2013 Prius - trunk area under spare tire

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014.

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  1. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    caulk2.jpg Hi - I am new here, so my apologies if this isn't in the correct spot. I just bought a 2013 Prius Two on Saturday - I am the first owner (it had 50 miles - last on the lot!)… I have been inspecting it to make sure I didn't get taken for some kind of scam from the dealer (sorry, but I am a cautious person), and I lifted up the trunk areas and looked where the spare tire is and there is all this caulk lining parts of the trunk near the spare tire… Almost looks like pieces of this trunk area were broken and they used a light colored caulk to put it back together. Is this normal?? Also, the steering wheel -- the right side has a larger slit/gap than the left (the area near the buttons), hard to describe… Is this also normal?
     

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    #1 laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    things that make you go, hmmm...
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 4, 2014
  3. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Sorry, I also lifted up the hood and several of the tubes/areas are wrapped with black electrical tape -- is this also normal??
     
    #3 laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014
  4. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Right? I mean, if the car has never been titled before and it has 50 miles, I would assume it's just been sitting on a lot for nearly two years… But, why?? That is barely even many test drives. I guess I am trying to see if something fishy is going on.
     
    #4 laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how good a deal did they cut you?
     
    #5 bisco, Aug 4, 2014
  6. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    I actually think I might not have gotten a good deal… I got it for $22,000… It was listed for $24,750 and they took it down to $22,000, but I feel since the car was sitting there and is nearly two years old that I should have gotten a better deal?? It was the last 2013 on the lot. I prly could have gotten a 2014 for the same price???
     
    #6 laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...pics?
     
    #7 wjtracy, Aug 4, 2014
  8. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Hi - I will take pics in the morning. I should have done that initially!
     
    #8 laurenxbee, Aug 4, 2014
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds like buyers remorse. i'm sure your car is fine, and you will have many years of trouble free driving. nothing wrong with double-checking your concerns though, you can always go back to the dealer and look at a '14 to compare these issues. all the best!(y)
     
    #9 bisco, Aug 5, 2014
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Welcome to Prius Chat Lauren,....please tell us your state of residence in your profile as it helps us understand your deal and car. You are under new car warranty so if anything is wrong you can get it fixed.
     
    #10 wjtracy, Aug 5, 2014
  11. CapeAnn

    CapeAnn Member

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    I remember trying to find the 12 volt battery and when I lifted the foam block off - saw all the funny caulking-like material in the back. It gave me a chuckle. Also, when I first lifted the hood and looked at the engine area I saw giant orange cables with black tape and wire mesh on them and thought it cool. I guess orange is a aposematic color which tells someone - stay away from high voltage!!!

    Here in Massachusetts we are seeing Prius 2 2013/2014 going for around 22,000.00 too.
     
    #11 CapeAnn, Aug 5, 2014
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Electrical tape is used on the cables under the hood. Often in conjunction with the corrugated plastic sheathing, sometimes just tape. It's normal.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Aug 5, 2014
  13. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Thank you so much. I am from the metro-Detroit area in Michigan.
     
    #13 laurenxbee, Aug 5, 2014
  14. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Hi! Thank you for helping me. Here are some pics…. caulk.jpg
     

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    #14 laurenxbee, Aug 5, 2014
  15. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    Thank you so much. I posted pics above… Is this what yours looked like too??
     
    #15 laurenxbee, Aug 5, 2014
  16. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    I love the car, just trying to understand why it has been sitting on the lot, I guess?! I posted pics above of the caulking… Is it normal??
     
    #16 laurenxbee, Aug 5, 2014
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did you ask them why it hadn't sold yet? it may have only been sitting for less than a year.
     
    #17 bisco, Aug 5, 2014
  18. laurenxbee

    laurenxbee New Member

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    They told me it had been there since December 2012! I don't get it… It is black and they said most people want colors, or that was the reason they gave me… Did you see the pics of the caulk, is that normal? Sorry I am being annoying.
     
    #18 laurenxbee, Aug 5, 2014
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not annoying at all. i don't have a lift back to check, the pip does not have a spare. i'm sure someone will know or take a look. offhand, it looks pretty normal to me, they don't waste a lot of money 'dressing up' the hidden areas.
     
    #19 bisco, Aug 5, 2014
  20. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    Ive seen that in the boot of brand new cars before. Nothing sinister, just laziness in the factory as its is not on display. It's like some manufacturers not painting the underside of the bonnet
     
    #20 Tony D, Aug 5, 2014
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