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Having regrets about this Prius ... might return to dealer

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Jim in NC, Apr 14, 2016.

  1. Jim in NC

    Jim in NC Active Member

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    Before anyone jumps to a wrong conclusion, let me say there is nothing wrong with this car. In fact, I would say that I love it a lot more than I ever thought I would.:D

    But my driving needs are more than just the basics. (I spend almost 1.5 hrs/day in my car).

    My last Prius was a Prius II. I added a few things to make it nicer, because last generation's tech upgrades were not worth the extra $ to me at the time.

    This 2016 Prius is an Eco 2, which I found out is one of the cheapest ones out there. Now, I'm thinking that the extra comfort and safety features would be worth it.

    What I'm contemplating doing is asking my dealer if I can trade up to a Prius 4 (not Touring) with the ATP package. Of course I want a specific color combo.

    I would find myself really using (and needing)
    • power driver's seat with lumbar
    • Lane keep assist
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • rain-sensing wipers
    Don't care about
    • sunroof
    • NAV (sucks big time)
    • XM radio
    I know it may not be a financially good move, but I can afford it and I would maybe always regret pinching pennies and not getting what I'd really want.

    I've had it <2 weeks and ~500 miles. Do dealers ever let a customer "trade-up" if they shortly after the purchase changed their mind?

    I'd appreciate everyone's input, especially if anyone else has done anything similar.
     
    #1 Jim in NC, Apr 14, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2016
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  2. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    I traded up my 2011 (17k miles) for a 2012 with dcc. I'm not even going to think about the dollars lost.

    The dcc was worth it, and it is worth it for my 2016 gen 4 "full range dcc" upgrade.

    Traffic sucks, slow traffic sucks worser...

    just my opinion

    jp
     
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  3. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    It can't hurt to ask.
     
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  4. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Expect to lose a few hundred minimum up to a couple grand...

    All depends how generous or not the dealer wants to be with trade value and pricing on your new car. Either way your Eco is considered used as soon as it's driven off the lot. I've bought and sold too many cars and have done what you mentioned a couple times in the past. In the end if you can afford it, why not head to the dealer and see what they can do for you. You might be surprised. Might as well be driving what you actually want to be driving.

    Also, not sure if it's the same in N.C. But where I live you only pay tax on the difference between traded veh and the new one, so you could potentially save there. If that rule doesn't apply then it might make more sense to sell privately for a little more money if you think you can and then go negotiate you new cars price. I personally find it easier to show up with my homework done and just really work the dealers with that knowledge for the best trade and best new car price and not have to deal with any hassle of a private sale.
     
    #4 Blizzard_Persona, Apr 14, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2016
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  5. Jim in NC

    Jim in NC Active Member

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    Thanks everyone for their input. :)

    I feel stupid for putting this post on here, but I think its a great way to consult about this kind of issue.

    I especially want to thank blizzardpersona for the suggestion to play various dealers until someone squeals. That's what I'm going to do. This whole thing wouldn't have happened if I hadn't felt rushed. But I had no idea that my old Prius would be hit in the accident.

    By the way -- my 2010 Prius is not doing too well. The exterior looks nice and the paint matches, but it rattles and clunks like a piece of junk. I'm taking it back to the body shop tomorrow and if they say it can't be fixed or a part of the frame is permanently damaged I will be asking the insurance company to total it and send me a check.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    jim, i think you would be smart to trade up if that's what you want. keep in mind, the dealer is going to get a pretty penny when reselling your car. what would you pay for a 2 week old prius? i'd happily pay $1,000. less than a new one, and they have the benefit of playing with msrp when selling you the upgrade. all the best with your decision!(y)
     
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  7. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    If you trade up, take your new leather seats with you, Jim. :) It's important to be comfortable, especially if you tend to keep your cars for many years.

    I admit, I really miss the power driver's seat that I had in my Camry. Didn't think I would, but I just can't find a comfortable position in my manual Prius Three seat. (Plus, the height adjustment keeps slowly "sinking" and has to be raised every couple days.) And the Blizzard Pearl, man it's beautiful when clean and polished... but I am already tired of having to wash that car so often! It attracts dirt like flies on a wedding cake! I was thinking of trading up just to get a different color!

    (I've already seen 2 or 3 complaints about the "rain sensing" wipers. One guy said they immediately go to HIGH speed, when all he needed was intermittent. But I think that feature can be deactivated?)
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i feel the same way about black. what's the color that always looks clean?
     
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  9. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    It's certainly not Blizzard friggin pearl
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe cars just look dirty unless they're clean.:cool:
     
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  11. Jim in NC

    Jim in NC Active Member

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    That 'magic' color happens to be silver! Sometimes gray too.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    interesting, i've never purchased a silver car, because there are so many on the road. no wonder it's poplar.
     
