Buying a new prado - what not to get!

[HawkerD4D Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close HawkerD4D]

I've had my new Prado GX for 3 weeks and but I regret agreeing to the dealership's paint, vinyl and fabric protection and window tinting accessories from outside but associated companies. Basically they didn't do it professionally. So to anyone who is thinking about buying a new Prado - don't get the protection and tinting option at $1300. Go and arrange your own people, you'll get a better outcome based on my experience. One saving grace is that the dealership refunded $995 without argument.

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

They tried to do that when my wife got her new car (I was with her). They had the pretty sales lady saying this and that (when I know from past experience it is a load of crap). The only thing I wanted was extended warranty. I got that reduced from $1900 to $1200 when I said SWANN could do it better (for a Mazda 3).

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Depends on who the dealer sub-contracts to perform these additions.

No complaints from Windsor Toyota regarding paint protection and window tinting applied 2.5 years ago.

As for fabric protection, bought 2 cans of Scotchgard spray and applied them myself, still looks good and stain free.

Hawker, you need to add your location.

[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

Usually it's TintaCar, my ex's mum had one here in WA, they did all the surrounding Toyota, Ford, Holden etc dealerships. I even worked in there a bit, around the time of the new VE's coming coming out. It's a complete rip off, the dealerships are making all their markup for making a phone call, they don't even deliver the cars, TintaCar goes and gets them. Talk to your local car tint guy, if you want to save some coin.

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

a 150 and buy a 120.. put ya extra coin in ya sky rocket...b much happier

cheers butane

[KH Lee Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close KH Lee]

Re. performance/workmanship. 100% agree on who the dealer sub-contractor is. Considered my quote was asking $450 for the two front windows, I had it tinted for only $170 in the next day, i.e. $280 saving! (The tint was done in June and now I am very happy with it).

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yeah when i worked for Toyota we called it the pro-pac, paint pro, fabric pro, rust pro. The fabric pro was scotchguard come in 20L drum, we just sprayed it on by a hand spray would be the only thing I would get but I wouldnt get it from the dealer, as above buy yourself and spry on and save a shit load, the paint pro was a total joke, was just rubbed on by hand then the dealer told them all they had to do wash it would never need polishing, load of bullshit. Rust pro was just sprayed over everything and not where it was needed like inside the front of lower guards and things WHERE they did rust, not sprayed all over exhaust, tailshaft, was more of a sound deadening on the floor pan........Save you money get the window tint after as well. When I worked for Toyota and I bought my car new from them they still tried it on me, I didnt even get aircon, fitted that myself at a later date and saved a fortune (bit hard now plus most come with air anyway now like they bloody should, aircon should not be an option these days......Cheers Steve

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

As Steve stated, have an independent expert apply the rust proofing, as they usually do a proper job and cover the essentials. The Prado coating was applied by a bloke from Caringbah, in the business for over 25 years, and it took him 2 hours to complete the job (on the street outside my home) At the dealers, it is just a quick spray job.

As for window tinting, it is one job you do not do yourself, only use a long time company, as many of the mobile businesses cannot apply it properly, and you will never find them again when the tinting bubbles, comes loose, etc.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

""As for window tinting, it is one job you do not do yourself, only use a long time company, as many of the mobile businesses cannot apply it properly, and you will never find them again when the tinting bubbles, comes loose, etc."" Very good point yowie.....Cheers Steve

[chappy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chappy]

I've had my GX since feb this year and am happy with the job newtown toyota have done sofar.unfortunatley a mate advised me after pickup it would have been cheaper to have got the window tinting done by window tint seperately.

lesson learned.

[Rooster Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rooster]

I wish I could name the so called reputable company that did the window tint on my 2011 150. It has bubbled and when I rang them to ask about the lifetime warranty they advised because I was second owner they won't fix it! Grrrrrrrrr

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi there Rooster, you can. why not ?? if there done a shit house job then dont see why naming them would be a problem. I know premier tint (not sure if still around or not) but they were the same, only give it to the original owner which is common. Alot will tell you life time warranty but only on workmanship not the tint itself and nine times out of ten will tell you its a tint issue so you need to take it up with the supplier. Theres always some bullshit clause thrown in there with warranty..........Based on the fact its an 2011 model there still should be some normal warranty apply to who ever owns it ?? Life time I could understand but for tint thats less then 12 months old, you gotta be kidding me. If its a big chain why not ring the big boss up (owner, do this first) and maybe just maybe he will be understanding of the fact that its not very old and if this gets you no where, just drop a slight hint that the 4wd forum your a member of probably would think twice about using your business for any further tint applications !!!! Cheers Steve

[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

If it's a chain or franchise and you have no luck with the store, contact the State Manager next. And mention you frequent an online community that are interested in your progress

[Rrob Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rrob]

Very annoying that "privacy glass" was already installed on the GXL I purchased, but had the someone in the dealer's office on the phone trying to "sell" it to me with an answer required quickly as the "special offer" was only open for the next 45 minutes!

That is so close to fraud ....

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi there Rrob, when I worked for toyota we had a customer come in wanting a Lexcen (rebadged commodore) BUT he didnt want aircon but with the lexcens it was standard but the sales man said it was an option. The bloke decided he didnt want aircon and the dealer wanted 1500 for it, customer said no, you told me its an option and I dont want it, but sir you have to have it, its in the car well your telling me its an option and Im not paying 1500 for some thing thats and option, (pulls out brochure) look even says here, aircon optional extra and I dont want it. Well we cant sell you a lexcen as its in all of them and we cant remove it, customer, I want the car and Im not paying for the aircon its an option I dont need or want and dont like aircon its too stuffy. salesman relents and the customer gets the aircon for nothing. Best part was when he come to pick the car up, was a hot day fisrt thing he did was turn the air on shaked the salesman hand for the car and drove off with all windows up and aircon going.... LOL was the best, Im quit sure the salesman muttered some thing about asshole.................Will never forget that one.....Cheers Steve