A friend and I were in the market for a new car. So, we tested out a 2026 Sport trim
Tacoma and started the application. The salesman went away from the table after
discussing the various aspects of the pickup and came back asking for a down payment.
He did that without doing a background check on our credit scores.
I asked for $0 down.
$973.00 a month, he stated. “What’s the max you can put down?” he asked.
For a second there, I was already surprised. A score of over 700 and he wants a
a down payment? “Max would be 3K,” I said.
I said “would”—just a thought, not a final answer.
He did his typical sales tactic by going away to have my mind buy into the idea
that there would be a down payment needed. He said he would consult with his boss first.
(Car salesmen use this tactic to give your mind times to accept their suggestions.)
Meanwhile, I told my friend that he was just going to sit in the office for a bit and come back with
something big on us.
6K is needed, he stated on coming back. “Can you do that? Or how much
are you willing to do towards that?”
I whispered to my friend that he wanted to raise our offer in this game. By the higher
number, the salesman was planning to make us think that 5K or 4K
was acceptable and that we would offer an amount higher than 3K. Our minds would then think it’s a great deal
If the agreed to 4K.
So, I had to play him now and not be serious anymore. I said 2K was max and that wouldn’t be today. Meanwhile, I was already signaling to my friend that we should be leaving.
The guy went away again and came back and said we could put
in 2K for a lease instead at $800.00 for three years and then buy
it after that. He took out some papers to be signed and then had
us discuss buying the accessories with another stuff. (This person asked if
we wanted a bed cover or topper, etc. and said she was ready to order them today.)
“I’m having them prepare the truck, too,” the salesman said. “Soon you will be talking
to the financial officer.”
I saw a guy clean out the truck outside which was
previously pretty dusty.
I told my friend not to fall in love with this truck and that we should check out
elsewhere, too, that we had many choices and that this wasn’t the only one in the state
or country—even though they made just one available at this location. Surely, that’s for
tempting people.
I thanked the guy for the showing and that we wouldn’t be interested in leasing or buying at this time and that
I would contact him again in one month to see if the truck might still be available. I said that just to get
without being tempted more.
At the door, a cashier said “If you change your mind, let us know.”
I said loudly to my friend to open the door quickly and added: “When we leave, we leave.”
Obviously, Toyota just saw that we had just thrown in 8K to pay off a previous purchase the week before. But I’m wondering why they would think that we would put in 6K or 2K to lease for three years.
That would be about 28K without title. Then we could negotiate a purchase for the truck at
about 50K price.
My friend and I have shifted our plans to get an Acura instead.
Topic: Why does Toyota think we would take such stupid deal? (Read 211 times)