So, I spent 2025 hunting for the perfect rav4 for me. I had a 2022 hybrid LE and fell in love with it, so naturally I decided I wanted a different one that felt more my style. Over the years I was going after the “TRD” limited Trims(adventure, woodland, TRD). In 2025 sadly they cut off all the more “rugged” trims in prep for factory turn over to Gen6 and only produced the woodland, and only produced 6500 of them for the U.S. market. Even worse, the one I loved was the even further limited army green color(1500 made compared to the 2500 of the black and white each made). Local dealers said they only got 1-2 green ones on the year and they were selling for 45-50k(minimum) with some public sales records of well over 50k for the green woodland.
In August I hit the jackpot. We were looking for a Camry for my wife. At the sales desk I mentioned passing how my dream Rav(green woodland) slipped through my fingers. The sales guy looked at me with a smile, turned his screen to me, and there it was. Allocated to them that morning. With a note that it would be the last green woodland they would see for 2025. Through a lot of haggling I made a deal to take the most basic LE Camry off his lot that they couldn’t get rid of…a blue LE that hadn’t moved since it hit the lot in March.
I don’t pay MSRP for vehicles. ESPECIALLY for common cars. The deal we were already working was for a different Camry at invoice(still higher than I wanted to pay). I made him an offer I didn’t think he’d take, id take the Camry off their lot that they couldn’t pay someone to take(still at a 10% discount off MSRP, but slightly above invoice) if he sold me the Rav at MSRP(38k). Sell me the unwanted vehicle for a discount, and I won’t even question the MSRP on woodland(something I’d never do, but I know what they can sell for, and it was my last chance). And they made the deal.
After all that I got what I believe is the best looking and performing gen5 rav made.
Now I’m getting hounded about it. Multiple dealerships calling, texting, emailing me about buying my Rav From me. Even with 15k miles on it I’m being offered a minimum of what i paid for it new, with some offers reaching 43-45k.
But today the most compelling offer came in.
A dealer is offering me a straight swap. A 2026 woodland fully loaded with everything I have right now, plus it has the moon roof, larger media screens, premium audio package, and more. A vehicle they have listed on their website for 46k, and they are offering me a straight swap for my 2025 with 15k miles on it that I paid 38k for.
What would you do?