Questions for Prius owners, please.

That's the 2004 Prius.

The same place we're going to buy 2003 Camry parts in 2012.

Prius does not have OnStar. You call the 800 number from your cell phone, and Toyota will send a tow truck.

Eventually, manufacturers stop making repair parts for things, no matter what those things are.

The new hybrid gizmo is supposed to be better than the old (more mpg, more power) and more easily adapted for more car models. With Toyota announcing more models being added to the hybrid lineup (Highlander, Lexus SUV) , I doubt Toyota will lose interest anytime soon. At least we hope so.

I think that price is a bit exagerrated. I also heard/saw like $3000. We have a ten, or is it eight, year warrantee on the battery and electric system. If it does crap out before that, Toyota should replace it for just the cost of labor I think.

Haven't had to go to a non-dealer yet. We get 3 years full coverage. I just went past the 3 years, so I will probably have to find a mechanic one of these days.

We got a card with an 800 number to call if we have problems. Toyota is supposed to send a tow truck to take it to an authorized repair facility, whatever that may be. If it breakdowns in the boonies, I imagine it will be a pain to deal with.

Just did a Kelly Blue Book retail value on mine. It came up with $15,965. I paid $21,400. So it lost $5440 after 3 years.

I have not heard of any price gouging in my area. In fact, we ordered ours at the time from the Toyota web site while at the dealer.

Ford is releasing a hybrid Escape next year. Toyota had an article that mentioned that Ford is using some of Toyota's patents for the hybrid technology. Wonder if that will mean some of the electric parts would be compatible between Ford and Toyota?

As I said above, good questions. Nice to see someone doing some research.

I guess I feel I was taking a risk by getting one of these new technology cars. Co-workers were surprised I got one of the first model year cars. But I'm glad I did it. No regrets. I love the car. I consistantly get 46 mpg without trying. I can bump that up a few if I try. I live in southern California and the hills don't let me get the max mpg the hybrid is capable of. We have a minivan that we will replace next year. The decision will be to get the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Ford Escape hybrid.

A MAJOR problem with the Toyota hybrids is that they aren't available at the dealers. You have to order one and wait from 3-9 months, depending on your location. I waited 3 months for mine back in 2001. Toyota just didn't plan too well on the popularity and isn't making them fast enough.

Michelle Steiner wrote in news:michelle- snipped-for-privacy@news.west.cox.net:

Yes, but I can buy a fuel pump for a 1983 Toyota Cressida at Autozone or any of a dozen other after-market auto parts places, even though Toyota want's nothing to do with the old Cressida. And, Smiley's Auto and Tire doesn't hesitate to put her on the lift to install it, either.

I don't think that will be available for the oddball hybrid cars that are

It's a point that must be considered with $20,000 in the pot.

Larry

Bob C. wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

And I'd like to thank you for your time answering them in this very helpful manner. I've talked to a few local owners and they are so proud of the cars they get mad if you ask silly questions like these. I get the feeling they'd like to not think about them.

I walked up to the parts counter at the local dealership and tried to buy one. The redneck behind the counter thought I must be crazy. He didn't have one, but promised I could get one "in a few days". When I asked what the price was, he said he didn't know and acted like he didn't have it in his parts computer on the desk in front of us.

Have any of you tested this 800 number to see what their response would be? I'd have called it, told them I was 4 miles N of Santee with a dead battery and asked how soon they could get to me, to give them a realtime scenario to work with. Then, when the response call came in, I'd have told them to cancel the call, "We found a loose plug in the trunk".

I tried to get Dave to do that, but he was chicken...(c;

That's truly amazing for ANY Japanese car....or any new car for that matter. With the dealers playing holdback, you'd probably be able to sell it in a heartbeat from a simple newspaper ad.

Wouldn't that be nice.....standardized parts.....

Thank you to those of you buying new cars. I haven't bought a new car since I got jammed by GM in 1980. My last car purchase is sitting outside my house. I bought it from a bank president in 1992 for $3800. It was his wife's 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300TD station wagon in mint condition. It has every available option, right down to the hydraulic suspension system that adjusts the car's ride, mechanically with high-pressure fluids, depending on the load and the road. I've spent around $1500 repairing it in the last

My other car is a frame-off restored 1973 Mercedes Benz 220D two-tone sedan. It's a blazing 57 HP through its 4-speed automatic, just tearing the tread off the tires. I show it at local car shows and have a few trophies. A commercial taxi vehicle, it's the finest car I've ever owned. I will probably be buried in it...(c;

It's called a "holdback". BMW dealers played the same game as long as it lasted with the little Mini cars, whos popularity suddenly waned and we were swamped with cars, as if by magic. All the car companies play this game. Remember when you couldn't find a PT Cruiser for sale? They had tons of them, but held them back trying to milk the money from the new toy as long as possible to hold the MSRP prices up. My neighbor got one of their retro faux woody wagons 3 months ago. They were begging and bargaining to get her to buy it, now. It will happen with Prius, just like all the rest, sooner or later.

Thank you again for the chat. I initially hesitated to ask because I saw some of the usual Usenet gang wars on the thread, but now I'm glad I did.

Larry W4CSC Charleston, SC where Prius just LOVES our table-flat terrain...(c;

I'm fairly sure that standard parts are use wherever they can be used. And the way gas prices are going, I'm sure that hybrids will be with us for a very long time.

Oh, as for the 800 number (from another reply to your initial message), it is the same number and service offered for all Toyotas that have this service. I've had to use similar services with a VW and with an Acura, and the response time is dependent upon the distance the tow truck has to travel.

The 5 K's ... Kerry, Kooks, Koons, Kweers and Kikes.

I think you mean just three Ks, all in a row. Enjoy your next cross burning.

Michelle, you are going to have to learn not to hold back like this.. You are going to have to one day, fully express your feelings you know... :)

(Btw... YTBSFAM... your comments were fully deserved by the poster they were directed at...)

Yeah, I know. I'm working at it.

What's YTBSFAM? I can't parse that one out.

Oh, and what brings you over here from the cox.* newsgroups?

Yupo.. should have been.. JTBSFAM (Just to be serious for a moment)

Someone asked me if there was a prob with posting to this group.. (They were not seeing any new posts..)

• You just bought the bitbucket -- you ignorant juvenile s*****ad.

earle