prepaid maintenance agreement

At the least I would take the manual in and show her that it specifies 0w20, and demand that any maintenance contract you enter into specify that that is the only oil that will be used. I would never assume that I'd be able to go in and demand it after the fact, especially since, as you've read for yourself, there is a provision in your contract for using synthetic oil, which is not selected in your case! Most of all, I would be terrified of entering into a 10 year contract for oil changes with a dealership that wasn't expecting to put the recommended synthetic oil in my car! That sounds like a cruel fate for your new baby! OK, just kidding a little there, but the thought of my Prius never getting the oil it requires is a little scary. But ya, $500 does seem like a good deal, especially since I paid, and quickly canceled, $1,300 for the same thing, except 4 years shorter!

 

The service interval for the 2010 Prius is 5,000 miles. Since your contract is for 3750 miles, you will be getting (and paying for) oil changes more frequently than are required by Toyota.

 

$500 ? for 10 years ?

Lots can happen in ten years (May never keep the car that long ) and I would not get this extended maint agreement. Just change the oil according to the manual and thats it. Tell them no thank you again

 

I personally wouldn't worry about the oil. As long as you are going to the dealer for the oil changes, they will have to fix any problems that arise from oil changes. I would seriously doubt that a Toyota dealer would put the wrong oil in your car. Even thought the manual recommends 5,000 mile oil change intervals, 3,750 mile oil changes is nothing to thumb your nose at. The most important maintenance on a car is oil changes. There is no harm and it's good for your car.

 

You also may have a loophole to get out, the manual requires 0w20 which is only made in synthetic form. Otherwise I'd cancel it if they are not willing to modify it to include the 0w20 syn. oil. It is part of the REQUIRED MAINTENANCE and will also give you the maximum performance and design characteristics for your vehicle.

 

I would worry about the Toyota dealer using the proper oil. There are a few threads on this board about dealers using 5w-20 when the manual calls for 0w-20 (which is only availible in synthetic).

 

Kudos to you for doing your research. If the form has a place to specify (or not) the upgraded oil, my instincts tell me they are well aware that Toyota requests the synthetic and they don't plan to use it. It's a more expensive oil and will lessen the profit they are making.
Bottom line, they are not trying to do you any favors, they are trying to make money here. Personally, I don't know that I would want to prepay and risk loosing money in the long run if I were to move, sell the car, etc.
Also, you lose your I'll-take-my-business-elsewhere bargaining chip in dealing with them on future services and issues.

Just my two cents,
~Oct

 

Checker Board, I will not say what you should do, but based on the number posts here, I have much less confidence in dealerships using the correct oil than Neilz does.

If my math is right, you have a contract to change oil 40 times at $12.50 per oil change, disregarding the time value of money and potential interest income on $500.00. Does that sound too good to be true, especially if they use synthetic 0W20 oil at $6.27 per quart, or $27.59 per oil change at WalMart, plus filter?

This sounds too good to be true, to me. If I had this contract and an opportunity to cancel because my car hasn't arrived, thus I haven't taken delivery, I would cancel immediately.

Whatever you decide, good luck. And, Welcome to PriusChat. --TK

 

Had my first service a few weeks ago . . .

They used the synthetic oil. Service manager said a normal 5k service would be $120 (largely because of the synthetic oil requirement), but because of the prepaid maintenance contract, I didn't pay anything (though, of course, I had already paid for the contract).

I still have mixed emotions about the prepaid maint, but my wife was insistent, so I went with it. If the minimum charge for scheduled maintenance is $120, then it will be worth it in the long run.

 

The price seems good IF it were 0-20 synthetic. You also have to factor in the wait time at this dealership's service department. I've seen dealerships that make you leave the car just for an oil change. So, if the service department allows you to come in unannounced for an oil change and they do indeed give you synthetic, it is a great price. I go to an independent that gives me synthetic and a free car wash for $60. I go at least every 5,000. Other factors to consider are as follows:
1- Is that contract for that specific dealership (most definitely it is)
2- Will you be moving in the next few years
3- Is the contract transferable to the next owner in the UNLIKELY event you sell

Decisions, decisions!!!

 

Re: Had my first service a few weeks ago . . .

That must be a ritzy stealership to charge that much even with synthetic oil. The toyota synthetic oil is only $7 per quart so say $6 premium over the non synthetic junk oil thats only a $30 extra for synthetic so for a standard oil change, non synthetic, tire rotation they apparently charge $150-$30 or $120 my oh my!!! Most dealers charge less then $30-$35 for a std change. I think your stealer ship is ripping people off big time on service. Heck my Lexus dealer doesn't charge that much for 5000 mile and it includes tire rotation and free loaner car. They charge $79.95.
Oh and I forgot a free car wash too.

 

Okay guys (gals),

Let me give you the skinny. If you intend on purchasing a prepaid maintenance, make sure it is the '"Toyota" Prepaid Maintenance. The Toyota Auto Care pre-paid maintenance plan is cheaper if you purchase it from Troy on this website. Yes it’s legit and well worth the price. And yes Toyota dealerships are charging on average 100-120 for the 5000mile services for the 2010 Prius.

I got the Premium 4yr / 55,000 mile plan w/ 5000 mile service intervals and three Major tune-ups at 15, 30 and 50k. (Note: The Premium Auto Care plan would have to be purchased while your car has less than 6000miles on it) Here is the link to the plan: http://www.toyotafinancial.com/consumer/tfs.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_TACPrepaidMaintenance .

Because I work hard for every penny and was a little skeptical, I contacted the Toyota Extra Care Department and had them bust out the policy on the prepaid plans. If and ONLY if you purchased the "Toyota" plan, all Toyota dealerships nationwide will accept your Toyota Auto Care coupons with one exception: they have to be a participating dealership. You should call your local dealership to confirm but mostly all major Toyota dealers participate. This does include the 0w-20 synthetic with no additional charge. The dealerships get reimbursed by "Toyota" corp. on a monthly basis for the difference in cost. The dealerships do not lose any money, so they have no vested interest in not honoring your contract with Toyota.

After Toyota became aware of the price conflict of their current contract, as it applies to the 2010 Prius synthetic oil requirements, they raised their plan cost by a few hundred buck to recoup the difference. The new rates went into effect on September 1, 2009, so if you were lucky enough to purchase the plan before that date, then Toyota pays for the difference every time your redeem your auto care coupons for service.

Now I think in your case...you got completely screwed because you purchased a plan that was offered by the local dealership that was contractually written for them for on one reason: PROFIT. If they are a true Toyota dealership they would be advocating Toyota products, whether they are maintenance plans, parts or any other service.

Please PM me if you have any other questions. Good luck….and remember if it looks like a duck and…….well you know the rest.