The 2022 how much and how long was your wait thread

My understanding of the process is that the dealers get an allocation of vehicles to sell on their lots. It's possible to claim these as soon as the dealer gets their allocation (about every 2 weeks IIRC), in which case you're only having to wait the transit time from Japan for these to show up. Of course you won't have customization options with this approach, but it's the fastest way I've found to get one, especially if you're willing to compromise on something like color.

However, all the dealers will try to steer you into the custom-order route, which they quote something like a 4 month wait for. One reason may be that custom orders don't count against their allocation quotas for on-lot sales (just a speculation on my part). But the other reason is that each dealer is in it for themselves, and have no incentive to tell you that you could get a 4runner faster by checking other dealer's pre-sold inventory.

And you can forget all the web searches for vehicle availability. I found out that every listed vehicle on dealer's websites only tells you about the vehicles on their lot, which is completely useless because these are already reserved by other buyers. It's technically on their lot but was never something you had a chance of buying (unless you get lucky and a buyer pulls out). Their pre-sold inventory is what you really want to search, except that none of the dealer websites (nor Toyota's vehicle dealer search page) will allow you to see pre-sold inventory. Only the dealers themselves can see pre-sold inventory.

Anyway, after some trial and error the process I followed was:

1. Call each dealer in a X mile radius (google maps is a quick way to get toyota dealer locations & phone numbers)
2. Connect to the sales department and ask them if they have the trim/options you're looking for in their pre-sold inventory.
3. Check that they're selling at or under MSRP if you want to be overcharged
4. If they got what you want, then check when the expected arrival date for the vehicle. It shouldn't be more than a couple weeks or so to transit from Japan.
5. If everything looks good, put a deposit down. And to re-iterate, this is a deposit on pre-sold inventory, not placing an order to the factory for a new one. Some sales people are sneaky about this, see above.
5a. One stumbling block you may run into on this step. Some dealers only want to sell to "local" customers, but what exactly "local" means is usually up for debate. Regardless it doesn't take much to get past this hurdle, you can say that you just moved there but haven't updated the address yet on your license (if it's another dealer in the same state), or that you're still jumping through DMV hoops to get your license in a different state (if the dealer's in a different state).
6. Otherwise, ask them what day they will receive their next allocation. Call them back first thing in the morning on their next allocation date to get first pickings.
6a. You can also try telling them to call you back if they get an allocation for what you're looking for, but in my experience this never happened. You just need to call them and to be first; there is no formal wait-list for pre-sold inventory.
7. If they don't current have an allocation for what you asked for, they will (almost always) try to get you to place a deposit for a new order to the factory (because they know they can easily sell cars that arrive on the lot to anyone, and would rather have a guaranteed sale to you 4 months in the future before you go to another dealer.) Politely decline.
8. Repeat this for each dealer in your search radius.

One last social engineer hack I stumbled upon which can save you a lot of time. I (genuinely) apologized to one busy dealer over the phone, basically expressing disappointment that I had to take up their time with these calls because there was no way for me to search their pre-sold inventory directly. It was revealed to me that yes, this information was private to dealers. But importantly, they have the ability to see the pre-sold inventory for all Toyota dealerships, even though they are technically can't give you the names of other dealerships that have what you're looking for. So you can't ask about this directly, but apparently they have ways around this in a technical sense. One awesome sales rep I spoke to clued me in that there was a particularly lovely toyota dealership at our state's capitol which I might want to visit on my next family vacation

 

Very comprehensive write-up. I'm at the tail end of a six month wait and a couple of my experience differ from yours:

• Toyota doesn't take traditional factory orders. Dealers get allocations based on what Toyota is building (color/trim combos) on the assembly lines in the upcoming week. Quantity and frequency of colors/trims is based in part on the volume of that particular dealership
  
• After receiving notice of their allocation, dealers have ~a week to customize the vehicle before the build starts. Highly engaged dealers tend to do this (sometimes adding factory installed options to raise the price) but not all seem to do it
• Many dealers have standing wait lists and require deposits (some refundable, some non-refundable) just to be 'in line' for your preferred color/trim
• Yes, there is a system where dealers can see pre-sold inventory of other dealers, but it isn't always accurate because it requires the dealer to mark the vehicle as pre-sold. A snip from my 4Runner is below - you'll notice isPreSold is no but holdstatus is DealerHold.

Regarding overall timing, it seems like about a week from Allocation to Build, then a few days to build it, then ~2 weeks on the ship before it gets to port. Once at the port it will have port-installed options, then loaded on a truck and transported (which varies wildly based on distance from the various ports).

Previously I've mentioned in this thread that I placed deposits at two different dealerships in early December, and placed my name on a list with a third dealership. For the first two I was first in line for my color/trim, and finally got word last week that my 4runner is built and on the ship. I reached out to the third dealership a couple months ago and I was 10th on the list for my color/trim. Many have been lucky in being at the right place at the right time and snagging their ideal 4runner; I'd still hedge and get some deposits in to hold a place in line while searching elsewhere.

Good luck!

 

I think you are forgetting one of the most important detail being there is usually a waitlist at these dealers. You dont just call a dealer and get a shot at an allocation. Most dealers have a waitlist of people who had deposits down months prior to an allocation even showing that will get a call first before the car is available to anyone not on the waitlist.

