I can understand your curiosity. I haven’t decided how I am going to mark them yet. The spots are just dull spots (no shine, flat white 5 or 6 spots, largest about 1 foot in diameter smallest about 5 inches in diameter), compared to the rest of the vehicle which is shiny. The vehicle is white so they don’t stand out like they would against a darker vehicle like black or dark green.
I will be putting up a web page about things to be careful of when buying a new car. If someone in Toyota chain of operations doesn’t come around in then I will go through the hassle of photographing the spots so they show up. But it is an exercise I really hope to avoid by using this vehicle as an example. Please someone at Toyota realize the actions of someone in the chain was wrong.
If this thread is still dragging on by the time I get the web page up and Toyota hasn’t come around then I will post a link to that page.
To repost my ideas for making people aware here they are:
How about educating people about this matter. Something along the lines of:
-When you buy a new car, it may not necessarily be as pristine if as it looks. There might have been some prior damage to you purchasing it as a new vehicle.
-Before signing the paperwork ask the car dealer franchise if any damage has been repaired on the vehicle. Don’t except an answer like, “we have no idea.” or some other indeterminate answer. Get a statement written statement on the Dealerships franchise letterhead, that the car has sustained no damage on the vehicle either during transport or while at the dealership."
-If the dealer does state that there was some damage. It doesn’t mean that it is necessarily a vehicle to walk away from. Once again in writing have the dealer detail the damage such as paint scuff, chipping, panel bent and which panel(s) on the car were damaged. The nature of the repair, such as they sanded and repainted the entire panel, treated with additional corrosion resistant material if that is applicable, and how long they will warranty the nature of the repair for. (Body shops in this area warranty their repairs for the life of the vehicle.) BUT get this all in writing and keep it.
-If the vehicle is what is known as a dealer trade. Be aware that this means that the vehicle was originally sold to another franchise or franchises before it made it to the current franchise. Dealer trades are for more then just to swap a car because of car colors or option packages. It might be because the Dealer who is trading the vehicle out wants to get rid of the vehicle because he knows something happened to the vehicle and he wants to get rid of it that dealer hopes to move the vehicle so that dealership doesn’t have to deal with it.
-If the dealership says the car is not a dealer trade. Then get that in writing also.
-If the dealership doesn’t want to put the above things in writing. Then you can decide if buying a new car from that dealership is really a good idea.
You know this may also be the case of mechanical issues. Back I think around 1970 a friend of mine bought a new American car. It was at the top of the heap as far as cool factor for that manufacturer Ordered that thing from the factory. I remember him waiting about, well it seemed like forever. Think it was probably 8 to 10 weeks. He drives the car out of the dealership and the engine froze about a block away or so. Car was of oil. Don’t know if it was the case of oil plug falling out, oil filter falling off, pan falling off, oil light disconnected. Anyhow the dealership wanted to fix it and return it to the guy. Well he was a big, kind of ugly dude that you wouldn’t want to meet in an alley even it was well lit. They ended up ordering a new car for him. Don’t have a clue what happened to the car that seized up. Do you suppose they junked the car? Probably not. Do you suppose they replaced the engine with a new one? Maybe they replaced the engine with a rebuilt one? Maybe they just replaced some parts on the engine that seized? Was that car sold as new again?
Maybe something should be gotten in writing regarding mechanical repairs prior to the car being sold. I have never before considered something being wrong with a car when first manfactured and before being sold to the first owner. But I’m learning