I have seen several cars now that may be advertised as a Prius Trim package IV or V and yet when I plug in the VIN number to the decoder, the trim package comes back as a lower level trim. Is this another market scam or is there a real reason why this may happen sometimes?
Many used car do get misrepresented. For example, most of the GenII models advertised as 'Touring' version were not. But some errors are accidental. A number of posters here got higher trim levels than advertised.
Something like this: Free VIN number decoder for Toyota cars And the OP is correct, they are inaccurate apparently. I plugged in my Prius v Five and it says it's a Three. Why that is I do not know off hand.
Hmm, Paradox's decoder link tells me we've got drum brakes in the back, and have 195/65R15 tires, both in error for our Canadian Touring model. Says it's a Prius II. Maybe confused 'cause it's a Canadian model. Still, nobody has rear drums I think. Kinda wish I did, after the battle I had with our rear discs a few months back.
There may be WAY more decoder links just to put it out there, I only grabbed the first google search return. Maybe others return different results? I'd look but I'm too busy watching the Jets get their butts kicked, Lol.
Ha! When your starting QB throws 3 back to back interceptions... Ok, on topic - Here's an EU vin decoder, I tried mine and it searches Canada and returns no results so maybe others can try from there? Toyota VIN decoder - check VIN numbers for free
I just checked my 2011 Prius using this VIN check site and it came back as trim 1 and I have trim 3. I would guess the site is not accurate. iPad ?
Yeah I was told mine was a V and it came back as a II on the site. I have leather, jbl, home link, & headlight washers, just no nav or auto on lights.
Err, as far as I know, you can't know the trim level of a car unless those VIN sites somehow are accessing databases of known VINs (such as DMVs, CarFax or manufacturers). Are those readily accessible? Because Toyota makes it easy with packages and trim levels (I do not want to know how difficult it is to identify a European vehicle's exact options on the used car market), you can just verify what features are seen in the vehicle and check the 2010 brochure. If you're looking for a minimum of a 2010 Prius IV, here's what the IV has over the III Electrochromatic mirror w/ Homelink Plasmacluster ionizer (you'll see plasmacluster written on the climate control screen as a decal) Leather seat surfaces Leather-wrapped steering wheel Power driver's lumbar support Heated front seats Water-repellent front door glass 3-door Smart Key System Illuminated Entry (with driver & front passenger footwell lighting) Felt-lined A & B pillar trim (as opposed to plastic) Early builds didn't have USB/iPod connectivity (May - Sept 2010 build give or take) and Safety Connect was added around that time too (Sept-Nov timeframe of 2010). Both USB/iPod and Safety Connect were part of the two option packages below There were two option packages for the IV: Navigation and Solar Roof (which includes navigation). The navigation will replace the standard double-din type radio with a 7" colour LCD with DVD-based navigation, XMNavTraffic capability, backup camera and bluetooth streaming audio. The Solar Roof adds a power tilt/slide moonroof with solar powered ventilation system and remote A/C. The V adds to a "base" IV: 17" alloys with P215/45R17 tires LED low beam headlights with auto-levelling Headlight washers Foglights There were also two packages available for the V - Navigation and Advance Technology Navigation is the same as above Advance Technology adds Lane Keep Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, Intelligent Parking Assist, Voice-Activated DVD-Based Navigation System, Bluetooth Audio and Backup Camera. You can distinguish it from the navigation package with the addition of two buttons on the bottom right of the steering wheel (silver buttons) to control the radar cruise and LKA, as well as an extra button by the driver's right knee for the IPA.
