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Is this a money pit, or a keeper?

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by Sue Ruales, Sep 28, 2019.

  1. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    What does the dealership you bought the car from say?
    Did you get any kind of warranty from them?
    If you want to keep a prius for a long time do not purchase unless you can work on one. Especially is it has over 150,000 miles on it.
     
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  2. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    according to Toyota, it was maintained. I paid for a 40 point inspection from a separate Toyota dealership, and everything was good. The only thing in “yellow” was my rear wiper blade, and my brakes were at 6mm.
    I changed the air and engine filters...I have to admit, it was PRETTY DARN BAD.

    I’ll look into testing the brake fluid etc, if I end up keeping the car.
     
  3. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    They didn’t reply.
    I was a pain in the nice person with them because I wanted to make sure the car wasn’t going to die on me. I drove the car for almost 4 days because I wanted to take it to Toyota, but they were booked up for 2 days. It was a weekend.... I told the dealership I was bringing it back and to have my car ready because I couldn’t get in. Then, as I was driving back to the dealership, I got a call from the Toyota service center telling me I could bring in the car right then. I took it in and they told me the car was solid.
    I messaged the sales manager I had been going back and forth on and said I’d take the car.

    After all the bologna about how his mom drives one, and how he has a place that works on Prius’, they didn’t say a single thing when I told them what happened, and how I could use that phone number.

    I bought the car AS-IS, and my comfort knowing they’re a reputable dealership, and the once over fr9m Toyota was good, I opted NOT to get any warranty with it. so I am SOL.

    yes, if I could kick myself, I would
     
  4. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    Something to think about. The service manager said he called corporate, but since this is such an uncommon occurrence, they won’t do anything about it....i pretty much get that, but they’re millionaires....hats 5k to them? Lol

    I’m about 2 hours east of Tampa
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be worth a call to todd for some sound advice, he's a straight shooter
     
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  6. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    Ok, I’ll give him a call. I’ve spoken to a few salvage yards in my area and none of them have heard this situation happening like this. I can see why everyone thought this thread was a fake. Lol I’ve been told to contact the dealership I purchased the vehicle from, but to call Toyota Corp first. I guess it’s better to try than to feel defeated before even asking.
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk who thought this thread was a fake, but we've seen this situation a million times here with gen 3 engines.

    maybe just not right after purchase
     
  8. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    The events described in this thread did go a bit weird… Car with a lot of red flags, 3-4 posts advising to toss it back & keep looking, OP buys it anyway and then the car dies the next day.

    It’s the priuschat thread equivalent of the clichéd slo-mo film clip of a car going over a cliff and exploding before it hits the bottom.
     
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  9. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    ohh, that is serious lol

     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk, a lot of newbies come here for advice and then ignore it. sometimes rightly so, and sometimes to their peril
     
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  11. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I didn’t mean to come off as insensitive to the OP’s plight.

    I am struggling to express the idea that ‘fake’ may not be the right word for this while acknowledging that the timing of events was very unusual.
     
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  12. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    I actually didn’t have a chance to get back to the chat to read the responses because I was so busy, and once I got the green flag from a Toyota dealership technician, and was told all of the codes were because the update was never completed, I decides to go ahead with the purchase because of the verdict from Toyota...I don’t anyone better to hear it from. They seriously found nothing wrong except for a worn rear wiper and my brakes would need replacement soon.

    I don’t feel like you were being insensitive in any way....I like to hear both points of view....it’s hard to make a decision when all you want is for someone to agree with you. Lol. You’re good.
     
  13. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    I truly wish I would have seen these messages before, but as a newbie on my phone, the thread is very confusing. I can see where I replied to the wrong threads, and I can’t see why.
    Either way, the first question out of my mouth would have been are there a lot of issues with the Prius?
     
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  14. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    again, I wish I wouldn’t have trusted the service tech at Toyota who told me the car’s in great condition. I figured they would find items needing repair, but having a worn rear wiper, and brake pads that would need replacing soon, which I can do, didn’t deter me
     
  15. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Water under the bridge now.

    If I have it right, the car is broken and Toyota can’t/won’t do anything for you. If that’s the case and you decide to repair the car, get it to a local shop. The general rule of thumb for a used car is that when the manufacturer is paying, you get the work done at the dealership. When you are paying, get it done at a local independent shop where the rates are much lower.
     
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  16. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    The dealership has offered to only charge me 50% of 19hrs of labor..$1090. Besides contacting Toyota Corp, who contacted the dealership, we’re waiting to hear from the regional offices (?) about the engine replacement costs. Right now, I found a used engine with 73,000 miles for $1500, and a 6 month warranty. Turns out this yard supplies the dealership with parts sometimes. I didn’t get their contact info from Toyota. I found them on google.

    The dealership gave me a super sweet 2020 Corolla SE to use while everything is figured out. I’ve had it for 8 days. The Toyota Corp rep was actually surprised. She said it means they’re trying to figure something out.

    I’m torn about what to do. Do I spend the money to fix the car and try to sell it privately (I don’t even know how to price it with a replaced engine), or do I take the low-ball offer they’re trying to give me to purchase another vehicle, which, undoubtedly, I will need to finance. Of course, I’m told they can give me more on a newer car....I know how all that bologna works. I won’t “really” get what I want for my car...they just know they can lower the price on the newer car.

    I called around a few local shops, and no one wants to touch it. One place never even called me for the quote I asked for. Lol.

    What are your thoughts?
     
  17. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    F08ADC1D-8A91-4E5F-B874-73143FA31638.png 076EB2F6-AA45-4480-B408-5CE1EEBE5556.png 15999A3E-A43D-4163-B9A4-773309B361DA.png
     
  18. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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  19. Sue Ruales

    Sue Ruales New Member

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    I bought the car 9/27 and it blew up on 11/1
     
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I think $1100 to swap an engine is pretty good actually. A local independent would certainly beat the dealer at full price, but a 50% discount changes things.

    Regarding the engine itself? Keep shopping. You can almost certainly find another for less, and let’s just say the car probably won’t need the lowest-miles, shiniest used engine out there.

    In your shoes I’d hunt for a cheaper engine, take Toyota’s deal for installation and make the decision to keep or sell the car separately after a week or so’s rest on the brain, schedule & bank account.
     
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