The Life and Times of Maggie

[Balakay]

Say hello to Maggie. Picked her up on September 23rd from Toyota of Dallas. 2016 T4R Trail Edition. She's replacing Lola, my 2003 Tacoma Xtra Cab. Plans for Maggie are to make her a reliable offroading/camping vehicle while still maintaining excellent street manners. I won't be doing any heavy duty offroading like I did with Lola.

What I've done so far:

• Husky Weatherbeaters Front, Rear, and Cargo
• Weathertech In-Channel Window Visors (Removed)
• LED Map and Dome Lights
• Sound Ordnance B-8PTD Under Driver's Seat
• 265/70/17 BFGoodrich KO2
• RCI Metalworks Aluminum Engine Skid
• Shrockworks Sliders with Tread Plates (Estimated Delivery January 2016)
• Fumoto Oil Drain Valve

Things to come:

• Icon Stage 2 Tubular
• Icon Rear Hydraulic Bump Stops
• 17" SCS Performance Matte Dark Bronze SR-8 Wheels
• RCI Metalworks Aluminum Transmission, Transfer Case, and Gas Tank Skids
• Trail Toys NSA Panel
• Trailworx Fab Lower Link Mount Skids
• Prinsu Roof Rack
• CVT Awning
• Lights Everywhere!!!
• Diehard Platinum 31M Battery in Pelfreybilt Cage
• Hefty Fab Aluminum Front Bumper
• SSS Rear Bumper
• Morimoto HID Kit from TRS
• Morimoto LED Fog Lights from TRS
• Wet Okole Seat Covers
• 63qt ARB Fridge
• Dual Battery Setup with Solar Panel
• BetterBuilt SUV Drawer in Cargo Area
• B&M Transmission Cooler

Maintenance Log:

• 5,000 Miles: Oil Change - 0W20 Mobil One Advanced Fuel Economy, OEM Oil Filter

 

[Hapa DC5]

Looks good. Congrats on your purchase!

 

[77Bronc]

I preparation for my first oil change, I am thinking about a RCI front skid plate. I am calling them today.

Congrats on the purchase. Also no better oil than Mobil1

77

 

[jbjones85]

very nice. I like that Skid alot, I may end up getting one after the first of the year.

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

Looking good!

Question, how's the customer service at Toyota of Dallas? I recently got my Trail from Toyota of Plano after pulling teeth and being mislead. Their customer service and sales people were deceitful and super fickle. Looking for a dealership to call home.

 

[Balakay]

I preparation for my first oil change, I am thinking about a RCI front skid plate. I am calling them today.

Congrats on the purchase. Also no better oil than Mobil1

77

I HATE doing oil changes. Especially on vehicles with cartridge filters. So anything to make the process faster and less messy is a good investment to me. Go ahead and order yourself one of these as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Fumoto-F-103-...8&qid=1448293353&sr=8-2&keywords=fumoto+f-103

Looking good!

Question, how's the customer service at Toyota of Dallas? I recently got my Trail from Toyota of Plano after pulling teeth and being mislead. Their customer service and sales people were deceitful and super fickle. Looking for a dealership to call home.

I was hoping no one would ask this, but here we go... In short, it was everything I expected in buying a brand new vehicle. Or just from buying a vehicle from a dealer at all. I originally called them on September 17 about a 2015 MGM Trail Edition they had on their website (the only TE within 100 miles that wasn't silver). I was ready to deal over the phone but they insisted on me coming in to look at it before we talked numbers at all. That was my first red flag. I shouldn't have gone. But I told them I'd be there the next day around noon after I got out of class. The next day I called them at 11:30 and let them know that I'd be there in about 20 minutes. They said they'd get it pulled around and ready for a test drive. When I got there it was sitting out front and I parked and went inside. While I was walking up to the door I saw a guy walk out and get in it and drive off. He didn't head out the gate so I figured he was running it back to detailing to get something cleaned up before the test drive. When I got inside and found the salesman I had been talking to, he told me the vehicle had been sold. After I got mad that he hadn't told me that 20 minutes ago when I was on the phone with him, he tried to tell me he didn't know and that the guy had walked in and bought it in the 20 minutes since we hung up. I got up and started walking back out. I should have kept walking. But relentlessly I went back and sat down when he told me they had another one. Well, it was a blue TEP. Two things I didn't want. He asked me to give him 5 minutes to find me exactly what I wanted (white or grey TE with basically no options). So I waited. Within a few minutes he had found a white 2015 that was exactly what I wanted. He told me they could go get it the next day (Saturday) and that it would be ready Monday afternoon for pickup. That worked for me because I wouldn't have my down payment money until Tuesday. We worked a deal and I told them I'd call Tuesday before I came to get it. All is happy in the end, right? Saturday comes and I don't have the pictures in my email that he said he'd send once they got it back on their lot. Then Sunday and Monday and still no call or email from them. Tuesday rolls around and I give them a call around noon to let them know that I'd be there at 4 to get it. I'm told that they don't have the vehicle. The dealership they were getting it from had sold it before they got to it. That was strike 3, I should have walked away. At this point I'm livid. I finally got the salesman on the phone (he was avoiding my calls) and proceeded to say a bunch of things I shouldn't have but I don't regret at all. After several hours of phone calls (he tried to get off the phone with me because he was at lunch with his father... nah, you're not getting off that easy). He said he'd have me a new one on the way within an hour. I told him if he took an hour I'd already have one bought somewhere else. He called me back in exactly 29 minutes and told me he found a 2016 that met all my requirements and nothing more. He said his guys were already on the way to pick it up and if I wanted it, it was mine for the exact price we had agreed upon for the 2015. Sticker on the 2016 was about $1100 more so I caved. After that the deal went great. Other than a little problem I had with the finance guy. I'm pretty sure I made him cry at one point.