 

Probably. But this is the only method I found to get something within a couple weeks, i.e. find a dealer that just got a new allocation. Which can only be done by calling them since the vehicles at this stage aren't listed on the dealer website.

 

That's how I got mine. The previous guy on the waitlist waited about 4 months. My wait time was just a little more than 4 weeks. They told me they got the best inventory manager....

 

I have a deposit down at a local dealer, and it has been about 2 months now. The dealer still doesn't have any updates for me and has been pretty vague about the whole situation. Stating that it could be 6 months to a year. At that point, would they even be making 2022's?

I also found the exact one I want at a dealer about 3 hours away, but they won't sell it. They say that they need it for display purposes. Any tips on getting them to sell it to me?

 

Everything has a price. I would wait 2023 will be 5th gen still and the pro color will be solar octane it was just confirmed for 2023 tacoma

 

They don't even want to sell it "out of their immediate area". Its crazy to me because if they are just using it as a test drive/ display model, when a customer asks if they can get it they will say NO and tell the customer they will have to wait a year for one. Doesn't make much sense.

 

If you offered them 30k over msrp I guarantee they will sell it to you. My best advice is put multiple deposits with dealers and play the waiting game. Which color and model are you looking for

 

Looking for a TRD pro in lime rush.

Ya I'm in Canada so I think the ordering process is a bit different. It's crazy man. Just trying to spend money at these places and they won't take it!

I wish I could just order directly from the factory

 

Just got mine a couple days ago. Made a thread on my wait and experience. Can check it out.

also the “ordering” is a bunch of BS. They just wait to see allocations. Had a deposit on two dealers for a month. Took them back when I came across the one I got.

 

Are you in Canada?

I have had multiple dealers say they have no more allocations and that is why they ask for a deposit to request to Toyota Factory for more. Or so I think that's how they explained it.

 

Lime Rush is a great color - people just walk up and ask about it. One person thought it was a custom paint job. The local Toyota sales rep tried to talk me out of the color (because of probably poor resale value - HA!) and tried to sell me a plain White for $15K over MSRP. Found mine in Tennessee.

 

no. Got mine in the US

 

Found a dealer that had an allocation that weren’t sold yet and one of them was the trim and color I wanted. Put a deposit down about a month ago and it arrived at the port at the beginning of May. According to the sales person it should arrive at the dealer by the end of this month. I was pretty surprised my wait should only be a little over a month or so, probably got lucky.

 

So roughly one month between arrival @ port and dealership?

 

Depending if it shows up when I was told yes, about a month. It arrived in Portland and I live a few hours North of there so that helps transit time I’m sure.

 

So, mine has been in transit according to the dealer website. Idk eta, my dealer in West Virginia keeps saying it should be here any moment but I’m trying to coordinate so I can book a flight and hotel. ‘Any moment’ isn’t helpful. He’s been saying it’ll be here any time now. He’s hopeful. I’m not. Have a feeling he’s just leading me on.

 

don’t wait on them. They jus stringing you along until they get something. Keep calling dealers left and right. Soon they will start calling you about trucks they have available or incoming.

 

Guy called me today and said it’s at the Port of Newark. He said they got a few in today but mine is still at the port. Their website shows “in transit .” Should I still not trust them?

 

Have they given you a VIN yet? They should be able to, and with the VIN they should also be able to write up the contract already though some dealers are hesitant to do this because they want to negotiate.

 

So they know which allocation theyre getting? In canada it seems like they dont know. Or they just dont want to tell me anything

 

yeah I have a VIN, got an agreement for $1100 over MSRP which is ok since my wife wants lunar rock so bad lol. I just don’t know why it’s at the port this long. They’ve already received some of it.

 

I put down the deposit for my truck May 2nd. It was an unsold dealer allocation that fit just what I wanted. Apparently, the truck left Japan Apr 12 and made it to the port (Baltimore?) last week. Status just flipped to "F" today.

Very exciting!

 

Hey everybody,

It’s been a long process but I finally got an allocation for a 22 TRD Pro in midnight black metallic on 4/23. Status flipped from “A” to “F” on 5/11. Started getting alerts via the app on 5/16. Dealership hasn’t been able to tell me anything, I learned all this info from using this forum. So thank you to all of you who have been a part of this thread.

 

By everyone's reply we got lucky, waited almost exactly 2 months from time reserved to brining her home.

 

First off, very pretty 4 Runner...I just got my first but used 2017 last weekend. I am as well looking for sliders and the Alphaequipt seemed the right price for what you get. Could you give me an update how you like them and are they holding up well?

Thank you

 

What a fantastic, informative post! Thank you!

 

Absolutely. They are very good. I've put them to the test a few times so far and they're perfect - solid as the day I installed them. In my opinion, these are STILL the absolute best value out there and are as good or better than the overpriced ones that a lot of folks get.

 

Just got a allocation yesterday for a ORP and the wife said she is sick and tired of waiting, I finally gave in and agreed to one with a moonroof. We have had vehicles with a moonroofs and had bad luck in the past.
She also won the color contest, I wanted LR and she wanted AG. The deal was which ever color became a available first with the options we wanted would be the one we buy. AG it is, I am PRETTY SURE that contributed to her impatience.
All I know is I have a happy wife and I’m getting a killer 4R.