New Toyota Camry
 

In the market for a new Camry and so far best out the door price is from Courtesy Toyota in Tampa.

82 miles as Crow might fly but wondering if anyone has anything good, bad or indifferent about them.

Thanks
Stu

I've got a 2005 Camry that runs like a champ. Toyota makes a solid reliable car. I've also got a Honda Accord. When I go looking again, I'll look at those two first.

Compute the out-the-door price you want to pay. Then go to Phillips Toyota and ask if they will accept that price. If you don't hear a 'YES', then leave.

That is what we did two years ago. They said 'YES' and we bought a RAV4.

They had the chance, took about 4 emails before we got their sort of out the door price.

It was a waste of time to ask them for their out-the-door price.

As I suggested, compute YOUR out-the-door price and go offer it to them IN PERSON.

Please let us know what happens.

AAA and AARP offer some auto buying services, so does Sams Club. They may be worth checking out.

All these out the door pricing strategies end when you have a trade in. In addition your definition of out the door I guaranty will be different then the dealers. I did this last year and after watching umpteen videos I quickly concluded the dealers watch the same videos. Next time I would look into a third party like AAA or whatever.

In 2016 I used COSTCO on a BMW in a hot luxury car market in Southern California as Chinese nationals were buying up new condominiums in Irvine and new cars over the telephone. Does Consumers Reports still offer a buying guide/service?

As I understand it a chip shortage is affecting the manufacture of new cars and used car prices are way up. Strange times we live in...

I would look up both the Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds fair market value and make sure that if there are in factory to dealer of buyer incentives you also deduct that from the price. Then deduct another 3 or 4 hundred dollars and call them. Tell them if they can match the price that they got a deal. If they give you any BS, hang up. It is not worth taking the long drive to get put in a chair at the salespersons desk and wast hours negotiating while they go back and forth with their "sales manager". Tell them deal or no deal, give them an hour to get back to you, and if they don't call back within an hour meeting your price, move on. That is how we have bought our last several new cars and it works. Good luck.

take a look at a hybrid camry, it gets over 50mpg. i have one and love it.

If any dealer says "YES" with no hassle you paid too much. They are trained to make it is as difficult and time consuming as humanly possible. A quick "YES" is always a bad sign. Look for the big smile on their face and you'll know.

Toyota dealers notoriously use underhanded pressure tactics to get you to buy. Keeping your license to get a “copy” and/or your keys while they check out your trade then “can’t find them” while they sweat you out. Make your own copy of your license and go with them to check out your trade keeping your keys in your hand.

Living here will not drive enough miles to pay for the hybrid.

My keys and my wallet with license goes where I go.

Pretty sure will buy from Courtesy but was hoping someone had experience with them.

That is not true.

If we have a trade, we make an OTD offer that includes our trade.

I doubt that is true.

I think the managers at car dealers are pros. They know how much money they want for a car. If you offer that amount and then start to walk out, they will follow you outside and accept your offer.

On the other hand, sometimes they just let you leave and do not come after you.

I have had both happen to me more than once.

I agree. Make your out the door price offer, including trade, in person. Hand it to them on a piece of paper, give them 15 minutes, and then leave. It really doesn't matter where you buy the car. You can have it serviced at any dealer.

Gatorland Toyota

I did all online.. Told them what color/model I wanted and how much I would pay. Took about 2 weeks back and forth. Found the color/model I wanted and got the exact price I offered. Drove up on 12/31, signed the papers and picked up the car.

If the trade in is becoming a complication, consider selling to Carvana. Online offer in 3 minutes which is good for 7 days. They come to you with paperwork and take the car. We did this when we bought our new Ascent since no one would give us a reasonable price for our trade.

Just
Purchased a 2021 RAV4 for 1000 slow stiicker price - Lakeland Toyota gave me KBB value on trade in plus 3000 on top!!!!

Buy a Chevy

Do you have to drive back to Tampa for warranty repair?

De Luca in Ocala
 

Try DeLuca Toyota in Ocala, show them the “out the door price” and see if they will match it, when you go speak to someone that can make a decision and not a “salesperson”, but go in person, not on the phone

No can be done at any Toyota dealer.

Gather nobody has done business with Courtesy Toyota.

And there is no trade in for this purchase.

We just got a "new", low mileage used car delivered to our driveway by Carvana. They also gave us 3K over what area dealer offered for a trade in. You already know you want a Toyota, so why go to a dealership and pay the overhead for their operation just to get a new car?

