Help me buy a new Toyota Sienna

[Suz D]

Hi oh budget board friends who have been so helpful on countless occasions.

I have found a 2009 Toyota Sienna LE with 10,500 miles. It has several options (package #3 which includes JBL stereo, sliding side doors, dvd player etc.). It is a certified used vehicle and is in fabulous condition. Edmonds.com says that trade in is $19,969, private party is $22,432, dealer is $24,500, and certified is $25,967. They are asking $25,888 which is right in line with what Edmonds.com says.

We are trading a 2004 Kia Sedona that KBB values at $3950 in fair condition and $4475 in good condition. Ours is between the two as it does have some body work that needs to be done but it is in great working condition, has all the bells and whistles, and brand new tires.

I don't have a clue how to negotiate a better price on a car. It makes me nervous and even afraid. I want to sound like I know what I'm doing so I need help.

I'm thinking of offering them $20,500 for the Toyota plus they keep our van. Does that sound like a fair deal or should I just pay what they are asking since it's right at what Edmonds says it should be.

I should add that it was a dealer car that they used for a rental.

Help me quick!

 

[andrews_dad]

No advice to offer. But I see you are from the hills of WVU. Go 'Eers.

 

[dd50]

I would check around and see what others are charging for it. Edmonds is a good avg but you could probably get it lower and more so now with all the recalls (I know that they aren't on the list). I wouldn't start with my highest # that I would pay. They like to play games and you need to also. Start real low. Don't talk trade in until you get the price that you want on the van.

 

[tinatark]

You need to negotiate the price of the van you are buying first - and the recent troubles Toyota is having will help you with that.

Also, that it was a "rental" does factor in the price you should offer to pay - while maintenance was done by the dealership, a rental car with 10k miles is just not driven the same as a privately owned car with 10k miles.

I would be looking for a price very close to private party value. I think you will be lucky if they offer you 2000 for your trade - you may do better selling it outright for close to the "fair" condition price. The dealership would wholesale it out immediately.

 

[bettymae1121]

Well, given the problems Toyota is having with the recall situation, it may be that the prices on Edmonds aren't up to date. I've heard of potential lawsuits from Toyota owners who's resale value have plumeted as a result of this whole mess.

Plus, Mr. Toyota himself said in front of Congress the other day that 70% of the cars that need to be recalled aren't yet on the list, so just because the van you want isn't on the list now, doesn't mean it won't be added in the next few weeks or months. There was a story just today about a Prius owner who wasn't on the list that had the acceleration problem. Odds are that the model that owner was driving will be added to the list ASAP.

If you feel confident still about Toyota products, you may want to low-ball them and see if they are desperate to move it.

 

[windycitymom]

With all their recent troubles, I wouldn't drive a Toyota if it was given to me for free. Too many safety concerns for me. Yesterday a Prius (not on the original recall list) had its accelerator stick at 94 mph on the San Diego highway. Luckily, all turn out well and a police officer was able to help.

 

[mrsklamc]

with all their recent troubles, i wouldn't drive a toyota if it was given to me for free.

mte

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

With all their recent troubles, I wouldn't drive a Toyota if it was given to me for free. Too many safety concerns for me. Yesterday a Prius (not on the original recall list) had its accelerator stick at 94 mph on the San Diego highway. Luckily, all turn out well and a police officer was able to help.

Same here. I was offered an amazing deal on an 08 Sienna 14K and I still passed.

 

[wdwfan16]

I would not buy a Toyota right now. Cars that have had the fix are still having the problem.

 

[Green Tea]

With all their recent troubles, I wouldn't drive a Toyota if it was given to me for free. Too many safety concerns for me. Yesterday a Prius (not on the original recall list) had its accelerator stick at 94 mph on the San Diego highway. Luckily, all turn out well and a police officer was able to help.

I agree. I was going to look at Lexus. No more.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I drive a 2004 Kia Sedona. I love it, it's a great van and it is paid for! If someone came and offered me a new or newer Toyota for free I wouldn't take it. Way to many unknows right now. Frankly at this point, I woudn't let my kids get in a friend's parent's car if it was a Toyota. It may be overreacting, but until the truth comes out I'd rather over react.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I agree with all other posters.........keep looking.

 

[debbiecarr98]

I think it may be best to consider other options, possibly a Honda? I think that all in all Toyota has been great, but it seems that things are really going south and the things that are happening are life threatening.. it is just not worth the risk imho.

 

[jodim]

I have a 2010 Toyota Sienna LE w/DVD. It has slightly under 10,000 miles on it.
I have the 125K warranty on it as well.

I am selling or trading mine. (My husband is spooked by the recalls). We were offer $24K for a trade today from a local dealer.

Hopefully that will give you a idea to base it on.

 

[blondietink]

We just drove a rental Toyota Sienna for 10 days in and around Las Vegas. We own a Hyundai mini-van and wanted to see what was so great about the Toyota. I will tell you that we thought the Toyota is not worth the huge price difference ... the engine was loud, the gas mileage poor and it wasn't any better on the inside than the van we own. I would seriously consider not buying a Toyota right now or think you could negotiate a much better price. Rental cars are notorious for being driven poorly over the life of the rental because every few days somebody is driving it differently than the last person.

 

[Suz D]

Thanks to everyone who posted (and especially those who addressed the actual question about asking for advice on how to deal with negotiating a price on a vehicle). Maybe there is already one but if not, there should be a site that helps people learn how to negotiate.

Thank you also to everyone who offered their opinions on purchasing a Toyota Sienna. The dealership was quite busy when I got there so it seems that either people are hoping for a great deal on a Toyota, they are purchasing something that isn't on the recall list, or they just plain aren't worried.

We did end up purchasing the Sienna and I'd be lying if I said that there isn't a tiny little place in the back of my mind that was worried about the whole exceleration issue (especially with this morning's headlines about the Prius in Ca.) The person who said the dealer would offer us $2K for our van was right on the button! How did you know that? After telling them that we'd go to get something to eat and discuss it they ended up knocking more $$ off the price of the Sienna and giving us another $500 for our van. I didn't realize that this Sienna had a bumper to bumper warranty for 7 years or 100k miles so that is also a nice bonus. We also have a check for $1022 from the insurance company that we will be able to cash since we didn't have the repair done and that affected our trade-in value.

Thanks again dear budget board friends. I'm always amazed at the knowledgable people on here.

 

[Suz D]

Okay, so I'm a total dork. Edmunds.com has lots of great info about negotiating and purchasing cars.

 

[Luv2trav]

I have a 2004 Sienna and absolutely love it. I know Toyota has had problems but from everything I have read Sienna has not been on any of those lists. That being said I WAS going to buy another Toyota and because of their problems I probably won't. Looks like Ford is going to get my dollars next. I just lost the Edge..

 

[Green Tea]

Edmunds.com has lots of great info about negotiating and purchasing cars.

I was just going to type this.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Edmunds is where I go for auto research.

Toyota is reporting this morning that sales for the first 8 days of March are UP nearly 50% over the first 8 days of last March. The 0% financing is moving vehicles.

I feel safer driving among Toyotas than recalled Chevy Cobalts with power steering failures.