So I guess they ran a story on this on the local news near where my mother lives, and I'm glad they did because this is the first time i've heard about this program. I of course rushed to the internet to verify the story and here I am....
I haven't received a letter yet but have a 1999 Tacoma 4X4 and I'm actually hoping I'm in the right VIN range and get the letter, then hoping I fail the test and get the 'excellent' book value and 150% offer... hell, with the condition my truck is in, I'd accept just the 'excellent' value without the 150%. My tacoma has seen better days and I was planning on buying a new vehicle (a more fuel efficient sedan) before 2009 hit anyway. With the repairs it needs it's probably worth under $2000 as a trade-in... I'd be giddy with the 'excellent' price, which is around or upwards of $8000
So are holes the litmus ? If there are existing visible holes in the frame or if the techs can produce a hole with a hammer ? My frame is pretty rusty, especially around the leaf spring shackles and on the springs themselves, but there are no holes at all, just a lot of missing paint and a lot of rust (and not only on the frame).
One of the reasons I am planning on getting a new vehicle is that my Tacoma has faulty leaf springs, each with one or more leafs broken or removed, the suspension is in poor shape and I need new springs... which would run me $1000 - $1500 at the dealer, not worth it to me at this point. The thing is... I've never carried an overly heavy load in my Tacoma bed, so I can see no other reason for the broken springs except for this corrosion, and the minefield of potholes that are on seemingly every local road in greater Boston. I'm hoping they take the rotted springs into account, but something tells me they won't.
mustang67408, if I were to post a couple of pictures from underneath my Tacoma of my frame, would you be willing to give me your (informal, off the record) opinion on whether I might be a candidate based on what you yourself know/have seen ?
I'm not sure I want to try and produce some holes myself with a hammer, but I'm willing to try if it helps get me the 150% deal.
