I’m really looking forward to this since it’s my first time buying new instead of used. The dealership told me it should be on the lot in a few weeks. Has anyone here put down a deposit recently? How long did you have to wait?
I got my 2024 Limited back in July, and it had everything I wanted, even the fancy roof option. The dealership didn’t have my colour, so I waited about three weeks. They kept me updated almost daily on where the car was—on the ship, at customs, etc. They initially said 5-6 weeks, but it came quicker than that. Congratulations, by the way! I think you’ll love it. I’ve owned several cars, and this one is my favourite. Every time I get in, it still feels special.
Be cautious if you got the sunroof. If it breaks, it costs about $7k to repair, and many Toyota dealerships don’t have trained technicians for the install.
By the way, the Venza is the best car I’ve ever owned.
@Blend
I agree. I just got a Venza without the panoramic moonroof and managed to negotiate $1.4k off the price. We get hailstorms where I live, and I’ve seen what it can do to sunroofs. The moonroof is one large piece of specialty glass, so fixing it can be a hassle, especially since parts might be hard to find after it’s discontinued. Most people I talk to don’t even know what a Venza is, let alone about the maintenance issues with that roof.
My dealership let me reserve without a deposit. They said three weeks, but the car arrived five days earlier than expected.
I’m in Los Angeles. I put a deposit on a Nightshade edition two weeks ago. The dealership said it was at the port undergoing a quality check on 10/18, but they still haven’t given me an ETA.
Evans said:
I’m in Los Angeles. I put a deposit on a Nightshade edition two weeks ago. The dealership said it was at the port undergoing a quality check on 10/18, but they still haven’t given me an ETA.
Thanks for sharing! Did they initially give you the typical ‘it should be here in a few weeks’ estimate?
@harry
I put my deposit down on 10/31, and they quoted me 1-2 weeks at the time.
@harry
Last week, they told me Toyota is holding all Venzas for some reason, but they didn’t explain why. I’m not sure if that’s accurate.
@harry
We put a deposit on 8/29 and were told to expect about four weeks. Today, we ended up asking for our deposit back because there’s still no firm ETA. I hope you have better luck!
Jensen said:
@harry
We put a deposit on 8/29 and were told to expect about four weeks. Today, we ended up asking for our deposit back because there’s still no firm ETA. I hope you have better luck!
Sorry to hear that. Did they at least give you a VIN number? I dealt with one dealership that refused to provide a VIN, and it made me suspicious they were just stringing me along until they found what I wanted.
@harry
Yes, they provided the VIN, but I’ve also encountered dealerships that wouldn’t if the car was still in production. In my case, the vehicle was stuck in Newark for final inspection. We didn’t expect to wait so long.
Jensen said:
@harry
We put a deposit on 8/29 and were told to expect about four weeks. Today, we ended up asking for our deposit back because there’s still no firm ETA. I hope you have better luck!
Same experience here. I ordered an XLE with premium audio in July and got a VIN within days. The car was held for two months in a ‘quality hold,’ and the dealership couldn’t give me solid updates. After a lot of frustration, I walked away. I hope your experience is smoother.
Congrats to anyone getting one of the last Venzas. It’s a shame Toyota is replacing it with a Camry wagon in the US. In my area (Chicago), the Camry wagon isn’t doing great—dealerships are already offering rebates. Meanwhile, the Venza is selling out.
@WilliamMia
Camry wagon? Toyota is also offering $6,500 cash back on the Rav4 Prime, but that doesn’t mean it’s a failure.
Patton said:
@WilliamMia
Camry wagon? Toyota is also offering $6,500 cash back on the Rav4 Prime, but that doesn’t mean it’s a failure.
That’s what the Crown Signia is. The front end is mostly Camry with a small touch of Crown styling.
Make sure to ask about the second key FOB and when you’ll get it.
Quinn said:
Make sure to ask about the second key FOB and when you’ll get it.
I don’t think it’s an issue anymore. I got a second key for a used car from Hertz with no delay. The dealer even gave it to me for free because Hertz didn’t pick it up. Are you still waiting for yours?
@Patton
I bought my Venza in June and still haven’t received the second key FOB. So, the issue is definitely still there.
Quinn said:
@Patton
I bought my Venza in June and still haven’t received the second key FOB. So, the issue is definitely still there.
You can try reaching out to other dealerships in your area. Any dealer can program the key for you, not just the one you purchased the car from. I’m in NJ, and both dealers I spoke with had spare keys in stock.