How do I know what I am buying? TRD Pro Impostors!

Hey all. I am new to the forum. I owned a Yota pickup back in the day and had a blast with upgrades and general driving. Then enters wife, kids, and before you know it I'm rolling down the street in a crossover. Well NO MORE! I am in negotiations on buying my first Tundra, and have looked for months. That is the reason for this post.

While looking for my first Tundra (used 2014 or newer) I have come across several dealers that have a TRD Pro model listed in their sale description, but the trucks didn't fit the build... Now I am new to buying Tundras, and this is where I am hoping we can post some examples to inform future buyers.

The TRD Pro I looked at was a 2016 with 20k miles. Price was listed at $42k. When I arrived at the dealership I noticed that the TRD Pro logo on the pickup bed was a sticker and not stamped in... is this normal or is this an impostor for the 2016s?

Second was the interior. The interior is cloth and the middle console reads SR5. In my research the TRD Pro sports leather interior with TRD stitched seats, accent coloring, and a TRD Pro stamp on the middle console. Do any of the TRD Pro models actually come with stock SR5 cloth interiors?!

Now the wheels were the upgraded Pro wheels and the front end was color matched at the grill and hood scoop, but the air filter under the hood is stock, not the TRD upgraded filter...

Aside from this I have seen several same year Tundras listed as TRD Pro but have the stock chrome front grill and hood trim. Is this an easy indicator that the truck is actually a standard SR5?

Thanks all. Can't wait to post pics of my new Tundra... when that day finally comes!

 

Vehicle you're describing is not a PRO. Pro has TRD PRO stamped on the side of the bed. Sounds like a Tundra with Off-Road upgrades. I paid $42 for my 2016 SR5 with upgrades, so that sounds to me like a ripoff.

 

One additional note. I requested the CarFax and the dealer sent over the Auto Check. I took a snapshot of the top, leaving off the VIN, and TRD Pro is in fact listed within the overview description, however I can't make heads or tails if this is just a generality or if this VIN is actually registered as a TRD Pro.

 

Not a Pro, SR5 that someone was trying to make look like a PRO

I would ask the dealer for the build sheet from Toyota

 

Based on your description - the truck is an SR5 with maybe TRD upgrades but not a Pro.

to make things easy - ask the dealer to run the VIN - it should tell if you if its actually a PRO or an SR5.

Edit: Ask for the VIN and use this link to check if its a Pro - https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

 

If you have a VIN # , you can check its specification here https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

 

The truck is at a Subaru dealership so I am wondering if the folks who priced the trade-in actually thought it was a TRD Pro given the generic ebay purchased sticker on the bed...

Pricing with Nada has a suggested retail on the Pro at $39,500 and SR5 with TRD at $36K...

 

Yeah it's weird...my insurance for example lists my Tundra as - 2015 TOYOTA TUN CRMAX 4X4 SR5/TRD PRO

 

Hands-down likely the best way to indicate whether or not it is a Pro.

For an alternative option @Alaska, try listing some of the options you would like to have on your Tundra without specifically looking for the "Pro" as stealerships use this marketing technique sell Toyotas these days. Again, this is just an alternative option- if you're set on getting a Pro, try that first option ^

 

You my friend are a genius! That link was killer and saved boat loads of time and research.

The truck was purchased as an SR5 with:

• CT All Weather Mats/Door Sill Protector -- Port

• FE 50 State Emissions -- Factory

• LB Spray-on Bedliner -- Port

• OF TRD Off-Road Package -- Factory

• SP SR5 Upgrade Package -- Factory

 

Welcome from NY.
Good luck with your search.

 

Welcome aboard from Oregon, I assume you live in Alaska.
2015 Pro came with cloth seats. Some people have replaced seats, grills and the hood bulge. One absolute, however, is the bed stamp.
All Pro trucks have the bed stamped “TDD PRO”, on both sides.
No other Tundra model has this.

