Lusterizing Sealant application

My truck came with a $349 option which says it has the sealant lusterizing treatment, sealant under coating, rental car assistance and a few other things on that list i can't recall right now. I also got a bottle of lustrerizing cleaner that says I must apply twice a year to maintain warranty on said item. I washed the truck today 1st time (its a week old today) and noticed the water ran right off like a really good coat of wax actually better. I had planned on applying the sealant but got to thinking it was already applied, is that right? I just have to do it again in like 6 months or so, correct?

Or is all this just a smoke screen to get $349 bucks from me. BTW I did not pay for it anyway the dealer took that option, tinted front windows, floor mats and receiver hitch off the top of the price and another $800 off the remainder.

 

Sounds like smoke to me. But if you're happy with the look and performance, then you should use the cleaner/sealant. Congrats on the truck. wmb67

 

It not a smoke screen, its how they make more money on you. These options are simple wax's, scotch gards, undercoatings, etc. They sound high tech, but are cheap to do and make lots of extra money. Or in your case, make you think you saved lots of money.

 

i would say its already on.and yes there is a kit to maintain it.i had that on mine.stuff is sweet.bugs/tar/ sap comes off with ease.also had that put on the wifes acura.she drove threw some fresh yellow line paint the one day(man did i flip out)and that came right off with a little water and elbow grease.no cost,had them throw it in on the deal.really helps protect imo.my dealer called it TST i think.but its real stuff.

 

Well being that I did not pay for it and I bought the truck on a true market value amount minus all that I'd say I got a pretty fair deal. They also gave me what I ask for on my 2002 Prerunner trade in. It is a buyers market right now if you have outstanding credit which I do. Toyota even sent me credit card yesterday not that I need one but it has some really good rates and earned points program. I did not ask for the card it just showed up and I most lekely will not activate it since I don't use credit that much.

 

Its not a smoke screen. Its a clear as day ripoff.

This "port installed option" they called it, was on my truck as well as the running boards. I told the dealer that they could take them off the truck or leave them on but in either case I wasn't going to pay for it. I got the latter.

The rental car assistance is total crap. If you read the fine print in the booklet that comes with this package I think it gives you like 2 days total of rental car usage.

I haven't applied the stuff yet but I will probably do it in the spring. If it was on from the dealer I can't tell. I park under a maple tree and I get these little brown sap-dots on my truck. They are just as hard to get off my '09 Taco as they are the '04 Z.

 

Another thought...do you think it would be best to clay bar the truck before putting the sealant on it? Sounds like its supposed to go right on the paint and might not stay if its put ontop of a layer of wax.

 

good question.i never got the maint. kit.bought my truck used and the wifes acura used from dealer.they put it on and didnt charge me for it.shhhhhh dont tell.

 

smoke dude!

 

Definitely clay bar before using the sealant. Then just use the sealant like you would any other wax. Sealants usually offer a bit more durability and waxes tend to add looks with a bit less durability. Many folks will put a coat of sealant for protection, then a coat of wax for looks. But hell, use what the dealer gave you, it's free. And if you feel like trying something else, I'd recommend

$21 Collinite 845 Insulator Wax-Easy to Use Carnauba+Polymer Wax Sealant-High Gloss Shine+Durable Hydrophobic Beading & Long Lasting Paint Protection for Cars/Boats/Trucks/RVs & Motorcycles (16 fl oz)

Collinite 845 Insulator wax. Easy on, easy off. Looks great, sheds water and dirt pretty well and lasts for months. And it's cheap... +/- $15.00 per bottle @ autogeek.com I just tuned up my truck with a nice detail and 2 coats of Collinite for the winter. Good luck. wmb67

 

working in body shop most of my life as a painter
that shit is crappp just use the right clay bar and then follow it with a good quality carnuba wax after that use something like a fast wax by eagle one to keep it up or something like it .
Or u could go crazy like I do and do clay bar , then megulairs # 9 showcar glaze then wax what I did to cars at pebble beach when I attended .

 

As previously said, it was a "port installed" option. In this case, Gulf States Toyota distribution installed it. Basically the dealer had no choice and it was forced upon them to have to sell it to you.

Back in the 1960's, Toyota was looking to set up a nationwide dealer network here in the states and need a few distribution networks setup. Gulf States Toyota actually sprung from when Carroll Shelby actually turned down the opportunity upon pressure from the big three in Detroit. A loose associate of Carroll Shelby jumped on it and started what became Gulf States Toyota. This allowed Gulf States to control all Toyota franchises in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. So any dealer in these states has to order their vehicles through Gulf States exclusively. They are then processed and that is where Gulf States adds the stupid up sales and funky options that would not be found in a Toyota sold in another region and/or distribution network. Since Gulf States actually controls the franchises in these states, they require these dealers to order "X" amount of these over priced "fluff" packages.

IMHO, Gulf States Toyota and the others like it are a legalized extortion racket that adds cost that would not normally be there.

 

Bought and paid for, don't sweat it. Most polish and wax offers a quality shine and paint protection. Often it's how much work is involved in applying the product. Use the product till it's gone.
Over the last couple of years I have only given my car's one good wax a year but I use a detail spray every week. I use a car duster mop every morning and every Saturday or Sunday use a spray detailer on the pant and chrome. I only wash the truck about every 8 weeks.

 

Yes I know all about Gulf States toyota having owned 3 trucks and my wife had a Celica all of which had some GST add on stuff on the sticker. I found the sealer to work pretty good on the paint in the past on her Celica. I honestly never used it on my other two trucks, threw the bottles away. Like I said those items were taken off the price of my truck or I walked out. I do like the tinted front window treatment they did. Very nice job on that. As for the floor mats in the package I would have bought my own had it not been in that package. A receiver hitch was in the package also but I already had one of those so it was a bonus. I tried to buy a white truck with the same options minus the GST add on's but it was totalled on the way to the dealer in a dealer swap. I always bought white trucks until this one and under the circumstances I settled for the Silver with the same TRD sport options as the white one would have had plus the GST add on's it came with. It was a weird week to buy a truck but it the end I am happy with the silver truck.

I added the OEM skid plate on it today. Dealer gave me an internet price otd on it so I could not resist. My tailpipe tip is on backorder. After that I am done. Just gonna use it from there on out.