Non-Toyota Service History

[Carltona123]

Hi People

Am currently searching for a sensible money 2008/9 Prius but getting increasingly frustrated. There are plenty around (tho' some dealers have said there's been a big surge in demand recently - take that as you will)but the snag is that while they have FSH they don't have them from Toyota. Typically they are lease cars (fine by me) but have been serviced at non-Toyota dealers. I have a feeling what you're all going to say but thought I'd ask the question anyway. Just so desperate to get my hands on these babies - so desperate in fact that I was even eyeing up a 2007 with 96k on the clock AND a full TSH for £5000. It's driving me mad and my son's not very pleased either, as I sit night after night trawling through Autotrader and hogging the laptop.

M

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I think you already know the answer.

At 96k miles it's only a few miles warranty left. Not a problem with a full Toyota service history one would hope, but high miles AND none dealer warranty on a car that, whilst reliable, can be expensive to fix if it ever does go wrong. Has the transmission fluid been changed with the correct stuff at the correct interval etc?

Hmmmm, tricky one. It's cheap, but will be much cheaper when/if Boris changes the rules for congestion charge eligibility next year.

In balance, I guess it depends on what miles you do and how keen you are to possess a Prius.

[Jan&tone]

I appreciate your problem, but frankly I wouldn't go anywhere near a hybrid, either one of ours or one of those H...a (sorry for swearing) things. The technology is way beyond a back street garage who are quite happy to stamp a service book - it's not their car or warranty!

It may be more expensive, but go to a Toyota dealer and get a properly serviced one, you could be out of pocket by much more if you don't. Good luck

[Ikelos]

there is nothing worse than waking up in the cold grey light of morning knowing you have done a wrong 'un.

to save a few bob now, could be costly later..................

[Chris Dance]

I would not even think of purchasing a Prius unless it came from a Toyota dealer and it had a full service history.

[dwilson]

I would not even think of purchasing a Prius unless it came from a Toyota dealer and it had a full service history.

Agreed. There are plenty about to suit most pockets at Toyota dealers with main dealer service history.

[ian rooke]

Hi I cannot see the problem most services are just a oil change and a check as long as the car is serviced to Toyotas standards what is there to worry about .There are independents about that are specialists in Hybrids you can get rubbish service off a Toyota dealer

just as well as any other dealer ask Grumpy Cabby about the wrong oil in his car more than once.

[kithmo]

Hi People

Am currently searching for a sensible money 2008/9 Prius but getting increasingly frustrated. There are plenty around (tho' some dealers have said there's been a big surge in demand recently - take that as you will)but the snag is that while they have FSH they don't have them from Toyota. Typically they are lease cars (fine by me) but have been serviced at non-Toyota dealers. I have a feeling what you're all going to say but thought I'd ask the question anyway. Just so desperate to get my hands on these babies - so desperate in fact that I was even eyeing up a 2007 with 96k on the clock AND a full TSH for £5000. It's driving me mad and my son's not very pleased either, as I sit night after night trawling through Autotrader and hogging the laptop.

M

Try Motors.co.uk

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Hi I cannot see the problem most services are just a oil change and a check as long as the car is serviced to Toyotas standards what is there to worry about .There are independents about that are specialists in Hybrids you can get rubbish service off a Toyota dealer

just as well as any other dealer ask Grumpy Cabby about the wrong oil in his car more than once.

They did it correctly at the last 30k service, and to be fair, they did replace the correct oil straight away when I drew their attention to it - shame they didn't do it in the first place though.

I also disagree about services just being an oil change. The main Toyota dealers have the equiptment to check error codes and also implement software updates for the cars software. Perhaps PartsKing or other Toyota dealer on here could confirm exactly what occurs at service time?

[WarrenB]

Just stuck mine on Autotrader for £8k 57 T3 with 31000. After reading this I hope I haven't priced it to low.

[Carltona123]

Warren - I'd say your price is about right. Mine is from a Toyota dealer, don't forget, and so will have the 12 months warranty etc. hence the slightly (relatively) higher price.

M

[Parts-King]

I don't spend too much time with our service department so cant tell you exactly what occurs when, but we do know when updates and upgrades are due on a particular car, we also have the full technical data and equipment to do the updates. It is also a fact that Toyota main dealer service history WILL affect any future P/EX price on your car, it is one of the things that the next customer who buys your car will look at when he/she is shopping around. We DO NOT put the same value on the price of a car with no service history, or history from an independant, as a main dealer, customers expect us (quite rightly) to be selling top quality, dealer serviced cars, without FSH the price we are able to get is much lower

Kingo

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I don't spend too much time with our service department so cant tell you exactly what occurs when, but we do know when updates and upgrades are due on a particular car, we also have the full technical data and equipment to do the updates. It is also a fact that Toyota main dealer service history WILL affect any future P/EX price on your car, it is one of the things that the next customer who buys your car will look at when he/she is shopping around. We DO NOT put the same value on the price of a car with no service history, or history from an independant, as a main dealer, customers expect us (quite rightly) to be selling top quality, dealer serviced cars, without FSH the price we are able to get is much lower

Kingo

And my Toyota main agent have been absolutely brilliant in assisting with any problems or issues I've had with the car. A number of items have been replaced under warranty with NO quibbles. Other than the two times where the wrong oil was used (and the first time they contacted me to replace) I cannot fault my Toyota dealers. Sure they're slightly more expensive than a back street garage, but they have the equiptment to look after the Prius. You might be lucky to live in an area that has a independent Prius specialist, but will a future owner know whether they're a specialist or just some dodgy dealer? Answer - NO.

Also, taking the car to a main dealers gives you a little extra peace of mind should something go wrong just out of warranty. I can bore you silly about colleagues of mine who have had things replaced in full or had the cost split 50/50 with the manufacturers for parts that failed OUTSIDE of warranty (within a reasonable mileage) because they had a full manufacturers service history.

There are also stories of colleagues who have been told to get stuffed by manufacturers when trying to make warranty claims (even split contributions) just a few miles past the warranty mileage when they haven't used a main agent for servicing.

[Carltona123]

Makes me feel much better about the car I'm hoping to pick up on Saturday. Actually just had another look on Autotrader and the £7995 I'm paying for an 07 T3 with 33K on the clock looks really good from any dealer, but excellent with a FTSH from a Toyota dealer.

[dwilson]

Makes me feel much better about the car I'm hoping to pick up on Saturday. Actually just had another look on Autotrader and the £7995 I'm paying for an 07 T3 with 33K on the clock looks really good from any dealer, but excellent with a FTSH from a Toyota dealer.

I think so, a friend of mine bought a 56 T3 admittedly a year ago for £10500 and I believe it had done more miles.