Has anyone purchased a new vehicle lately, the prices are off the wall.

[SEIOWA CLONE]

After we sold our handicapped van last month, I started looking for a new vehicle to purchase, we wanted an SUV, really like the Toyota brand, so we have been looking at the new Grand Highlander. We went into a couple Toyota dealerships figuring we could order a new one, and then pick it up when it arrived, we are not in a hurry. Toyota does not take orders for new vehicles; they are allocated so many a couple of times a month and the wait time for the vehicle we want is 6 months up to a year or more. So, I started calling dealerships seeing what they had and could I purchase from them. Most dealers have a minimum $3,000 to $10,000 mark up on the Grand Highlander, or they want to put you on a waiting list, and will do so with a $500 refundable deposit, and then there is no guarantee that they can get you what you want, it's all luck of the draw.

Luckily being retired, I have plenty of time on my hands, and have been scouring the allocation list and phoning the dealers that are going to get the vehicle that we want. It's crazy out there, some dealers refusing to sell me a vehicle because they only sell within a 300-mile radius, others jacking up the price. I never thought finding a vehicle and willing to pay cash was so difficult.

 

[carvers4math]

One of my sons bought a Nissan sedan about six months ago. It all went pretty smoothly and a good price but he wasn’t really going into it with a specific car he really had to have as you are.

 

[alarson]

Went through the process a couple months ago. Everything is ****** for sure.

 

[dmclone]

It's been this way for a while. 3 years ago we had to wait 6 months and drive 250 miles to pay MSRP for a Kia Telluride. The other day, I went to Kia of Des Moines and they have a couple on the lot and they still have between $5k-$7.5k mark up. It's not like this is like the Toyota Grand Highlander, which is brand new, the Telluride has only had minor refreshes since 2019.

Some vehicles like the Telluride and Toyota Rav4 Prime have been on long waiting lists pre-covid but pre-covid the average 60 days supply usually hovered around 100. It's now mid 50's, which is acutally an improvement and a lot closer to normal.

The average new car price has also went from $36,824 in 2019 to $49,388 this year. Used car prices have jumped from $19,863 to $27,***. I've read that used car prices have started to go down.

Oh and the loan length rate and interest rate have skyrocketed.

On a side note, I'd highly recommend finding a good Toyota forum. I found a good one for the Telluride and it helped me easily sort through the dealers that were not charging a premium. Some are tricky and will still try to add on dumb things you don't need. An example:

Can't order, how do you get one?

My local dealer (and a few in a 50 mile radius) have said they can't order a Grand Highlander at this time? They've all said, they get allocations, from which we can choose to accept that model or not, not what we want, nor do we like the idea of being told, "It's this or nothing" (at this...

www.toyotanation.com

Just from reading this one post, it does look like Toyota has a messed up waiting system. I had to wait a long time but I was able to get the exact configuration I wanted. After buying a Tesla (also waiting), I really wish everyone would go with their sales route. The delivery was jacked up for me but therest of the process was super smooth.

 

[dmclone]

Btw, those grand highlanders look really nice

 

[cycloneML]

Bought a truck in Granger yesterday

 

[2122]

It's been this way for a while. 3 years ago we had to wait 6 months and drive 250 miles to pay MSRP for a Kia Telluride. The other day, I went to Kia of Des Moines and they have a couple on the lot and they still have between $5k-$7.5k mark up. It's not like this is like the Toyota Grand Highlander, which is brand new, the Telluride has only had minor refreshes since 2019.

Some vehicles like the Telluride and Toyota Rav4 Prime have been on long waiting lists pre-covid but pre-covid the average 60 days supply usually hovered around 100. It's now mid 50's, which is acutally an improvement and a lot closer to normal.

The average new car price has also went from $36,824 in 2019 to $49,388 this year. Used car prices have jumped from $19,863 to $27,***. I've read that used car prices have started to go down.

Oh and the loan length rate and interest rate have skyrocketed.

On a side note, I'd highly recommend finding a good Toyota forum. I found a good one for the Telluride and it helped me easily sort through the dealers that were not charging a premium. Some are tricky and will still try to add on dumb things you don't need. An example:

Can't order, how do you get one?

My local dealer (and a few in a 50 mile radius) have said they can't order a Grand Highlander at this time? They've all said, they get allocations, from which we can choose to accept that model or not, not what we want, nor do we like the idea of being told, "It's this or nothing" (at this...

www.toyotanation.com

Just from reading this one post, it does look like Toyota has a messed up waiting system. I had to wait a long time but I was able to get the exact configuration I wanted. After buying a Tesla (also waiting), I really wish everyone would go with their sales route. The delivery was jacked up for me but therest of the process was super smooth.

