Is my dealer crazy????

Scrappy125

Scrappy125

New member
Hey All,
I just bought my 4runner a little more than a week ago, and now this....

The problem with my dealer is that they have told me that you CANNOT have a spoiler installed after the factory!!! When I purchased it, I told them I wanted it with a spoiler, and the salesman told me that the dealer would add it. He told me not to pay for it, but that they would order it and install it when it came in. When I spoke to the finance guy(as we were signing the papers) I again asked about ordering the spoiler. He told me to call and have them order it for me. Well, I went in to the dealership today and they told me that it isn't in the accessories catalog, and that it has to come from the factory installed.

Now I know, I have read on here that people installed the spoiler themselves, or had other shops do it. Has anybody had the dealer install the spoiler? What route should I take here? I can't help but feel I was lied to. Since it is a lease, I'd prefer to get all work done at the dealer, so that it won't be a fine if I decide not to purchase the truck at the end of the lease. Can I have another Toyota dealership install it?
Thankfully I haven't been called yet for my "follow up questioning" on how satisfied I am!

Thanks for reading.
 
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I believe it is because there is extra bracing inside the back hatch for the spolier. If you add it on you run a risk of the bolts pulling out of the sheet metal.


Good luck and congrats on the new runner.

Shawn
 
Your dealer is right in part. You can't buy a factory OEM Toyota spoiler as an accessory after your car is manufactured and have it put on. Toyota doesn't offer the OEM version as an accessory.

You have two choices: You can buy an aftermarket version and have it put on, or buy a "collision" replacement (if a factory spoiler gets damaged from an accident) and put that on. I'd go with the aftermarket version since you get the LED lights and it's a lot cheaper.
 
The sales was trying to close the deal before you change mind.
The financial guy simply pushed the problem to service department.
Unfortunately, the service department told you the truth. Good news is, you have the flexibility to use cheaper and better aftermarket thing.

Not too bad.

Scrappy125 said:
Hey All,
I just bought my 4runner a little more than a week ago, and now this....

The problem with my dealer is that they have told me that you CANNOT have a spoiler installed after the factory!!! When I purchased it, I told them I wanted it with a spoiler, and the salesman told me that the dealer would add it. He told me not to pay for it, but that they would order it and install it when it came in. When I spoke to the finance guy(as we were signing the papers) I again asked about ordering the spoiler. He told me to call and have them order it for me. Well, I went in to the dealership today and they told me that it isn't in the accessories catalog, and that it has to come from the factory installed.

Now I know, I have read on here that people installed the spoiler themselves, or had other shops do it. Has anybody had the dealer install the spoiler? What route should I take here? I can't help but feel I was lied to. Since it is a lease, I'd prefer to get all work done at the dealer, so that it won't be a fine if I decide not to purchase the truck at the end of the lease. Can I have another Toyota dealership install it?
Thankfully I haven't been called yet for my "follow up questioning" on how satisfied I am!

Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
 
Hitman, I think the new 05'-06' spoilers are really good looking.

Not only are they functional, I think they add a few more style points to the rear. I looked carefully at the new spoiler, and that hump actually elevates the leading edge and probably pulls down more air toward the back end then the 03' 04 does.
 
Well,
Thanks for the help guys, but I'm pretty pissed off about the whole thing. This dealership prides themselves on customer service, even having a person who's sole job is customer service representative. I'll be sure to raise all kinds of hell when I go in there tomorrow. I hate being lied to.

If nothing else, I want to leave there with a letter saying that I can get the spoiler added to the truck by someone else, and it won't effect my lease. That is if I can't get them to give me another option. I don't think that's too much to ask is it?
 
Hitman said:
Don't even worry about that... when the lease is over and you turn it in, they won't even realize that the spoiler was added later. They will probably think you bought it with the spoiler in the first place.

If not, it definitely won't detract from the value of the vehicle, so they will not complain.

If you like the looks of the spoiler and it will make you happy, just buy an aftermarket job and slap it on. Here's a pic of another member's Galactic Grey with the aftermarket spoiler. Notice the low profile LED light. It's even nicer than my factory spoiler.
Click to expand...

Thanks Hitman,
I'll start looking around Ebay for one.
 
Hitman said:
A collision replacement? That's funny. The rear spoiler has a part number, just like any other part on the 4Runner. If you have the correct part number, you can order the spoiler, whether you have a collision or not.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm saying. They have to have parts available in case someone does smash one of them up. I wouldn't pay the $615 price for it though.
 
a little confused here...
if it is a "lease" rather than purchase,
will stealership install it?
 
The stealership wouldn't do the actual install of the spoiler anyways!! All they would do is send it to a body shop they deal with (unless they have thier own) and then stick you with a huge bill.

Do yourself a favour and buy one from ebay, then have a reputable body shop paint it and put it on for you.

