Scored deal of the year!
I’m new here because I just bought a 2026 (or so I thought) 4Runner Off Road. I get a call this morning from the Finance Manager that I dealt with this past Saturday when I bought it, and he told me that I needed to come in and sign the paperwork again because they messed up and had worked numbers on a ‘26, but the 4Runner I bought is actually a ‘25. I said “What?” He apologized and said that he would “make it right”.
I drove it back to the dealer and parked it, and walked inside, and right into his office. A very long story shortened, I told him that I bought a ‘26, and I wanted a ‘26. He said that there weren’t any spec’d out like mine in a ‘26 within 3,000 miles. He asked what would make me happy, and I asked him what 4Runners he had on the ground, and he said “none”. This dealer sold every 4Runner they had in stock this past Saturday, and he couldn’t find a ‘26 like mine. It’s not a Premium, just a TRD Off Road. I say “just”, but it is a really nicely spec’d out one with the black emblems, aux switches, all-weather floor mats and cargo liner and a few other things.
Since they didn’t have any left on the lot, and couldn’t find one just like the one that they sold me Saturday in a ‘26 like they said they did, I asked to see a Tundra. All they had at a similar price point was a Moon Rock colored Crew Max in a long bed. Ugh. Then I said I wanted to look at Tacomas, and he said “Let’s cut to the chase. What would make you happy?”
“A Supersonic Red 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium”. He said “I can’t make those numbers work for you. It’s going to cost you an additional x amount.” I said “Someone can!” and just sat there, a smile on my face. You can be pleasant and firm at the same time. He said that he would have to talk to his boss, and got up and left his office. About ten minutes later, he came back in the office with a sheet of paper, placed it on his desk in front of me with the same exact payment terms right down to the penny and I have now been upgraded to EXACTLY what I asked for, and they are going to have it shipped in from where they found it and it’s supposed to be in late tomorrow, or Thursday.
The one I got Saturday is in Ice Cap, and I generally don’t like white, but it’s a really nice 4Runner so I figured I’d learn to love it. I can’t wait to swap it out for the one they have coming in. They are marking it down $7,088 from MSRP. I told the Finance Manager “I bet there’s gonna be a very unpleasant meeting about this in the very near future!” He laughed and said “You know it.”
They already traded me for my 2006 4Runner Limited for $7,500, there was a discount line already on the contract for $2,600 that I negotiated, so a total credit including trade in of $17,188? I don’t think I’ll get a deal like this ever again. Pictures to follow when I bring it home!