I would say that i'm not your typical buyer. I lik...

I would say that i'm not your typical buyer. I like to arm myself with every bit of information and go into the dealer knowing exactly what I want, and what I feel would be a fair deal for the both of us. I also don't like to negotiate, and do "let me check with my manager" game. I always start off by asking what the OTD price on a vehicle i'm interested in. If they cannot answer that quickly, and succinctly, then they are not the kind of dealer i'd like to buy from.

I'm not interesting in 'sitting' down and going back and forth over numbers, wasting each other's time.

So this year I find myself in the market for a 2016 Tacoma. I knew the exact trim level and option package I wanted, and knowing the demand, I understood that i'd likely be paying MSRP or a few hundred below it. I'm OK with that, as long as the dealer is upfront about pricing and had a transparent buying process. To me, time is more important than squeezing every last dollar I can get off the truck.

I did my usual dealer email inquiries--emailed about 5-6 dealers that had the truck I wanted in stock, and used truecar/AAA/Tacoma forums for reference pricing. Most of them came back at MSRP--some at above MSRP!

Sunnyvale Toyota was one of the dealers that was willing to go a few hundred below MSRP. I promptly set up a time in which I would come in. I was immediately contacted by the Fleet Manager Stan Wolowski. He gave me the pricing upfront and within a few minutes of meeting him. I was very happy about that. While they had the truck I wanted, it was on hold for someone else, with no other truck like with the options I wanted, I told him to just call me back if the other buyer backs out.

About 10-mins into my drive back to the office, he texted me and said the truck was available as he called the other buyer and they backed out. I quickly turned around, came back and left a deposit, since I had to go back to the office for some meetings, I could not finish the deal then and there.

During the few hours I had left, Stan had the truck detailed, and all the paperwork in order. He messaged me every step of the way, and was very good about communicating. I will have to say, that after buying 10 or so new cars in my lifetime, this is the way to do it. I really don't like wasting time at a dealer. Stan was my one and only contact, and the only person I spoke with at the dealer. I really enjoyed that personal approach to buying my truck.

I came back in the evening, and Stan and I went through all the paperwork. There was minimal upsell on his part--which I greatly appreciated. He was very detail oriented and had everything ready to go. Unlike your typical salesman, being the Fleet Manager, he had really good knowledge of the truck and a ton of tips. As a final good by gesture he offered to pair my phone to the truck, but I was running out of time, so I just thanked him and went on my way.

Overall, I am very satisfied with Stan Woloski and Sunnyvale Toyota. As a non-typical and very particular buyer, he went above and beyond to make my purchase smooth and easy. Sometimes you can can nickel and dime a dealer to get the maximum discounted price, but i'd rather not waste my valuable time and start enjoying my truck.