Were we part of a data-gathering program?

hybridtwins · 08-29-2009, 03:00 PM

IIRC when we bought our 2002's, the first 5 oil changes were at no cost from the Toyota dealer.

At first we just thought this was magnanimous of Toyota. But could this have been part of a program to gather field data from our cars?

tochatihu · 08-29-2009, 08:31 PM

Yes this initial service benefit was for 2001-2003 model years in the US at least. It is an interesting question whether Toyota planned to, or actually did collect extra data from these cars. The only two sources that immediately come to mind are engine oil chemistry and HV battery scans. Neither seems very likely to me.

Instead, I think it was represented a certain degree of hand holding for the buyer, and perhaps and effort from above to get the Toyota shops to learn hybrid work.

patsparks · 08-30-2009, 04:37 AM

25,000 miles and no maintenance costs what so ever, what a great way to sell a new technology to a tech-wary consumer.

08-29-2009, 03:00 PM	#1
hybridtwins Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 72 My Car: 2002 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Were we part of a data-gathering program? IIRC when we bought our 2002's, the first 5 oil changes were at no cost from the Toyota dealer. At first we just thought this was magnanimous of Toyota. But could this have been part of a program to gather field data from our cars?

08-29-2009, 08:31 PM	#2
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	Re: Were we part of a data-gathering program? Yes this initial service benefit was for 2001-2003 model years in the US at least. It is an interesting question whether Toyota planned to, or actually did collect extra data from these cars. The only two sources that immediately come to mind are engine oil chemistry and HV battery scans. Neither seems very likely to me. Instead, I think it was represented a certain degree of hand holding for the buyer, and perhaps and effort from above to get the Toyota shops to learn hybrid work.

08-30-2009, 04:37 AM	#3
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,201 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 122 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Were we part of a data-gathering program? 25,000 miles and no maintenance costs what so ever, what a great way to sell a new technology to a tech-wary consumer.

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