Try Belzer KIa in Lakeville, MN. Tom Vitters. Good dude. Fair dealer.

 

[dosry5]

I’m sure the UAW strike is gonna help…

 

[Cyientist]

I'm looking to pull the trigger on a new vehicle later this fall. I have a 10 yr old so I'm thinking that this vehicle has a decent chance at turning into his first car. I actually thought mid-size cars aren't priced to bad. Can get a Camry XLE for around $33k.

 

[Cyclonepride]

We bought one a couple weeks ago, and yeah, there was some sticker shock. Our 3 year old Jeep (32,000 miles) had to have the engine replaced (in warranty at least), which took about a month and a half. When we got it back, the main LED screen on the dash started going out and we were just done with it. Traded it for a Subaru.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

agree.... we actually went the cyclone fanatic method and paid cash for a ML 350 bluetec (used of course).... the sticker price on something new was about to send me to an early grave

 

[herbicide]

We bought a new Subaru in May, we were lucky to pay MSRP. Also lucky to find one in color/config we liked locally. I did the search nightmare too.

The wild thing is the market is much better now than it was even 4 months ago,

 

[dmclone]

Try Belzer KIa in Lakeville, MN. Tom Vitters. Good dude. Fair dealer.

I was happy with my experience at Luther Kia of Inver Grove

 

[JM4CY]

Put a bunch of money in my little car last week because there’s no way I’m gonna make payments on new car right now.

 

[RING4CY]

Bought a 2012 Toyota Rav4 in late 2020 when my wife and I learned we were expecting our first.

Paid it off in early 2022 and also immediately the dealership contacted us offering to buy it back for more than what we paid for it because they were that desperate for inventory.

 

[madguy30]

We bought one a couple weeks ago, and yeah, there was some sticker shock. Our 3 year old Jeep (32,000 miles) had to have the engine replaced (in warranty at least), which took about a month and a half. When we got it back, the main LED screen on the dash started going out and we were just done with it. Traded it for a Subaru.

Hopefully a recent Subaru?

I had a 2012 Forester crap out on me with engine/head gasket issues and I guess it was a trend. Took a chance on a 2018 Forester on too good of a deal to pass up in fall '20 and so far so good but I'm nervous as the miles tick up.

I hate cars.

 

[BCClone]

After we sold our handicapped van last month, I started looking for a new vehicle to purchase, we wanted an SUV, really like the Toyota brand, so we have been looking at the new Grand Highlander. We went into a couple Toyota dealerships figuring we could order a new one, and then pick it up when it arrived, we are not in a hurry. Toyota does not take orders for new vehicles; they are allocated so many a couple of times a month and the wait time for the vehicle we want is 6 months up to a year or more. So, I started calling dealerships seeing what they had and could I purchase from them. Most dealers have a minimum $3,000 to $10,000 mark up on the Grand Highlander, or they want to put you on a waiting list, and will do so with a $500 refundable deposit, and then there is no guarantee that they can get you what you want, it's all luck of the draw.

Luckily being retired, I have plenty of time on my hands, and have been scouring the allocation list and phoning the dealers that are going to get the vehicle that we want. It's crazy out there, some dealers refusing to sell me a vehicle because they only sell within a 300-mile radius, others jacking up the price. I never thought finding a vehicle and willing to pay cash was so difficult.

Friend of ours bought a new Toyota pickup. He got out on the list and they would call and say this is what we got, you want it? If they said no, then they called next in the list. No negotiation either, you either took what they had at that price or you went down the list again.

 

[CYdTracked]

Depending on the make and model seems like dealers are still lacking inventory. We bought a new Chevy Traverse earlier this year and Karl's only had 6 in inventory mid Feb with 4 of those already sold. We ordered one to the specs we wanted and had it within 2 months. The thing that stands out right now is just the lack of sales and deals on new vehicles right now because dealers aren't swimming in excess inventory like they used to where they had to clear it out to make room for new models. We bought our last new vehicle in 2015 and you could basically find exactly what you were looking for on about every dealer lot.

 

[BCClone]

I’m sure the UAW strike is gonna help…

As few cars that seem to come out, it should not even affect it. They have to be working half speed right now.

 

[RLD4ISU]

We started looking last spring for a new truck and looked at the different brands for comparison. We found the same thing with the Toyota trucks - dealerships were allotted only so many and no clue how long. Some of the other brands had very few selection and very few coming in, but you could order. A couple of salesmen said they would not be surprised if buying a new car/truck changes to where dealerships don't have a lot of selection on the lot, but you can order.

Ended up finding a new '22 diesel Ram 3/4 ton that had nearly everything we wanted. It had been on the lot for a year due to a recalled part that (due to supply chain issues) had been delayed. Since the '23 trucks were out, we got the '22 at a discount.