Anyone know about this?

Ah, yes, that would be the dealer-optional screw-the-midwesterner package.

 

When I was looking for a dealer, several here in Michigan required the "midwest package" at $799 which I was told included:

1) Underbody rustproofing (not a Toyota product at any dealer that provided it, and they acknowledged it may void Toyota's corrosion warranty, but countered that the rust proofer would pay for any rust-through, however this generally requires annual "touch-ups" from the original dealer or their warranty is voided);

2) Interior protection;

3) Paint protection.

Each of these dealers made my "red" list and I continued to look elsewhere until I found the right dealer.

 

For cars which are not in high demand (selling for close to invoice), you should pay $0 for dealer pack. That $799 represents about $80 cost to the dealer and $720 of profit. And it's not even worth the $80 cost.

They should just be honest and call it an $800 Market Value Adjustment.

 

I live in the midwest. I was offered all the usual dealer add-ons and politely declined. It took maybe 5 or 10 minutes for the dealer to go through the whole list; an insignificant amount of time compared with all the other paperwork and functional explanations that went along with taking delivery on the car. He did not push me. An honest dealer will take no for an answer and will not insist. (But it's part of the game to let them ask you to buy it and tell you the "benefits.")

But my advice is don't take any of that stuff, which probably does more harm than good. Pay them the $800 if it's the only way they'll sell the car and if it's worth it to you, but don't let them "improve" on a car that's already got all that stuff from the factory. Who do you think really has better rust-proofing and interior protection: Toyota, or the fly-by-night that sells $80 worth of stuff to the dealer for re-sale at $800?

BTW, john1701a reported, somewhere on his web page, spilling something messy on the seats, and it cleaned up without a trace. The car's already got interior protection.

 

Sounds a lot like Toyoguard except for the rustproofing claim. I paid a lot less than $799 for it, maybe $450 or so. Maybe that 'rustproofing' is more expensive...

 

And I thought Californians get screwed all the time!