big Savings on Rangers,Foucus' and Fusions. It's a family run dealership. It's a good drive from where I live in San Antonio(Southeast San Antonio and this in Northwest San Antonio).
 
Quote:

While reading the newspaper this morning, I discovered the following:

07 Tundra Double Cab SR5 5.7L V8, $25,978 (MSRP: $29,478), 2 at price
07 Camry Hybrid, $23,995 (MSRP: $27,214), 4 at price
07 Prius, $21,998, 4 at price

I was shocked and appalled that the Camry Hybrid was already selling at less than listed invoice. Ditto for the Tundra, which I think is selling at near invoice.

With gas at $3.27/gal over here for top-tier 87, wouldn't one think that Hybrid sales should be skyrocketing?


confused.gif


Click to expand...



Critic,

Those prices are an improvement BUT they need to come down allot more. If were going to get ahold of the gas crisis/prices then people like myself can't even come close to afford a Toyota hybrid. My local dealership wants about $30G's for a Prius!!! I'm much better off keeping my 89' Camry and get economy overall throughout the week unless the governemnt will give me 13G's to subsidize.

Durango
usa2.gif
 
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