Think my parents have been done by a Toyota dealer

One More Toy

Hey guys

Would appreciate a big help as my parents have gone berserk

My dad landed back with a 162 Corolla today from the garage.

He suspects that the dealer installed a genuine towbar, but a 3rd party wiring loom. Though he's not sure if the towbar is even genuine

I'd be really grateful if someone could show me a picture of the real deal so I could compare - and hopefully save world war 3 from breaking out this weekend.

Thank you all in advance!

Atlantic Dawn

Is there a genuine Toyota towbar available for a Corolla in the brochure?

This looks like the genuine one...

One More Toy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Is there a genuine Toyota towbar available for a Corolla in the brochure?

This looks like the genuine one...

Yeah that looks like the genuine Toyota one - sadly not the one my parents paid 800 quid for... Where do they go from here?

bazz26

Most of this sort of work is farmed out to a local third party. €800 sounds very expensive to me for a tow bar and fitting especially if it's done through a third party. He would have got it done cheaper by going to an independent tow bar specialist.

Atlantic Dawn

One More Toy wrote: »

Yeah that looks like the genuine Toyota one - sadly not the one my parents paid 800 quid for... Where do they go from here?

I suppose at the end of the day it depends what they ordered, if it was a specified as genuine then it should be that. I don't know on the current model of Corolla what options there are, you can't get the Corolla in the UK any more so it could be possible that there is no genuine available to order in this region, then again a non genuine should be in the €300/€400 region I would think at max.

bonyn

Interesting.. my mother was buying a corolla from a dealer. He said he'd throw in either foot mats or a silver stripe (?) along the sides of the car.

I looked up the offers from toyota and saw the mats were included as standard. When we said it to him, he said "yes, but I meant the rear foot mats".. as for the stripe, I figured it wasn't an official thing which might damage the car in some way - and besides, my mam didn't like them, so she just took the foot mats.

It was all pretty strange though for an official dealer to be messing like that.

flutered

i had a mivera fitted with a towbar late last year, by a dealer, €250

One More Toy

Thanks for the replies lads

Here is a picture of it in the brochure (and the price they paid)




And here is what they got (notice its missing the red plate, also there are no identification marks on the towbar or the wiring loom)



Nearly certain it isnt the geuine, the salesman wont answer his mobile conveniently.

Where do they go from here? Weekend ruined it looks like; i know its a trivial thing but being conned out of 800 quid is a bummer

uck51js9zml2yt

One More Toy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads

Here is a picture of it in the brochure (and the price they paid)




And here is what they got (notice its missing the red plate, also there are no identification marks on the towbar or the wiring loom)



Nearly certain it isnt the geuine, the salesman wont answer his mobile conveniently.

Where do they go from here? Weekend ruined it looks like; i know its a trivial thing but being conned out of 800 quid is a bummer

That's a Toyota logo on the cap.

Toyotafanboi

Weekend ruined by a non OEM towbar? Ah now...

Whether it is or isn't, it's on the car now. Honestly there's really very little you can do. Bar go to extreme lengths of heartache to rectify an issue that you aren't even sure exists.

Walter2016

One More Toy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads

Here is a picture of it in the brochure (and the price they paid)




And here is what they got (notice its missing the red plate, also there are no identification marks on the towbar or the wiring loom)



Nearly certain it isnt the geuine, the salesman wont answer his mobile conveniently.

Where do they go from here? Weekend ruined it looks like; i know its a trivial thing but being conned out of 800 quid is a bummer

Its past 4pm - place probably closed at 1pm today, so don't get hung up on that.

You say "nearly certain". You're either certain or not, there's no nearly in it. If you approach with a negative attitude you will fall out very quickly and by the looks of it, affect things for a long time.

Tow bars are easily replaced. If its a different part to that advertised, then you are entitled for it to be replaced. But until you have absolute proof it is advisable not to go in roaring the head off with accusations.

Call Toyota on Monday ask them what it should look like.

As for it ruining the weekend - that's utterly ridiculous.

One More Toy

Walter2016 wrote: »

Its past 4pm - place probably closed at 1pm today, so don't get hung up on that.

