thinking of buying a used 3rd Gen Tacoma?

Hello Tw, I recently just purchased a 3rd gen. Taco. As I was going through the purchasing process the manager was talking to me about adding on a "service package." I usually don't get these when purchasing a vehicle but considering the year and how many miles it had on, just a bit over 50k, I decided buying it would be good investment. I purchased the "platinum" package that covers pretty much everything top to bottom except regular maintenance. At the time I never considered what I could and couldn't do with the vehicle and with the excitement of purchasing the truck of my dreams I spaced it out. Fast forwarding to the present I took the taco into the service department to have them look at the truck since it’s been having a vibration and noise coming from underneath the floorboard near driver side (this is due to most likely putting on the new suspension and truck not being leveled causing the needle bearing to be replaced). Therefore, I took it in bc the bearing being a greaseable bearing should be covered under the so called "protection plan." They checked the vehicle, and they concluded the front differential needed to be replaced, they told me that the front diff. is covered, and they'll replace it, but they need to take pictures of the truck and send it to the warranty company. They took the pics and I waited a couple days to hear back from the dealership, the service tech calls me up and asked me to send them a better picture of the wheels with the tire size. So, I kind of knew that the tires were probably going to be an issue with the warranty, since I put on some 33” Wrangler Duratracks (I went online and read what voids the warranty and having tires that are 2” bigger than OEM is not acceptable.) If you’re thinking of buying a new or used Tacoma and they want to sell you a “service package,” ask them if there’s limitations and stipulations of what you can do with the truck and might be a different package you can buy or add to the warranty. I know now after doing some research that there was a “offroad package” I could have bought that covers the truck if you don’t go over a 6” lift and 6” tire. These are things just to consider when buying Off-road Truck.

 

Very informative. Thanks for your notes.

 

Bro, paragraphs. Seriously, that fucking wall of text was a killer.

- 90% that vibration is needle bearing, not a front dif issue. Just about everyone who lifts their Taco will have this problem, extended warranties shouldn't cover it.
- Lying about what aftermarket parts were or weren't on your truck before you bought it is probably not a good idea
- swapping out tires to pass inspection is probably not a good idea
- extended warranties tend to be restrictive, especially on used trucks -> caveat emptor
- buying a shit warranty and then scamming the servicer is probably something you shouldn't post online about

 

You bought an after market warranty via Toyota, not a Toyota warranty.

And just because you got scammed doesn't mean trying to scam the scammer won't ultimately bite you on the bum.

Just have an independent shop put the needle bearing in it, as it's your responsibility due to the lift.

Then hope if anything else breaks it's legit and warranty covered, as there are a lot of exclusions in the small print on those things.

The only thing no one can take from you is your integrity. You have to give that away...........

 

You do you bro, but I would not post it online lol

I don’t post that I am an unlicensed part time pharmacist online

 

I made this post to warn people of what to avoid getting a protection plan when buying a taco and what to ask for when the dealership is trying to sell you something you probably don't need.

 

You done fucked up son. The answer to any question after negotiating the cost of a vehicle and before leaving with the keys is always no. The dealerships don't ask you to buy wheel protection plans, interior protection plans, extended warranties or any of the rest of that crap because they care about you, it's because its nearly 100% profit for them.

 

lol wheel protection plan or interior plan I hope I'm not that dumb (but don't answer that lol.) The main concern I had when buying the plan was the transmission and electrical components in the truck. Worse case scenario if they don't fix it, the service plan is refundable and a good thing using it so earlier after buying it means I'll get back 90% of it since it based on how long and how many miles I drove it.

 

Not sure why people are flaming this guy about scamming the warranty. I didn't read it as he was trying to do that, but I do see the post was edited so maybe I missed that. I would say buying a used anything right now just doesn't make much sense. Used prices are over new on a lot of Tacoma's. My 2020 Gladiator was totaled and I made $6k.

 

Never ever buy any extended warranties or protection plans. Only whatever comes with the vehicle, no warranties that are an additional cost. A good friend of mine was a manager at a car dealership… although I already had a good idea, he told me straight up, their job is to sell you on it and when you come in for a warranty claim, they’ll find any little loophole they can not to honor it.

 

I’m in the same boat, wasn’t sure what the replies were referring to. Had to look back and yep, edited by OP.

 

I bought the wheel protection plan and have ABSOLUTELY profited from it. I wheel the truck and am always gouging wheels and since my wheel covers are plastic, I get a replacement wheel every time I gouge it. Not always a bad idea depending on how you intend to use the vehicle. And that price is always negotiable. I talked him down $1500 on the protection.

 

Definitely