$270 for 15,000 maintenance - worth it??

The REALLY easy way to tell that you are getting ripped off is the "Except MR2" on one of those items. The "Generic tune up" schedule does not apply to your Prius. As noted, how are they going to check the rear differential oil if there isn't one? They can't lube anything in a Prius except maybe door hinges but a lot of dealers have "lube" items in their generic schedules.

The only things that MIGHT need to be done 'extra' based on your description of where you drive is more frequent oil (and maybe air filter) changes.

Specify EXACTLY the items in the Prius 15K scheduled maintenance and NOTHING ELSE. If you run separate winter & summer tires, tell them NOT to rotate your tires now, you'll be swapping them in a month anyway. In fact, before you drop the car at the dealer, fill up the windshield washer fluid with whatever you already buy from K-Mart or where ever and keep in your garage. Do you REALLY want to pay them $75/hour to do that and rip you off for 100% or more profit on the cost of the fluid?

 

Prepaid maintenance is a waste for the same reason the "15K dealer maintenance" is a waste. All you need to do up to 100K is oil changes (every 5K), inspections, and at every 30K change air filters too.

There is no scheduled time to change the ATF, but 60-100K might be a good idea. The fluid isn't used for hydraulic control or torque transfer as is done on a conventional tranny. It is only there for lubrication and some cooling.

At 100K, the coolant is to be changed, and I think the plugs at 120K.

Contact! That's all, nothing else.

 

I live in the San Francisco Bay area and was concerned about the high cost of labor here so, I bought the prepaid maintenance plan fully expecting that an oil change and tire rotation would cost around 100$ given that the labor rate here is between 120$ and 140$ an hour. To my shock and surprise, I rolled into Walnut Creek Toyota at 10:30 PM last night to make an appointment. They serviced my car while I waited <less then 30 minutes>and with no appointment for a total cost of 31$. That included the tire rotation and oil change and all fluids topped off and a 15 point inspection. My out of pocket cost was 0 because of the prepaid service agreement. Wow! I really expected it to cost around a hundred dollars.
I am happy to see how inexpensive it was to service but dissmayed that I paid 650$ for prepaid service and at this rate will never use that 650$. Oh well.
-Paul R. Haller

 

Just the other week, I had this changed on 2001 Prius with 79k miles. Got a new pan gasket too, because I wanted them to look for metal flakes. There were no metal flakes. Plan to ignore it for a really long time now.

 

Prepaid maintenance is a WASTE of money. In additon $270 @ 15k is throwing your money away. I've had my Prius for two years and have driven in adverse weather etc. My only costs so far are oil changes, a PCV valve @ 30k (probably didn't need it). Two air filters and one cabin filter. That's it. Car runs/drives like the day I got it. Mileage to date... 34,500. I love this car!!

 

In the Netherlands Toyota has standard prices for maintenance.
15.000 km (about 10.000 miles € 116 or $ 140,-
30.000 km (about 20.000 miles € 199 or $ 240,-
45.000 km (about 30.000 miles € 116 or $ 140,-

 

My 2001 Prius is approching it's 120k service interval. Which includes the inverter/transmission fluid change.

How much did they charge?

 

I've worked on cars my whole life. I would not pay $270 for mostly inspections. I would wait until the 30,000 maint. However, change the oil & filter. Inspect the air filter. Top off windshield washer fluid, check brake res. level.

I think the price is way too much.

 

<_< Had my 15,000 done couple of weeks back at my Dealer. My total charge was $80.42 plus the 3½ quarts of Mobil-1 5W30 oil I provided. The Dealer used my oil, their Toyota filter, rotated the tires and used MY PRESSURE requirements (40/38 psi), and performed the State Vehicle Inspection. I also had the SSC-50P ECU programming and replacement of the brakelight switch which brought me completely up to date.

Needless to say, my Prius will go back to that Dealer when I need service. The only negative is they re-set my headlights noticeably too high (I was getting "flashed" by oncoming motorists), so I reset them myself per directions found in the Manual.

There are good dealers.

 

Still cheaper than a Porshe oil change $1600.00