You say "nearly certain". You're either certain or not, there's no nearly in it. If you approach with a negative attitude you will fall out very quickly and by the looks of it, affect things for a long time.

Tow bars are easily replaced. If its a different part to that advertised, then you are entitled for it to be replaced. But until you have absolute proof it is advisable not to go in roaring the head off with accusations.

Call Toyota on Monday ask them what it should look like.

As for it ruining the weekend - that's utterly ridiculous.

I know you're right, my parents are the old fashioned type and get hung up on being scammed.

JohnBoy26

One More Toy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads

Here is a picture of it in the brochure (and the price they paid)




And here is what they got (notice its missing the red plate, also there are no identification marks on the towbar or the wiring loom)



Nearly certain it isnt the geuine, the salesman wont answer his mobile conveniently.

Where do they go from here? Weekend ruined it looks like; i know its a trivial thing but being conned out of 800 quid is a bummer

But does that hitch not look exactly like the one in the brochure?

corglass

What's the problem?

Did your parents explicitly ask for a Toyota towbar or agree price beforehand?

bonyn

corglass wrote: »

What's the problem?

Did your parents explicitly ask for a Toyota towbar or agree price beforehand?

They don't have to. If they went to the dealership to purchase an item they saw in the brochure and were charged the price in the brochure, they should be able to assume the parts are genuine and not 3rd party knockoffs.

Thread of the year?

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

€800, EIGHT F....G HUNDRED EURO FOR A TOW HITCH!!! ..................... GOOD F.....G LORD !! BLATANT ROBBERY AND SNEAKY ****ERS !! WHEN ARE WE EVER GONNA STAND UP TO ALL THIS CORPORATE CONTROL AND BULL****. MIND YOU I WOULDN'T BY A NEW CAR BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS HAVE JUST THROW AWAY €800 FOR THE TOW HITCH AND APPROX 5-7000 IN DEPRECIATION AS THEY DROVE AWAY AND OUT OF THE GARAGE!!!
((PURCHASING A NEW CAR LIKE THAT SHOULD OF GOT THEM THE HITCH THROWN IN))

corglass

bonyn wrote: »

corglass wrote: »

What's the problem?

Did your parents explicitly ask for a Toyota towbar or agree price beforehand?

They don't have to. If they went to the dealership to purchase an item they saw in the brochure and were charged the price in the brochure, they should be able to assume the parts are genuine and not 3rd party knockoffs.

Exactly, IF

This all really depends on what their verbal agreement was based on before work proceeded

One More Toy

corglass wrote: »

Exactly, IF

This all really depends on what their verbal agreement was based on before work proceeded

Yeah my dad explicitly stated he wanted the genuine

GM228

One More Toy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads

Here is a picture of it in the brochure (and the price they paid)




And here is what they got (notice its missing the red plate, also there are no identification marks on the towbar or the wiring loom)



Nearly certain it isnt the geuine, the salesman wont answer his mobile conveniently.

Where do they go from here? Weekend ruined it looks like; i know its a trivial thing but being conned out of 800 quid is a bummer

It looks like a genuine Toyota towbar especially with the Toyota cap (I don't think they sell the caps seperately?), and the wiring looms come with either the red label to the right of the socket or a shorter version like in your picture which usually has a metallic Toyota serial sticker behind it instead of the red label.

Johngoose

I'm no expert but I'd go to arrival main Toyota dealer and see what they are offering regarding tow bar/hitch.

Toyotafanboi

Because Toyota steel is better than spurious steel.

It's probably a Witter with a fancy hat :pac:

corglass

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

800, EIGHT F....G HUNDRED EURO FOR A TOW HITCH!!! ..................... GOOD F.....G LORD !! BLATANT ROBBERY AND SNEAKY ****ERS !! WHEN ARE WE EVER GONNA STAND UP TO ALL THIS CORPORATE CONTROL AND BULL****. MIND YOU I WOULDN'T BY A NEW CAR BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS HAVE JUST THROW AWAY 800 FOR THE TOW HITCH AND APPROX 5-7000 IN DEPRECIATION AS THEY DROVE AWAY AND OUT OF THE GARAGE!!!
((PURCHASING A NEW CAR LIKE THAT SHOULD OF GOT THEM THE HITCH THROWN IN))

