My Tacoma buying FIASCO (Long)

I figured I'd share my Tacoma buying experience/fiasco. After checking out a few, I came across a de-badged 2006 TRD Off-Road double cab 4x4 with 215k for $14,000, browsing through the pictures it even has ATRAC and descent control, score! Strangely, it was sitting at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, (200k, 11 year old Toyota and all). The truck was pretty clean other than a couple of broken visors and some minor amounts of rust underneath, everything works perfect including the elocker and 4wd system. After some back and forth, we agreed to $14,000 out the door. As we're driving off the lot, my wife's 10 DAY old Fiat with 260 miles decides June is a good month for Christmas decorations via the dashboard. Great, at least it's drivable.



The next day I find someone selling a Retrax tonneau which is just what I wanted and for only $200, the only catch being they are a couple of hours away. Well, time for a roadtrip. Growing up with shitty cars, I have a habit of checking fluids, etc before a long drive (I know I just checked them a day and half ago). Coolant level seems to be towards the bottom of the filler neck on the radiator, that's slightly odd, no leaks either (Toyota coolant leaves a crusty pink/white residue so it's very easy to spot). I top it off and grab my obd2 scanner to monitor temps, etc during the trip. We get there no problem, tonneau is in good shape, and we start heading back. It's now well over 100 out, ac is ice cold, I was totally worried over nothing right? Later that night I decide to look at my new truck like a 12 yr old kid and remembered the coolant situation, pop the hood and...fuuuuuuuuuuck. Overflow tank is at the top despite sitting for several hours and has been obviously spewing out of it, I check the level in the radiator and its WAY down there. Fucking great, this has blown head gasket written all over it. Cap spring and seal look fine too.



I head down to the dealership in the morning and decide to drag a friend over with me given secret recorded conversations are generally not admissible in court, but witnesses are. While the paperwork states "as is" condition, the salesman promised me during the buying process any major issues shortly after the purchase would be "taken care of". I find the sales guy and he tells me "I'm sure they'll take care of everything", wow, awesome! Later that day the used car manager calls me and says that car was sold "as is" and I'm on my own. He eventually agrees to have his mechanic look at it.

A day later, they tell me the truck is fine after replacing the radiator cap. Ok, fair enough to give that a try. Luckily, they included paperwork from their shop noting the overflow condition. This might help later if we end up in court. Immediately after picking up the car, I take it for a long drive with my GoPro and yup, it's still pushing coolant into the overflow tank and beyond.

Having replaced head gaskets on Hondas, I start looking through service manuals and wow, 25 book hours. Job looks like a nightmare too. I do some shopping around and dealerships are getting $3500-$4500 for the job, surprisingly independent shops aren't much cheaper. Next morning I drop it off at Toyota for an official diagnostic and estimate. BHG confirmed. By now I've come to the conclusion if this head gasket is to be repaired, Toyota will do the work and I'll have to take my chances in small claims court (I can't exactly sue them for my time nor do I want to even do it).

I've been mainly communicating with the used car manager via email to document everything particularly times, dates, etc. Not long after sending him Toyota's diagnostic and estimate he replies saying there is nothing they are willing to do. I am furious and try and get in contact with the general manager, I am mad enough that after getting the GM's voicemail that I call the main number back and tell the secretary I need to speak to someone in-charge --NOW. She [allegedly] looks all over and cant find him, but tells me she will deliver my message in person. Over the next hour or two, I download and start filling out small claims court forms in preparation for his call back (I was planning to email him the completed filing documents while we were on the phone as a final warning). Then, I get this in my inbox....



They are going to take the truck back!!!


Soon as I get the refund, I start my search again. Given the last fiasco and the planned adventures me and the wife decide to splurge and get something with "only" 100,000 miles vs 200,000 We ended up spending $23,3 before taxes and fees, which was much more than originally planned, especially for a near-decade old truck but this is Emmett.....



2009
TRD Off-Road 4x4
55k
1 owner
Always in California, serviced at Toyota (down to wipers)
Bilstein 5100's all around
ProComp Alloy 1079 wheels (not sure these are my style)
BFG KO2 265/70r17 (virtually new)
Undercover Tonneau
Flowmaster muffler in factory exhaust (this is going away)


I'd be amazed if this thing even saw a fire road...



Broke it the following weekend




Side Note: Tomorrow will be 30 days since the Fiat went into the dealer and IT’S STILL BROKEN. Well, at least there’s the lemon law.

 

Can't believe stealer ship gave you back your money!! 1st truck looks like is was brought in from back east, a lot of rust on 2007 , new truck shows like a cali truck, Congratulations on new truck

 

One thing I learned from this thread:

Don't eff with you, if I'm selling you a vehicle. You came prepared.

 

Wow, that's a great find for sure. And it isn't like they rolled back the odometer on the 09, everything looks pristine. Hopefully you get that Fiat figured out, maybe buy another Toyota instead?

 

Sounds like you handled the situation appropriately. I'm glad it all worked out for you and you got them to give you back your money. That '09 looks great, and sounds like you got a good deal on it! Enjoy it!

 

OP...Great ending to your story, I was fearing (for you) the opposite.

That said, I would NEVER buy a vehicle with 214k miles for $14k but that's just me. How was the frame on the first truck you bought? Original or had it been replaced?

 

Wow! Great find. Congrats on the "new" truck.

 

I work at a dealer and I have never seen someone get all their money back. I'd say you did well! Nice new truck! (Again)

 

I agree, that's shocking.

 

Nice find. Looks like it was somebody's mall crawler for sure.

 

I love a happy ending! Best wishes and now go rip Fiat a new one.

 

Whoever traded that 06 knew exactly what was wrong with it and didn't want to fix it. It's like my 07, when it was traded it had a leaking water pump, leaking crankshaft seal, and a leaking axle shaft seal. Luckily all of these things were minor, but I'm guessing the previous owner probably got some dealer estimates and said "well, time to trade".

Make them buy that Fiat back (fix it again Tony) and get the wifey the CH-R in the background.

 

Where are you located? Before buying my 11000 mile 14 regular cab 4wd ($16000) I passed on a 08 60,000 mile SR5 xtended cab TRD Pro for $17000. Nice truck but had a couple of small interior and exterior flaws that kept me from pulling the trigger.
Can tell you one thing. If your looking for a used Toyota, don't buy it from a Toyota dealership or a chevy from a chevy dealer, etc. way to proud $$$ of their own product.

 

Great looking rig! congrats glad it worked out in the end.........you got a much better deal with the new truck.

 

Thanks, I consider it a skill to be THAT annoying of a person

 

The thing I don't get is what is the motivation behind all this? It's literally like $10,000 additional vs a prerunner

 

Absolutely, that guy shafted the dealer good on it. Im under zero stress with that Fiat pos. I have a loaner car and our other car is a prius thats high mileage, but rock solid.

 

I'm in Los Angeles. I actually bought the white one from a Toyota dealership

 

It was original, the rust wasn't that bad. Truth be told, it had me very stressed for a while.

 

It's possible, but the registration shows California all it's life. I'm under the impression they lived near the ocean in Calfornia because how high up some of the rust was, but none of it bad, not even below.