 

There is the issue...that dealer doesn't know what a TRD Pro is or is not...glad you got the correct info of the Toyota owners website...that tool is gold.

 

Good for you, keeping your head up and knowing to ask questions. In my experience, Toyota is very proud of their Pro trim, and they emblazon it all over the Pro Tundra. Any badging that refers to SR5 or TRD Off-Road instead of Pro would be a red flag to me. And as Jose said, the side of the bed is embossed with the emblem, similar to the way TUNDRA is embossed into the tailgate. It isn't a sticker. I think a sneaky dealer is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

 

Many thanks all! I appreciate the prompt response. I plan to call into the dealer and at least let them know. That puts the obligation on them to change the price based on the correct information... or maybe it doesn't and I never go back there HA!

 

Curious to hear what that dealer says...

 

Also, if you have a link to the dealers website, we could take a look. Some of the TRD PRO's people will put inlays or stickers in there to make it stand out more, but those should be flush or still recessed into the bed.

 

They acknowledged that putting 'TRD PRO' into the book value was likely a mistake during trade-in. The manager is discussing with the GM and will give me a shout back when they determine a new list price. I threw in a low offer just to at least let them know that I am still interested. I'll let you know what they say.

 

The bed stamp is a dead give away to being a real pro. Zoom in on the tail lights and you can see the bed stamp.

 

It's either going to be a SR5 with a few mods or a theft recovery that had all the Pro specific bits stolen

 

2019 Tundra TRD PRO DOWNLOAD FULL SPECS

Model2019 Tundra
GradeTRD PRO
ExteriorAttitude Black Mc.(218)
InteriorBlack
Engine8-CYL
Body TypeCrew Max
Drive Type4WD
Transmission6AT
Selling DealerHoselton Toyota
Servicing DealerNone Selected
Date of First UseMarch 30, 2019

If he was selling a Tundra as a Pro because of a sticker you need to go some place else

 

Dealer got back to me. They dropped the price to $38,650 list and said they wouldn't go under $37,650... sounds like they got hosed on the trade in and don't want to take a loss... Thanks Continental!

 

So I should get some TRD Pro bedside decals before I trade my truck in is what you are saying? Just kidding!

Years ago I bought my wife a Certified Highlander SE that was advertised and priced as a Base model. It had leather, Navi, and a sunroof, no idea how they missed that stuff but the price was right and we made out, haha. SE didn't have a badge on the lift gate that year and they didn't pick up on it, they move so much volume, things happen.

People do make honest mistakes. I have a friend who is a car dealer that bought a beautiful Tacoma listed as a 4x4 for a great price. It ended up being a debadged PreRunner. Lesson learned.

 

FYI- if it is a 16 TRD OR 4x4 SR5, I have the same specs but in a DC and paid 35k in 2017 with 8,000 miles. $37 seems high to me for a almost 4 year old SR5 BUT I know different area demand different prices, SO good luck on finding a killer deal on a killer truck.

 

Shop around for a PRO. It will save you a grip on MODS that you will likely want to do down the road.
I bought a Limited and I like the amenities but if I did it again I would probably just get a PRO and upgrade the sound system.

 

@Alaska that truck you're looking at is an SR5 with TRD package.

Is this it ?

https://www.continental-subaru.com/...e-Alaska-eebe95680a0e0a6b2e14537ba757f30f.htm

 

That's the one. Best part is if you look at the pictures, the interior is from a Subaru! The badges on the back are TRD Off Road turns out, I got some more pics from the dealer. Where they went wrong was the Auto Check VIN lookup, as posted before... still the salesman was selling it as a Pro and the finance department was hard selling the Pro as well.

 

That decal is standard on all trd off road packaged Tundras. Definitely not a PRO

 

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm glad I was skeptical at first. I am new to the Tundra game and was totally unfamiliar with the TRD PRO trim package until after I left the dealership. I can see how people would overpay for a truck based on dealer misrepresentation, even if the price was listed in error.

 

Just a heads up some Carfax reports do show non TRD Pros as TRD pros.