Try hitting caps lock

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

One More Toy wrote: »

Yeah my dad explicitly stated he wanted the genuine

Just because its a "new Car" doesn't change your rights as a consumer, tell your parents to take it back on Monday (if not open tomorrow)... And I mean the Car along with the tow hitch!!

endacl

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

€800, EIGHT F....G HUNDRED EURO FOR A TOW HITCH!!! ..................... GOOD F.....G LORD !! BLATANT ROBBERY AND SNEAKY ****ERS !! WHEN ARE WE EVER GONNA STAND UP TO ALL THIS CORPORATE CONTROL AND BULL****. MIND YOU I WOULDN'T BY A NEW CAR BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS HAVE JUST THROW AWAY €800 FOR THE TOW HITCH AND APPROX 5-7000 IN DEPRECIATION AS THEY DROVE AWAY AND OUT OF THE GARAGE!!!
((PURCHASING A NEW CAR LIKE THAT SHOULD OF GOT THEM THE HITCH THROWN IN))

Shouty McShoutface.

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

corglass wrote: »

Try hitting caps lock

Go mind your own business.... and have a tug

Mod note, banned

endacl

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

Go mind your own business.... and have a tug

With a genuine Toyota tug bar?

Special Circumstances

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

Go mind your own business.... and have a tug

A QUIET TUG OR A LOUD ONE?

Corbally

Wouldn't be too worried about the tow bar not being genuine but the wiring loom can be a problem. Not sure if it has parking sensors? 2 people I know got new Slodas this year in different dealers. Both asked the dealer for a tow bar and both ended up with a cheap universal light socket spliced into the break lights instead of the genuine Skoda loom.
When towing a trailer the parking sensors were getting awful confused and if you were ever trying to find the fuse for the light socket instead of it being in the fuse box where it's supposed to be you'd have to start pulling carpets out of the boot and searching for wherever the installer felt like putting it.
Both of them went back and complained u til the dealers put in the right loom. One guy only had to complain once, other guy was arguing for weeks.
If it was my car I'd wire the cheap universal loom myself but if you're paying a premium you deserve to get what you paid for.

Noccy_Mondy

I don't know what's worse, a dirty rotten non detachable dragging bar on a new car (very surprised they're not a standard feature on the oul avensisss and corolla)

OR

the fact that you'd have to pay Toyota 121 beans to put horrible rub strips on the side of your car......
Wouldn't even put them on if they paid me 121!

737max

That trailer socket and bracket looks like one I purchased on ebay for three euro. It doesn't look OEM.

My Colleague got a tow bar on his B-class merc and it had to be OEM and it had to be programmed in the computer of the car and if a tow bar isn't professionally installed in Germany then the car fails its roadworthiness test.

The people behind the NCT are just looking for reasons to charge a retest fee and one day they will come around to checking tow bar installations.

coach22

Even if it is genuine which I would say it is, €800 for a tow bar is daft!

Chimichangas

Ah a toyota dealer... only had dealings with one garage on their toyota warranty second hand cars and i'd never go back to that dealer. This kind of stroke wouldnt surprise me in that dealership.
But im sure there are good toyota dealers out there.
But your parents are unhappy, they have to go back and see the official toyota tow bar and be happy that its what they got.
Going back angry might not be the best way unless youre 100% sure.
So good luck with it.
If the dealer did try and pull a fast one, be sure to mention it here.

Sam Kade

coach22 wrote: »

Even if it is genuine which I would say it is, €800 for a tow bar is daft!

€80 on ebay and an independant would fit it for around the same amount or if you want to be surer of the quality go to micks garage €275 + fitting. They'll hardly be towing an elephant with the car.

biko

Back on topic folks

kirving

With a brand new car, I wouldn't be one bit happy if they went messing around with the wiring with anything other than OEM parts.

Electronics these days are robust, but can also be very sensitive and prone to weird behaviour when they're messed around with, and it may also affect your car's warranty if non-genuine parts are fitted.

It wouldn't even surprised me if the cars electronic system needs to be programmed to know it gas a tow bar which may recalibrate the reversing sensors, and account for increased current consumption of the trailer lights.