When you return the lease, the dealer won't even know it's aftermarket. I mean really, most of us here have more knowledge about the 'runner in our pinky finger then your average salesperson.
 
tkr128 said:
That's what I'm saying. They have to have parts available in case someone does smash one of them up. I wouldn't pay the $615 price for it though.
Click to expand...
Exactly.....ordering accesories and ordering replacement parts are 2 different things....so the dealer is not entirely wrong.

Replacement parts sold in low volume (like said spoiler) will often be so horrendously expensive, that many dealerships would simply tell you it's not available......because as price is mentioned, many customers will freak out right at the counter.

For example, to order Toyota fog lights for a vehicle that doesn't have them factory installed, and does not list them as an accessory can be up to something stupid like $900.......who the fuck is going to pay $900 for fog lights? No one. So instead of wasting time pricing them out just to have the customer frap out in the middle of the service department......it may be easier and more realistic just to say "No, can't get em."



Edit: In addition, when ordering accessories, something like a spoiler will come in a kit......everything you need to install is included. When ordering replacment parts there are no kits, so every part number must be found and ordered seperately in great detail......nuts, bolts, brake lamp, brake lamp wiring, retainers, templates, brakets or whatever you need to install the thing will all come individually.
 
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I think the Stealer told you whatever you wanted to hear to make the sale, KNOWING that they had no intention of installing the spoiler. The dealer can have the spoiler installed with their body shop. The lesson learned is NEVER take the stealers word for ANYTHING, get it in writing.

You could ask to see the owner (or write a letter) and tell him/her that you feel lied to and that if they don't make good for the lie you will never purchase another vehicle from them and you will tell anyone who is interested in purchasing a vehicle that his/her stealership will lie to you, to get the sale.

By the way, some people who have the 03 -04 spoiler will tell you how it is better then the 05 -06. The fact is it's a matter of personal opinion. I think that there will always be people who put down what has been improved and they don't have. They need to make themselves feel better about not having it. I feel the 05 spoiler distinguishes the improved design that is actually functional (and looks good). There is an increased amount of air flow down the rear of the vehicle which helps move water off the glass better and helps keep the exhaust smell away from the vehicle.

Koz
 
:iagree:

The increased downflow of air on the '05-'06 spoiler is very beneficial. Take a look in your rearview on the highway going 65 in a downpour. You can see perfectly out the back WITHOUT the rear wiper. The deflected air sheets the water off the rear window, no need to take your eyes off the road to use your rear wiper switch. During dry conditions it helps to keep the rear hatch and window free of dust/dirt (i.e. going up dirt roads) and helps keep the exhaust out.

Now, I'm not sure I'd call this thing a functional spoiler. I thought rear spoilers were suppored to deflect air up to create downforce??? Ours deflects the air down creating uplift on the rear of truck. Not like these are race cars but...
 
Hitman said:
I'm not one of them either. In fact, if I had an '05 spoiler on my 4Runner, I'd take it off and sell it, then buy an aftermarket version like the one pictured above.

I wonder if the bolt holes are the same between the factory and aftermarket spoilers?

FWIW, I can also see perfectly out of my rear window when driving in the rain without the rear wiper. Anyone that thinks the spoiler makes a big difference there is kidding himself. The spoiler is 95% style and maybe, just maybe 5% function.
Click to expand...


Hitman, your post has made me realize I was kidding myself and I'm going to remove it and get the 100% stylish one.

THANKS! :bonk:
Koz
 
Hitman said:
FWIW, I can also see perfectly out of my rear window when driving in the rain without the rear wiper. Anyone that thinks the spoiler makes a big difference there is kidding himself. The spoiler is 95% style and maybe, just maybe 5% function.
Click to expand...

How could you possibly make that statement when you've never had one that functions like the '05-'06??? Have you been in a truck with the two different spoilers in a heavy rain??? I haven't, and I'm assuming you haven't since you didn't say so in your previous post. :bash:

One thing I know for sure is that the downdraft created by the spoiler is both effective and beneficial. If it wasn't they probably wouldn't have changed the shape. Its pretty obvious driving in the rain that it "blows" rainwater off the rear window better than it would if it didn't have a spoiler, ask anyone with an '05-'06. When I finish washing my car the first thing to dry is the rear window after just a few hundred feet of speeds of 30mph+.

I'm not sure how the '03-'04's work, if at all, but I'm assuming the "ugly" and obviously very noticiable new lip on the '05-'06 creates the downdraft, therefore the previous version is non-functional from a downdraft standpoint.

My point is, since the '03-'04 is considered non-functional, and the '05-'06 is certainly more functional you can't make any kind of statement until you've seen both work. I'll admit that the '03'-'04 version looks less like a shopping cart handle than the '05-'06's, but I'd still rather have the function over the look anyday...
 
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