When smart people make bad decisions

[barryjkaufman]

I consider myself a pretty savy consumer. But after reading here in the Prius Chat that regular and scheduled maintenance is a pretty simple and inexpensive proposition; I could kick myself for purchasing the Prepaid Maintenance for the first 60,000 miles. The dealer talked me into buying this for $27.00 a month for the next 48 months, for a total of almost $1,300. That amortizes to an average of over $108 for every 5,000 mile service. Of course after owning 3 Mercedes C class cars for the last 12 years, this looked liked a pretty reasonable proposition. Now I realized that I over paid handsomely for this option and don't know who I'm more angry at; the dealer who snookered me, or myself for being allowed to get snookered!

I just want to tell my story so that others don't make the same mistake!

[NoMoShocks]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Barry123 @ Jun 17 2007, 08:29 PM) [snapback]463750[/snapback]</div>

I consider myself a pretty savy consumer. But after reading here in the Prius Chat that regular and scheduled maintenance is a pretty simple and inexpensive proposition; I could kick myself for purchasing the Prepaid Maintenance for the first 60,000 miles. The dealer talked me into buying this for $27.00 a month for the next 48 months, for a total of almost $1,300. That amortizes to an average of over $108 for every 5,000 mile service. Of course after owning 3 Mercedes C class cars for the last 12 years, this looked liked a pretty reasonable proposition. Now I realized that I over paid handsomely for this option and don't know who I'm more angry at; the dealer who snookered me, or myself for being allowed to get snookered!

I just want to tell my story so that others don't make the same mistake!
[/b]

Sorry to ask the obvious, but have you checked to see if you are still within the cancellation period, or even if you can get a prorated refund? If you can cancel it, then that extra $27 each month can go toward paying off your car early.

The dealer quoted me over $2000 for the pre paid maintenance. I almost bought it, but ended up having them redraw the contract the next day. Later, I called for the regular prices and figured out that the over $2000 investment covered about $545 worth of services. What a rip off.

One of my friends told me it might be worth it to people who often forget their service and wanted to be reminded. My reply was that I would give them a reminder service for less than the extra $1500.

[Swanny1172]

For the $27.00 a month you are paying, you could change your oil yourself with Mobil 1 and a new filter every month!

[FloridaWen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jun 18 2007, 02:17 AM) [snapback]463839[/snapback]</div>

One of my friends told me it might be worth it to people who often forget their service and wanted to be reminded....
[/b]

This is why most Dealers put that annoying "see-thru, self-stick, oil change reminder sticker" in the upper left corner of your windshield....

Duhhhhhhhh..... let me see, my car has 10,672 miles on it and today is June 18th..... that little sticker says next oil change (or service) at 10,000 miles / May 30th....... Hmmmmm, do ya' think it's due yet ????

[Swanny1172]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jun 18 2007, 02:17 AM) [snapback]463839[/snapback]</div>

One of my friends told me it might be worth it to people who often forget their service and wanted to be reminded. My reply was that I would give them a reminder service for less than the extra $1500.
[/b]

There is already a reminder service built right into the Prius that lights every 5,000 miles to let you know that service is needed...

[FloridaWen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jun 18 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]463899[/snapback]</div>

There is already a reminder service built right into the Prius that lights every 5,000 miles to let you know that service is needed...
[/b]

With only 1,200 miles on our new Prius, we haven't gotten into that yet, but now that I think about it both the Honda and Acura had 'em, and as you pointed out so does the Prius. Nice "reminder" and very easy to reset by yourself once the task is performed by you, if you chose to do-it-yourself.
I even have (you won't believe this) an hour meter, maintenance reminder, by SenDEC on my JD 21" walk-behind self-propelled lawn mower. When engine is off it tells hours of engine use and while engine is running it gives engine RPM. Such excitement to see the R's drop when I hit a patch of tall, tough grass (just kiddin' ya' know), but it also blinks a few hours before an oil change (set intervals) is due and a solid "CHANGE OIL" is displayed when past time. Neat little gadget for logging actual "time" (hours) when any maintenance is performed. They make many different meters for many applictions. Mine get's it's inductance from small wire wrapped around spark plug boot.

[Swanny1172]

To me, the whole idea of fixed interval oil changes is a bit outdated to begin with. General Motors, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been installing monitors on their dashboards that light up to indicate when its time to change oil. These systems analyze the engine's operational data including temperature, revolutions, speed, to calculate the rate of engine oil degradation and determine when an oil is nearing the end of its life. At this point a message on the dashboard signals that it is time to change oil. With the Prius being such a technology-laden vehicle, I am really surprised that Toyota didn't implement a similar system, especially given that the ICE is not running 100% of the time.

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jun 18 2007, 08:21 AM) [snapback]463914[/snapback]</div>

To me, the whole idea of fixed interval oil changes is a bit outdated to begin with. General Motors, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been installing monitors on their dashboards that light up to indicate when its time to change oil. These systems analyze the engine's operational data including temperature, revolutions, speed, to calculate the rate of engine oil degradation and determine when an oil is nearing the end of its life. At this point a message on the dashboard signals that it is time to change oil. With the Prius being such a technology-laden vehicle, I am really surprised that Toyota didn't implement a similar system, especially given that the ICE is not running 100% of the time.
[/b]

My Intrigue has that idiot light. If I waited for that the crankcase would be down some 2.5 quarts.

[Swanny1172]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 18 2007, 10:46 PM) [snapback]464439[/snapback]</div>

My Intrigue has that idiot light. If I waited for that the crankcase would be down some 2.5 quarts.
[/b]

Uhh, flexible service lights and low oil lights are two different things...

[NoMoShocks]

Oh Yeah, my Honda Civic Hybrid had the Oil Minder that judged the oils condition based on engine revolustions and such. It was nice, but still glad I traded it for my Prius.