Inventory Search

After searching by model, you have to click on "contact a dealer" or "view details" button to see the specific dealer where it's from.

 

Use cargurus.com

 

Yes it's a pain. I have a whole set of zipcodes I use to cover the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Search is good for seeing what's available with what options and cost in the area covered by your zipcode. My zipcode (26505) gives me all of DC,MD,VA, and WV. I use a DC area zipcode (20910) for Primes so when I go to the Find a Dealer page those dealers show up. Suggest clicking more dealers and then larger map to see all the area dealers pins. Then you have to select each one and go to dealer website to check inventory. (opens in a new window for me else your screwed if you try to go back as it resets the search). The other sites don't show all the dealers or inventory despite what they say. One grey/black advanced left in my region. Probably in DC/MD.

 

You're right, sorry about that. Inventory search really is useless if you're trying to find the specific dealer. I guess it is only helpful to see what models/color/trim are available in an entire region/zip.

 

They do list dealer websites by region/zip, so one could comb through each website one-by-one, which is a pain. My guess as to why they do this is to help the smaller dealerships that don't have such a large inventory.

 

That's an idea. I have to admit though, by forcing me to browse each dealer's website, I've seen dangling carrots I wouldn't usually see if my searches were more targeted, such as free lifetime car washes, free lifetime oil changes, and the icing on the cake, free lifetime warranty (eg. tuscaloosa toyota). Chances are a dealer will change ownership or go out of business before one can really leverage any of these dangling carrots, but interesting to see, especially for me the car washes (which would save me a lot of money if the dealership was nearby). And I still agree that not having inventory search tied to a specific dealer is a pain.

 

deleted double post.

 

http://www.cars.com advanced search will tell you who has what where using all miles.

 

If your in SoCal I had good luck for in stock inventory at DCH Oxnard but thankfully one came up locally or I would had to fly to SoCal to find one. I used Truecar to get their cheapest price which was a pretty good discount

 

Pick the dealership you feel will gouge you the least, and let them bring in the car for you.