Service shop recomendations

Hello all,

I just purchased a Super White 2001 Prius with 107,000 miles on it from Atlas Motors in SE Portland. I'm now looking for a good shop that I can rely on to take care of my new Hybrid baby. Any thoughts or recommendations?

...Ross...

Ross,

Could you be the Ross I recently met at the Meetup in January? If so, hello!

I just took ownership of my car in January, so I'm not going to be much help. I'm inclined to do the first oil change with the dealer who sold me the car as they are located close to where I work. But I have also heard a lot of horror stories on this web site about bad dealer maintenance so I'm not sure.

Part of me wants to install a Fumoto valve (http://www.fumotovalve.com/) and do the job myself! I'd have to explore methods of proving that the maintenance was actually performed, though, so I don't void my warranty.

But given the mileage on your rig, a good mechanic might be the way to go. I would suggest using a local dealer for hybrid-specific work and a regular garage for everything else. I know a good place on the West side but that might not be convenient for you.

Good luck!

Jim

Hi Ross, I was at the meetup also (Driftwood 05, old guy from Eastern Oregon) you might want to post your query on the Prius meetup group site as well as here, then people from your part of the world will be more likely to see it. If your not the same Ross check out the meetup group site you may want to join us:

http://prius.meetup.com/136/

That's a great idea. I am that same Ross and I'll try and get it posted. I would imagine that someone's got a favorite shop.

...Ross...

I don't have much experience with needing service (yet...) but I had my oil changed at my local dealer and altho I have read horror story after horror story about the oil being overfilled (regardless of where you take it), my local dealer got it spot on. I have nothing but good things to say about my whole experience at Gresham Toyota.

Welcome to PriusChat, AKCMommy, I may have to start going back to Gresham Toyota...

On my new 2007, I got a free first oil change at Gladstone Toyota, where I bought it. Regular oil used and over filled by a quarter inch on the dip stick. I didn't check the oil level until I got home, so I called the next day and took it back to have them drain the over fill. I checked again when I got home and it was still over filled. I got a tube and pulled about 8 ounces out before the oil level hit the top mark on the dip stick.

They rotated my tires, I know, because the tire pressure was 2 psi higher in the rear tires; they hadn't bothered to set the pressure correctly.

If this hadn't been the first free oil change, they would have charged me $79.

Interestingly, Mike Rynaski, the Director of Service at Gladstone, used to be the Service Manager at Gresham.

Wilsonville Toyota was able to set the speed sensitve door locking feature on my new 08 Touring. When others could not.

My husband and I bought our first Prius from Royal Moore Toyota in Hillsboro. We loved the Prius so much that we traded it in (before it hit 60,000 miles) and bought our 2005 from them also. We live in Tillamook so we have to travel for our oil changes and maintenance. They get us in and out. The staff are friendly and helpful. They do a great job. We bought the maintenance plan because of our experieince with our 2001. We were one of two in the nation that had to have the batteries replaced...a fluke (PTL we had bought the extra maintenance plan for the 2001). Their cost was (if I remember correctly) $4800 and it was zip to us. Anyway... spendy little vehicles for maintenance...paying for the extra plan is well worth the cost.

Anyway, Royal Moore Toyota has treated us wonderfully and has done a great job with our Prius.