Test drove a Camry and RAV4 XSE today in Dallas — dealership refused to give me an OTD price is that normal?
I test drove a Camry and a RAV4 XSE today at a Toyota dealership in Dallas. I really liked the RAV4 and was genuinely interested in buying it.
I told them several times that I was interested in the out-the-door price, because I want to compare the actual total cost of the vehicle—not monthly payments.
Instead, they kept trying to steer the conversation toward financing and monthly payments.
One of the managers was particularly rude and condescending. He essentially questioned whether I could afford the RAV4 because I was asking for the OTD price. He asked for my driver’s license and told me he would fill out my credit application for me.
I told them again that I wanted the OTD price.
Then things got even stranger.
The vehicle was originally advertised/on the sticker at around $47,000. When they came back with pricing, it had increased to around $48,600. There were also approximately $1,200 in dealer-added items that they said they could remove.
Eventually they showed me a printed sheet with the OTD pricing. I asked if I could take a copy home so I could review it. The manager looked at the paper and said:
“No, this is for internal use only.”
I asked if I could at least look at it there, and he said yes.
They also kept asking me what monthly payment I could afford. At one point they were talking about $987/month.
I kept saying that the monthly payment isn’t what I’m trying to negotiate—the OTD price is.
Eventually I told them I felt both managers were being rude and condescending, thanked the salesperson who had test driven the vehicle with me, and left.
I wasn’t asking them for anything unusual, was I? Is it normal for a dealership to refuse to provide a customer with a written copy of the OTD price?
I’m still interested in the RAV4, but obviously I’m going to shop other Dallas-area Toyota dealerships now.