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Breaking in New Truck

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Bill Laurence, Jul 26, 2009.

?

Is a "New" Toyota truck with 289 mile on its odometer - really considered new?

Poll closed Aug 10, 2009.
  1. Was the dealer selling me a demo?

    4 vote(s)
    20.0%
  2. Should a demo car be sold as new?

    6 vote(s)
    30.0%
  3. Should one expect a serious price break when buying a 'demo' truck?

    10 vote(s)
    50.0%
  1. Jul 26, 2009 at 1:43 AM
    #1
    Bill Laurence

    Bill Laurence [OP] New Member

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    I have just finished signing papers on a new Toyota Tacoma 2009 extended cab, 4 cylinder, 4X4.

    I was tired and it was late in the day while reading the final purchase agreement I noticed this "new" truck had 298 miles on it - but still didn't 'snap' until I was driving my old car home. Thinking about it now, I am wondering - does this mean I was just sold a demo?

    And if so, I calculated at 5 -10 miles per test drive - up to 30 - 60 people could have been operating / "breaking in" this vehicle.

    Question: Does anyone know how critical the "breaking-in" period is for a new Tacoma or any new truck for that matter? ( I was once told the first 200-300 miles it must not be driven over 55 mph or be allowed to idle for long; that proper care must be taken to set the seals (?), etc.
    Isn't it legal to sell a truck as "new" without disclosing that has been used as a demo? And if it was a demo - should one not expect a serious price break?

    Or is this just silly post-sale anxiety.
    I have until Monday to decline this sale as it is still sitting on the lot.
    (needed to verify coverage with my insurance agent)

    I was told that driving it off the lot seals the deal.

    I welcome any thought or commentary.

    Bill
     
  2. Jul 26, 2009 at 1:45 AM
    #2
    AFTaco

    AFTaco Well-Known Member

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  3. Jul 26, 2009 at 2:01 AM
    #3
    mpgnc64

    mpgnc64 Well-Known Member

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    I wouldnt worry about a few hundred miles on it. Sounds like a few salesmen took it home or it had a few test drives. I am probably wrong but I think I remember up to 500 miles is still considered new.(?) I have heard of friends buying demos that had around 5000 miles on them. I bought my 06 late in 06 and it was almost conidered a left over. It had 5 miles on it and 8 miles after my test drive. Funny the salesman told me a lot of people have test drove it, they all say that. I just laughed. After all was said and done and I got a deal the manager came over and told me he couldnt even get people to drive the 4cyl 4x4, everyone wanted a V6. That worked out great for me.
     
  4. Jul 26, 2009 at 2:39 AM
    #4
    Bill Laurence

    Bill Laurence [OP] New Member

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    Hey, Thanks for the speedy response (I'm impresed). I was needing to hear that ... some reasurance. After a day of horse trading I am not in my right frame of mind. This was a big decision for my wife and I. Our last Toyota was a 1984 Tercel, base model - no frills, no radio, no air conditioning - just a little boxy car (my friend says it looks like a hearse for a midget) but we both love this car. 188,000 miles and no problems. It was built /overbuilt by a Japanese loom maker who had never built a car before but who had the engineering and knew all the cut & dye machine tooling. Bob, my mechanic says he still sees them on the road; says, " they'll never make that mistake again." I drove this car home tonight from Santa Fe and ironically it started making some 'last-gasping' sounds - so I was feeling a sense of deliverance until this little bug started spinning in my head about 289 mile odometer.
    Thanks for helping me throught this self-inflicted crisis.

    Have a good night.
     
  5. Jul 26, 2009 at 3:00 AM
    #5
    mpgnc64

    mpgnc64 Well-Known Member

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    Tool box, Thule rack, rod holders, 5100s at 1.75 and the TSB
    LOL I always have buyers remorse. I love my 4cyl 4x4 access cab. I did the bilstein 5100's and love it.
     
  6. Jul 26, 2009 at 6:00 AM
    #6
    choptop

    choptop Molōn labe!

