2021 Toyota RAV4 Purchase Stories: You Will Not Believe What People are Going Through to Get One

Our local Toyota dealer is essentially a pre-owned car lot. Maybe 12 new Toyota vehicles on the lot, that's counting the whole Toyota lineup.

Thanks for quoting my comment Jeff! The one positive from getting my car late is that it's coming with a bunch of new bits and bobs because I've ordered the 2022 model. That means electronic seats both passenger and driver, updated lights and a few other things! Cheers Travelman Ben!

I took weeks to decide on a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid....and 3 weeks to get my brand new One with 3 miles on it. On April 23, 2021... drove it 6 days... I was on my way to have it undercoated with 400 miles on it when it caught fire while I was driving it..... the investigation determined
the batteries were the cause. Still waiting for Toyota to get back to me on how they are handling this..injuries from. Breathing the fumes...still under going treatment.

We went to look at a rav4 prime in Richmond ca and the dealer 1) wouldn’t even let us test drive it and 2) was asking $15k above msrp. Absolute sleezeballs. No thanks. We just got a Tesla instead.

I was one of those fools that paid a premium over MSRP' 7k. I regret it every day. Rav4 Prime is nice but not worth that much.

So glad I purchased my 2021 Camry XSE at the beginning of March before the chip shortage was announced. Nobody would haggle on a 2020 so I got a brand new one for less than the used one. Also got a great deal thousands under MSRP which wouldn't happen now. It had to be located cause there were none in my area, but the best part is its the only one like it out here.

Put in order for my RAV4 Hybrid Limited Blueprint and tan interior. Did this 30 April 21 and got the car on 3 August 21. Loving the car.

After speaking to multiple dealers in the Southeast, I was told that in order to get a RAV4 Prime that I would have to order the Prime with an estimated wait time of 4 to 5 months. I used Cargurus and the Toyota web site to track inventory nationally and eventually found a Prime at Antwerpen Toyota in Maryland. I originally had planned to have the car shipped by a third party but after having multiple delays, I booked a one way flight and drove the SUV home 800 miles in the same day. Antwerpen was professional and we negotiated what I considered a fair deal under the circumstances. The car was a gift for a birthday and I was able to make it home with the Prime with 26 hours to spare.

Went to one dealer to buy a RAV4 Prime SE. His salesman had it marked up over $5,000 above retail. I told him that another dealer had it listed for retail on the internet. He insisted that they would mark it up. I said that their salesman said, "We honor our internet prices." I went to the second dealer. They sold the one that I wanted. It looked like a Star Wars Trooper. :( I asked If I could have the floor model. The salesman said, " It's available. Leave a deposit to secure it. I picked it up the next day. It's a real step up from my Chevy Volt. He who hesitates...

I bought my 2021 RAV4 Hybrid back in June and ended up going to eight dealerships. Finally the last dealer I went to told me he had one coming in on the truck in about five weeks and wasn't getting anymore for four months. Well I literally bought it off the truck sight unseen and I am so glad that I did. I absolutely love my RAV. My wife and I own four Toyota cars and wouldn't drive anything else. My problem is that my wife has taken my RAV over her Highlander because she loves it so much.

I ordered my new RAV4 in May and picked it up last week, August

I just purchase a Rav4 Prime SE 2 weeks ago through California Clean Cars for all program. I emailed all the dealers what I was looking for and I got lucky they were going to get the one I want in a week or two. Shopped around a bit and contacted them that I wanted to do the $500 deposit. It was a Super White Rav4 Prime SE with the moonroof package and all weather liners. It was $5k marked up also. They discounted it just enough so I can purchase it with the Clean Cars For All grant to $46k. After the grant and clean fuel reward discounts $11k, it wound up being $40k out the door fees taxes included.

It is really bad right now. I called one dealer that didn't charge a markup but they had a waitlist and they flat out told me they couldn't help me there is a wait list off 100+ people waiting for a Rav4 Prime. I heard the shortage is going to get a lot of worse so I am somewhat happy how it turned out I got the cat I was looking for in like a week of shopping. $5k markup is not too bad I have seen markups as high at $15k! Good luck all!

People might want to conside the new Venza. It is similar in size and is a AWD hybred. I am getting 44 MPG so far.

Love your videos Jeff! Unfortunately Ohio has virtually zero of them this year and probably few next year. I searched in CA, WA, VT, NY, NH, and finally NJ and found the XSE I was looking for after somebody flaked on their reservation. About half the dealers are charging markup, especially on the west coast. But I kinda get it actually. Santa Monica Toyota (10k markup) for instance is on extremely expensive property and there's very little inventory to sell and people like me will fly to the dealer or ship it. I only entertained dealers who categorically don't add markup. Very excited about this car! I have not even test driven it, but I think I know what to expect and not expect. BTW, all the ones I've encountered coming into the dealer were silver or white. I'd considered a Tesla, but then found RAV4 Prime and chose that due to tesla's frustrating service delay stories, toyotas superior build quality, and Tesla's expired incentives. I also just don't want to be following tesla news all the time. I just want a reliable PHEV.

After endlessly trying to buy a Rav4 Hybrid in August, Mona at CarBlip was able to find one in stock that met my specs for $2 thousand less than the next best quote I found. She also facilitated the buying process and any potential haggling at the dealership. I absolutely recommend using this service to ease the pain of car shopping in this environment!

Hi Jeff. I really enjoy reading your column. My wife bought a RAV4 hybrid XLE premium at the end of January for $ 32,300 on the road . My car was totaled in late July and couldn’t find an XLE premium for me so, put a deposit down on an XE prime and when I realized that it would cost $46,000 on the road with much less equipment than the XLE premium and ,would have to wait so,,decided to purchase a used car from an acquaintance. I would get a $7500 tax credit but would need to wait for that and my car payment would not decrease even if I applied it to the loan . So, I hope my used car works at least until this market cools ,then I will decide what to do. I drove by the dealership and saw it parked in the front line and got a bit upset until I remembered I just saved $32,000 buying a used car.

I went to check or RAV4 XLE hybrid at dealer in Tyson corner area after talk with sale person. End up they add $10k above MSRP which is ridiculous.

I ordered a 2021 Rav4 Adventure in Blue Flame with Ice Edge Roof late August. The dealership is now telling me I have to wait 6 to 8 months. They also told me that the more common colors are produced first.

There is a dealer in Oakland selling a 2021 RAV4 Prime for over $90,000!

This is just going nuts!

I ordered a Luner Rock RAV4 XLE on September 14th, and I was told 2-3 months. I got a call a week or so ago & he said he still had no idea when it would be built and offered me my deposit back. I said that taking it back kinda defeats the whole point of me already waiting 2 months. So still just a waiting game..

Saw a white Rav4 Prime SE exact model as mine priced at $41k with $8000 markup Stvens Creek Toyota