Dealer Installed Paint Protection (Ceramic) Mandatory and $799?

[brumey]

I am close to ordering a 2025 SR5 4WD. Local dealer sales guy is good and transparent about options and dealer extras. The one item that bugs me is the claimed Ceramic Paint protection. They are charging $799 and the sales guy stated that the dealer puts it on all cars, no exceptions and I would have to buy elsewhere if I did not want it.

Can a dealer really mandate you get this upsell treatment? Is my only option to buy elsewhere?

I assume its nothing to do with Toyota but I'd welcome comments from others on the so called treatment (details requested but not received on the product).

The same dealer is including a "lifetime" power train warranty, that supposedly works at any Toyota dealer. As this is included, I suspect they are making money on the paint treatment to covert this insurance cost.

Thanks in advance and I hope to get an SR5 soon... First Toyota after 33+ years of Ford.

 

[Rellims]

Yeah, dealers can do whatever they want policy wise. Here in Denver for a deposit for a 2025 4Runner one dealer had a $500 fully refundable deposit, one $1500 non refundable and another $1000 refundable.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

I am close to ordering a 2025 SR5 4WD. Local dealer sales guy is good and transparent about options and dealer extras. The one item that bugs me is the claimed Ceramic Paint protection. They are charging $799 and the sales guy stated that the dealer puts it on all cars, no exceptions and I would have to buy elsewhere if I did not want it.

Can a dealer really mandate you get this upsell treatment? Is my only option to buy elsewhere?

I assume its nothing to do with Toyota but I'd welcome comments from others on the so called treatment (details requested but not received on the product).

The same dealer is including a "lifetime" power train warranty, that supposedly works at any Toyota dealer. As this is included, I suspect they are making money on the paint treatment to covert this insurance cost.

Thanks in advance and I hope to get an SR5 soon... First Toyota after 33+ years of Ford.

The good news is you are in complete control as you decide how you want to spend your money. If a dealership tells you that you either pay for that paint protection or purchase your vehicle elsewhere, well, the ball is in your court. I had a dealership insist upon nitrogen in the tires and some BS windshield protection, at a cost to me of course. I eliminated that dealership from my search process.

 

[LLL1990]

This reminds me of the case of an attorney that sued American Airlines in small claims court many years ago for $25 because they lost his luggage. The airline argued that luggage handling was a courtesy the airline provided to passengers. The court agreed with the attorney's argument that when he paid $25 for luggage then it became a paid service, not a courtesy, for American Airlines to provide and when they didn't he was due a refund because he didn't get the service he paid for.

Similarly, if you're paying $799 for paint protection and dealer won't provide a written warranty or guarantee it provides additional protection over the factory's then the product they're selling isn't doing the intended purpose it was purchased for. Legally this is called implied warranty of merchantability.

 

[DustyLens]

Most likely it'll ruin the paint anyway. Run away.

 

[Nodak]

SET and GST make a lot of protection options a requirement. (you are tenn. so you are in the SET region)

get outside of those regions and most usa toyota dealers dont include them period. i know my dealer i have to ask for the oem protection option/pkg.

 

[MIESO]

I am close to ordering a 2025 SR5 4WD. Local dealer sales guy is good and transparent about options and dealer extras. The one item that bugs me is the claimed Ceramic Paint protection. They are charging $799 and the sales guy stated that the dealer puts it on all cars, no exceptions and I would have to buy elsewhere if I did not want it.

Can a dealer really mandate you get this upsell treatment? Is my only option to buy elsewhere?

I assume its nothing to do with Toyota but I'd welcome comments from others on the so called treatment (details requested but not received on the product).

The same dealer is including a "lifetime" power train warranty, that supposedly works at any Toyota dealer. As this is included, I suspect they are making money on the paint treatment to covert this insurance cost.

Thanks in advance and I hope to get an SR5 soon... First Toyota after 33+ years of Ford.

I’m in the same boat here in San Diego. Ceramic coating for exterior and interior from the ground up. Standard on all vehicles from the dealership.

 

[brumey]

Wow.... Well, looks like I will be getting the paint protection The product is Exogloss. I have a picture of the flier. Looks

 

[brumey]

Most likely it'll ruin the paint anyway. Run away.

Dusty:
Can you elaborate on how it will ruin the paint?

Thanks....

 

[brumey]

Looking at a few threads on the product Exogloss, its claimed to be a spray on rinse off Ceramic product. I am over the fact I have to pay for it. Now, I just need to be sure it will not damage anything.

Quote from AI assisted browser -
"Exogloss" is considered a ceramic coating; it's marketed as a top-of-the-line ceramic coating designed to protect a car's exterior, providing features like UV protection, hydrophobic finish, and enhanced shine.

 

[Lotzof4Runners]

I started at a dealer who flat out refused to budge on $3400 worth of crap add-ons. Paint protections, interior protection, key fob protection, glass protection, wheel protection, tire protection... They should have gave me a box of trojans for that $3400.. And don't get me started on the $3600 market adjustment. I walked away from what they were calling a "deal"
I went to another dealer who had all of the same stuff listed at $7K but when they knew I was really going to buy, they cut it to $600 really quickly. It's the power of the purse. Walk away and try a different dealer.. And tell that dealer what you experienced. The last thing a dealer who has you as a captive audience wants to do is piss you off by doing the same the the last one did.

 

[Xhale760]

I’m in the same boat here in San Diego. Ceramic coating for exterior and interior from the ground up. Standard on all vehicles from the dealership.

Go purchase from Toyota Carlsbad no mark ups of anything. Speak to Lou