Very Bummed trim on 2018 messed up?!?!

Guys,

I posted this in the wrong forum earlier. I was looking a new 4R's today mostly ORP models and Ventures. I stumbled upon this 2018 and noticed all the fading on the black trim. This was a used vehicle, but still does everyone's black trim look like this after 2 years?

I guess I expected much better if I am about to pay $45k for a vehicle. If this trim was subjected to something I understand; just curious if others 4R's look like this?

I am probably overkill on fit and finish but its hard to believe this looks like this after 2 years.

 

45k for an 18 ORP??? Dang! It looks like I should sell mine.

looks like the trim was cleaned with a harsh chemical

 

That’s from silicone sprays. Will turn your tire brown too. Wash with soap and water.....

 

No way not $45k for a used one

I was going to order a brand new one. So for kicks I thought let’s walk the used lot and look at used models and how they held up. Obviously neglect is neglect and stone chips are that. I saw another thread about how crappy super white paint is and I saw two used ones for sale. One was the photo I attached the 2018. I noted the black trim and and also a rusty trailer hitch. I sort of expected the hitch to be rusty because they all are. I noticed there trim panels in black and thought gosh I hate to get a new mode in 2021 and have it look like that in two years. Hence my post to see if others have experienced this.

Thanks for the replies. I am just spending a lot of money for myself here and trying to make the best decision like anyone else.

 

That looks like the effects of car wash chemicals. If you get the high dollar wash it often has all sorts of bug cleaner and wheel/undercarriage cleaner that is bad for some parts of the vehicle.

 

i paid OTP 2021 for 43k, where you located?

 

I am in Michigan (metro Detroit )

 

I agree this is not typical of Toyota plastics. My 2003 went through about 1000 automatic car washes and the plastic never got that crummy looking.

Same so far on my '19.

 

Yea that or acid rain. I lived in SE Texas for all my life and the water and acid rain will do that to your plastics and windows...

 

Have you tried check out new car instead? This price is quite high.

 

Ben I am still trying to determine what options/combo I want (KDSS as an example; so that add up here $1,750). I am torn between a Silver ORP with just the factory wheels, and the running boards with the brushed alum accent and maybe door edge guards.

Or I was thinking of going Venture route (seeing if the rack can be removed without scratching), and then installing a Pro Grill. Many dealers up this why don't really make any modifications to the factory items though unlike down south it appears. I am still trying think through what exactly I want. Thankfully I don't need anything until spring so I have a lot of time

 

That will wash off with soap and water. I have a 2015 Trail and mine does that sometimes with overspray from wax or polish. It will wash off

 

Guys thanks for the replies. that makes me feel better. I am sort of fussy about fit and finish. I realize stuff happens but I try to keep stuff nice.

I won’t be the typical off road user. Mine will be used primarily for towing my boat fishing and keeping my stuff stored. I just like an SUV over a truck from a security perspective plus the 4R fits in my garage. Plus I think it looks very cool.

 

well back in the 1960's in masachusetts we had acid rain that damaged the paint . I had to wax my cars every 2-3 months and used a good car wash product to protect the paint.. after the 1970's no problems up here..the coal electric plants were shutdown then much better air .. now we have nat gas power plants great clean air..

 

Hi J Cat,

Yes I remember back in 1998 as a kid my Dad buying a new Taurus which a dark blue color. After a few rains all the paint had white spots on it; it was awful!!

I remember he and my Mom using all sorts of Meguiars products trying to get that off and luckily after much work got most of it looking good.

I personally enjoy waxing my vehicles and usually do so a few times per year particularly now before winter. I would not wax or polish that plastic molding though

 

I'm thinking for 45K you should at the very least be getting one from down south or out west that hasn't already spent 2 or 3 winters in the rust belt. And by the way, the trailer hitches down here, (SC) don't get rusty even after years of service.

 

Importman from what I can tell I can get a new one the $45k. My plan is to get one and then park it for winters up here (might sound crazy to some). I am wondering if on that trailer hitch, if it can be removed and get a better paint job or put that rubberized undercoating on it, then bolt it back in.

I sprayed rubberized undercoating on my old explorer hitch but it was not wrapped around a bumper and much easier to tape off etc.

