Pre-Newbie Needs Advice

Don't buy one!

 

Next time you have the dream take note what brand and model it was.

 

Financing? No. Save up until you can pay cash. The total cost will be much less, and in that time your dreams will change markedly.

 

It is important to listen to your dreams, but only you can interpret them. I'd say don't buy one until you sort out what your dream means to you. Typically if I pursue something and am confronted with a lot of obstacles, I stop and reassess. So for example, I would go forward with the purchase but if I would encounter an obstacle like financing, and still pursue it and encounter another obstacle or more, I would stop and not buy.

 

Practically speaking, the Prius is a relatively safe, reliable car (regardless of recalls) and the likelihood of any of us experiencing unintended acceleration is relatively small (although possible causes still merit proper investigation).

Getting it serviced and getting Toyota to honor the warranty on it, however, is another story altogether (from my, and some others, experience). For example, there are several Gen1 owners here for whom Toyota has denied warranty coverage on the battery (this is an earlier version of the battery which is found in current generation Priuses, and is likely less advanced and possibly more prone to early failure). I am not claiming that it will happen to you, it is simply something to consider. There is also the matter of the dismissive attitude that I and several others have reported getting at dealership service. Unfortunately, many of us don't have too many alternatives when it comes to getting our cars serviced and with the Prius we are effectively "locked-in" to using Toyota service.

Relevant threads:
http://priuschat.com/forums/generat...-battery-dies-70k-toyota-wont-pay-repair.html
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...yota-prius-platinum-warranty-work-denied.html

I live in the Chicagoland area. Look at the reviews for local dealers when I search for "Toyota near Chicago". Most have 2-star ratings (out of five). I hope yours are better - I think the user Sandy can chime in on her experience in your area.

EDIT: I should also mention that out of 4 cars in my family, two of which would be considered sports cars (admittedly very low mileage), the Prius is the most expensive to insure by over $200/6mo with a near-perfect record. This will likely vary in your case.

 

Ahh, we are all but shadows casting shadows from a candle lit by an unseen hand.

Having said that, you say for "years" you've had this dream and you are applying the brakes on "your car"? Well I have to ask, in your dream is it a Prius? Or is it a generic "car". If it's just a "car" or that car keeps changing from dream to dream then what difference does it make? Whatever you buy would become the vehicle of that dream.

I'm not going to get into dream interpretation but I could speculate that a dream about riding in a car and slaming on the brakes and the car not stopping could be reflective of a lot of things beyond the literal interpretation of the dream.

As far as having any extra or additional worries about The Prius? Just be aware, there have recently (unfortunately) been numerous threads about what people should do. It would be almost impossible for all the fail safe methods of stopping momentum to all simultaneously fail.

I really wouldn't worry about it. Buy the automobile you want. You'd regret compromising on a real world tangible purchase based on a dream. What if you bought a "Honda Civic" and then your dream morphed into you driving a Honda Civic?

Yes Toyota has gotten a lot of publicity concerning unintended acceleration lately, Yes there was a software update concerning brake force calibration done primarily to adjust brake feel on the 2010's. But do I think there is any tangible reason to not purchase a Prius if you want one? No.

Ultimately it comes down to how comfortable or uncomfortable you are, because dream or no dream that's what it comes down to with everyone. If the history of having this dream is going to make you uncomfortable with your own vehicle? Then perhaps waiting or a different purchase would be in order.

If you are just looking for re-assurance? I think I can say with reasonable certainty that The Prius is designed to stop when the Brakes are pressed.

 

Hello all, I just traded in my '05 Infiniti G35 coupe for a 2010 Prius today!! Had to give up my G35 because too many maintenance problems and I had 116,000 miles. So this dark blue prius is my next project to fix up

 

This might be useful for you to read:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...y-prius-prius-experience-through-my-eyes.html

 

In 2006 I experienced ABS failure in my Gen2. Drove it to the (selling) dealer. It took them a 5 days (as I recall) to fix. For whatever reason the dimmer switch wasn't reconnected so it made another warranty trip, this time for 1 day.

Labor Day weekend 2009 the car wouldn't start--weak 12v battery. Only a Toyota dealer will have a battery that exactly fits as it is a Japanese size. The replacement also has a wimpy 1 year warranty. Took it to another dealer on the way to the office to swap out the battery.

November 2009 the car won't start. After 3 attempts I get it to boot & drive it to the dealer. While discussing options with the Service Writer the car dies. They offered zero help to get me home although this is a warranty issue and it is their crap battery. Battery was replaced under warranty.

The only other work this car needed was a patch for a punctured tire, oil & filter changes, and touch up paint to fix/hide scratches. The impact mark on the windshield was not addressed.

The paint does scratch easily.

The 2010 Gen3 is bought in December. One January morning the shifter would not physically move from Park. After playing with it off & on for half an hour I forced it into gear to drive it to the dealer. I called ahead to let them know I was coming straight in and that I would be there in about an hour. Their reply was, "Do you have an appointment?"

That same morning the Hill Start Assist (which holds the brakes for 2 seconds when the pedal is fully depressed) did not work about half the time.

I blew about half a day hanging around the shop and only got "Can't reproduce the problem" on both counts.

This is the same dealer I bought the 2006 from but different owner. This experience inspired "I'm so irritated with Toyota that I want to stick my foot up their butt so far they taste shoe leather" and prompted me to file a complaint with the NHTSA.


Most people won't see the inside of the shop for warranty work. I don't believe Toyota is much better or worse than other manufacturers. There are good service departments, better service departments, and worse service departments. Depending on what is wrong with your car and who is in the area it's a crap shoot on what you'll get.

If I needed to replace my V-AT today I'd start shopping for another V-AT tomorrow. The auto industry is still depressed. Cars are selling for under invoice now & I'll believe they will continue to do so in the short term. I don't know how long it will last but Toyotas may be relatively inexpensive for another quarter or two. Remember when SUVs couldn't be given away and dealers wouldn't take them in trade?