  13. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    How is the red color? Better than white? Worse? I guess it's a silly thing to be upset about. But I've washed my new Prius MORE TIMES in 2 months, than I ever washed my old Camry in a year! The 2005 Camry was a very odd color... at first glance, you'd think it was silver or light grey... but in fact, it was a very weird, light-colored mint green! Can't recall the official name of the paint. It rarely showed dirt.
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i've seen that camry color, interesting that it doesn't show dirt.
     
  15. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Well, not like Blizzard Friggin' Pearl.:ROFLMAO:

    Reality Check: What a STUPID thing to be concerned about! Big whoop, so my white car shows dirt! But I'm getting 60 MPG! And I'm VERY blessed and fortunate just to HAVE a new car!!! (y) People are dying in earthquakes; And thousands are homeless! And here I sit in the comfort of my home, eating a nice chicken dinner... and chatting on the Internet about some dirt on my friggin' white PreEye! :sick:

    God, you can make my little white car as dirty as you wish! Thank you for your blessings.

    Time for a nice musical interlude. From the good people of Belgium... "California Dreamin"

     
  16. priusdonkey

    priusdonkey Member

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    I bought the four touring. No regrets. I thought at the time of purchase that the extras which was $6000 more was spendy. I feel the present gen 4 is a great build and the extra amenities is icing on the cake. I don't think the ATP is very good and the HUD is silly, so I went for the touring which had everything. If you like moo roofs then get the ATP package.
    I would call the dealer and talk to someone higher up like the GM or owner? They will probably, gave you deal with their customer service manager, but first you would need to "land a car" so they could figure out what the profit is on your new car.

    What your referring to is an "unwind" deal. Similar to you driving off the lot and then you are unfinacable by TFS. So stop driving the car around and putting on miles and talk to the dealer. I would also talk to Toyota customer care hotline and see what they have to say - usually nothing...
    Blizzard Pearl is nice but I saved $395 by going with silver. I also found a car without the rear bumper and center console appliqué which saved another $300.
     
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  17. Jim in NC

    Jim in NC Active Member

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    Thanks priusdonkey for the input. My dealer is going to help me out somewhat. I will take some hit on the trade, but I want the higher model.

    I truly considered the 4 Touring and it is a good value, but to be honest I'm not into extra big wheels because (just my taste) they're too showy. They should be on a Corvette or something, but not a Prius.

    It looks like he will be getting me a 4 with ATP. I may not use the HUD, but the lumbar seat, radar cruise and other things will make my 1-1/2 hours of commute every day more tolerable.

    Like I said before, I don't care anything about sunroofs and the Toyota GPS is horrid (unless they've improved it lately). My sister's newer Gen 3 Prius has one of the most frustrating NAV units I've ever seen. She quit using it after 2 tries and uses her iPhone. That's probably what I'll do too.

    I narrowed down color choices and I could live with White, Red, Blue, Silver and Gray. I ruled out Red and White because of the extra charge. My last 3 cars were Silver so I decided either Gray or Blue. I think the darker colors hide some of the funny look of the headlights and also the blacked-out C-pillar.
     
  18. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Perhaps good timing to do it now if prices go up due to the Japan earthquake
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I was kind of in your shoes one time. We had a near-new car, purchased new. Over the course of about 6 months, found out it had apparently side swiped a bollard or something, while being taken off the ship. One side had been completely repainted, and it was a shoddy job, peeling off, revealing lots of bondo, coarse sanding, a mess. The service manager found out the details for us. We traded, got a semi-good deal.

    In the process, we found out, the typical BC contract includes a clause saying the "new" car can sustain 20% of it's retail value, and the car can still be sold as "new", with no acknowledgement of the repair. However, it's just a document, that both parties have to agree to: you can cross out 20%, revise it to say $200, and ask the dealership to sign off on it. If they don't, walk.

    I guess not much similar so far, lol. But yeah, it's a strange feel: short-cycling a car like that.
     
    #19 Mendel Leisk, Apr 21, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2016
  20. priusdonkey

    priusdonkey Member

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    I really like the ride of the four touring and find the 17" lower profile tires make the car have good driver input and road feel. You'll never make the Prius 4touring into an e46 BMW, so I think your fretting over a small detail 15" vs. 17" wheels. I would go with the four touring. It's fully loaded and I didn't see the value in the stereo upgrade, premium convenience package for $1,800?

    You can always swap out your brand new 17" tires and OEM wheels from the four touring if so inclined, with your pick of better rims or smaller rims and tires of your choice. I'm sure there's a dozen people on this board that would gladly make the swap with a smile.
    I wouldn't let the 17" wheels be a deciding factor. Drive a touring model and non touring in the same trim package and then decide. When your driving down the road you don't look at the larger wheels so it's a moot point... Now if it had 21" pimps on the Prius then I would agree- it looks gaudy. Btw no hypersonic red simply for resale. White or dark grey. Stay away from Sea Pearl.

    I think the four touring has blind mirror assist, 4 heated seats, lumbar support with better driver seat adjustability, sioftex seats and self adjusting brites along with garage door opener stuff over the four with the standard safety package.
     
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