I bought the undercoating package from the dealer when I bought my 99' Tacoma a few years ago. I thought it was a bunch of crap and said I wouldn't buy it again for my next new car or truck. In my first off roading trip w/the Tacoma my frame and wheel wells were stained w/mud and wouldn't come off. The stuff is a magnet for dirt/grime/mud. I had to use a wire brush to to remove it and then painted overtop of it w/Rustoleum. I haven't had any problems w/staining since... The reason, I'm asking is because I opted not to get it done to my new 4Runner. I don't want that crap to stick to my undercarriage and make a mess. Is there an alternative to the stuff the dealer uses? Did I make a mistake by not getting it done? Should I spray some rustoleum or anything in the wheel wells or frame? If so, what else should I make sure to spray? Thanks for the help,
Justin
The stuff the dealer uses is a rip off. Do not buy it. They sell it for about $300 and it cost them about $20. With new cars, there are very few parts that they can actually spray it because of all the plastic that is used on new cars. You don't need it. Cars do not rust like GM cars did in the 70s.
The paint sealant and the fabric protectant are wastes as well. $300 for a spray wax that you get at a car wash and a can of scotch gard= big profits for your dealer.
The other scam is the window etching. What a joke. $250 for a kit that you can buy for $10 is a big rip off. It does not stop thefts and your insurance company gives very little if any discount for it.
Now that I think of it, just avoid all the add ons. There is a reason that they hire real hot women to sell that junk.
Cool... I feel better that I didn't buy any of that stuff. I didn't notice a huge difference when I had it done on the Tacoma and I wasn't going to fork out the cash to have it done again if not necessary.. I completely blew off the customer service lady that tries to force this stuff on car buyers. They try to tell you horror stories of acid rain eating your paint and rust making your wheels fall of immediately if not done..... B.S. I told her I wasn't interested and didn't want to buy the products and not to waste her time on me... She just shook her head and told me I was making a big mistake as she walked out of the room. Yeah right, I'm just not a sucker like everyone else buying a new vehicle...haha.
All that is pure profit for the dealers, I have seen dealers undercoat trucks and cars and it is a joke, my friend undercoated a T100 back in 96 and their was nothin to really undercoat he ended up throwing mostly a full can of undercoat out no wonder they don't let customers in the shop cause the customers would know.
My fathers Xgirl friend has a 92 Camry that has never been washed and never garaged in the 13 years she has had it, except for a rough paint job the car looks fine, no signs of rust and it sits salt covered for months before rain washes the salt off.
All these new vehicles already have everything undercoated, just slide underneath and notice how everything has a black layer or paint coating.
I would not undercoat any new 4Runner cause 1 everything is already coated and 2 your engine will have a lot of crap sprayed on it
Thank gosh for the internet cause it only makes people smarter to these dealers who use cunstomers
Back in the 60's undercoating was originally for rust protection and also had some sound deadening benefit. It was a heavy asphalt based goop that was sprayed on and dried hard.
Now a days the rust protection is built into the many bath dips the modern truck frames are put thru before assembly. Additional undercoat is not needed. And sound deading is already added at the factory into the cab floor.
Maybe If you were going to keep your truck 20 years in an environment whith heavily salted roads in winter then maybe you would see some benefit, or maybe not, who knows.
I think so. I hope at least. I have dealt with my fair share of idiots in the past few weeks. I stumbled on to a guy at Koons of all places that wanted to move a unit. The guy was extremely cool. He located the one that I wanted at a dealership in Richmond. Get this, he actually gave me the name of the dealership and told me that I could either deal with them or he could try to get it transferred to koons. I was amazed that he was going to let me go just to see that I got what I wanted.
Anyway, he contacted them and had it transferred. Since it is still 2 weeks away, it will go straight to Koons instead of Richmond.
The story gets sweeter. I wasn't happy about some of the options when he told me what was on it. After he completed the transfer with the Richmond dealer, he called me back and said "Hey, you didn't sound thrilled with some of the options, are there any port installed items that you would like to have removed?" I was amazed. That saved me about $200 in junk that I don't need. That will cover the stupid processing fee.
Anyway, I am getting EXACTLY what I want for $300 over invoice.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will go as smooth at it has so far.
I am guessing it is crossing through the Panama Canal about now. It should hit the port on the 11th and be delivered to me by the 15th. That is as long as there is no more snow.
Congrats.. I'm glad you finally found the one you were looking for.. Remind me again what color and package you were looking for.... Also, what options are they going to remove that you didn't want?
This is what I am getting:
SR5 V8 4x4 in Stratosphere Mica (big word for Dark blue) W/ Appearance package. I just love painted tupperware.
Options:
Sunroof
Running boards
6 disk changer (no Jbl)
Leather steering wheel and audio controls
Roof Rack
Double decker ($100 for a freaking shelf?)
Convience package (floor mats)
Alloy wheels
Removed:
Wheel locks
Rear audio headphones
something else that I can't remember but it was $200
I have it figured to be around $30500-$31000. They haven't got the actual invoice and I am going off of what I have seen on edmunds, carsdirect, and KBB for invoice pricing.
How much did lustine charge you for their "processing fee"?
I wanted the Stratosphere, but Lustine only had 1 on the lot and it was a V6 limited..
I ended up getting my 2nd choice, Titanium W/ the SE package instead but I had a hard time choosing between the Titanium and the Galactic Grey. I chose the Titanium because it was a lighter color and would hide dirt better. My 4Runner SE ended up being $31,900 +Taxes, title, and processing and I was @ almost $34K. I think the processing @ Lustine was $289 That's one way the dealer makes a killing off of everyone.... B.S.. What blew my mind is what their salaries are in sales. I had a long conversation w/the finance guy and he was very cool He told me several of those guys make $250K a year! He said the average salesman on their floor makes $70k.... Damn good money..
looks like you're new 4runner is gonna kick @ss (hope i can say this?)
make sure you take some pix as I'd like to see that blue in action. (that was gonna be my 2nd choice color but they had the green so i went w/ the #1 )
Opinions on Undercoating?
That's one way the dealer makes a killing off of everyone.... B.S.. What blew my mind is what their salaries are in sales. I had a long conversation w/the finance guy and he was very cool He told me several of those guys make $250K a year! He said the average salesman on their floor makes $70k.... Damn good money..
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