is it true that the tC doesn't come w/ underbody protectant seal? (not sure if that's the correct name...)

someone at the dealership told me this and said it would cost $349 extra.
it wasn't even something that i thought of because i thought it was standard to coat all automobiles w/ underbody protectant.

ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

 

It's a well documented scam that is as old as the car dealership. Like Scotchgarding for 500 bucks and VIN etching.

 

I think I paid $349 for rust proofing... supposed to be lifetime guarenteed not to rust. They sprayed something in the panels or something like that... not sure about the underbody thingy because it wasn't mentioned to me.

 

Yea...it sounded like a scam to me too, but i wasn't sure cuz i'm not too familiar w/ the whole underbody protectant thing.
My Dad was surprised and somewhat offended at the fact the it "supposedly" doesn't have it. he argued that all cars come w/ it.

Anyway, the dealership person gave me a piece of paper that listed the following:

PAINT PROTECTION - $389.00
(5 YR WARRANTY)

FABRIC PROTECTION - $289.00
(5 YR WARRANTY)

SOUND AND SEAL PROTECTION - $359.00 <- this is what the person told me i needed for underbody protectant!!!!
(5 YR WARRANTY)

LOJACK GUARANTEE PLUS - ($895.00)
(W/ EXT RECOVERY WARRANTY)

SECURITY SYSTEM - $499.00 FOR xA, $469.00 FOR xB & TC

It's a real SIMPLE list that looked like the dealership created using Microsoft Word. at the top it just says "CHAMPION SCION PRICING" in bold Times New Roman letters (Champion is the name of the dealership i went to).

the whole thing doesn't look like an "official" Scion price list either. No official symbol, logo or anything of the sort...just a simple list on plain white paper. now needless to say, i did not opt for any of those options.

 

Telling you that the tC does not have underbody protection is the scam. But at least the dealership didnt force it on you. Dealerships will do that however for non-car specific options ("protection"). The reason why the options cost so much is really the "labor" involve to spray a $2-5 can of Scotchguard.

If you need to call corporate HQ, dial 1-866-70-SCION and tell them what happened and the form that they gave you. Keep in mind that you did say they didnt force you on the options.

 

HOLY ____!!! I hope you didn't pay for any of that?? It's a scam, man! That can't ream you on the sticker price so they bend you over with the old wash & wax and sealant scam. ...Scion, a "new" way of doing business.... Smells like the same bull____ to me!

 

to be honest not one word when i bought my car came from my dealers mouth about any of that

 

It's a scam. Don't take any of the options.

 

All cars come with some sort of corrosion coating or seal. Toyota/Scion doeas offer something called the "Vehicle Shield Package." It consists of a sealant that is applied over the clear coat of the paint and is supposed to be like a super heavy duty wax that prevents fading. It also has an underbody coating. The thing is, the coating is not for rust-proofing, it is to absorb road noise. It is not something the dealer can add, it has to be done at the port. We very rarely get any of our Toyotas with this package and have only had one Scion with it (customer wanted it). As far as the other stuff that dealer wanted to sell you, just remember you can say no, and if you don't feel comfortable, just leave.

 

I wouldn't say SCAM, but whether its needed is questionable. I think Toyota offers 10yr/100,000Mi no rust thru warranty. Maybe if you live where they salt the roads and you've had problems with rusting in the past, it might be good, just from the warranty side.

I used to do the undercoating at a Jeep dealership. The first couple of products kicked ___. Combine that with my ****-rententiveness and those people got an honest undercoating. I would coat everything but the brake lines and exhaust from the edge of the fenderwells inward. inside the body panels and frame rails. I would spend 3-4 hours easy with the thing on a lift. (Probably added 10 pounds to the car)The later products got thinner and thinner until I should've just used spray paint. And if the applier isn't thorough, they'll skip the edges and the most likely spots to have trouble.

Personally, I wouldn't buy any of this stuff. But you're not really paying for the product, you're paying for the guarantee. there was someone recently on SL talking about getting the paint sealant, and then dropping his car off at the dealer to get some tree sap and stuff removed. If you have the time and will use the warranty, then it may be worth it. If you are just going to be a slob in your car and expect this to counteract that, it won't work.

 

Most Dealers now charge for things that used to be standard. the under body coating normally is not standard at most dealerships.

 

my xB doesnt have it either, i scrapped it all off when i went into an apartment complex that had about 10-12 speed bumps the size of 3 dead bodies. I cringed and tears came to my eyes after going over each speed bump, but i couldnt turn back the first speed bump was the mother load. I had to kick 2 of my friends out of my car and it was still really bad. i think i might bomb that apartment complex. :twisted:

 

i didn't pick any of the "options" from the list....most of you replied it's a scam while others say something different.

now i'm confused.

buuuuuuuuuut...i'll juss drive it as is and see what happens...hope nothing does happen...

 

Oh, and if you're from the south or west coast, "rustproofing" is useless to you - cars only rust in areas where they regularly salt the roads in winter. (Or if you don't repaint after getting paint scraped off, but rustproofing ain't gonna help you there.)

 

dont pay $395 for the exterior then $295 for the interior........... Man i just got that package on my car with both the interior and exterior done for $395..... Was it the Auto Armor package that they offered you??????

I will admit it helps get bug **** off the front of your bumper nicely lol.

 

no, it wasn't the Auto Armor package.

i just spoke to my friend who owns a shop and to his knowledge, most cars don't come w/ underbody protectant...

hmm...OK...

so...anymore thoughts on this issue?

 

your friend should be fired. All cars come with anti-rust warranties now, and Toyota's have been on the top for quite few decades when it comes to anti-corrosion protection.

Modern cars are not using heavy protectors anymore since modern technologies haave replaced them with much thinner coat so people might think there is no protection at all. But there is, so you should not worry. really. dont worry.

If Toyota is giving 10 years of warranty for it - do not worry.


or... what you could do is... start an new thread... and name it "Scions dont have anti-rust protection", in all CAPS of course, so we can spendfew months explaining... that it does... and people would come in...and...say...wow...scions has problems...

:twisted:

 

Scion does come with a rust through warranty 60 months/unlimited miles. Check the brochure.