A Dilemma for your consideration.

So as a couple of you may remember, I bought my 2011 TRD sport DCSB earlier this year and discovered a couple weeks later that it had been damaged by the previous owner. They had hit something so hard from under the truck that it had pushed the steering rack in to the oil pan. Dealer did right and replaced the steering rack and oil pan for me. Ever since then I've had it in the shop a couple times a month ferreting out squeeks and rattles and just trying to get everything worked out.

The last time I brought it in was for a particularly annoying squeek from the front of the truck that only occurs when it's really humid or after a good rain. The shop located it and showed me a body mount that wasn't sitting straight and the bushings were getting squished on one side and causing the noise. They told me that I would have to get that fixed by a body shop, so I went around looking for estimates. All the reputable ones in town are too busy to look at it for a while, but it sounds like my frame could be tweaked.

I really like this truck. I've been patient with it even though it's spent more time in the shop than any of my previous cars. It might be time to get rid of it though if there's a frame issue. And I was wondering if the good folks here could give me suggestions on my options.

Option #1
Fix it. Get an appointment with a body shop and find out what's really going on, wait until august until they have an opening to work on it (seriously, they're all swamped this summer for some reason) and just hope that whatever the fix is, that it'll be good after this and that nothing else happens for a long time.

Option #2
Buy a new Tacoma. I really like this truck, and I know that I would be happy with another one. The flip side is I would eat it a little on trade in value. It's looking like it would add another $4k on to my loan.

Option #3
Trade it in on a F150. The dealer I bought it from sells Fords, and they said that they wouldn't buy the Tacoma back from me, but they would give me close to what I payed for it on trade in since I've been having so many issues with it. With the incentives Ford is offering, I can get an extended cab F150 with the 5.0 and some options packages for less than a new Tacoma TRD. I do like the new F150's, they're big, comfy, fast and get the same mileage as my V6 Tacoma or even better. The problem is, they're big, and I'm sure I would get used to it, but I wonder if I would miss the better handling and fun of the Tacoma. Their used car selection is garbage and nothing else is appealing to me.

Option #4
Trade it in on something cheap and just not have payments for a while. I've been looking around and haven't been too successful on this. The best thing I've found is the older 4runners with the manual tranny. I'm kind of hesitant to go trade this thing in to some random dealer though. I wouldn't feel right trading a potentially jacked up truck to some unsuspecting dealer and just saying "oh, it's fine, just wanted something else." They may be plenty of scumbags in the buisness, but I don't want to join them.

I've been going around in circles with my thinking the last couple weeks and want to get this resolved sometime soon. So I ask you, fellow members of Tacoma World, what do you think?

I'm open to other suggestions as well, perhaps something I didn't even think of.

 

miles? certified used?

 

15.5k on it now, it was "Q-certified" which apparently isn't too hard to obtain.

 

The dealer sold you a bunk truck and I really think that they should be the ones who should compensate you for it. Because they let you go home with a jacked up truck, I would not trust them to really do you right in terms of being fair.

And I totally understand what you say about not wanting to pass the truck onto some other unsuspecting dealership/customer.

With that, I'd say get the Ford. From my family's experience, the trucks are really nice compared to their car line. You will probably get used to its size. Granted, you are in a sense being forced to buy another vehicle from them, at least you know that they know about the issues, and from then the bent truck is their problem to deal with.

 

I'm sure that's exactly what happened. "Ooops, I broke it, better get a new one."

I always think of this video when I imagine what happened to it.
I'm having trouble posting the link for some reason, but it's "bro destroys tacoma in desert" on youtube.

 

not a toyota dealer just a used car dealer?

 

The F150 is the only full size truck that I like, and I'm sure my girl would like it since it's an auto and she can fold up the center seat and sit next to me on road trips. Their cars are getting better, but nothing that really grabs me.

 

Ford dealer in a different town. Same name as the Toyota and Ford dealer here in this town, but I found out later that apparently they're the same in name only. I wish I would have bought it from the guys in town here, their service shop is the best I've ever used.

 

just read the q certified stuff. i would find out what the 128 vehicle inspection q certified has laid out for the dealer. a certified technician has to perform it. i would ask to see his certifications. and then i would write there management a nice letter from a law office letter head stating that there could be action held against them for fraud and to resolve the issue would be to cancel the remainder of the loan and and everyone walks away. and you find you a nice vehicle somewhere else. just a thought

 

also it would have been toyota certified pre owned 100k powertrain warrenty and your issues would have been easier to resolve. but life happens.

 

I would just get a new Tacoma or a used that isn't beat up. You don't know what kind of problems you might run into with that one that's been wrecked. Just not worth it.

 

This has nothing to do with your dilemma, I just wanted to point out that that video is pretty famous here on TW. It was a pretty big ordeal from what I remember.

 

I know it doesn't, but it always comes to mind when I try to imagine just what the previous owner had done to mine. Seems to be the same type of damage, but I'm sure much worse than what I have.

 

I was probably going to use this in trade in negotiations with them if I went that route. I had considered just using it to make them take the truck back, but I would be out the $1500ish sales tax that I paid, which I don't believe is refundable.

 

Since they are both Ford dealerships you can take it to the one that you like, doesn't have to be where you bought it from.

 

Oh I understand totally! And I meant that my post had nothing to do with your dilemma not meaning the video had nothing to do with it but you are right. It's always hard to know truely what happened with previous owners.

 

I had a buddy in Los Angeles get rid of one of his cars this way:
Step 1: Call a friend who frequently visits Mexico.
Step 2: Ask your amigo if he has any uncles who can get some money for a smuggled truck in Mexico.
Step 3: Go to Walmart and get a spare key made.
Step 4: Your buddy takes the truck on a fun-filled trip to beautiful Mexico.
Step 5: Have your buddy text you the 'secret code word that the border has been passed.
Step 6: Call the cops and report the truck stolen.

 

Where you at in WY?

 

I uhh... don't think the mods will let this one fly.

 

This is a good reason to stay with another Tacoma, the ford forums aren't nearly as entertaining as this one.