Just purchased and blinding red RoadApple Prius V 2 born in 2017. Within hours, someone dinged her in a church parking lot and just left her there all bruised. I didn’t realize she was hurt until this morning. According to Dr Toyota, the hybrid system needs to be disconnected for some reason, so the cost of repairs skyrockets (it’s a dent in the rocker panel below the middle of the driver door). The disconnect has to be done by Toyota or the warranty is invalidated. I guess I’m looking for some reassurance that a minor dent like that could lead to such a major undertaking. Any experience/advice? (The dealer is very big and has a good reputation but I have no personal experience with them) williamthechild
welcome, and sorry to hear it. hard to say without pics. maybe a hit to the rocker panel sets off some chassis ecu or something. disconnecting the orange safety plug on the high voltage battery (hybrid connector)is always a safety precaution before beginning any body work. invalidated warranty maybe be baloney.
PS - the lower estimate ($700 vs $1,800) was from a firm that does dent removal rather than body work. Weird tools that tap out a gentle dent rather than filling, sanding, repainting. They do minor paint touch up but really shine doing dents that can be pushed back out. My RoadApple meets that criteria. Used them on my Volvo - it it was the Volvo dealer’s body shop that recommended them ($225 vs $620 for that one).
How's your insurance? In your shoes I would just file a claim. Heck, I always file a claim. Hit-and-run in a church parking lot: GOD is on your side, lol.
Other choices: Andrew Steyn's vehicle in The Gods Must Be Crazy: the Antichrist In college, I knew somebody whose car was named Flattery. ... which was a little bit harsh; it would get you somewhere, sometimes.
Wow, lots of comments. In reply - - yes I realize there is another more common meaning to RoadApple, but it’s bright red and it just seemed so right - and there wasn’t a horse for miles..... - I take the opposite approach on insurance. I look at payouts as a loan rather than a credit, as it’s clawed back through higher rates. I found years ago that once you get to a third claim here (Ontario) you risk having your policy cancelled. Regardless of the deductible, I pay my own repairs rather than going through that hassle, provided the cost is manageable. Having your insurance cancelled means extreme difficulty getting some anywhere else as the companies share histories with one another. If you can’t get any or what you can get is very expensive and very limiting in coverage, you really have a problem. You put yourself in the hands of companies that insure the highest risk drivers. Not good. Good luck with your approach. The car is going in next week to be restored to it’s original glory.
