I just bought a white Prius IV for a great price with 0 down, 0% interest for 36 months. Even though I went in not wanting to be sold on "extras", I was=( There is a 60 day refund policy on everything so I can change my mind... 1) GAP: $495 2) Platinum Extra Care (8 years/125k miles) - I won't keep it past 5-6ish years and I dive 10k a year. He told me it's good for the next owner, but I generally don't sell private. This cost me $1675 3) Premium Auto Care - while new Toyotas come with 2 year free maintenance I was sold on this extra care for $495. 2 more years (4 total) and 45k so covers the 30k maintenance. Anyhow, would really appreciate some advice. Should I cancel? I do want peace of mind and I know it's a complicated vehicle, I just don't want to be ripped off at point of sale. Side note: Any thoughts on window tinting? I'm about to do 30 on all windows. Too dark? It's illegal where I live to do the front ones, so I'm considering just doing rear windows.
GAP? What's that? If you are talking about gap insurance you got ripped off. You were probably covered by your existing car insurance anyway. You can get a genuine Toyota extra warranty for about $975 through dealer guy named Troy who gives a special deal to priuschat folks. His contact info is in this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/59761-troys-contact-info-warranty.html I haven't purchased it since the car has been virtually trouble free for most people, especially if you only intend to keep it for 6 years. For at least the first 100,000 miles, there is virtually no maintenance on this car other than oil changes. There is no way the $495 for an extra 2 years of oil changes is going to pay for itself. According to this link, 30 tint is legal in California on the front windows (not the windshield, other than the top 4 inches):
Cancel the GAP insurance for sure. GAP is great if you're leasing (many leases have it built in) or financing for 84 months at 10%, but financing for 36 months at 0%, you're not likely to be upside down on that scenario IMHO. Traditional car insurance generally doesn't have GAP coverage. I'd cancel all of it and get the warranty for $700 less from Troy.
OK, I'm confused. I originally linked to this website, showing 30 tint being legal on front windows in CA: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/ and also this website saying the same thing: http://www.tintlaws.com/laws/CA/ but now I see this thread, that says almost no tint allowed: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ermarket-front-window-tint-in-california.html If you want to cut down on heat through the glass, there are clear tint products available, like 3M crystalline.
I got a similar deal as you (0% 36 mo) but didn't get GAP or buy into any of their pre-paid service. I plan on eventually getting the extended warranty from Troy (see the links others have posted). I also got my windows tinted. Front windows can be tinted to of 70% light transmission. Meaning, 70% of the light must be allowed to pass through the window tint (basically looks like un-tinted windows). The rears can be tinted without restriction. I ended up getting 50% in the fronts and 35% in the back. I would stay away from metalized tints as they might interfere with Nav or Sat radio.
Cancel the GAP. For all the good reasons listed above. I'm somewhat biased against dark (30%) tinting because: 1. I reduces night time visability in a car that already has a poor rearward visibility. JMHO 2. LEOs HATE it...and I also don't like driving in a car that looks like its being driven by a kid trying to pimp out his Mom's ride. Again...just a personal preference. 3. After 2-3 years of baking in the sun...something we have a lot of here, tinting looks like a bag of a--. All personal preferences. Some people really dig it. Some people really dig putting 22s on a car. Just saying that it's not my thing. Good luck with the car! You've already taken a ding on the extended warranty----you might as well relax and enjoy it. You got a good price, and good financing terms-right? Don't beat yourself up over it. Relax, and enjoy the car...
If i were you, I would cancel that Premium Auto Care deal. I was sold the same thing, at the supposedly discounted price, of $570. The finance guy explained that the 30k service alone was about $500 and the 45k service around $250. So you can see how much money you save - NOT!!!! My room mate has a 2009 Prius and the day after I bought my 2010, he gets a flyer in the mail advertising the 30 service for $199 and the 45k for 109. I was so mad, I called the service department at another dealer and they confirmed these are the regular prices. I called the president of the dealership were I got my new Prius and complained. It could only have been one of two things: 1. The guy selling the service contract did not know what he was talking about. This is bad. 2. The guy selling the service contract is lying to get you to buy. This is even worse. The president confirmed I was correct with the actual prices and immediately agreed to refund my $570. I already received it. But, this has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I intend to inform Toyota when I get the survey the are supposed to send new buyers. Tom G.
1) GAP: $495 Dealer rip off. 2) Platinum Extra Care (8 years/125k miles) - I won't keep it past 5-6ish years and I dive 10k a year. He told me it's good for the next owner, but I generally don't sell private. This cost me $1675 This is a combo Toyota / Dealer rip off. I have 43,000 miles on my 2010 Prius with zero repairs. I predict another 82,000 miles with zero issues. I put 305,000 miles on my last Toyota and did not have any repairs that would have been covered by a warranty until I was over 2000,000 miles. Take care of your Toyota and it will run forever. 3) Premium Auto Care - while new Toyotas come with 2 year free maintenance I was sold on this extra care for $495. 2 more years (4 total) and 45k so covers the 30k maintenance. Another dealer rip off. The 30K maintenance is an oil change and two filters. Total cost $70. Get your $495 back. I would be mad at hell at myself and the dealer. Please go back and fix this problem. You will have an extra $2,665 in your pocket after it is all over.
Thanks so much, everyone. I returned to the dealership today and got a refund on all 3 items!!! The F&I guy almost had me again today - man these guys are good;-) But I stayed strong thanks to you all;-) :cheer2: Btw, I used truecar.com - great site.
My dealer really harped on getting an excellent customer review from Toyota's after the sale survey and this was repeated to me all through the sales process. When I got to the F&I guy and he brought out his spread sheet with all the "wonderful" services he was going to try and convince me I needed, I told him my entire review of the dealership would be based entirely on how quickly he skipped all this BS. He told me he had to do it anyway but gave me the 2 minute Cliff notes version. After I signed off on all the declines, he told me that 10% of the folks simply can't afford it and won't budge and the other 10%, like me, understand it's pure profit and will never, ever buy into it. He said that working extra hard on us 20% made his job interesting and challenging. Word.
My dealer made me sit around the dealer from 6PM until 9PM then tried to pressure me into buying everything knowing it was late. I will make them sign a contract next time were I get $50 off for every 10 minutes they take me to get out the door after 1 hour. I HATE DEALERS, THEY ARE ALL THE SCUM OF THE EARTH!!!!! Everyday on Prius Chat I read new stories like this that make me hate them even more.
