Wrong things the dealer told you before you bought your Prius

[johnny51981]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rxmxsh @ Apr 29 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]432313[/snapback]</div>

Not a lie, so much as forgetting to tell me...

Didn't tell me I had to put my foot on the brake to start the car in ready mode. Sat in the parking lot for about a minute before it "accidentally" happened. When we got home, and were leaving again, that's when I actually figured it out....

And to quickly silence the "read the manual" people - left dealer at 5:40pm - left home for chuch at 6:05pm. Read manual that night at 10:30pm. Then went "ooooooh".
[/b]

Do you know how many times I have had to shut the car on and off because of this. LOL!

[cireecnop1]

Where do I begin.......
first time a test drove a Prius I was told the "B" was for EV mode.
the next time that I went back and actually bought the car, the salesman said the car had remote start and then he failed and demonstrating it to us. I knew it didn't have it. He also said that they were the only dealers in the state with a Touring model and that It was in high demand and I should buy it right away...how about the only dealer in Motor city(only because they are the only Toyota dealer in that area)
I was also told that the Prius qualified for the HOV lane in Colorado......I responded with um...no.
The dealer practically said it could fly, but it didn't matter, I loved the car and was gonna buy it no matter what.

[Darken]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alaskaprius @ Apr 29 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]432229[/snapback]</div>

How about a thread about all the stupid wrong things your dealer told you about the Prius before you bought it. I'll start:

When we asked what the 'B' on the shifter-knob was good for, we were told that its function is to allow us to shift between 'D' and 'R'. And he actually made us shift into 'B' anytime during out test-drive when we needed to shift from 'R' to 'D' (or vice versa).

When we asked what the little metal key in the FOB is for (i.e. the mechanical key to get you into the Prius), the dealer told us that it's used for locking the glove-compartment, and that there is no mechanical key to get into the Prius.

Anybody else got some good ones?
[/b]

Related to this our salesperson said it was for 'battery' mode.

The other thing worth a good laugh is he had no idea what the vallet cards were for. 'Why would you need all these he asked" I mentioned it said valet cards on the back and he replied 'Hey that's a good idea'

[Tom6850]

My salesman insisted that I would get the milage as posted on the sticker, 60 around town and 51 highway, every one he sold got at least that. (Not quite 54 highway, 48 town.)

He also said the car did not have a neutral position in the transmission.

[scapegoat]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darken @ Apr 30 2007, 12:29 AM) [snapback]432434[/snapback]</div>

Related to this our salesperson said it was for 'battery' mode.

The other thing worth a good laugh is he had no idea what the vallet cards were for. 'Why would you need all these he asked" I mentioned it said valet cards on the back and he replied 'Hey that's a good idea'
[/b]

Hrm. Valet cards?

Where would I find these; because I certainly wasn't told anything about them, or even shown them. =D

[daniel]

This was perhaps excusable, because in November of 2003, when I ordered my 2004, the model had only been on the roads for a month or two, but he strongly implied that I'd get the EPA mileage. I got the car two months later, when temperatures in North Dakota were well below zero F and got 29 mpg on my first tank! It was a month and a half later when I discovered Prius Chat and learned about real-life mileage, cold weather, and short trips (nothing in Fargo is very far from anything else).

My next car won't use any gas at all. So there, Toyota! :P

[ez2bgreen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Apr 29 2007, 07:56 PM) [snapback]432322[/snapback]</div>

Where do I begin.......
first time a test drove a Prius I was told the "B" was for EV mode.
the next time that I went back and actually bought the car, the salesman said the car had remote start and then he failed and demonstrating it to us. I knew it didn't have it. He also said that they were the only dealers in the state with a Touring model and that It was in high demand and I should buy it right away...how about the only dealer in Motor city(only because they are the only Toyota dealer in that area)
I was also told that the Prius qualified for the HOV lane in Colorado......I responded with um...no.
The dealer practically said it could fly, but it didn't matter, I loved the car and was gonna buy it no matter what.
[/b]

I live in Glenwood Springs (moved from Denver metro area in 2005). I've been told by locals that the Prius CAN legally drive in the HOV lane on Hwy 82 between Basalt and Aspen (6-9 AM eastbound, 3-6 pm westbound). I've been doing just that, and have not been pulled over. But, then, enforcement seems to be a joke. Some have suggested that the only reason for the HOV lane on 82 is so CO can get federal funds.

[ez2bgreen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Papa @ Apr 29 2007, 07:21 PM) [snapback]432301[/snapback]</div>

My salesman told me that if I run out of gas I could drive 30-40 miles on the battery to the station.
[/b]

My dealer didn't say (and I didn't ask), but I ASSUMED I could drive on EV if I ran out of gas. Then I read the manual. YIKES! Was I surprised to see the warning NOT to run out of gas...lest you damage the hybrid system. Needless to say, that probably would void your warranty.

That makes the non-linearity of the gas gauge all the more frustrating. I've never gotten much more than 400 miles on a tank, even though 600 should be achievable. Nor have I gone more than 40 miles after the fuel warning for fear of running out of gas.

My dealer (service manager) told me that the reason for the fuel tank inconsistencies was the collapsible bladder, designed to prevent explosive vapors from building up in the tank. However, in cold weather, it becomes stiff and may not collapse (or expand) as fully as when it's warm. To date, I have not found any independent confirmation of this, however.

[adegiulio]

My dealer was very well informed about all the features and info on the car. The only thing she was incorrect on (in my opinion) was the price!

[Charles Suitt]

Actually, my fist Prius (slightly used 2004) was bought from an individual who told me absolutely nothing about the Prius. I had, however, been surfing Prius sites prior, so I knew enough to get by... then PriusChat helped me 'over the hump' on features not to be found in the Owner's Manual - practial information and hints.

When I traded the '04 for my 2007 Touring Edition, the Internet Manager quickly determined that I knew more than he did and he actually asked me questions about Prius behaviour and features. In neither buying experience did I get INCORRECT information, just a lack of it.