Is Toyota taking a step backwards? I think so.

Cheaper oil changes? This is the first time I've heard this--I was told by the dealer that there was no change in maintenance from the 09 Prius. What were you told?

 

I think he was comparing the 07 with the 10. The Gen 2 does have cheaper oil changes if you run dino oil in an 07.

 

Really?! Why is that??? This is news to me... do you know what the price difference is?

 

GIII requires 0W20 synthetic oil that is much more expensive. Oil chage runs up to $70 including labor. Please see other posts here about that.

 

Many thanks for this. It seems I was ill informed!

 

synthetic last longer and offer more protection , the argument for cost benefit is a not right to me. 10 doesn't have drivebelts that's a saving isn't it?

 

That's true. Synthetic oils are the future, I just didn't think that it was REQUIRED now for the Gen III.

 

They used semi-synthetic from the factory, so not quite the real stuff. Still, they are all better than conventional oil, you can definitely extend the drain interval to longer if you get the full synthetic like Mobil 1/Amsoil/Castrol. I get free oil changes from the dealer, so I will see if I am going to full castrol or mobil 1 later

 

If I have to get the oil changed every 5K miles, I don't know how it benefits me that a synthetic will last longer because I'll be replacing it just as often. I'm not a mechanic (nor a he) but the drivebelt argument certainly isn't reflected in the cost of pre-paid maintenance plans, which increased by $200 or $50 per year/13K miles for the 2010 Prius due to the need for synthetic oil.

 

If the Gen. 3 Prius had not turned out the way it did I would not bought it. I didn't like
the looks of either earlier Gen. Prius's. Personally I think the '10 is just right. I don't
have anything against anyone owning an earlier Gen. if it weren't for them buying the
early models the whole program would have been dead by now.

 

I find the 2010 model sleekier, more aggressive and way better looking than the previous model. If you have the 17" wheels it looks even better.
The huge screen in the older version was expensive and of little practical use and reflected the sunshine and ended up full of fingerprints. It shouted "look at me I am so cool, so saving the planet, so CO2 friendly".
The new display is big enough to show what it should show and makes sure you look the road. The new Heads up display (available here in EU standard), more power, more space, much much better stability and handling, less fuel consumption all speak of Toyota taking a good step forward instead. The inside of the previous generation to me gave instead the idea that the design was *so* old. And I remember not being able to read the dashboard speed indicator under sunlight when I test drove it. No wonder I waited 2 years to get the new version.
Mind you, the new version is, alas, not perfect! (bad FM reception, no clue on where the car ends at the front, terrible backward visibility in low light when it rains).

 

The prepaid maintenance plan is a dealer item, they can charge you for as much as they want. It doesn't reflect the true cost since it can vary dealer to dealer. The recommended oil change schedule is 5000 miles, but please feel free to pull the dipstick on a car with conventional oil after 5000 miles and one with synthetic. You will be a synthetic believer after seeing the difference.

 

I'm glad to know synthetic oil is better but my original comment was that oil changes are cheaper for the Gen II and I still believe that is the case.

 

Speaking of, I went to Canadian Tire tonight and couldn't find 0W20 Mobil 1 oil; do you know if other stores carry it in Canada?

 

I traded my 2005 Prius for a new 2009 Prius over the 2010 model I had been waiting for, on Jan. 17... 5 days after the "BIG REVEAL". I have never been so disappointed (almost nauseous) over an interior restyle in my 42 years of buying cars!

 

They apparently decided to black out the bar across the split hatchback glass so it'd coordinate better with the available solar roof.

Or you can just get one in black