Factory Orders stopped

The Toyota dealership I bought mine from currently has only one 4Runner in stock. A 21' Trail Special Edition in Army Green, which probably won't last long. One Tacoma and one Tundra. That's it for trucks.
The 2010 FJ Cruiser I traded in didn't last a week on their lot. LOL

Rick

 

I would say that the recession had a lot to do with that as well. Fuel prices were pretty high, and people were dumping big thirsty SUVs for Civics and Corollas.

 

Took my kid’s 2020 4Runner in for the complimentary oil change and they offered to buy it back for 42,000.

I bought it for 39.5 OTD.

 

Probably true, since this is Norcal.

But I was like she needs a truck, and good luck finding a similar one for the same price in California.

The people who try to make a quick buck taking advantage of the current market either must not need the car or truck they are trading in, or are in for a rude awakening when they try to buy something else with the inflated prices.

I was thinking about unloading some of my vehicles, because used car prices are insane, and just waiting for the market to stabilize before buying something nice.

 

Not sure how they justify these prices. I put my truck's info in and they only offered $41k...That's over the "Market Value" of $37k they said. KBB is telling me up to $45k for trade-in and up to $52k for private sale...

I have my eye on a used AG Tundra Pro but I need to see the new ones before I decide on current gen or next gen .... LETS GO TOYOTA!

 

I put an order in on Tuesday afternoon. Pretty crazy. Guy said he wasn’t worried about a deposit because it would be sold before it was off the truck. I guess I have to call my guy and see what he knows.

 

There is a world wide shortage of computer chips right now which is creating a real problem for auto manufacturers. This is probably the cause of your order delay.

Although as recently as April, Toyota apparently was one of the few auto manufacturers that had a surplus of chips, but those extra supplies have apparently run out.

https://www.carscoops.com/2021/05/t...at-two-japanese-factories-over-chip-shortage/

 

Well, I’m raising my insurance to $10k then….

 

Just spoke with my guy. He said he hasn’t heard anything about this. Should I worry about my guy?

 

For some reason or another, the world wide chip shortage hasn't really been front-page material for media, but search around the interwebs and you'll find this is a huge deal. Multitude of factors but basic storyline is

1. Covid caused a lot of people to order electronics for the home. Gaming consoles, computers, cameras, toys, etc.
2. High tech factories that make chips got shut down due to Covid.
3. Demand for 5G products has ramped up beyond what the industry expected due to covid.
4. Autos have become more computerized than ever
5. Takes a long time to build new high tech factories to fulfil increased demand
6. Chip shortage expected to last into 2022 or longer

Every dealer should be well aware of this by now. There are a ton of articles about dealership problems. And used car prices are going up.

 

I'll add:
7. In March there was a fire at a microchip factory in Japan that is a major supplied to the auto industry (incl Toyota). Although the individual impact will be sort term all these factors add up.

Normally I'd say no - there's prob a lot more things you could choose to worry about than your sales guy. But it does seem unusual not to require a deposit. I agree the car should sell easily so the dealer isn't taking much risk. Though I think I'd rather have some money down to solidify my claim to the vehicle and price when it arrives.

Or maybe your order agreement is satisfactory enough ?

 

It doesn’t help that car manufacturers told chip manufacturers to get stuffed during Covid, and chip manufacturers are now satisfying orders for computer, cell phone, and game console manufacturers and are telling the car manufacturers to get stuffed.

 

When I moved from Idaho to Iowa in 2003, I had a 2001 Infiniti QX4. I never saw another one in the few years we lived out there. Our neighbors accused me of being a drug dealer and a communist because I drove a "Jap" vehicle. The Midwest is weird. I remember anytime we went to smaller towns and parked at a diner or park, people would come up and check it out since they had never seen one.

Couldn't wait to leave that state!

 

First, my condolences for having to move from Idaho to Iowa.

I'm originally from the Midwest so I had similar experiences with my Tacoma in the 90's in Kansas.

Fortunately I was able to escape the force field of the Midwest over 20 years ago.

 

My dealer called me and told me he had a venture allocated to his dealership so I put deposit on it right away. He’s hopeful for end of July. I put my vin in Toyota system but not sure what it means According to the dates on it.

 

Looks like you got duped/dealer gave you wrong VIN. That vehicle has been sold already and registered. There are 2 types of VINs, one is a temp VIN (before the vehicle is produced in Japan), and then a permanent VIN (after the vehicle is produced). Dealer should have access to one or the other depending on where in production your Venture is. However, he straight up gave you a different VIN for a sold vehicle. Double check.

 

Maybe the vehicle is already built and on the way to them since the ordered it already ?

 

"Date of First Use" is when it was sold by the dealer. "Selling Dealer" is filled in at the same time. If it's not sold yet, then both of those will be blank.

 

Thanks for the info. I contacted them and they did confirm that vin was to a vehicle already sold and that it was just to show me the package I was getting and also confirmed the two different vin numbers

thank you

 

I was way back on my dealer's list for a 2021, waiting for their dealer allocation, but when I heard this news, I started calling around within 500 miles and was able to snag a Nautical Blue Venture Model (which is discontinued in 2022), which will be here the end of June. Some dealer's hands are tied with their allocation limits, especially if they sell a lot of them.

 

Nice I had two local dealers with a venture in that color at MSRP but I just couldn’t see my self in it, glad you got one

 

I was told by my local dealership that the Lunar Rock could no longer be ordered. All other colors can.

 

I'm not in any way saying this is the same, but it's similar (if you're into vinyl records, read this): https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/vinyl-industry-apollo-masters-fire-951903/

 

Just called the dealer this morning and they said my Lunar Rock 4R Pro order was accepted today. Shipping this week so probably expect it beginning of August perhaps?

Still have to decide if I want to unload the GX for it

 

I'm just guessing things will get delayed once it is off the boat.

I'm in Indiana but buying in Kentucky.

 

I bet it comes in on the west coast then hops on a train

 

I think (?) Portland, OR is the destination. But don't hold me to that. Mine hit port on March 30, and took 6 weeks after that to arrive at the Dealership.

Rick

 

I’m in NJ so I’m assuming Baltimore?

 

Yeah, and I read that lots of rental car companies cancelled and held off on buying new replacements. This has created a rental car shortage in some markets. Now they’re trying to buy new cars as well. Supply and demand gone wild.

 

We had our rental car cancelled in Maui the morning before arrival due to the rental car shortage. That was no fun with 2 kids under 5.