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Newest Owner in Northern VA

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by carnac767, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. carnac767

    carnac767 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2013
    17
    5
    0
    Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I've been researching hybrids for a couple of years now, realizing that fuel prices are going to continue to climb. I finally pulled the trigger on Monday and bought a 2012 Prius Four through USAA's buying service. Because of the holiday I won't be picking it up until this afternoon. I finally had to part with my 1995 BMW convertible, and that was hard to do, but the incessant electrical problems and insane maintenance costs finally outweighed the coolness factor. I'm certain the dealer will put the full-court press on me today to buy the extended manufacturer's warranty. Anyone had any experience with this? He said he would sell it to me at his cost and not to let his boss know. Right. Like I've never heard that one before. Anyway, I'm looking forward to gleaning lots of great info on the best operation of the vehicle from this site. I've already been through every video I can find on Toyota's website and I've watched all the ITunes podcasts. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
     
    #1 carnac767, Jan 3, 2013
  2. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2012
    681
    282
    0
    Location:
    northern Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Carnac, congrats!

    Re: extended warranty - my 1st Prius, the 2003 model, fried its ECU (critical computer) in normal driving use about 26 miles before the standard car warranty expired - the standard warranty saved me almost one thousand USD in replacement part cost. Because of that experience and the then-still-new hybrid technology, when I traded up to the 2007 Gen II Prius I did buy an extended warranty. That purchase had zero ROI for me. Now with the 2012 PiP I judged the technology to be mature enough to forgo the extended warranty altogether.

    So, BLUF: I don't recommend one today.

    Enjoy the car!
     
    #2 DadofHedgehog, Jan 3, 2013
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,135
    50,051
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome, all the best!
     
    #3 bisco, Jan 3, 2013
  4. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,760
    1,680
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Just up in DC and was struck by how many Prius Vs were being used as cabs.

    An extended warranty can never be statistically good for the car owner because it's cost has to pay for admin costs at the dealer, admin costs at the company that provides the warranty, the commission to the sales guy, the commission to the sales manager, the commission to the dealership owner, profit to the warranty company, profit sharing to the executives of the warranty company, etc. Most independent studies say the good warranty companies pay out 30% or so of what they take in. If you like those odds or if you need the peace of mind, then buy but investigate the contract (not the sales literature) and the company that stands behind the warranty as many are amazingly complex scams with shell company after shell company declaring bankruptcy only to reform with a new name and the same executives. You'd do better playing almost any game of chance in a casino.
     
    #4 mikefocke, Jan 3, 2013
  5. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride! I would just forgo the extra warranty and sock a few dollars away a month just in something might happen.
     
    #5 spiderman, Jan 3, 2013
  6. carnac767

    carnac767 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2013
    17
    5
    0
    Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the input. Just picked up the car and it's gorgeous--Nautical blue metallic with dark gray interior and the sunroof option. I think I'll get over the Beemer quickly. My sister-in-law's uncle is a Toyota dealer in California, and he told me to skip the extended warranty, too, so I did.
     
    #6 carnac767, Jan 3, 2013
    spiderman likes this.
  7. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Congrats--enjoy.
     
    #7 stream, Jan 4, 2013
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,340
    3,596
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...hmm Fredericksburg is Northern Virginia? Where's the line between north and south VA?
    OK we'll let you in if you drive a Prius...welcome
     
    #8 wjtracy, Jan 4, 2013
  9. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Welcome!
     
    #9 ewxlt66, Jan 4, 2013
  10. Chris S

    Chris S Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2012
    323
    109
    8
    Location:
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Congrats! I just got mine a few months ago and and now realize I have yet to remember USAA's buyer assistance! Hope they got you a good deal. Enjoy the gas savings! I still can't get over it and at one time I thought 35mpg in a Corolla was great. Now I get mad if I'm under 52! You may quickly find yourself playing the game with the consumption meter too. Do you ride up 95?
     
    #10 Chris S, Jan 4, 2013
  11. carnac767

    carnac767 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2013
    17
    5
    0
    Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I try to avoid I-95 like the plague but since I fly out of Dulles, I'm forced to venture out on it. I do know every possible route there is between F'Burg and Dulles, though.
     
    #11 carnac767, Jan 24, 2013
  12. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,760
    1,680
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    If you have seen the traffic between DC and F'burg recently, you just know F'burg is in the Metro area. My last trip it took me 2 hours to go 12 miles and that was using an escape route off 95 to 1. The Navi with traffic density shown came in handy.

    Ever consider train to DC and then Metro from Union station to Nat'l or are your hours so irregular their after hours shutdown would kill you.
     
    #12 mikefocke, Jan 25, 2013
  13. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,340
    3,596
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If you are thinking VRE, at least on my side Manassass line, the schedule is very limited to 5-6 trains in AM, and limited return schedule in afternoon. No weekend/holiday service.
     
    #13 wjtracy, Jan 25, 2013
  14. carnac767

    carnac767 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2013
    17
    5
    0
    Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sometimes I can use VRE but usually my return flights into DCA get into too late to use it to get home. Most of my trips are out of Dulles, in any case.
     
    #14 carnac767, Jan 26, 2013
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