Is ToyotaCare Plus a Good Thing?

You guys are the motor experts and I really need and would appreciate your opinions. My husband and I have a 2014 Tacoma Sporty truck that I know he likes very much. He is deployed again and I’m not going to be able to talk with him for a while. His truck just hit 30K miles and I just got the oil changed. This is the last free oil change the dealer gives us and they told me I need to schedule a 30K mile checkup.

They gave me a long list of things they need to do for the 30K mile checkand said it would cost $175. They also gave me a coupon that says if I pay $299 we will get another 25K miles of ToyotaCarePlus. This would include the 30K mile things and would allow me to keep bringing the truck back for free oil changes (and they do other stuff) each 5K miles. They said it also includes regular services and maintenance things.

My hubby likes to do stuff to cars but he got to know one of the car guys at the dealer who has been doing the work from our current ToyotaCare. My hubby has said several times he liked not having to take time away from us to work on the truck. He is, however, very particular about doing maintenance stuff and how stuff is done. The guy my hubby got to know said he thinks I should buy the new car package and that he would continue to do the work. All of the people, except for one guy who seems to be intentionally TOO friendly, have been very nice to me and they do seem to take care of our truck.

If you were my husband would you have me do?

 

I'd say go with the package (if you can swing the $$) due to him being deployed. I'd want things to be as simple as possible for my wife while I'm gone.

 

agreed ^^

 

it sounds to me like you are a good candidate for this service. I would schedule service only on days when the person you trust is there. I would also recommend asking them to grease the drive shaft (or shafts, if 4x4) as Toyota Care does not include this simple but very important service.

 

Wow! You guys really responded fast, thank you so much

Thank you Warputer, I hope you don't have to get deployed I hope this is the time for my guy.

Thank you romonortiz55 and thank you 58 Siesta. His truck does have a 4X4 thingie I actually used it in the snow this winter. It worked really well except when I put the button on low it wouldn't stop beeping!

 

Beware, that extended ToyotaCare for $299 doesn't cover the full maintenance that is required at 30K miles. I asked what is included in the 30k, they said everything except for the spark plugs and differential fluid change. They quoted me, $100 for the spark plugs and $150 for the differential.

 

If you like the guys at Toyota I would continuing going with them which will keep things simple.

But at the same time, the extended toyota care is only for oil changes and tire rotation ( so its $299 for 4 oil changes and 4 tire rotations) . Not sure what they mean by other maintenance things ? Does the $299 include the 30K maintenance, if so, I would get that for sure, but if its $299 plus $175 that makes the decision a bit more iffy.

If money is no object go with Toyota. On the other hand do you know a local auto shop near your house? That would be much cheaper and a viable alternative when it comes to oil changes and tire rotation.

 

I would say go with the service package. Saves you some money : )
Thank You to your husband for his service and sacrafices for our country.

 

That's not right. It should include everything that is in the maintenance guide (including spark plugs), that is what the service adviser told me when i signed up for it, and the paper work you get after you register pretty much relays the same information. You should question that with your dealer.

 

You got lucky then. What dealer? The extended Toyota care only covers oil changes. Just like the original Toyota care plan that comes with every new Toyota vehicle. I'm not worried about it since I plan to do all my maintenance myself.

 

This is an important question

 

I guess the Toyota care plans vary?

If you check out this brochure:

https://www.sc.toyotafinancial.com/web/tfs/pub/contents/ToyotaCarePlusBrochure.pdf

Major Services Coverage of major 30,000; 45,000;
60,000; and 75,000 mile services.

but there is a footnote that states:
Coverage of major services varies by plan purchased.

Maybe the $299 plan covers all those? If so that would be a solid deal, but I'm guessing that is too good to be true.

 

When you bought the truck did you buy an extended warranty? This may factor into whether it is worth the extra money for extending the service plan.

Also, if you do decide to get the service plan extended it doesn't hurt to price shop online. except for the spark plugs and differential service, the 30k service isn't checking things and changing oil if need be.

 

I should probably confirm that the plan I am on (for $299) is the 30k, 35k, 40k, 45k plan. Not the one you have listed above. This is Berkeley Toyota where I am taking mine. I am actually taking it in on Sunday for the 30k, I will report back if they "change their mind" and sparkplugs aren't included, but the service manager said they do "everything that is in the maintenance guide", for that particular service. We shall see.

 

Yeah that is your best bet. See what they say.

I would push back a little bit if they say it doesn't include the major maintenance items especially considering a service manager said it would?

If they are still saying no it doesn't include it, ask for a discount off the spark and differential . I know they offer discounts to military for truck purchases, I wouldn't be surprised if they did it for maintenance as well. I feel like you have some leverage here to atleast get a discount.

 

Woah!? Don't tell me Toyota is telling us to change the sparklers and diff fuild at 30k, are they? That's a total rip off if they are.

 

You are correct. My extended ToyotaCare mentioned "major" service at 30K miles yet the only difference than a regular 5K maintenance was they changed the motor air filter and cabin filter. They also claimed to grease whatever needs greasing. They did not touch the sparkplugs, trans-case, or diff fluid.

 

Not sure if you're serious..

Take a moment to look at your manual.

 

stphnman20, OO-RAH, thank you for being a Marine. Yeah Marines!!! Also thank you for telling about the other costs of a spark plug and differential.

The brochure TacomaMike37 (thanks TacomaMIke37 !) gave me a link for says "coverage of major 30K services". TacomaMike37, money is an object! When things get difficult my husband tells me I'm sitting on a fortune I think he's kidding. I hope he is We are trying to save as much as we can. I also really can't take my hubbies truck to a local shop that he doesn't know about

Bw4706, thank you for thanking us! My hubby is the one to thank though. He's my guy and my hero stphnman20 is a hero also

Dexterdog, we don't have an extended warranty but thanks for asking!

Thank you all for your help. This is really great! So my homework assignment is to call the Toyota Customer Experience Center (800-331-4331) and ask them if the major 30K service covered in the ToyotaCare Plus includes checking on the spark plug and differential. Is this correct?

One other question, a spark plug is something I heard my hubbie talk about. It's part of the motor, right? What is a differential?

 

Update: Took my truck in today for the 30k service (I had purchased the maintenance plan for 30k, 35k, 40k, 45k for $299)

I said to the guy "this includes the spark plugs right?" and he said "oh no, those aren't due until 60k". I replied "no, actually, the manual says 30k". Then he looks something up on the PC and I said "They told me when I bought this package it would include everything listed in the maintenance guide for those intervals, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it." After a minute or so he said "Oh yea, looks like 30k for the plugs. Ok we will add that"

I'm guessing they get away with it a lot, with people who aren't paying attention to those details. I got the plugs though.