Affordable vehicles unavailable but dealership lots are full!

[SC Maintenance]

Most all the newer Frontiers I've looked at in the last few years have been the loaded SV/SL/Pro4X models. Rarely did I come across a base model and all were 4wd versions.

Recently, I looked at the first 2025 Tacoma 2door Xtra cab model in my area. It was equipped with 4wd (and around $40K). Told the salesman I was only interested in 2wd. He informed me the 2wd models cost the same as a 4wd versions! I knew that was bs as I've priced countless trucks in the past few years and the 2wd's are always several grand less. Besides, I have a 2wd 4Runner and I know danged well its was priced much cheaper than the 4wd models.

Opposite here down South. This is the current mix on the local dealer lot. There is only one Nissan dealer here now - 3 locations - they bought everyone else out. I posted the trim mix also.

This is normal. Was the same when I bought in my Fronty in 2011. When I bought my wife's Toyota in 2019 they were also mostly FWD.

 

[PandaBear]

Eventually things will reach a middle point between both sides. When they have too many top trims in the lot the manufacturers either have to raise price of the lower trim or start making lower trim for the buyers. It may take a month, a year, but eventually if they want to stay in business either the lower trim will raise price or they start making them at the existing price.

 

[dfarr67]

The dealers have run out of tricks- ie stretching out the years for loans. Consumers are tapped out.

 

[andrew_j]

The dealers have run out of tricks- ie stretching out the years for loans. Consumers are tapped out.

The long financing works really well with very interest rates. People even on this board used to borrow on their car to play the financial markets instead.

 

[fdcg27]

When the economic contraction (recession) widely forecast for this year comes, dealers who've been sitting on a lot of inventory and not negotiating will find themselves having to unload that inventory at attractive prices.
Those with nicely stuffed piggy banks will make out while the payment buyers will find themselves locked out since the inevitably increased default rate will dry up credit availability for lower scored buyers.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I've done a lot of car shopping recently for people I know and what I've noticed across all brands and dealerships you visit, drive by, or check inventory on their website... they ALL have TONS of vehicles in stock, but they're all EXPENSIVE.

I'm not even discussing the price of vehicles as a whole (as this is a different discussion), but lower trim or lower option cars are almost IMPOSSIBLE to find while fancier versions are everywhere. My aunt's Prius? We drove an hour to get the one base model one in stock (and another customer tried to buy it while we were buying it). My ex and I's Equinox EV we got two days ago? One of two on the lot and none of them anywhere in the area were near the $35K starting price the Equinox EV was supposed to have. The Nissan dealer we stopped at to check out an Ariya before we settled on the Equinox EV? A dozen Platinum AWDs in stock and two cheaper FWD units, both in the same ugly color.

In all cases, the dealership lots are full. We barely found a place to park at that Nissan dealer! Yet, people don't seem to be buying - everyone else was just milling around watching us.

I get car companies make more profit on higher trim cars, and want to sell those, but there's a point at which I don't think it's sustainable. Good, non-beater, reasonable mileage used cars are HORRIBLY priced and literally not worth it, and car companies should have no trouble converting these buyers into base model, cheaper new cars. But instead, they have a lot full of premium vehicles just sitting there.

What gives? Will this ever change?

Wait…. You got an Equinox EV two days ago and she’s already your ex? That escalated quickly…

J/K

 

[dogememe]

Wait…. You got an Equinox EV two days ago and she’s already your ex? That escalated quickly…

J/K

Nah we were already separated. Basically just best friends now. But ex is shorter to type than best friend. Also not that it matters one bit but he, not she.

 

[odie]

I'd think many people that bought overpriced new /used vehicles are further upside down because of additional depreciation and the influx of used vehicles along with high interest rates . Therefore , hard to get a new or used car loans . The internet has made greed in many markets .

 

[dfarr67]

The long financing works really well with very interest rates. People even on this board used to borrow on their car to play the financial markets instead.

That explains nothing....

 

[Leo99]

I think back to a couple of years ago when a relative went to purchase a Rav4 from a large Toyota dealer. Think of the circumstances, Toyota dealers do not order specific trims and colors, rather they get allocations from the manufacturer based on who knows what. Circumstances at the time were such that the most desirable higher trims were not in large supply, and while dealer market adjustments were fading they were not completely gone for the most desirable higher trims.

Getting back to the story, the relative wanted a base model. The dealer could not have been more accommodating and pleasant to the relative making the buying process as easy as it could with no up sells or market adjustments. My cynical view is that they were happy to unload a base model because everyone and their sister only wanted the higher costing trims and they probably had more base trims on the lot than they could easily sell at the time.

Things have changed, that is for sure.

I see a lot of LE base trim models of Camry and RAV4 on the road. My in-laws wanted an LE Corolla a few years ago, but had to settle for an SE trim.

Toyota dealership personalities can vary greatly. Before Covid, some would tack on dealership markups and then discount the vehicle back to MSRP and act like they were doing you a favor. Others were more fair and square.