Buying car right NOW. Low profile tires? Urgent

I've read that 17 inchers decrease MPG slightly (~2-3%) compared to 15 inchers. Hope that helps.

 

I am confused what model are you looking at two, three, four or five?

Models two trough four all should have 15 inch wheels with P195/65R15 tires with plastic wheel covers over the factory wheels.

Model five should have 17 inch wheels with low profile tires sized P215/45R17.

Look in the Prius brochure and check out the pictures if the wheels on the car you are looking at getting don't look the same or match the descriptions above the have been changed. But only the model five should have low profile tires. The stock wheels and wheel covers are a silver grey color.

Hope that helps.

 

Yep. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii.../65496-17-wheels-effect-mpg-2.html#post909868 has the UK spec sheet. Keep in mind those are on a totally different mileage test than the US and in larger Imperial gallons.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-announces-prices-for-2010-89249.aspx is an easier to read matrix of models and options. The prices are old though and Toyota has gone away from the Roman numerals to spelling out the numbers.

I've seen gen III Priuses w/the 17" wheels, but I don't recall them being shiny. Perhaps the dealer has put on their own aftermarket wheels and is forcing you to take them w/that car. Picture #9 at http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/photo-gallery.html shows the factory 17" wheels. I don't think they're as shiny as they look in the picture. If the spoke pattern doesn't much, then they're not the stock wheels.

If the dealer is forcing aftermarket wheels, tacking it onto the price, and you don't want to pay for them, you need to find another Prius w/o them, get them to remove them and the extra cost, or you need to find another dealer.

 

The Idea behind the Prius is mileage and comfort, right? You need to check and see which is lighter the 15" steelies or the 17" mags. More weight more rolling resistance in the unsprung weight category. Wider tires can mean more weight plus the wider tread would mean more rolling resistance. They will offer more traction for braking and avoidance maneuvers, so there is a trade off. It is up to you which you prefer.

Me I am waiting for my III to come in in two more weeks so I can get started learning about my Hybrid (yes I am a Newbie too). My first attempt at a "Sipper", for I have parted with my DREAM (2004 BMW M3) for a new direction. Instead of seeing how fast I can get some where, it will be to see how little fuel I use to get there. Geez, I must be getting older.

Let the games begin and look forward to learning from you guys.

 

Aloha and Welcome Crash0099!

Hope your car gets in soon. The stock 15" wheels on the model two thru four are not steel wheels, they are alloy wheels.

 

walk away, if you can

Sigh... If you haven't paid anything, I'd walk away from this dealer. What area are you in? Are you willing to name the dealer? Maybe someone here can suggest a better one or confirm that the one that you're dealing with sucks.

You can see for yourself from Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota and Toyota Prius Hybrid - 2011 Models: Prius Two, Prius Three, Prius Four, Prius Five what wheels are included with each model.

Who knows what they did w/the original wheels? Perhaps they decided to sell them or put them in their parts department.

Side note: If you want to see the invoice price as well as another source for MSRP, lookup the car at Edmunds.com.

 

What the hell are you talking about??? Can you give us a better description of these rims other than "new" and "shiny" and "cheap"? Do you have the brand name??? Do you have a picture (maybe from dealers website)?? Are you talking about V rims? If so that's not a sneaky dealership, that's just part of the package V. Doesn't sound like you know a lot about rims but if you want our help you need to give us more information!!!

 

More information would help such as the above and the exact size, make and model of the tires on the car.

Prius model Five is the only one that comes w/factory 17" wheels.

Besides the photos I pointed to earlier, from http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/, if you click on Build Your Prius, and select Prius Five, you will see the wheels change. If the dealer is putting on wheels that don't look anything like the ones appropriate for the given model, they're aren't the factory wheels.

From the way I read it, the OP is getting a model Four and the dealer has removed the stock (15") wheels, put on aftermarket wheels and tires and foisting them on the OP.

 

As I PMed w/the OP, NONE of those wheels look like stock 15" nor 17" Prius wheels.

