New Tacoma owner in need of advice

2 weeks ago I bought a 2010 Tacoma 4x4 from a large, well known dealership nearby. This is the fourth car or truck I've bought there. I was specifically looking for a Tacoma 4x4 TRD. Let me start by adding that I didn't know exactly all the details that makes a TRD just that, a TRD. I saw an ad that had just what I wanted, drove straight there and looked at and drove the truck. I made a comment about it NOT having the TRD decal but was told, "maybe they took it off". I never asked as I was trusting the ad that called it a TRD in the title of the ad and 5 other times in the description ! @ days after buying the truck, talking to some friends and doing some browsing on here, I find out that it is an SR5. Still nice, but NOT WHAT WAS ADVERTISED ! I have so far been told, "too bad" for the most part. It was a mis-print and they aren't responsible ! Really? I was asked if anyone at the dealer actually told me it was a TRD, I assumed the ad was sufficient. I am meeting with them tomorrow because they want to try to make me happy I guess. Any ideas or tips on how I should handle this or what kind of "deal" I should ask for to make it right. The truck is worth what I paid according to KBB, but it's NOT what I thought I was getting based on the ad.

 

Mine doesn't have a TRD sticker on the side ... because I took it off.

Not sure what to tell you, most of the time these kinds of issues fall back on the buyer due to not making well informed decisions prior to purchase. However, there may be someone out there who knows the law regarding false advertising. I assume you still have the ad and can prove this is the same vehicle in the ad?

 

Probably not a lot of recourse Rick. Just see if you can squeeze some free service out of them or maybe a good deal on a TRD supercharger.

 

Welcome to TW!
That is a toughy. Sorry that happened.
Since I owned both a SR5 (2006) & now a TRD Off Road (2013), there is a price difference new for a reason.
You get different seats, suspension, the locker, some other extras. The Off Road package on the Toyota website will list everything in the options portion if you do a hypothetical build of a new truck.
Yeah they definitely misrepresented the truck you bought.
I would po'd.
Come up with something you want, cash I dunno...it is tough since you now own the truck.
Maybe someone has better ideas.
Good luck tomorrow!

 

Welcome and that's a big thing there. Most dealerships have a disclaimer on their online ads and such to cover their ass's when something like this happens. If I were you, I would talk to them a get a copy or a screen shot of the description where they said it WAS a TRD package truck and show that to them and mention that you asked about the decal and was told that "the might have taken it off".

If a salesman told you it was a TRD and its not, and you can somehow prove that, you'll really have a good case on your hands. Other then that just be polite and assertive and see if they will discount it since you bought it thinking it was a TRD, if they refuse tell them you don't want it that your contacting the BBB and stir them up a little. But bump for more opinions.

 

Thanks guys ! I have screenshots of the entire ad, and I did mention the BBB and local news channel to them and thats when they asked me to come in and talk to them. I'm not looking for something for nothing, I really just want what I thought I was getting, and I should have been more informed but a little late now. I will see what they say tomorrow. It sucks to be excited about a new-ish truck that I really wanted and have to spend two weeks bummed out about the whole thing. If it doesn't work out, I guess I'll just make the one I got nicer !

 

Hope you can get somewhere with them! That really sucks if it is an SR5 and they sold it as a TRD. I highly doubt they will take it back or trade you for a different one, unless you were to pay additionally for a TRD. If you got a good deal on it then maybe it's not too bad of a thing. I had an SR5 prior to my TRD and it did everything I wanted it to and was very happy with it. I just read a post last night where a guy specifically bought an SR5 so that he could add the mods he wanted instead of paying extra for some of the TRD factory package options he didn't want.

 

That looks like a clear case of false advertising and you did ask someone before buying it and it was again misrepresented. Does your contract say if it's a TRD or SR5? If it says TRD you've won and can choose your remedy; return the truck, get a reimbursement of the value difference between the two, install TRD equipment for free, etc. If it says neither then you revert to the ad and person you asked, if it says SR5 you have a little less of a case, but still not completely closed. Legal rights aside, they may want to negotiate something just to avoid a stink. First see if they offer something that truly satisfies you. If not, be calm and deliberate and just tell them that you were advised that this is a case of false advertisement and you are giving them their one legally required chance to remedy before civil action. Don't approach this as asking them for a favor, you are graciously allowing them to right their wrong in a relatively painless way. If you deliver it confidently and they feel there's any possibility that they broke the law they will want to fix it. The other option is to put manners aside and get loud; they don't like that, especially if it's a busy day. When you go in take any witnesses that may have head the conversation about the stickers.