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    Sometimes when a customer wants a particular model/ color combo some dealers arrange to "swap" cars with another dealer who has the right one. In some cases those vehicles are then driven to the dealership instead of waiting for a transport service (cheaper). That's how my truck got ~300 miles on the clock before I purchased it.
     
  7. Jul 26, 2009 at 6:11 AM
    #7
    FL4x4Taco

    FL4x4Taco Well-Known Member

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    Less than 500 miles is considered new.
     
  8. Jul 26, 2009 at 6:57 AM
    #8
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    It's considered new if it has never been purchased before.
     
  9. Jul 26, 2009 at 8:18 AM
    #9
    MSteinhauer

    MSteinhauer Well-Known Member

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    When I got my truck the dealer had to trade with another dealer that was 140ish miles away so when I got mine it had 152 miles on it. They had a guy from the dealer drive between the two dealers to get the truck and drop off their trade. Who knows how he drove the truck and if he was breaking it in well but I'm not too concerned. Your dealer might have gotten the truck through a trade which could explain the extra miles. To check try google searching the stock number or vin number of your truck to see what dealer had it on its website. Thats how I figured out where my dealer originally got my truck
     
  10. Jul 26, 2009 at 8:55 AM
    #10
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    What if it has been test driven for a decade, and has around 40K on it, but never "Purchased".

    :D
     
  11. Jul 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM
    #11
    WilsonTheDog

    WilsonTheDog Kylie's dad

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    I bought mine with 240 miles on it. It came from another dealer 230 miles away. Your warranty will now end at 36,289 miles.
     
  12. Jul 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
    #12
    surfsupl

    surfsupl Well-Known Member

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    Did your truck happen to come from another dealership? If so, maybe they drove it from the other dealership? Maybe they needed a parts truck for a couple days?.....I would not worry to much about it. Its a Toyota and 298 miles on it is nothing. I know guys who have bought a new truck w/10 miles on them and by the second day they are well over 300 miles already..................enjoy your new truck !:D
     
  13. Jul 26, 2009 at 10:37 AM
    #13
    TRDKenE

    TRDKenE DAMN GOOD DEAL!!

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    I drove my truck hard from day one....not like hard...but i would goose it once in awhile...i figure if your gonna break it in...break it in how your gonna be driving it...
     
  14. Jul 26, 2009 at 10:40 AM
    #14
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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  15. Jul 26, 2009 at 10:53 AM
    #15
    Incognito

    Incognito No better friend, no worse enemy

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    X2, that's how my dad got his Honda Accord. He wanted the light green-ish color but one dealer didn't have it, so they had to transfer it from a dealer about 200 miles away.
     
  16. Jul 26, 2009 at 11:16 AM
    #16
    slo blue

    slo blue Member

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    You can title a car in most states as new with up to 5k miles. They are sold as demo's and should come with a nice price drop.
     
  17. Jul 27, 2009 at 3:22 AM
    #17
    kanelakos

    kanelakos Well-Known Member

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    I asked the service manager about the break in period and he said "drive it like you stole it!" Todays vehicles are alot different than even 20 years ago. You can go 5k miles between oil changes instead of 3k ect. I also did a dealer trade for my 09 just last week and mine had 471 miles on it when I took possession. It was cool by me as long as it incurred no stone chips or the like from the road trip.
     
  18. Jul 27, 2009 at 3:30 AM
    #18
    kanelakos

    kanelakos Well-Known Member

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    I use to sell toyotas during a attempted career change and what I remember is that the vehicle is considered "new" if it has never been registered. A demo with 5k miles on it but never registered is considered new. You however can negotiate a better price because the dealers are more motivated to get rid of demos. From my experience from selling, you can ask to see the invoice on any vehicle and in 90% of cases you can get it for that price. Some exceptions would be vehicles in high demand or rare. An example would be the Corvette, new Camaro, a landcruiser and such. I got my new 09 Tacoma at invoice without any issues at all.
     
  19. Jul 27, 2009 at 4:03 AM
    #19
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    Registered...titled....tomato, tomahto.
     
  20. Jul 27, 2009 at 4:06 AM
    #20
    kanelakos

    kanelakos Well-Known Member

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    :>))
     

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