I pointed her to these other examples of what looks like the stock wheels (since I have no 3rd gen but have seen plenty of them):
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/t...53&id=E3C12661 looks like the stock 15" wheels.
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/t...40&id=E3C12661 looks like the stock 17" wheels

If you download the high res versions, you'll notice Toyota logos in the middle of them.

Models Two thru Four only come equipped with 15" wheels and per http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/features.html the tire size is P195/65R15. The stock 15" wheels should have a plastic cover on top of the alloy wheels. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ns/76268-wheels-wheel-covers.html#post1062443 is what they look like with and without the cover.

If nothing's been paid for so far, your parents are comfortable doing so and you have other alternative dealers within the area, I'd walk away from this unless they're willing to put the stock wheels back on for NOTHING extra (and you aren't paying for the aftermarket wheels either).

Is that 34K before or after tax, title and license? Since we don't know where you are, we don't know your state's tax rates nor the typical documentation fees. To make things easier, please separate out the price before TTL (but including destination charge).

From looking at Edmunds, MSRP on a 2011 Prius Four with solar package (which inludes nav package) and dest charge should be $31,660. Toyota.com under the build your Prius area says $31,790. (You might be forced to take on and pay for floor mats though.)

I don't know the exact pricing situation at the moment (in light of the current production stoppage that Toyota says will resume on Monday (http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/announcement/110324_1.html)), but if these guys are wanting more than MSRP, I'd walk away too.

 

I doubt the loading up the car w/aftermarket crap (like the wheels) is illegal. I've seen cars in showrooms (not Toyota specific) w/all sorts of aftermarket stuff tacked on, including aftermarket wheels.

If your parents want them and are willing to pay for them, then there's no problem. If not, then walk away, if possible. As for So Cal, that's a REALLY large area but you should have plenty of Toyota dealers. I know of a ton in the LA area.

Dianne Whitmire posts a lot in Dealers & Pricing - PriusChat Forums. Her latest inventory post is at http://priuschat.com/forums/dealers...n-prius-inventory-allocation.html#post1292144. I've never met her or bought any Toyota from So Cal dealers, but (from my minimal observation) it seems she's well liked.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/what-fees-should-you-pay.html might help. http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/auto/auto-loan-calculator.aspx might help too.

Good luck w/whatever they choose.

 

What part of the Earth are you located? This whole thing about the dealer installing after market wheels smells fishy to me. If the dealer installed aftermarket wheels they did it for the sole purpose of making money. There should also be no additional charge for having the OEM factory wheels put back on. I know sometimes dealers do customize new cars in this way but a have not heard of it being done to a Prius, has anybody else? If there are no other Prii there you like or ones that have there factory wheels don't be pressured in to buying something you don't want. I would suggest going elsewhere to get your car. Your being taken for a ride from the start.

 

A few years back when I was shopping for a Honda Accord, the dealer had installed aftermarket rims and low profile tires on the car that I liked (model and price). I just told them I didn't like the aftermarket rims and they removed them and installed the OEMs ...... and removed the aftermarket surcharges too.

Dealers will work with you a lot to get you into a car when business is slow. When sales are good, I believe they are less willing to help you out, as they know they can sell a car to someone else without dropping their profit margin.

 

They are trying to rob you blind and they are lying to you! A Prius is not even worth $34 k. I'm in Chatsworth this weekend and I'd be more than happy to help your parents talk sense into this dealer if you're in this area. I can't stand sleezy salespeople! They probably forced an extended warranty and paint sealant on you too didn't they?

 

you should have gone to different dealership, they forced wheels on you so dealership can make more money... there is nothing illegal about it, you should have refused it and gone to other dealership... it is socal, there are probably hundreds of dealers close to you!

 

Regardless of the wheels and deals, I'll assume you have your new Prius now, so congrats. Enjoy the technology, and keep a big smile on your face driving by gas stations.

 

In a word, YES. However, your handling will improve. It's a compromise that some are willing to make and some are not.

-Brad