I have a '19 Camry w/4 cylinder turbo. Over 40 MPG and only 1 battery. Great car.

If you’re not stuck on brand new, Car Max resells the best of the best used autos. I had a 2012 BMW X3 35i 32,460 miles shipped f/Colorado ($600 my dime) to Louisville Ky & it was showroom quality $19,900(no negotiations). Sold me a 5 yr 75,000 mile warranty $2,000, zero deductible & covers everything but oil, tires, brakes, battery. Loving my BMW…

Ihave never had an issue buying a new car. I recently bought a 2020 Lincoln Corsair and was trading in my 2018 Honda CRV. I looked up the blue book value, went in, did my test drive and sat down with the sales person. I stated exactly what accessories I wanted and didnt want and said there was no room for negotiations, thats what I wanted. He tried to offer me less for my Honda and I pulled out the print out from the Blue book. I made it clear I was willing to buy on the spot if my requests were met. I got exactly what I wanted for the Honda, didnt listen to any sales pitches and paid a reasonable price for the Lincoln. If you walk in without doing your homework, act meek and wishy washy, they will step all over you.

I love CarMax
 

A lot of people do not know that CarMax sells new cars. The last 3 cars I have purchased have been from CarMax. They have also been the best place for my trade-in, too. If you purchased a car from them and then later trade for another, they do not charge you tax. They use the tax from the previous purchase. If you buy a car from them and you do not like it, you have a 30 day 1500 mile trial period or you can return it. No questions asked. I just did that on a 2019 Hybrid Camry. You will love dealing with them. NO COMMISSION SALESMEN - everyone on salary.

Reading all these posts makes me chuckle.

As a person that spent a life time in the automotive business having bought and sold over 100 vehicles personally then in my semi retirement from 2013-2018 being a fleet sales manager for a company with 9 franchises it’s amazing what people just do not know about the retail vehicle sales business

So many factors play into what you pay for a new or used vehicle which by the way dealers make a much larger percentage of profit on used cars than they do on new.

Lower volume dealers are likely to need to meet their unit count for the month near the end of the month than higher volume dealers who mostly have that number covered by 3 weeks into the month.

So buying from a smaller dealer can sometimes save you plenty of money if they haven’t met their monthly quota.

If they miss it by just one vehicle they get nothing if they manage to get that last vehicle sold by the business closing of the month it will mean (depending on the average volume of the dealer)
$50,000-500,000 bonus for them.

This is where they make their true profit. So if you’re there the last day and they need to make 1 or several sales to hit the target they will and do regularly lose money on some deals because the loss is offset many times by the gain in making quota

Now if they’ve already made quota no issues they will do business as usual.

Vehicles are in short supply for all brands right now and used cars are at a premium as well.

That said there are still deals to be had. Look for a left over 2020 if it’s been at the dealer for 365 days he now owns the vehicle.

What does that mean? For the first 364 days he is paying a floor plan on the vehicle which depending on his interest rate is likely $8.00-15.00 a month for it to sit on the lot.

On day 365 he must write a check to his bank for the balance of what is owed to the factory for the car so in essence his money is now tied up in the car and dealers do not want to own inventory it’s a sure way to go under and they’ll lose money to get rid of it.

I used to search the inventory daily to see what was aged out because even though they were likely going to lose money on the sale they paid a dollar for everyday the vehicle was on the lot commission which was always 3-4 times the normal sales commission.

So a 500 day poacher paid $500.00 in commission where it would only paid $200-250 as a floor plan vehicle.

Make your deal over the phone and online do not waste time except to pick the vehicle up and take care of payment.

By the way paying cash isn’t something that they want. They make money financing your vehicle they prefer you to finance through them and the longer the term the better for them it is.

Many times there are rebates from the factory for financing through their finance division I.E. Ford Credit.

If you can get another $750.00-2,500.00 finance rebate take it and finance with them then shop for a better rate which the best rates are mostly available through credit unions and you don’t have to belong to the credit union to finance with them.

Refinance the vehicle or pay it off cash if you’re a cash buyer and now you have the rebate that you wouldn’t have been able to get if you paid cash or brought your own financing.

Most progressive dealers have a trade appraisal form you can complete on line.

Take the few minutes to complete it. Pick an advertised special vehicle that suits your needs.

Contact the internet sales department buy sending a request for quote on that vehicle.

You will get your trade range value almost instantly.

