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Class Action Suit? (The Prius v wagon is a lowercase v)

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Kate Somerville, Dec 26, 2014.

  1. Kate Somerville

    Kate Somerville New Member

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    Whatever happened to E.Deming who brought Toyota back to a car market contender? When Quality Control and Management were synonymous with Toyota? How does one find out what features are on what and what model is what nowadays?

    I bought my first Prius, a 2010 V, in August of this year, which was rear-ended and totaled by a drunk driver 3 months later. Today I bought a 2012 Prius v (lowercase for the Prius v wagon. The 2010 used uppercase Roman numerals for model designation). After I sat with the tech person, and signed all the papers, I discovered that it did not have Lane Keeping Assistant. I was told 'too late' to wait for a 2015 Prius v my car was now another step down in 'used' plus they did not know if Lane Keeping Assistant was included with that package, now which car had this feature. This feature was a huge plus for me when it came with my 2010 V.

    I have spent many hours online trying to figure out what car had what on Prius, C, Personal, 2, 3, 4, 5, whatever. The sales people can barely explain. The online lists leave many things out. This seems to be obfuscation for purposes, what, for the anti-environment lobbyists? I cannot see why they would name their cars in such a confusing way, plus change the features year to year without leaving a buyer to know what they are not getting. This seems a far reaching effort to make a great car a Fail.

    So I go onto the Toyota site to "Build a Prius"; I go to the 5, and there is only Two, Three, Four, Five and Persona. The 5 (or is that a v?) does not state the colors that are in the new brochure for the Prius v. So that is not the 5? One begins to feel bamboozled here. I am sure this has been mentioned before, but where is the response from management. I need to trade this 6-hour car in for a Prius that has a LKA.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yup. i really can't add anything, you've pretty much got it covered. there are some things that demming did not have any expertise in, one was the internets.:cool: are you THE kate somerville?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 26, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2014
  3. Kate Somerville

    Kate Somerville New Member

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    Still searching. Appears I do NOT have a v, but a "Plug-In" model.

    Ha-ha, Bisco, NO, I do not do make-up, bling, or surgery. She pretty much covered me up on my nature photography on the internet, I show up about page 500+ on a Google search anymore. Had to add my middle initial, though it does not matter. Want my LKA!
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it can't be a plug in, it would have a plug. and they don't make a plug in wagon.

    i recommend sitting down with the sales manager and telling him your concerns, you might have a 3 day opportunity to cancel the purchase by law.
     
    #4 bisco, Dec 26, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2014
  5. Kate Somerville

    Kate Somerville New Member

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    Thanks, I shall try that.

    Though, the internet has little to do with their confusing names. Reminds me of George Forman, who named each of his 5 sons George.
     
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  6. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    So the Class Action would be for buyers remorse? Or would it be for uninformed buyers? Not joking. Seriously.

    Do some online research into features, then use your three day window wisely.
     
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  7. Quentin

    Quentin Member

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    When the 3rd gen lift back was introduced in 2010, they went by ii, iii, iv, and v trims. For 2011 the Roman numeral was dropped for Two, Three, Four, and Five nomenclature. The Prius v, station wagon body rather than lift back, was introduced in 2012 and the v is a lowercase unlike the uppercase used in 2010. Radar cruise and PreCollision Systems were available with the v Five with Advanced Tech Package; blind spot, lane keep were never available on the 2012-14 v, though they now are available on the 2015. The Prius lift back has the lane keep, blind spot monitoring tech suite available. You should have hit up cars.com for clear, concise data on used models. The Toyota website is clear and accurate but that is only data for current model year. Unfortunately, salespeople will tell you what you want to hear to make the sale.

    Take the car back, raise hell about the salesman, and find a lift back or 2015 v wagon with the feature you want.
     
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  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Most of the marketing is created by great American minds in the US of A. Blame them.
     
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  10. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Lets recap: You have no clue what you bought, but Toyota is to blame because you didn't get what you wanted. That about right?
     
  11. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Buyer's remorse and lack of knowledge in signing a contract is NOT grounds for winning a lawsuit. But, sometimes the jury is swayed.

    Human beings are not always logical.
     
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  12. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    Why don't you actually look at the car, take a couple pictures and post it? Then we can tell you what you have. A Prius v5 does not lane-keep-assist, it's part of the optional technology package. In any large purchase, don't go by assumptions based on what you had in the past. Things do change. And a Class Action Lawsuit would mean you need more than just yourself involved in the lawsuit and would have to prove all Prius v buyers were duped or harmed in some way.
     
  13. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    A lawsuit, class action or otherwise, requires that monetary damages are sustained. I don't see any of that being demonstrated here.
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there will be if she has to trade the car in for something with LKA.:cool:
     
  15. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    But it is likely that you do NOT.
    In most places, that only applies when the salesperson comes to you, NOT if you go to them.

    P.S. I have LKA on my Fusion and generally consider it a PITA. It stays off most of the time.
     
  16. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    OK, since this thread is already harboring the ridiculous, I'll bite.
    That wouldn't be considered "damages". Nor is buyer stupidity resulting in loss of money.
     
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    The pretty sticker on the car window lists the options.
     
  18. Kate Somerville

    Kate Somerville New Member

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    Yeah, you know, just pissed at the 3-card monte on the name changes and switches. Never had this problem with any other model. At my age, I realize distractions can be hazardous and that LKA feature was a top 3 on the other Prius, almost as much as the solar roof on this. Just found the windshield sticker--Prius v Five it is. Perhaps that I expected sales people to know and inform is where I went wrong. Sales couldn't even answer if the 2015s not in yet have LKA. They suggested I buy an after market product. So far found a Lane Departure Warning at ExtremeTech.
    But they said they cost $1395 and $1595 (beep vs. shaking steering wheel).
    I hate that blank spot on the steering wheel where the LKA should be; like I got some cheap model and couldn't opt for the feature. Toyota's the cheap skates.
     
  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    At any age. Do you talk on a phone while driving ?

    As for confusing naming conventions, experience teaches us all to check and verify.

    Salesperson: Here is the car you want! Sign here
    You: Does it have LKA ?
    Salesperson: You bet
    You: Convince me please
     
  20. Kate Somerville

    Kate Somerville New Member

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    No, barely talk on phones at home! I play in jams (banjo, no jokes) every Saturday night an hour and a half away, and drive home. And drive down south to festivals. I have slapped myself awake, pulled over many times to available lots for a quick nap. I like that LKA and no I don't use it to stay awake but precaution.
     
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