 

It certainly doesn't sound crazy to me for you to park it during the winter. Or at least anytime there's salt on the roads. I'm so happy we don't have to deal with that in my area, (the eastern part of SC.) They do salt the roads here but it only happens at most once or twice a year for 2-3 days. Some winters we don't even get enough snow to need salt. Sometimes we go a whole winter with no snow. And when it does happen here it almost drives me crazy. As soon as it's over good I'm at the car wash getting it off. I do believe that trailer hitch can be removed and either painted or undercoated without too much trouble. Since you'll be using it to pull your boat I'm sure the inside of it will still need some protection if you ever do drive it with salt on the roads. I would think occasionally spraying the inside with penetrating oil or something similar would take care of that. And since the trailer hitch shows so easily, I would want to keep it rust free. When I was looking to buy a 4th gen if I saw one that had a rusty hitch I knew it was from up north and I moved on. You'd be surprised how many northern vehicles make their way down south to be sold. A lot of people down here are unaware of the rust situation and end up paying more than what a person up north would. When I ran my own shop I did a lot of work for a dealer that had a pipeline from the Maryland/Northern Va area and every car we worked on for him had serious rust problems. And many of the people that bought them had no idea. Anyway, good luck on getting your 5th gen. I must say I'm jealous. But at my age, (almost 62), I'm not buying any vehicle that I can't pay cash for and 45k is not something I can spend for a vehicle.

 

Thanks for the note Importman. I suppose everything in life is a tradeoff, I never married (engaged once) nor had children so I have saved more than most I guess. Its a lonely life to be honest and dating with covid is non-existant for the most part. I am surprised so many vehicles make it down there for sale.

I think in general new cars rust much less than they did in the 90's and even 10 years ago.

 

Eh, I've always disliked how (inexpensive Japanese) cars come with this black, seemingly unfinished trim because it always seems to get damaged easily. Lots of folks don't use the door handle to close doors, so this trim piece is exactly where their hand seems go to. Even oils from our skin seem to damage this type of plastic over time. But, isn't the piece of trim fairly easy to replace? The ability to replace it after it's damaged seems like it's only strength, and I hope that's why Toyota went with it over actually painting that part of the vehicle. Since my 4Runner lives in it's natural habitat (in the woods/bush), my plastic there already has many many scratches.. I've owned my 2020 for a few months. I also have plenty of scratches down the sides, roof, rear spoiler, etc.

 

To all those saying ouch to the 2018 price, Google "used car prices pandemic" and see why this isn't such a stretch.
NPR Article link
When I bought my 2019 almost 1 year ago to the date (before the pandemic), used 4Runners were so costly that for a couple of thousand more, I could get a new one off the lot.

 

Got an 18 limited supercharged I could be convinced to sell.


Sorry didn’t read the whole thread, just saw few posts about selling used runners for 45k, and need to jump in.

we have an 18 and our trim doesn’t look like that.

 

Super charged?

 

You could use 2 things either re-coat it in forever black great stuff but not permanent or you can wrap it lasts years and you can go body color
On the issue of resales there is no Trd inventory my truck stickered for 43.5 k predator package and no kdss the only option not ordered perfect monster I added BP51 suspension 1552 hd rims w/ wildpeaks pro rack rigid metal grill with rigid 20in pro light victory4x4 blitz aluminum bumper vr12 winch And I have 3 offers now for 45 8k miles and 3 years old I won’t though love it too much
J

 

I not saying used 4R went for $45k. I meant that I was considering getting a new one for $45k or at least that ball park. I was looking at used ones on the lot for kicks to see how they are holding up on the exterior. Thats when i noticed the black trim.

I would be your atypical 4Runner user; not off-roading just more for recreational using towing my boat fishing, going biking etc. I am fussy about fit/finish/keeping it waxed etc. I work at a computer all day so for me hand washing a vehicle, drinking some beer and putting wax on a car or truck is therapeutic.

 

I’ve seen Mothers Back to Black do a lot for black plastic trim on cars.

 

I've got a '20 so no idea yet. But every vehicle I've owned with the plastic on the door like that ends up turning gray no matter how well I take care of it. I sure hope my 4Runner fares better.

 

The used prices for good 4 Runner are crazy high down here in Central Florida. I've decided that I will be just buying a new one.