How was the paint quality on your new Tacoma?

Took delivery of a Lunar Rock Tacoma two days ago. Paint looks like the "detail" crew from the dealership took a dry rag and wiped the dirt off. They did a terrible job, truck was filthy.

Virtually the entire truck looks like in the photo. Some scratches are deep enough to catch your fingernail. Terrible in the sunlight.

I would have walked entirely if I wasn't in a bind and under a deadline to get the truck shipped out on a barge that only sails once per year. Sales guy tried to argue that all new Tacomas look like this and then said they already gave me a discount since I was able to negotiate them down to 1/2 of their $3999 additional dealer markup when I placed the order two months ago. After complaining more the best thing the dealer would do is offer another $500 off.

How did your paint look?

 

Not an option. I already paid for the shipping (1/2 the cost of the truck).

 

Wow that’s a lot of swirls. That’s totally inexcusable for the dealership. The sad part is that demand is so high that they stop giving a shit about the little things because someone will come right in after you and buy it

 

Paint on mine was perfect. Definitely looks like the work of a crappy dealership. Perhaps the $500 can be used to have a professional polishing compound/sealer applied.

 

this is exactly why I always make sure I tell them when buying a new car. DO NOT wash the vehicle or do anything to it that is not required before selling. Leave it dirty. The detail departments in 99.5% of the dealers wouldn't know what detailing is if it slapped them in the face.

 

My paint was perfect I had a minor hairline scratch from what looked like somebodies pant button maybe rubbing across but other than that there shouldn't be any swirls or anything of the sort even if inventory is low it shouldn't justify shitty detail crews, with less cars it should be easier to detail whats there

 

I have a lunar rock and the paint was especially bad compared to the two MGM 3rd gens I’ve had previously. The paint swirls with the lightest touch and I had planned to get a clear bra on the front end but noticed 4-5 decent sized rock chips on the plastic bumper within 2 days of owning the truck. The dealership never touched mine and it still had tons of swirls from the factory.

The best part is that I had my suspicions of shitty paint confirmed when I went to get a quote for a ceramic coating at two local detailers. Both of them read the paint depth and both had readings of around 80 or so microns at the thickest point and almost 70 at the thinnest. This is barely enough paint for a light polish before you risk eating through the clear…for reference most modern cars have around 100microns of clear and 120 or more for German cars.

I’m severely disappointed in the paint quality of lunar rock, especially since it looks so cool but I have a suspicion that the metallic paints used on these trucks are more resilient than the solid colors.

 

Sorry to hear this and see this. I picked up my 2022 last week. It was almost perfect…… not completely perfect, but close. I did tell the dealership to not wax it or put any stickers or detail it.

 

My 21 Celestial Silver was absolutely perfect. I bought it in August of 21. Drove from Long Island to Rhode Island. I remember telling my sales dude go check it out. Because I will leave if it has even a scratch. Brought my bro as a second set of impartial eyes. And it was perfect. Im seriously not trying to break anyones balls either. When they prep these things they should deliver something that is dam near close to perfect.

 

Picked up my Taco a couple days ago, covered in road salt from the transport truck trip. Untouched. Just as I requested. I also advised them not to touch (scratch) the interior. My salesman was a little confused but money is money.

Also always tell service departments to never wash my vehicles.

Guarantee the rag that cleaned (wet sanded) OP's truck had been on the ground more than one.

 

Sounds like a typical Alaska dealership. It’s not like you can just “go across town” to the other Toyota dealer. The next closest one to me is 400 miles away. This type of service attitude is pretty common up here.

 

Do we know if this is a big issue among all Lunar Rock models? I’m a out to pull the trigger on the deposit this week on a LR Off-road. Please tell me it’s not worth killing the deal for paint quality. ‍♂️

 

My biggest issue is the front bumper paint is totally a different texture from the rest of the truck. It looks like a cheap re-spray which I actually thought it was(I used to buy cars at auction for my dealership so I’m good at spotting issues) But I’ve seen other tacos with the same issue so I think it’s just common on the 22’s.

 

My Silver Sky Metallic has the dreaded blotchiness. Oh well, it's a F'kn' truck. Back in my day, these trucks didn't come with a rear bumper.

 

No issues here.

Yea they do the same thing all around the bottom of the truck too. TBH, it does look pretty terrible. I'd rather them give an option of a "clear film" like they do on bumpers and such rather than do that with paint. Not something I've ever noticed before and wasn't something I was scanning for when picking it up either. But it's MGM and a Montana truck... so it gets cleaned and destroyed on the way home.



Above is a pic for the first time I actually quick detailed it all winter.

But not much you can do @OP. I feel a bit sympathetic but I'd also never rely on something like that cutting it so close. Then again... best laid plans of mice and men... Some paint correction treatment should fix it up.

 

does your bumper look so frosted/matte in person? Both of my MGM’s I’ve owned didn’t look like that at all…they had a very distinct clear coat look on all the plastic parts.

 

I have the front bumper protection film, that could be why. But I doubt it. If you look at the post above mine with the Lunar Rock, same deal. It's something that's been brought up here before. Does yours have the sandblasted look to it across the bottom quarts of the cab and rear bumper? Also, what model and year? TRD OR?

I don't think there is any excuse for it, but I know I've seen it here on the forums in recent models. The protection film I have everywhere else doesn't look like that. My rear bumper was also crooked which I noticed about 2 weeks into it after coming out of a grocery store. They fixed that. Hell, in some pics I even notice the surrounding of the grille to be a slightly lighter color - but that is probably due to the frosted bumper. No idea what that is from. I suspect this is part of the "protection" film and maybe instead of a film now they just do this kind of paint like the rockers.

 

What year is yours? I think the sandblasted across the bottom of the cab is there by design, it’s an extra layer of paint to protect from rock debris. It’s on every single Tacoma.

I had two MGM’s a 2020 Sport and a 21 Off Road. Neither of them had the frosted look on the bumper. There was a very obvious layer of clear and the metallic flaked paint underneath. The only issue being a slightly different shade from the metal fenders and hoods but no frosted look.

I currently have a 22 Lunar Rock but can’t tell if I have the issue on my bumper. It definitely has a “shiny” look to it.

 

Yea I'll check it out tomorrow. It's a '22. It actually starts at the corners only. If you notice in the first pic I posted, it's shiny around the license plate area where I have my light bar mounted. Probably their new method of "protection"? Anyone get the bumper protection film recently and noticed any different?