TL;DR - My experience with their sales and finance departments was terrible. I won't buy another vehicle there anytime soon.

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

In short, this sounds exactly like my situation. They tried to bait and switch me by selling me a car that "was on its way into their inventory" only to find out it was sold underneath me....after the fact of putting money down to secure it... I kept a firm grip and made sure I got my car within a week's time frame. I understand things happen...I understand the concept of waiting for a vehicle, but when it's sold to me under the premise of "it's already in our inventory and it has been sold to you"... and when 3 different people are telling me 3 different stories and can't set expectations correctly, then it's a problem.

I needed a vehicle that week. If the vehicle wasn't available, I tried to set expectations on their end to provide me a vehicle. The sales manager said he couldn't help me since there was no loaner agreement in writing at the point of sale. Lack of costumer service. Hard to believe they're going to be the flagship for the new HQ in Plano.

 

[-dustin]

I tried to give ToD my biz multiple times. I don't really know why. Kinda glad I didn't. You'd think given the number of dealers around DFW, they'd all be pretty good at bending over backwards to get you what you want. Not so much.

 

[Balakay]

I felt like they were treating me like I was some stupid kid that didn't know what I was doing or how the process worked. I may only be 24 but this is my 6th vehicle and I've watched my dad buy probably 10 other cars in my life. I know all their tricks and games. Next time I buy a vehicle I'll be going to Toyota of Fort Worth. It's closer to home anyway. I only went to Toyota of Dallas because I had a little bit more leverage with them on the negotiating side of things. I guess it worked out in the end, as I got what I wanted for a damn good deal. But I should have walked away the first time after the grey one was sold out from under me.

 

[Balakay]

I will say this about my experience though. The guy I dealt with was young. I believe he said he was 22. He said he was fairly new at the job. For all I know, this was the first vehicle he sold.

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

I HATE doing oil changes. Especially on vehicles with cartridge filters. So anything to make the process faster and less messy is a good investment to me. Go ahead and order yourself one of these as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Fumoto-F-103-...8&qid=1448293353&sr=8-2&keywords=fumoto+f-103

This may be a rookie question...but do you not plan on taking advantage of the free 2 year maintenance/oil changes?

 

[Balakay]

This may be a rookie question...but do you not plan on taking advantage of the free 2 year maintenance/oil changes?

No. I don't like people touching my car that I don't know. Especially not after two different dealers in this area have forgotten to refill the oil in cars they were servicing.

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

No. I don't like people touching my car that I don't know. Especially not after two different dealers in this area have forgotten to refill the oil in cars they were servicing.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. That's not very comforting. Why is there a lack of excellence in the Dallas metro?!

 

[Balakay]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. That's not very comforting. Why is there a lack of excellence in the Dallas metro?!

Because people generally don't give a shit about others' belongings

 

[MIKEYBLACK]

Because people generally don't give a shit about others' belongings

Unfortunate, but true. Dallas meetup anytime soon?

 

[Balakay]

Unfortunate, but true. Dallas meetup anytime soon?

I'm pretty much booked solid through January. I'd be down for something after that though.

 

[louxwe]

looks good

looks good how are those armor plates to install?

 

[Balakay]

looks good how are those armor plates to install?

The skid plate? It's a very simple install. Once you take the stock skid off, the RCI skid is just 4 bolts and 2 spacers. Fits extremely well.

 

[jmarthsr]

I used true car for my 2014. Durant Toyota in Weatherford had a white TEP with what I wanted. I bit of a drive from where I am but 2hours later I was on my way home with it. I would buy from them again.

 

[wadle5]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. That's not very comforting. Why is there a lack of excellence in the Dallas metro?!

Because the individuals that are usually doing oil changes aren't certified mechanics and just teenagers and kids while the actual mechanics/techs work on bigger/complicated vehicle work. I worked at a dealership and it was truly terrifying the individuals that were left to do the oil/trans/fluid changes.