Quality Control Delays!!

I’ve got deposits at two different dealerships, in two different states for Heritage Blue, Land Cruiser trim level, premium package with 20” wheels.

Got a call from both dealerships stating my VIN was “randomly” selected for quality control.

Coincidence? I will not be playing the lottery today…

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Did you get your car yet?
I was told my sales since early July that the car has landed at the port, but up to today there is still no car delivered. Everything is hold up at the port in California.
If Toyota builds 50 LC a day, that must be already 3000~4000 cars stuck at the port right now waiting for whatever...
No arrival yet for me. The estimated arrival dates have disappeared from the Toyota website and I just emailed my dealer for an update.
 
No arrival yet for me. The estimated arrival dates have disappeared from the Toyota website and I just emailed my dealer for an update.
I just get a text message from the dealer. So they told me that Toyota is waiting for the roof rack to arrive so they can finish PIO work. (I guess that means only FE is affected???) They again give me two weeks ETA now. Hopefully it is true this time
 
I just get a text message from the dealer. So they told me that Toyota is waiting for the roof rack to arrive so they can finish PIO work. (I guess that means only FE is affected???) They again give me two weeks ETA now. Hopefully it is true this time
I can confirm this after a friend in Toyota corporate reached out to Portland Logistics to do some digging.
 
I have a LC with premium package on the way, original estimate 8/16-9/16. Only other option is the rear cargo mat. Called the dealer today and they said its on a "QC delay" for roof rack and skid plates. She said the computer says 70 days but the Toyota rep told them it should be quicker. Pretty bummed.
 
I have a LC with premium package on the way, original estimate 8/16-9/16. Only other option is the rear cargo mat. Called the dealer today and they said its on a "QC delay" for roof rack and skid plates. She said the computer says 70 days but the Toyota rep told them it should be quicker. Pretty bummed.
Given that roof rack is even more rare than LC itself, we are probably going to see First Edition retains its value way better than other trim. (BTW I don't actually like FE roof rack that much, it doesn't seem to be as solid as what some of the YouTube video suggested)
 
My ETA dates disappeared on 08/01/24... still nothing showing, the dealer is saying between 08/11 and 08/23.

I keep looking around locally, but there's a lot that are the wrong color for what I want, or have a ton of stuff added on (Markup, PIOs, silly dealer options). That or they're already spoken for, and the dealer is just keeping them available on the site to attract customers...
 
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My ETA dates disappeared on 08/01/24... still nothing showing, the dealer is saying between 08/11 and 08/23.

I keep looking around locally, but there's a lot that are the wrong color for what I want, or have a ton of stuff added on (Markeup, PIOs, silly dealer options). That or they're already spoken for, and the dealer is just keeping them available on the site to attract customers...
I had the impression there is a period of time that the car storage expense is covered by Toyota, not dealer. So maybe for these hot models dealers are not in a rush to sell. The worst case scenario if it sits in the lot over a period they just slowly dropping the markup and some loser will buy at some point.
Perhaps Toyota should drop there coverage to two weeks, and high price model like this will get markup at all for most dealers
 
I don't think it's car storage per say....... it's the interest payment on the loan the dealers have with Toyota. It is my understanding vehicles are not taken on consignment, they are taken on an interest only loan from Toyota. That's why on most occasions a week before the end on the month (or used to be) you would get a better deal because the dealer didn't want to pay another month's interest.
 
When the time was drawing near (at the end of the month) that I was hoping to deliver the check to purchase Miss Daisy, the salesman said his GM at the dealership was getting antsy, because they wanted to close the deal before the end of the month, as it affected their LC allotment for the coming months.
 
I don't think it's car storage per say....... it's the interest payment on the loan the dealers have with Toyota. It is my understanding vehicles are not taken on consignment, they are taken on an interest only loan from Toyota. That's why on most occasions a week before the end on the month (or used to be) you would get a better deal because the dealer didn't want to pay another month's interest.
This is correct. They also pay insurance for the cars on the lot so they want to sell them as quickly as possible. Toyota and most mainstream brands are transitioning away from the "sell off the lot" model they have used for years to a "sell off the truck" model, which is closer to the "order what you want" model used by premium brands.
 
This is correct. They also pay insurance for the cars on the lot so they want to sell them as quickly as possible. Toyota and most mainstream brands are transitioning away from the "sell off the lot" model they have used for years to a "sell off the truck" model, which is closer to the "order what you want" model used by premium brands.
Not sure what exactly is “order what you want” model, but Toyota dealers at least in California did not allow me to at least get a build closer to what I want. They are still on a first come first serve, clean out my lot ASAP strategy, the worst part is that many of the Toyota sales approach their customer with an unpleasant attitude, and ask for a ridiculous amount of markup with that “take-it-or-leave-it” face, unlike other Premium brand.

Even Lexus doesn’t allow me to configure a GX build the way I want neither. But their sales do have a more friendly attitude working with me though. So I enjoy talking to Lexus guys more these days, at least I wouldn't feel that I am writing a big check to beg for humiliation kind of feeling.
 
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My MS LC FE arrived arrived at the dealer on 7/26 and I picked it up on 7/31. It was put on a rail car in Portland on 7/11 and then a truck for the final leg to Louisville. The dealer said it was their second delivery. It was built at the Tahara plant but not sure when.

So far it exceeds all expectations. The manufacturing quality is excellent. The interior is very nice and it rides and performs well. I’m still getting use to safety system 3.0 and the mild hybrid. The safety system is not like my Highlander or RX 350 where you can simply turn the features off and on with a switch on the dash but still the functionality is much improved.

My only experience with a hybrid car has been RAV 4 rentals. With the RAV the only way I could tell it was a hybrid is the exceptional MPG. The LC is a little different. You know when the engine is starting and stopping and you can feel the regen brakes kick in and out. Like all my other vehicles acceleration and braking always takes a little bit to get use to.

I paid MSRP. I’ve put 225 miles on it; filled the gas tank with $4.55/gal premium and avoided a very close call with a pick up truck in a parking lot.
 

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Not sure what exactly is “order what you want” model, but Toyota dealers at least in California did not allow me to at least get a build closer to what I want. They are still on a first come first serve, clean out my lot ASAP strategy, the worst part is that many of the Toyota sales approach their customer with an unpleasant attitude, and ask for a ridiculous amount of markup with that “take-it-or-leave-it” face, unlike other Premium brand.

Even Lexus doesn’t allow me to configure a GX build the way I want neither. But their sales do have a more friendly attitude working with me though. So I enjoy talking to Lexus guys more these days, at least I wouldn't feel that I am writing a big check to beg for humiliation kind of feeling.
Toyota just doesn’t offer you an ‘order what you want and then we’ll build it’ approach. You could customize any ‘domestic’ half ton truck a zillion ways, for example. Not Toyota. It’s better for their supply chain optimization to do things their way, no doubt, and all Toyota customers are sort of at their mercy that a dealer somewhere is getting what they want.
 
Toyota just doesn’t offer you an ‘order what you want and then we’ll build it’ approach. You could customize any ‘domestic’ half ton truck a zillion ways, for example. Not Toyota. It’s better for their supply chain optimization to do things their way, no doubt, and all Toyota customers are sort of at their mercy that a dealer somewhere is getting what they want.
I always feel confused why Toyota always show on the website “Build your vehicle” ? I think they can manage it quite simple and quite well with something they did to Land Cruiser - just offer more trim or packages, instead of these A-Z options that their customer can never custom build into the car.
 
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