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Are hybrids reliable? Costly to service? - READ ONLY

52 messages,  Last post on Feb 27, 2005 at 1:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Alternative Fuels, Hybrid Cars, Car Warranties, Truck, Sedan, SUV

Messages Page 6 of 6

#43 of 52 by stevewa

Feb 05, 2005 (9:18 pm)

Toyota paid for the first five scheduled maintenances for Prius I. Maintenance interval is 7500mi. If you look at what's recommended in the owners manual there just isn't that much to do. While Prius is a very complex car from a software and design perspective, the actual mechanics are fairly simple. Many of the most complicated mechanical subsystems on ordinary cars don't exist.
 
Most Prius service calls will be oil change, rotate tires and fill the washer fluid. Probably the most complicated activity for routine maintenance is replacing the coolant, since there are two coolant systems to drain and fill.
 
The truth is most dealer service departments pay their way by selling "packages" of services that are not required, and sometimes are not recommended by the automaker (example: My former Volvo dealer liked to sell you a "fuel injector service" which consisted of dumping a bottle of Techron in the fuel tank for $15. This in spite of a TSB from Volvo advising against the use of any additive in engine oil or fuel).

#44 of 52 My Dealer Is Reliable and Fair by railroadjames

Feb 11, 2005 (9:07 pm)

I've got 15K on my 04 Prius and have been back to my Lakeshore Toyota Dealer, IN for three oil changes and three minor recalls (computer check-brke lt.- fuel nozzle & metering gauge). This is , by far, the best relationship I've ever had with a dealer. Discount pricing on services and incentives to come back for general maintenance have been the norm. I've been stung by "other" dealers for ridiculus charges before and have learned their game. Finding an honest and reliable dealer is always a must. It's the same with a car too.
I've found the car (Prius) and the dealer that have made life just a heck of a lot easier. Even their prices for maintenance parts have been more than reasonable. As to the Prius, I think the only downside to sevice is that you have no choice but to go to Toyota exclusively. There may be exceptions but the bottom line is ....It's
a special car for now and only time and technology will change this scenario.
Culliganman ( My Dealer's My Friend & My Car Is My Prize)

#45 of 52 OK now we see the reticence - or do we? by larsb

Feb 14, 2005 (10:16 am)

quote gagrice-" know first hand the feeling of being left stranded by the road with a broken down NEW vehicle. It was 30 years before I bought another Toyota and that was a PU that was also very high maintenance."-end quote
 
So now we see the root of the problem !! Here is a poster who is so incredibly stubborn to the point that he waits 30 YEARS before buying a Toyota because ONE new car left him stranded.....
 
Now we can see why the hesitance to buy Hybrids - he doesn't want to buy one, get stranded, and be forced to wait 30 MORE YEARS before he tries the technology again !!
 
And yet, he owns a 1990 Lexus, which was in only it's SECOND YEAR as a car line in 1990.....
 
(OK I'm confused again !!)
 
Gary, explain to us why you can risk a $35,000 Lexus (a Toyota product) and are unwilling to "risk" a $25,000 Hybrid 14 years later?

#46 of 52 Re: OK now we see the reticence - or do we? [larsb] by gagrice

Feb 14, 2005 (10:45 am)

Replying to: larsb (Feb 14, 2005 10:16 am)
And yet, he owns a 1990 Lexus, which was in only it's SECOND YEAR as a car line in 1990.
 
Very good question. We were not married when my wife bought that Lexus. If we had been together I would have talked her into staying with the Mercedes and Porsche that she sold when she bought the Lexus. In fact if they had not come out with a suspension upgrade for free the first year she would have taken it back. She has spent about $18k in routine maintenance and repairs on the LS400. That is too much in my opinion. They charge 100 bucks for an oil change. It is a good car, but expensive to maintain. Especially at the Lexus dealership. I won't know until my Suburban is 15 years old if it is as expensive to maintain. It was not for the first 7 years. I had a 6 year 75k mile B-B warranty that was a waste of $1100.

#47 of 52 OK That's better....... by larsb

Feb 14, 2005 (10:55 am)

OK, you get a pass for the Lexus then !!!
 
And about the $18K in maintenance, no hybrid could EVER be expected to be that expensive to maintain, could it?

#48 of 52 Wait... by mirth

Feb 14, 2005 (10:58 am)

...until Toyota stops subsidizing the maintenance. The sorry fact is that most dealer shops charge significantly more than their independant competitors. Now, I doubt you'll be hitting $18K, but you may be paying 50% more than someone who can go to an independant.

#49 of 52 Re: OK That's better....... [larsb] by gagrice

Feb 14, 2005 (11:10 am)

Replying to: larsb (Feb 14, 2005 10:55 am)
no hybrid could EVER be expected to be that expensive to maintain, could it?
 
I would hope not. One early poster claimed his Prius had $15k in repair covered by warranty. It would get to the point of getting rid of the car before you would spend that kind of money. The Lexus and other luxury cars are just expensive to get serviced. They depend on buyer loyalty & deep pockets to keep them coming to the dealership.

#50 of 52 Re: OK now we see the reticence - or do we? [gagrice] by falconone

Feb 23, 2005 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 14, 2005 10:45 am)
18 grand in repairs? WOW... I hope they weren't taking advantage of your wife. That seems pretty steep. As far as $100 oil changes go, that is a ripoff. My dealer charged me $39.95 for my RX300 oil changes. That car was EXTREMELY reliable compared to the other cars I've owned.

#51 of 52 Re: OK now we see the reticence - or do we? [falconone] by gagrice

Feb 23, 2005 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: falconone (Feb 23, 2005 6:59 pm)
That car was EXTREMELY reliable compared to the other cars I've owned.
 
How would you know if you only had it 3 years? I had NO problems with the last 4 Chevy trucks I owned. I only kept them 3 years and sold them. This Suburban is the longest I have owned a vehicle. Lexus of El Cajon charged $109 for the last oil change before I found an independent repair shop. They give you a big printout and tell you that your car that is worth about $4000 needs $5900 worth of work. Our Independent fixed everything for $1100. Lexus is a rip-off for service any way you would like to spell it....

#52 of 52 OVER PRICED SERVICE IS NOT JUST FOR CARS by railroadjames

Feb 27, 2005 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 23, 2005 7:40 pm)
After I bought a motorhome I found out what overcharging was all about. R.V. Dealers (some, no many) are notorious at charging outragous money for some of the simplist services. I just kept looking till I found one that was fair and reasonable. Just like my local LAKESHORE TOYOTA DEALER that has been more than fair. They have litteraly been that good.
Culliganman(lovin it)

Messages Page 6 of 6

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