"Skid Plate Enhancement"--Gulf States Part/Substitution

As some of you know, I recently took delivery on a 2010 DC OR. I had to order it from the factory through the fleet manager, since the dealer didn't have what I wanted (and I was also considered as part of a special program group). My salesperson was great, but neither he nor I saw the truck before delivery.

One of the options listed was "skid plate enhancement." Having obsessed over the 2009 Tacoma brochure, I thought this was the front silver/gray skid plate featured in all the photos and on toyota.com with the DC OR truck. I was wrong, as you'll see in the photo below.

The piece of metal looks like it costs about $25, but on the window sticker, it's listed as $205. I was shocked. And disappointed. Gulf States had obviously duped me when the truck had arrived at port in Houston.

The day after I took delivery, I contacted Toyota's national customer service number. I explained the situation, was given a case #, and told I'd be contacted in 1-3 business days. Today I called, since it was the 4th business day. I spoke to another representative, and he told me Toyota would reimburse me for the cost of buying a new front skid plate. I wanted to install it myself.

When I spoke to my salesperson today, he told me that when they looked up the part number for the front skid plate, PT212-35051, it was substituted with "GS." I would assume this is Gulf States.

I'm not sure if this is a nationwide change. More likely it's Gulf States. Had I seen the truck on the lot before delivery, I would have declined the "skid plate enhancement."

Anyway, for those of you that have to order a truck in the Gulf States region, be aware. The "front skid plate enhancement" may not be what you expect. I wanted to give everyone a heads-up...I hope this doesn't jeopardize my reimbursement from Toyota!

Photos are below. Those are water droplets on the truck bumper.

 

thats not 205$

such a joke

take it off!

 

Shame on toyota that thing looks like shit. No offense to you or your truck but someone at toyota is an asshole

 

x2

 

This is the front skid plate I was expecting.

 

i got the "im lazy one lol"

 

it looks bent and warped

 

bump.

I want to be sure a lot of people get a chance to read this.

Marc

 

hahaha...

 

Talk about cutting corners!

 

yes zziirr

 

You're not the only one, I've seen a few Tacomas even Tundras with that "skid plate". POS IMO.

 

did they get lazy..?? was it the dealership or toyota...???

 

haha yea i have one on my truck want to buy it 25 bucks haha

 

It was neither. Toyota shipped it to the Gulf States port in Houston, and Gulf States decided to add this "skid plate enhancement" while the truck was in Houston. I took delivery on the truck in San Antonio. I bet Toyota's going to be mad about this, given that most people consider it an awful look.

I'm not upset with Toyota or the dealer...Gulf States fuels my ire.

 

Thats just pathetic

 

Did you pay for a skid plate? The aluminum looking one that you expected? The enhancement thing is new I'm guessing? The skid and enhancement are two different items. The black skid that you have is what mine came with and it's not a very good one. It's better than nothing? I was expecting the same one. It was my fault for not asking. Sounds to me that you ordered two of something and didn't bother to ask? Now in my opinion the black skid is better or stronger than the silver one. It my not look nicer but I think the black one is stronger? Just my 2 cents?

 

looks like a metal wind screen. dont touch anything with it, It will bend!!! every one of those I have seen on older trucks has been nearly torn off.

 

That looks like poop. Can you take it off and give it back to them for the $200? lol