ISM is now the proud owner of this shiny, happy new Venza:
<img src="http://image.trucktrend.com/f/16452754/163_0901_09z+2009_toyota_venza+red_front_drivers_three_quarters_view.jpg" alt="" />
I'm very happy to report things went quite well at Tustin Toyota. I really couldn't be any happier. This is a new model introduced this year and from the research that I did, it is quite common for new vehicles to sell at or above sticker price when they are first introduced. (I know, I know, my mom always told me I had expensive taste. I could've gotten a real smokin' deal way below invoice on a Camry, but the Camry just doesn't turn me on the way the Venza does. Actually, the Venza is built on a Camry base; just souped up and on steriods). So I ended up about $500 over invoice, and $4,000 below MSRP. And boy HOWDY, did I do good on my trade-in! What in the HELL is up with CarMax on Bake? The Toyota guys gave me exactly TWICE what the CarMax folks offered me, and 1/3 more than another Toyota dealership offered. So I probably could've tried to haggle for another couple hundred off the new car to get closer to invoice, but I think this was the better way to do it.
So please don't tell me I got screwed and burst my bubble, okay? I got a car I love, for a lot less than the other car that I REALLY love (a $45,000 2010 Volvo XC60 that hasn't even been released for sale yet), and I was treated well and, I believe, fairly. So I spent way less than I could have and still ended up with a car that makes me tingle. I got all the bells and whistles: nav, premium audio, leather package, automatic rear door, fancy headlights, DVD system for the munchkin, and it will wipe my son's tush. (kidding!)