FrontDoor

A genuine towbar installation, as far as I am concerned, would not involve a bypass relay of any description.

It would involve the car specific wiring harness being fitted, most likely all the way to the fuse box and programmed to the car computer.

From a main dealer and 800 quid, I would not be one bit happy with a bypass relay, spliced into the rear wiring. I'm not too sure Toyota would be either.

One More Toy

Thanks all for the replies

Where do we go next?

Back to the dealer or let Toyota Ireland know?

CiniO

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Because Toyota steel is better than spurious steel.

Surely there might be big difference in quality of towbars....

I got one installed to my civic 3 years ago for around €100 (including wiring), and after 3 years there are serious signs of rust on it.
Something I wouldn't see on more recogniseable brand product.

iamtony

One More Toy wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies

Where do we go next?

Back to the dealer or let Toyota Ireland know?

I'd get into toyoto Ireland twitter account with a picture and tell the story(without any anger), nothing like publicity to get the thumbs out of their arse.

GreatDefector

corglass wrote: »

Try hitting caps lock

Maybe he only got a 3rd party knock off keyboard with his new computer

One More Toy

GreatDefector wrote: »

Maybe he only got a 3rd party knock off keyboard with his new computer

Haha had to laugh at that one!!

iamtony

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Weekend ruined by a non OEM towbar? Ah now...

Whether it is or isn't, it's on the car now. Honestly there's really very little you can do. Bar go to extreme lengths of heartache to rectify an issue that you aren't even sure exists.

I'd be very annoyed also if I paid all that money on a brand new car for genuine equipment and got stung with cheap crap.

One More Toy

iamtony wrote: »

I'd be very annoyed also if I paid all that no ey on a brand new car for genuine equipment and got stung with cheap crap.

Yeah when I thought about it, it was very low to scam anyone yet an elderly couple

bazz26

I don't think any stuff like that can be ordered from the factory on Toyotas. Some accessories/parts maybe genuine Toyota parts but they may also be supplied/fitted locally. €800 is crazy money either way.

FrontDoor

iamtony wrote: »

I'd get into toyoto Ireland twitter account with a picture and tell the story(without any anger), nothing like publicity to get the thumbs out of their arse.

The towbar itself is most likely fine. A branded one of some sort - bosal, witter, westphalia, etc. It will last longer than the car.

The wiring is the issue and you need to figure out how this was done. Bypass relay, or proper toyota wiring loom.

Figure this out first and go from there. 800 quid is outrageous money for a bypass setup + fixed towbar.

iamtony

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't think any stuff like that can be ordered from the factory on Toyotas. Some accessories/parts maybe genuine Toyota parts but they may also be supplied/fitted locally. €800 is crazy money either way.

I was going to say that, I used to have a vw Caravelle t5 and used to browse all the accessories in the catalogue and a lot of them weren't vw parts at all but an approved supplier.
This may well be the case here but I'd like to know the brand and the quality of the towbar if I'm paying €800 for a Toyota approved one.

Uncle Ben

€800 For a towbar??
Celtic Tiger is back.

iamtony

FrontDoor wrote: »

The towbar itself is most likely fine. A branded one of some sort - bosal, witter, westphalia, etc. It will last longer than the car.

The wiring is the issue and you need to figure out how this was done. Bypass relay, or proper toyota wiring loom.

Figure this out first and go from there. 800 quid is outrageous money for a bypass setup + fixed towbar.

True. To figure this out op should be too difficult. From the looms I've seen installed before basically they are play and play so to speak. Basically the electrical socket that normally connects into the rear light cluster connects to the towbar loom and the loom connects into the lights then. Although these can also be spurious parts but nothing like the cutting into wires on a brand new car which would be totally unacceptable.

Giacomo McGubbin

One More Toy wrote: »

Yeah when I thought about it, it was very low to scam anyone yet an elderly couple

They wouldn't be the first to be screwed by an Irish Toyota dealer. They've had it far too good for far too long in this country. Thankfully that's changing.

One More Toy

Can someone explain to me how I would work out if the wiring isn't oem?