lexitaxi

Looking to purchase a RX soon and the three local dealers in my area don't have what I am looking for in stock. Two of them are willing to trade with an out of state dealership to have it trailered in. In previous purchases, I have been lucky enough to find something on the local lot. So my question is, how much does it cost or what would a reasonable price be for the dealer to charge on a swap? Is it a cost of doing business and therefore should be a sunk cost for the dealership doing the swap or would I be expected to pay for some of the cost (hence, less negotiating power on final price)? Hope this makes sense. One dealership already quoted a cost of $1000 to trailer the car to their dealership. For that price, I could buy a one way plane ticket and pick up the car myself and drive it home.....

Thoughts on what my expectations should be?

sandy14

I paid a 900 to have mine brought in from New Orleans to Houston. However, they gave me other incentives like all weather mats, all around tented windows, etc. didn't make up the grand but helped ease the pain.
I was determined to get the color combo and packages I wanted.
I've never regretted spending the money. I love the car and really, what's another thousand when you're spending nearly sixty.
At least they bring it in on a truck so you drive off the lot with a new car. My friend's new Ford was driven from another dealership and had over 200 miles on it when she got it. Mine had 4

coach258

If you are very specific about the color combo/package/options, then dealer knows you don't have too many option. I am guessing both dealers will split the extra profit.
I was in the similar situation where my local dealer asked for around $1000 more to bring the car in from another dealer 8 hours away. I paid one-way ticket $250 and drove the car back the same day. I took Uber from airport to the dealer and that dealer reimbursed my cab fee.
It was a fun drive back home and I really used that time to get myself familiar with all the new features on the car.

lexitaxi

Appreciate the insights. Yes, I can tell if we hold true to what we want, we are caught between a rock and a hard place regarding our inability to truly negotiate from a position of power. I don't want to settle on something different since we typically keep our cars for a very long time, 10+ years, and I don't want to regret the purchase a year or two down the road.

gorcorps

That actually isn't a bad thing to mention to the dealer yourself if you haven't yet. Tell them at that price you'll just go get it from the other dealer yourself and have the fun of driving back. Once the dealer realizes that cost is the difference between a sale and nothing, they might change their tune.


You'll probably have to pay something, but even that fee should be negotiable.

dfc350

Just to add another data point: Our dealer trailered in our 4RX from another dealer 500 miles away at no extra charge. I didn't know there might have been a charge for this service as we've never been in this situation before. A long time ago, I bought a new 1979 Celica that was located about a day's drive away, but I told the dealer I'd prefer to drive it back myself, so he gave me a trade vehicle to drive up there and paid for my meals and motel.

Vincent05

I bought mine a month ago and the dealership didn't charge me extra to have it trailered in from Florida to Maryland. I negotiated the final out the door price with the dealer. Make sure when you negotiate the price have them included or else they will add the transportation cost to you afterwards.