Dealer Install of Options or Other Means

[Santiago]

I will be taking delivery soon on a new Prius. My salesperson alluded to a package (very expensive) with a nose cover, side protection strips, tinting, trunk protection, etc. From what I read in the forums, a professional tinting shop is the way to go from a materials and expertise standpoint. The other stuff is not as straight-forward.

I see that the side protection strips have adhesive backing and instructions? Have any of you applied these successfully? If not could you recommend a national chain store that could do these?

How about the other front and back protection items? Are they do-it-yourself too and where do you get them? I don't see these advertised on the forums so I would appreciate any help you can offer.

[Boo]

Hi Santiago,

Welcome to PriusChat.

If I were you I wouldn't get any of that stuff from the dealer unless you're certain that you want it, and that the dealer is offering the lowest price (extremely unlikely).

Nose Cover - What is that -- a bra? Or is it one of those plexiglass hood deflectors? If the latter, you can buy it here at PriusChat from the PriusChat Store for $92 delivered. I haven't done it, but I understand that you can install it yourself.

Side Moldings - You can get them from the PriusChat Store for $122 delivered. A LOT of PriusChatters have installed them themselves and there are A LOT of threads and posts here with good pictures and instructions and tips about installing them.

Trunk Protection - What is that -- the black plastic/vinyl protector that protects the top of the rear bumper? If so, you can buy it from the PriusChat Store for $37 delivered and install them yourself.

Or are you talking about the OEM carpet cover that covers the rear cargo floor area under the hatch? If so, you can but it from the PriusChat Store for $78 delivered.

Anyways, most of the stuff that a dealer will sell you is available here at the PriusChat Store for less. The prices of the PriusChat Store are very reasonable and often the lowest price around. And if you buy from the PriusChat Store, it helps to support this great forum.

Click on the Prius Shop link at the top of the page to see what the store offers.

[Freedom]

I did not get anything from the dealer; the mark up is incredible.

I price shopped on the web, and ebay, Prius Chat Shop, etc. and picked up what I needed where the price was best.

I think I can put on the mudguards myself but if not, my mechanic looked at the step by photo step on here and told me he'd do it for $20!

Do a search on here for the items you want; no doubt SOMEONE on here has done it and posted instructions, tips, etc.

[JHSmith]

Originally Posted by Boo

Hi Santiago,


Side Moldings - You can get them from the PriusChat Store for $122 delivered. A LOT of PriusChatters have installed them themselves and there are A LOT of threads and posts here with good pictures and instructions and tips about installing them.

Anyways, most of the stuff that a dealer will sell you is available here at the PriusChat Store for less. The prices of the PriusChat Store are very reasonable and often the lowest price around. And if you buy from the PriusChat Store, it helps to support this great forum.

Originally Posted by Freedom

I did not get anything from the dealer; the mark up is incredible.


Do a search on here for the items you want; no doubt SOMEONE on here has done it and posted instructions, tips, etc.

I just pulled out the sales data for my '07 Camry Hybrid purchased in Jun '06 to verify these prices: (Built in Japan)

Ordered Body Side Molding

Dealer installed: ~ $945 + cost of molding. (They weren't sure of price when I originally ordered it.) < OKAY, I was STUPID, I originally read the cost as $110 and didn't notice the difference until I received the car and was verifying everything was on the car that I ordered and paid for. >

When I received car, noticed that Molding was put on earlier (most likely PIO). Cost: $195.00

$750 markup between PIO & DIO !!!!

I contacted the dealer and got back the extra $945 I paid for "dealer installed" molding. I asked about the price difference: "It is so difficult to put on correctly and need special tools." RIGHT !