Does this hood look misaligned?

Too hard to tell with just this picture and the wrap on the hood. But, it has to be quite obvious for a dealer to called off a sale. I hope you get this resolved soon. Good luck.

Edit: I looked at the photo on a large screen. It's still very hard to tell, but maybe the left front corner of the hood (right side looking at the picture) looks to me having some gap??? Or is it just the shade on the picture playing an eye trick? Don't know.

 

If you saw no signs of impact damage, give the dealer some time to get the hinges & latch aligned. When you are called to pick it up, take a very close look at how the hood operates. All aspects should be normal...the release inside the cabin, the second release under the lip of the hood, lift it up & prop it on the strut, lower it, snap it fully shut. You can look at other Prius's on the lot and see what size gap is normal. Nothing stands out with the Prime hood...nothing unusually smooth, and nothing unusually awkward, just a normal hood.

 

very hard to tell with the wrap, but I agree with Salamander_King that it appears that there is more shadow in the wrong places on the drivers side hood.

I would definitely give them the benefit of the doubt. it does them no good to hold on to the car and not pocket your money.

 

From seeing that picture, it appears the driver side of the hood, isn't properly closed. There might be a hinge or so problems there.

Be patient with them

 

Agree. Enlarge that photo and it appears the driver's side of the hood is sticking up about an inch? Not sure, but if it was me, I'd be very hesitant to take that one. I would just order another Prime. I wouldn't even let the dealer work on it.

I would never accept a brand new vehicle from a dealer who tells me "something is misaligned." That's crazy. It was either damaged in some way while in transit, or the Toyota quality is really going downhill! Can you get a Prime from another dealer?

Is the Prime Prius in short supply in the Midwest? Can you buy out-of-state? Why are some California dealers overflowing with Primes?

 

Wow, that's really a big gap. To lift the hood this much, something underneath had to be moved up quite bit. Nop, I would decline this one as a new car, if I am in your shoes. Unless, they are going to give you substantial discounts on this. Of course, if you try to bargain too much, they will likely to back off, and fix the car and sell it to someone as a brand new car at normal price.

 

I doubt there is way to track vehicle repair before the sale. I am not sure how Carfax records works, but I don't think they will get the record unless the dealer decide to report it, and it would be dealer's benefit not to report such repair. So my guess would be no.

 

The engine was "pushed up?" And it needs new parts?!

RUN!

I agree with Salamander. I could not / would not accept that Prius.. I know it's hard to be patient when the "new car bug" hits, but that's just unacceptable (to me.) It's a lot of money, I don't want damaged goods right from the get-go. Is there any way you can purchase your new Prime in another state? I'm not sure how that works, but some have done it.

 

And why is Toyota neglecting the Midwest? Are other Toyota models in short supply too? Consider flying out to California. There's a huge dealer here that currently has 94(!) Primes in stock. Pick up your new car, then spend a day having fun at Disneyland, and then enjoy a nice leisurely drive back to Chicago.

Here are 6 pages of new Primes. If nothing else, you can compare prices with Chicago.

Toyota Hybrid Cars in El Monte | Longo Toyota Dealer serving Los Angeles

 

So they are saying the engine was dislocated upward and the hood took the brunt of it. Who knows what all was done and the effects over time. And, no the clearance under there is not "that" tight.

No way would I accept that car. Yes, I had to order and wait for mine as well so I know what that means.

 

Yep, it's totalled.

 

i'd pass.

 

Buffalo and Rochester are only about nine driving hours from Chicago compared to 30 hours for So Cal.
Same Toyota discount on 2018 models - $1,500
New York has $5,000 discount on 2017 models, California only $2,000.
Disneyland 1-day Park Hopper ticket = $167 weekday, $185 weekend. Parking = $20.
Niagara Falls = free (unless you go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride but that's only $11)

 

I’m with @Salamander_King, @Mark57, @milkman44, and @bisco: reject this car as damaged. If you’re paying the new car price, you should get a new car, intact from the factory, not one that needed repair.

Even with a discount to the used car price, I’d want to see that an independent body shop has checked the standard clearance measurements for the hood, doors, and hatch, and as many of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional distances for the engine compartment, suspension crossmembers, and under body as can be measured without major disassembly. This information is all in the Collision Repair Manual, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.

 

If you are patient enough to wait, and can afford to wait, this is exactly what I would do.
You are buying a brand new vehicle, you shouldn't have to worry about misaligned hoods or some level of damage done in transport. It certainly would concern me, as to how it happened, and what other damage may of also happened, just not as visible.

No, I think I'd pass, as frustrating as having to continue the wait or search might be.

 

Does the dealer have the option to refuse delivery of a damaged vehicle? Or are they just stuck with it. Hard to believe they were going to attempt repairs and then sell it as "new"? (On second thought, it is not hard to believe.) And if that particular Prius had not been reserved, would they have been honest and told a prospective customer that the car had been damaged in transit, and repaired?

I was speaking in jest. I would not seriously expect someone to fly here, and then drive a new vehicle all the way back to Chicago. I couldn't do that long drive, even if I was a young man. And the car might get all kinds of rock dings, chips in the paint, etc.. (And Disneyland is overrated. And way overpriced.)