Buying New Tacoma, Should I get AutoArmor?

Howdy!

Next week I am picking up my new 09 Taco Double Cab TRD Off-Road. Yay! Anyway, I wanted to hear your imput on the AutoArmor that the dealerships try to sell.

In the past, I know Auto Armor and rust-proofing, etc. got a bad rep as a scam. My dealer claims that is not the case anymore. Here's what they are offering (pushing)...

Acid Rain Environmental Protection - I guess this is a urethane that goes over the clearcoat to protect it. They even told me that once this is on, you don't even need to wax it, and even went as far as to suggest not to wax it. This about gave me a heart attack.

3M Nosemask Protection - Basically like a clear Bra that is supposed to protect against rock chips.

Interior Appearance Protection Plus - like a ScotchGard, but they will plant a tree. How nice...

Environmental Corrosion Protection and Soundshield - An undercoating to prevent rust and reduce noise.

The dealer told me he "just swears by it". Have any of you tried this stuff, and if so, what do you think. I feel that if this was the best thing to do, Toyota would have already done it.

Thanks!

 

Never ever get any "extras" from the dealership. Alot of that stuff will be ridiculously marked up and half the stuff you wont really need.

 

i guess that is for really lazy people that dont wash their cars and maintain them.

 

Undercoat it yourself, and just wax it every now and then. Will do more good than spraying crap over your clearcoat.

 

X2

I went in yesterday for a windshield TSB....and they told me they couldnt do it because my window has a crack in it.....so i asked how much to have it installed and they said it was 1300 bucks for a new windshield and 225 of that was installation.....so yeah....everything is mark up a tiny bit......

 

Most insurances cover winshields man. Crack just has to be big enough.

Hint



Hint...

 

This stuff is all bullshit.

If you want to protect your vehicle, wash and wax regularly. Do it even more often if you're near the ocean or otherwise have corrosive air. Be sure to pay special attention to thoroughly rinsing all portions of the undercarriage.

That is all.

 

You can get the 3M tape and do that stuff yourself as well. I've been looking into it for awhile, too lazy though.

 

you can get like 5 cans of rubber undercoating and just go under your truck and go to town....thats sound/rust proofing for ya

 

They would but I have 500 dollar deductable....

 

I just got them to do the under coating for me. Looks great. No regrets. I dropped 38 Grand on the truck, what's another $400 bucks for all the rest of that shit?

 

Some of us don't get a choice anyway. If you purchased from a dealer under the umbrella of SouthEast Toyota, you got the toyoguard package whether you want it or not. SE Toyo puts it on at port before sending the vehicles to dealers, makes the dealer pay for it, and this forces the dealer to pass the cost on to the customer. Joy.

 

As it takes a couple of months for paint to season - if your truck has been recently built - the paint protectant will probably do more harm than good. There are much better aftermarket products available than what the dealer offers which are a lot less expensive.

 

I have the 3m Bra and I don't mind it. You can only really see it up close and it has taken some pretty nice size rock dings and left no marks.

 

Yeah I just bought my truck and the finance guy got all pissy with me because i told him i didn't need any of it (I take great care of my vehicles).

He then gave me an example of bugs "cooking" on my hood and how they may not come off... Yeah then i officially knew how full of sh!t he was. You're good with out it man!

 

Don't even consider letting these thieves take you for this.All of this stuff can be done by you or aftermarket for a fraction of what they are trying to rob you of.They will laugh all the way to the bank saying what an idiot you are right after you leave.Tell them to shove their overpriced extras up their arrogant asses.

 

I like the 3M clearbra as well, its on my hood about up to the hood scoup, all over the bumper, grill, and the painted part of the mirrors as well. Almost 8,000 miles, no chips or dings in the hood or bumper.

I didn't have it done at the stealership though, I went to a local shop that does top notch work.

 

yeah in the southeast your new truck already has all that toyoguard and stuff on it...there is automatically like an $800 charge added in to the total cost

 

That's some more dealer BS. I got them to get me excactly what I wanted, and told them NO toyoguard. They had a few on the lot that didn't have it either. They can cover the cost with dealer cash, you just have to convince them. I have a buddy that got it on his Tundra and they took the cost off after he walked out.

 

Had mine replaced last month. $251.00 Some local glass place. The guy came right out to the house and did it within 1hr.