Advice on Wrecked 3rd Gen :(

Turning a corner in the parking garage I turned in too tight to avoid larger vehicles parked on the end caps and hit the smaller concrete side wall on the passenger side of my truck. It's caused body damage and alignment issues. The dealership said it would take 8 days to fix the body but the parts needed to fix the alignment issue are on back order with no provide-able ETA ()! They've also mentioned other 2016 taco's they've had in have had to wait upwards of 60 days before the necessary repair parts came in. Yikes!

Since I'm in a rental that I'm paying for out of pocket they said they could possibly do the body work and give me the truck back to drive until the alignment parts arrived but the tread on my tires would wear quickly.

Should I turn the rental in to save money and get my gal back or would the cost of possibly replacing the tires be more expensive than keeping a rental? I'm looking at about $800-$1600 for the rental depending on how long the repairs take and have factory tired on the truck. I also drive about 200 miles each week.

 

Ouch. Sorry.

 

Oh man. I would probably risk it and take the truck personally. But that's just me, you should do whatever will save some money.

 

Based on your description, I wouldn't worry too much about running it for 60 days. A new set of tires is much cheaper than 60 days of rental.

Also, don't feel bad. Stuff happens. Somehow I got into my first accident in 12 years in my BBP. Totally my fault. Fortunately the shop was able to get everything quickly and should have it back next week (new bumper, fender, light etc.).

 

You might ask dealer (or a tire place) for a couple of cheap used tires and run them on rear for 60 days. Just a thought.

 

2016 parts availability really sucks!

I guess 2nd gen parts would not work?

 

How does a minor sideswipe affect an alignment?

 

This is an amazing idea that I hadn't thought of. If you were here we'd buy you a beer! I'll look into it.

 

That was my thought. The garage is tight and one can't go more than about 5 mi around each turn but I must have clipped it sharp and hard and it caused my steering wheel to turn almost a quarter turn. Even had a guy almost follow me home to tell me I was driving straight but the truck was a little crooked.

 

Definitely try getting cheap tires. If not id say 800-1600 (large range...) is gonna end up a lot more costly than the 800 it would be for new tires, however, only you can tell if running it is gonna do more harm in the shortterm

 

I'm really beginning to think that these 3rd Generation Tacomas are cursed. Every day I see a new thread of one getting fucked up.

 

Where do you live? Just wondering why the extended period of time to fix this.

 

I'd drive it and use it as an excuse to upgrade the factory tires.

 

The dealership said it was due in part from being a new model which didn't have a surplus of parts allocated yet. They said a few in line were already allocated to a couple of Canadian dealerships and the rest are back ordered.

 

Take it back and drive it for 60 days. I doubt it will wear down the tires that fast.

 

Can I make that my signature line???

 

No way that knocked that thing out of alignment. Even if it did I'll be its only slightly off. Screw paying put of pocket for a rental that long.

 

Let the insurance pick up the bill? Looks like several thousand for the final total.

 

I would worry about a bent frame if it isn't tracking down the road straight, not sure why alignment would be screwed up from just a side swipe...then again I'm not an auto mechanic.

 

You couldn't have been going that fast in the garage and to have as much damage done as what the deal ed is telling you seems exessive. You side swiped something and have body damage. I would get a second opinion. That is just me.