Ongoing Service

I never use dealers after warranty is over. It saves a lot of money. You need to find a good honest mechanic. My other car Infiniti G35, and I started to use my mechanic as warranty finished. For my Civic 2013, I used dealers just for the first service only. Besides my mechanic is better qualified than dealers' mechanics.

 

It's up to you.

Whatever you decide, I think it's important to have a trusted relationship with a repair entity that is familiar with Prius and Hybrids.

I tend to stay with a dealership, until or unless they betray that trust with an unreasonable fee or ridiculous evaluation. As long as they are doing the work I think is necessary, at a fair enough price, I don't have a problem with staying with them.

 

hard to know what most of us do. my local gas station does a good job with oil and filter, tyre rotation. lets me kibbutz while he works. i do the air and cabin filters. that's all there is. look for a triple a mechanic if you can.

 

Not so sure. With a vehicle like a Prius, I feel comfortable taking it to the dealer. They are familiar and have been trained on this vehicle. In the last 5+ years of ownership and 80,000 miles for me its been very maintenance free. One 12 volt battery, front brake job, transaxle fill and dump, synthetic oil changes, lRR tires and replaced the belt. I currently have 130,000 miles and this vehicle runs almost like new. Has not cost me much in maintenance compared to other vehicles I have owned. Some of the maintenance on the Prius is DIY.

The trick is finding a dealer you can trust. Before my Prius I drove exclusively Mercedes Benz products. I had a mechanic that used to work for Mercedes and felt comfortable with his expertise in maintaining my vehicles. With the Prius, finding a good mechanic will be more difficult. I have looked for specialty hybrid shops near me and have not been able to find any.

Just my 2cents.

 

fortunately, none of the things you mentioned require hybrid expertise.

 

Until you read the "Urban Myth" story about the mechanic that emptied the Prius oil out NOT knowing it was still on.

My opinion is sooner or later if you own a Hybrid, you're going to want and NEED a repair facility knowledgeable and willing to work on the entire vehicle hybrid components and all. Might as well start from that position.

 

at least you always have the dealer as a fall back, as unpalatable as they may be.

 

Very true, good point. I think also there is something to be said for taking the vehicle to Toyota as all records are kept on line. Should you need or want to re-sell the prospective buyer can see all of the maintenance was done by a Toyota dealer on a Toyota product.

 

Taking it to a dealer also builds a relationship with that dealer, more so if you purchased the car from that dealer. So in the event your car would need an out of warranty repair, you're far more likely to receive assistance from the dealer and Toyota if you've been a loyal customer. Just my $.02

SM-G900V ?

 

Maybe a good idea to outline what needs doing:

1. oil and filter change
2. tire rotation, with visual inspection of brakes.
3. in-depth brake inspection.
4. brake fluid change, tri-yearly.
5. sporadic engine and/or cabin filter replacement.
6. sporadic wiper blade replacement.

(transaxle fluid change, worthwhile)

That's pretty much it, until some of the long term items crop up, spark plugs, coolant.

 

After we made the deal to buy the car, our dealer added a maintenance plan at no additional cost, so I still take it to them for service. After the plan is up, I'll probably continue with the dealer mostly because I assume they might find something during a routine check that I or another mechanic might miss. I realize I could probably save money on oil changes elsewhere, but since it's only every 10,000 miles, it isn't really a lot. The mechanic I was using before we bought the Prius moved out of state and I haven't found a replacement. I haven't looked yet, but it's not like I've ever seen a Prius being worked on when I drive by local shops, not even AAA. I know a lot of people don't like dealers, I don't much either, but all you have to do is say "No" when they suggest something you don't think is needed. Most shops around here go by the rate book and charge hourly fees that are fairly close to dealer prices anyway, so I don't know how much I'd really save.

 

The problem is that far too many dealers "find something" to "recommend" (con you trusting customers) having them do that is unneeded and serves primarily to generate additional revenue.

 

It's the customers responsibility not to be gullible but to ask questions. "Joe's Garage" can be just as shady. Plus, dealers have surveys. If that, in fact, were the norm then Toyota would penalize the dealer and the dealer would risk losing the franchise. You don't recommend something you can't prove or show to the customer.

SM-G900V ?

 

You are correct, but we both know how "some" Service Advisers work though...especially with uneducated and unskilled marks.

 

i doubt toyota has ever closed a dealer, and there are plenty of shady ones. in fact, mostly. no offense to your dealership, you are one of the few good guys.

it starts with the owner, then sales, then service. even dianne warns not to contact the sales dweebs.

just because a customer is gullible, or lacks knowledge, doesn't make it right.

 

No, not mostly. Most customers walk in with the expectation of being screwed over. In which case you may get the opposite service. Your vehicle may not be checked at all for fear of backlash from the customer if you DO find something. Anyone in any business can be dishonest, not just a car dealer. Dealers are rewarded yearly for their customer service, why risk screwing that up?

SM-G900V ?

 

Close a dealer, not that I'm aware of. Severely fined and punished a dealer, oh yes. I know of one near me that was on a month to month basis for a year. Meaning Toyota had to review the dealer each month and renew the franchise for another month. Dealer probation.

SM-G900V ?

 

agreed, any business can be shady. look at the hybrid battery rebuilders. but why do you suppose 'most customers walk in with the expectation of being screwed over'?

 

I blame small repair shops for that, mostly. A dealer has too much at stake to risk it as a general practice.

SM-G900V ?