Trade or no trade

You will get several thousand more if you private party sell. With only 36k it should get some interest. The rav4 hybrid is good, I am considering buying one. The dealers are not discounting much if any and around here they add $1000 to $2500 worth of overpriced adds like $1200 paint protection or $499 tint or $99 nitrogen. Their cost on these adds are maybe 25% if that. I have offered msrp for a rav4 xle hybrid with no adds but they don’t have them and claim a 4 month wait to order. One other consideration: Toyota will have a plugin rav4 hybrid with 300hp to go along with its 40mpg this summer. But only in the higher more expensive trims.

 

Are you going to buy me one? Please.........I'll give you my v

 

dealer letters are just a scam. you'd be amazed how many people fall for it, go in, and get a bad deal.

if you know how to handle dealers, no problem. but you will always do better with a private sale if you can manage it.

 

These days scams are aok especially from dealers. Buyer beware with little recourse in most states.

 

RJ, the deals you are offered is because you are in one of the areas (SWT) that Toyota sold the distribution rights for way back when they first were entering the US market. By going out of the SET and into a region where Toyota distributes directly to dealers I got my Rav4h well below MSRP and not a single add on. Internet salesman, not even a phone call. I had done this before back in 2011, same dealer, And that was in July when the hybrid version was just out and super hard to come by. A large dealer will have a better allocation than a small dealer. I drove 275 miles up to pick up mine a month after ordering. Your config and the dealers allocation will determine when you get one. Availability will improve as they are set to open a plant in KY early next year to make them as they can't make enough right now.

OP and RJ, as to the RAv4 hybrid itself. Very pleased. I have done a write-up which in lots of aspects compares mine with the v I had. https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/rav4-hybrid-likes-and-dislikes. I get maybe a MPG less than the v but it is a lot more roomy and way more powerful and I think my right foot is heavier than it was with the v. When driven the same way, I could do better than the v. I love the electronic nannies. I choose the Limited Hybrid with all three of the big option packages. More expensive than my v was originally but I keep cars for 7-10 years and didn't want buyers regret.

I sold my '12 v 54k miles in 24 hours via craigslist and could have sold several. I set a realistic price and sold without any haggling. Mine had never been hit, maintenance was up to date and was advertised that way. I like to do things like this separately so I can see clearly what I am paying.

 

Mike, I'm in Wilmington, NC and would love to get away from Southeast Toyota distribution. Where did you go and what dealer? Thanks!

 

Interesting. I have heard of people going out of state. I know Texas is part of a five state area where Gulf States Toyota distributes, eg Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Now I see Southeast Toyota Distributors has Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Looks like the deep south is getting a raw deal. So in my case, I would have to go to Kansas or NM.

 

Ivan, you have mail here.