Why I HATE Buying New Cars

So, my ordered '23 Tacoma SR5 DCSB 2.7L came in last Friday, and I picked it up yesterday. It's an oddball configuration, basically an SR with the SR5 accompaniments. I didn't know they made the Tacoma in this configuration, but it was exactly what I wanted. I have to say, it's quite a step up from my '17 SR in just about every respect.

Love the truck, but as usual, the dealership experience has me pretty heated. My truck doesn't have over fenders (flares), but rather the SR body, like my previous SR, which I specifically wanted. One of the dealer added items was mud guards. I know for a fact that Toyota doesn't make mud guards for Tacoma's without flares, but they argued with me to the end. Afraid that they might drill holes to install aftermarket mud guards, I told them not to install them, that I'd install them myself. They handed me the box of OEM mud guards, and in a rush, I threw them in the truck and headed home.

That evening, I test fitted one, and sure enough, big gap where the flare would be. So I contact the dealer that's an hour away, even sending them a picture of the test fitting, and told them to refund me for the flares, and I'll mail them back at my own expense. To my surprise, they refused! They asked me to drive an hour to bring the truck in, and have their "experts" in the service department install them. I told them that I'd bet the parts manager, service manager, or both, $1,000, and I'll drive the truck down to have them installed. Waiting to hear back.

Pushing back on me like that when I just dropped coin on a brand new truck? Really?????

 

they would probably bolt them on...even though they are for fender flares

 

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Question I have is how can they refund you for the flares, if you never got them in the first place?

 

never underestimate the dealerships lack of knowledge about the vehicles they sell. i would be surprised if they could tell you the size of the V6 in liters

 

Actually I was surprised the matching color flares didn't come as oem equipment on the sr5. This must be a 2.7 issue as my v6 sr5 did. Same for the mud flaps back in 2020. Mud flaps are required in our state. I'm sure the cost of them was built into the truck when I ordered it.

 

Call the General Manager and the owner of the dealership, explain the situation, including why they will never fit your truck and what you offered to do. If you still don't get satisfaction tell him you'll be there in one hour to return them and for your money. If it was my truck I would demand to be allowed to watch the tech attempt to install them and would not allow them do it or even try to, if it required drilling any holes.

If they give you a hard time, remind them how much you just paid for your truck and then call Toyota directly and ask for assistance.

 

Yeah, like I said, it's an oddball configuration. When you get the SR5 with a 2.7L engine, you have to add the "SR5 Appearance Package" to get the flares and the SR5 wheels, neither of which I wanted. When you get the SR5 with the V-6, the flares and wheels are standard. There was only 3 of my configuration coming from the factory at the time I ordered it. I don't think anyone knows it exists!!

 

Stop buying new cars? And trucks?

 

Yeah, some things I let go, but it just pisses me off that they immediately pushed back the way they did. This one I'll pursue to the end.

 

I bought my sr5 xp back in November and you DO have to think ahead nowadays and have the dealer NOT do things while you’re purchasing. Example, do not run my truck through your machine car wash* no thanks

 

So you’re mad about something you knew wasn’t gonna be correct in the first place. Even if they insisted, you couldn’t take 5 min before you left to just open the box and do a dry fit before leaving? And this is your only grip with the dealer?

Having installed dealer accessories for 10 years I can assure you that most sales people are clueless. They’d sell customers things all the time that didn’t fit the customers vehicle trim. Or make promises on things they shouldn’t have ever done just to try and make a sale and keep a customer happy.

 

I’m glad you like the truck but https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/1375382/tacoma-world-3rd-gen-forum

 

To be honest, I'm happy the way my truck came...the color matching flares, and mud flaps make the truck more finished looking, plus from having them on my tundra, they help prevent paint chips down the side of the truck. I made sure I had them on the invoice sheet.

 

My dealer decided to detail it after I told them not to wash it, and they scratched the shit out of the plastic instrument panel.

 

Part out ?

 

no flares on an SR5 must be a 2.7L thing. my 2020 came with body color flares and the dark charcoal SR5 alloy wheels. Mud flaps were a port option mine didn't have the only thing mine came with other than the things the v6 double cab Sr5 came with standard was the door sill protectors and all weather mats. I just ordered some ToughSkinz mud flaps and installed them on my own.

 

That's not a great situation considering you just bought a new truck from them.

Seems like the experience had you wanting to leave right away...hence the rush exit and guards thrown in the back of the truck reaction.

It's too bad you weren't closer so you could conveniently return for refund.

I've never tried to get a refund over the phone from a vendor I visited--that's a new one on me.

Seems you may have to go back there to take care of this matter in person.

 

I'm a big believer in the mud flaps. I ordered a set of Weathertech, same as I had on my SR, when I got home.

 

Well, they assured me all the way to the truck that the flaps would fit. I dunno, maybe Toyota just came out with an OEM set for SR's, and I wasn't in the know? I was already late for a meeting, so I had to leave pretty quickly. I got there at 11, and the truck wasn't even ready until noon, so I didn't get out of there until 12:45. It's a gruesome process. The gripe is their pushing back and questioning whether I had the wherewithal to install a set of mud flaps. Drive two hours to have their service department "show me they do fit"? Uh, no.....