This thread stirred up a yellow jacket nest. I just got bitten by one yesterday so the analogy seems fitting. With only 6 weeks of ownership under my belt, I am NOT qualified to toss in my 2 cents worth but I will skirt around a few issues.
I am fortunate to already know Cyclone and Breakawaydaze. Both have valid points when you know where they are coming from. Pete has his heart and soul into these boats. Anyone notice how many posts he made last night? Can anyone say they wouldn't freak out if he said, "Screw this, I shutting down the site and buying a gay wrestler boat"? IMHO, Cyclone is expressing frustration because he wants so much for Toyota to love the boats, and the boat owners, as much as he does. Again, in just my opinion, Breakawaydaze has expressed a view that stems from his knowledge of a related business and from a corporate factual reality. It is the head vs. the heart. Compromise solution available? That would require an answer - I am only good at questions. Does Toyota care about 400 boat owners? SHOULD they? Elevate it to the next level - Does Toyota care about their next venture into the unknown? How they handle this one may (or may not) affect the buying public's willingness to venture into it with them. Several have mentioned that Toyota lost a ton of money on the Marine experience. Must be a pisser and embarrassing to boot. They probably want to put it behind them. However, character is displayed not by how we handle the good times - too easy- but how we handle the rough times. While they decide (perhaps they already have) what type of corporate citizen they want to be, I will be out on the E21. I do LOVE driving that boat. Breakawaydaze, 96 hours. I almost hate to go to triple digits but I see it coming this weekend!
Now that people have vented, maybe things will settle back down or maybe a boil is festering. This is where being a newbie hurts me - I don't know. Regardless, use group think if moving forward...
Oh, as to the thought about people that rag out their boats and then want Toyota to fix everything for free - Toyota should be able to tell the difference in that type person and someone like Cyclone, Breakawaydaze and, hopefully me and tell the dirt heads to go screw themselves. I am willing to bet that the people that frequent this website are ones that take care of their boat. Maybe Toyota should find a way to differentiate and treat us special. As a minimum, I don't think that Cyclone (and perhaps one or two others, not me, that contribute so much here) should EVER have to pay for a part - EVER! If Toyota cannot find a way to say Thank You to Cyclone, well, just (b)eat me. Is there ANYONE on this website that could encourage anyone at Toyota see the importance of that?
(Anyone living near T9 perhaps? Anyone that works in the industry or a related field perhaps?)
As to the original topic (novel thought) - there is nothing that has ever been made that cannot be fixed. It may not be the perfect fix or economically justified fix but it can be fixed. Not having the option involved, I cannot envision the exact problem - a leak in a soft component or hard? Where? Parts is parts. I have some marine Goop. It fixes anything! Seriously, some suggestions have already been made. Others probably will be offered if enough info is given. RYPDAVIS, do you want to repair your boat or would you perhaps prefer to find a different one - Toyota or otherwise? Think on that one, as it will come to that-
If this post seems slightly out of sync - it is. I tried repeatedly to post it yesterday but was haviing trouble with error messages. I am to stubborn to just move on-