Take the stock number of the vehicle you inquired about down when they come back to you ask them to confirm that the vehicle is available when you have numbers that your satisfied with ask the sales person to pull the keys and keep them in his desk and get on your way to make the deal he can only hold those keys 24 hours in most instances.

This will cut out bait and switch.

When he contacts you to let you know the vehicle is available if it is and you want it tell him what your trade appraised at it will be a window of a few thousand dollars to cover the condition of your vehicle. Less if it not so good and more if it is.

Look the vehicle up on KBB and put in trade allowance not resell value you will get a window again.

If their trade allowance falls into that window or higher and you know that your car is in top condition tell them you need the high side of their quote on your trade and that the price advertised on the vehicle of interest is the complete selling price plus tax title and licensing fees.

If they agree then if you want the car give them a $100.00 deposit on a credit card to hold the deal as agreed to you will have all of this in writing via your online communication with them.

You have 3 business days to change your mind they will refund your deposit without argument trust me.

Tell them you want in and out in 90 minutes and if the games start the deal is off.

Head out to make your deal if you get there and if the games start just look the sales person in the rye and say what did I tell you about wasting my time get me a deposit return on my card and then leave.

9 times out of 10 you’ll get the deal as agreed to and be on your way in 90 minutes or less.

Of course look at and drive the car first.

The finance person will try to sell you everything you can imagine and unless you want some of those options just say no to all of them.

These items are more profitable than the vehicle sale so if you buy windshield protection for $350.00 you’ve already bought one windshield and the dealer made $125.00 from you on the policy etc.

Car buying can be painless and you can get the best deal without wasting time and being frustrated.

Also remember this people your dealer has tremendous overhead and profit on new cars is much lower this last 20 years than it was when we were young.

The factories make the bulk of the money and that’s how they offer their big rebates on slow movers or vehicles that are heavy in inventory when they want to offer them the dealer has nothing to do with factory rebates and cannot control the amount or when they begin and end and certainly not which vehicles they are offered on.

Happy buying.

Dan the car man

Now you are in position to ask for out the door pricing over the internet so as to compare one dealer Vs. another. If you have negotiated the out the door price with an unseen trade in you are going to have a tough time getting KBB or better when you bring them the trade in. Make sure to ask what they consider out the door pricing. I did this last year on a 2020 Camry. I can ball park for you what I found. About $3K under sticker without a trade. Now add tax, title, and documentation. After the dust settled I was able to push three dealers to within a couple hundred dollars of each other. I can't speak for what is happening now with the chip shortage. Remember when dealers were marking up over sticker for fuel efficient cars when gas was being rationed to even and odd days ? As I stated on an earlier post I would try a third party like AAA, Costco, Etc. Dealers know these third parties know the routine better than you - a person buying a car once every few years. I invested way to much effort and had great frustration playing "their" game.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Good point, & very well put! Don’t waste your whole day bartering with a dealer. Remember there’s lots of dealers out there.

This woman offers sound advice. She has many more videos than just this.
TikTok

No reason to go there.

As a matter of fact sent an email to them yesterday afternoon, we had stopped by a few months ago and did a test drive.

Salesman called me told him price that would get him the business. Called back a bit later after talking to his manager and said due to current shortages cannot "give" cars away so would not give me the price.

Than suggested I go there and look at their inventory. Told him that was a waste of time if they did not want to give me the price.

So does Consumer Reports. For a tiny fee they will tell you what you should pay for the car you want and send your needs to many dealers to see if they have one they will sell at that price. I think it is like $20.

Courtesy Toyota, yes I just bought a new Sienna from them last month after doing a lot of internet shopping. Got what I consider a good and competitive deal by negotiating on email and then just drove down to sign the papers and pick up the car. Nate Auvil went out to the lot and did a FaceTime walk around of the vehicle in advance and then we did a test drive once we arrived at the dealership.

I was in the market for a new car between the Camry and Lexus ES 250 - both use regular unleaded but I thought the Lexus ES 250 outweighed the Camry in ride, performance, and leather interior. A bit more expensive but worth it

I would not try to buy a car with phone calls and emails. Visit the dealership, test drive a car, let them inspect your trade, and give you their out-the-door price. Then, go home. Come back in a day or so with your out-the-door, take it or leave it price, your checkbook, and the title to your trade-in vehicle. If your offer is reasonable and presented properly, I think most dealers will accept it. No need to negotiate a price with the dealer.

:agree: