My buddy really likes my LC Premium in wind chill pearl, but wants to save few bucks. I was driving by Valenti Toyota in RI and saw one 2024 LC (non premium) on the used section of the parking lot. The sticker showed the used vehicle value at $70.2K and "discounted" price 67.5K!!! I got my brand new better equipped vehicle 3 month ago for three thousands less. Are they looking for some really dumb buyers, who are not capable of checking real prices?
Why some car dealers called "stealers"
- Thread starter Viktorv1961
- Start date
Even the 'good ones' are a mixed bag. Sales at one dealership might be totally honest and straight up, then the service department can have someone tell you that doing your own maintenance (oil and filter change, air filter change, even cabin air filter change) will void your warranty (100% not true). I've also had 'service advisors' tell me that the manufacturer requires fuel and oil additives at every service, and it turned out not to be true in my case. (I know that Toyota does call for a 'fuel treatment' for the LC250 in Hawaii, but not anywhere else in the US). Basically, like I said in another post, you have to be educated to avoid being fleeced.
Thats what I call a negotiation tactic 
Dealers will price used high, because it's more difficult for buyers to comparison shop, and there's more profit margin to be made. My dealer that is no markup on anything new, will mark up used as much as possible.
I call them stealers because they are pretty over the top greedy when they have the upper hand due to market conditions. Covid/post covid being prime examples of added mark up’s and an everything and the kitchen sink non negotiable add on’s spiking the vehicle price.
Even in a buyer’s market, dealers aren’t willing to drop their add on’s if they are on the window sticker.
That said, I’m grateful for the good people I’ve connected with for reasonable deals. But that comes with a lot of comparison shopping.
Even in a buyer’s market, dealers aren’t willing to drop their add on’s if they are on the window sticker.
That said, I’m grateful for the good people I’ve connected with for reasonable deals. But that comes with a lot of comparison shopping.
Asking price 67.5K. My initial offer is ALWAYS 10% less.......let the negotiations begin.
My philosophy exactly, although my audacity comes out sometimes, and I start at 20% off sticker when the model isn't in high demand (but that's been awhile!).
With the LC I started at about 13% and ended up with about 8% off of the Southeast Toyota Distributors window sticker with its silly/junk forced add-ons - I mean come on, $129 for a 8" screen protector? or $399 for tint of the front windows?Some of us like the game
- Moderator
- #10
You didn't opt for the $75 USB cables........... man you missed out as they are red!My philosophy exactly, although my audacity comes out sometimes, and I start at 20% off sticker when the model isn't in high demand (but that's been awhile!).
I’m going to assume you let them make the first offer and you respond. I negotiate for a living and always let them make the first offer. ie. 71k, we’ll sell it to you for 68k. Now you negotiate from that lower offered position to the 65k you want. Much easier to let them negotiate against themselves to start.
Oh, I ‘opted’ for those, the $469 lighted threshold, the $1,049 Predator steps, and I don’t even remember what else.
And oh - the cable pack is a hoot - only one of the 4 (I think it’s 4) is a USB-C, yet the LC has only USB-C ports. So essentially $79 for a single cable I could buy on Amazon for like $5. Smh.
Auto Dealer is the biggest scam in United States. They scam people in every aspect of their operations from selling new cars, dealing old cars, and servicing. It’s so massive but nobody in Washington is willing to address at federal level? Ticket scalping is nothing comparing to these guys.
I found my LC without a single Southeast Toyota Distributorship add-on, even the salesman was surprised when I pointed it out.My philosophy exactly, although my audacity comes out sometimes, and I start at 20% off sticker when the model isn't in high demand (but that's been awhile!).
I got about 8% off my LC but I also did not feel like haggling too much.
The salesman was absolutely clueless, he just typed on a screen and would say, I don't have much say, the decision is made by the computer.
I said, well if you want to sell me this LC, the computer better decide to work with me, he didn't like that and kept saying he had no control.
In the end, I just got up and walked to "Sales Tower", spoke to the first person I saw and said, if you want me to buy, stop this computer BS and talk to me, it went smoothly after that.
You bet! This will be a different event for me. I am buying my 1st car in Maine to register in what will be my retirement home. Super nice young man has been my contact since I first inquired about the one they have on order. I head up that way next week. I emailed him a few days back but I think his response ended up in spam world, so i called today so we could meet on the way up. I have always believed in building a relationship with a dealership. I nicely said between now and then, let me know what your bosses best offer is relative to invoice...which I have a pretty good clue about. Let's see what they say next week.
From what I am reading here, it seems a 71.6K sticker should go in the 65-67 K zone esp since this becoming the end of the year. It seems we have some real sharp pencils in the room. Over the years, I don't fight over the last $500. Instead , I look for a few extras ........not the junk I ALWAYS say no to like Simoniz, Scotchguard, VIN etching etc.
My opening scenaro was getting hooked up with a set of factory 18s for winter. My guy said that would normally great but.....not too many of these have gone through the doors...I already know there are tons on Ebay for $600-1000. So if anyone has some mint 18in takeoffs, I'm listening. I like that clean pattern for winter maintenance on the side of a zero degree mountain the winter!!!
From what I am reading here, it seems a 71.6K sticker should go in the 65-67 K zone esp since this becoming the end of the year. It seems we have some real sharp pencils in the room. Over the years, I don't fight over the last $500. Instead , I look for a few extras ........not the junk I ALWAYS say no to like Simoniz, Scotchguard, VIN etching etc.
My opening scenaro was getting hooked up with a set of factory 18s for winter. My guy said that would normally great but.....not too many of these have gone through the doors...I already know there are tons on Ebay for $600-1000. So if anyone has some mint 18in takeoffs, I'm listening. I like that clean pattern for winter maintenance on the side of a zero degree mountain the winter!!!
- Moderator
- #16
I know right....... but you might not have gotten the pleasure, as I did, to gift the USB-to-USB C cables to someone else with an older Toyota that requires that setup and now they have bragging rights of a Toyota branded USB cable............ and did I mention........they're red.
Just remember, that last quarter unit has the cumulative price increases over 4 quarters so the discount back to first quarter prices isn’t really a discount.
Please clarify. I think you are saying the price has increased so don't expect the same numbers seen earlier.....which I kind of expect somewhat
So prices go up every quarter and then at the end of the year, they go on sale from their latest price point. It’s just something to be aware of. Often new years, especially new models, there aren’t any discounts possible in the first quarter or two, so people are generally paying full or near full price. 3/4th quarter discounts usually happen, but discounts from a higher base price. Again, just something to know and have your expectations flexible. I think I did about as well as can be done for a July purchase, but I bet I could have done overall better in late November/all December when people buy gifts, not cars. I’ve gotten my best deals Nov-Jan.
All good info. My thoughts are $71614-5%= $68033. Let's see if that is the initial offer. You say you got it for 65K but based on on what list? Based on my build with wind Chill Pearl, SDK, etc your 65K price would be 9% off.
Dealer invoice seems to be in the 8% off MSRP so it will be good to know what other holdbacks and incentives are in play. Finally seen as car was in build phase, it was not delivered during that window of elevated tariffs...also a good thing. Sounds like 65-67K will be the zone........Doiug due diligence before my visit next week when I expect to start the deal esp with a new brand.
For years, in the luxury world , I was the vulture that would swoop in and buy unmoved inventory...a 2016 156K Maserati GTS for 85K or 46% off 3/19- a fair price , a 46% off Lotus Evora, with all the inventives etc, 10K off on my little 500E which is an absolute gem of a car!!!! Don't knock them till you drive one. perfect local errand car...also my concert ride can park it anywhere!
If you see or know anything else, I'd appreciate it because the only other time I reserved a vehicle was back in 2005 on a Lotus Elise. Do you think having a deposit on a vehicle weakens your bargaining system, or are they aware another 1 is in same scenario at a dealer 20 minutes away?
Dealer invoice seems to be in the 8% off MSRP so it will be good to know what other holdbacks and incentives are in play. Finally seen as car was in build phase, it was not delivered during that window of elevated tariffs...also a good thing. Sounds like 65-67K will be the zone........Doiug due diligence before my visit next week when I expect to start the deal esp with a new brand.
For years, in the luxury world , I was the vulture that would swoop in and buy unmoved inventory...a 2016 156K Maserati GTS for 85K or 46% off 3/19- a fair price , a 46% off Lotus Evora, with all the inventives etc, 10K off on my little 500E which is an absolute gem of a car!!!! Don't knock them till you drive one. perfect local errand car...also my concert ride can park it anywhere!
If you see or know anything else, I'd appreciate it because the only other time I reserved a vehicle was back in 2005 on a Lotus Elise. Do you think having a deposit on a vehicle weakens your bargaining system, or are they aware another 1 is in same scenario at a dealer 20 minutes away?
