EZ Lube for oil changes? Independent Repair?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(j24816 @ May 1 2006, 09:17 PM) [snapback]248277[/snapback]</div>

I used to go to mobil lube but they wont do priuses any more.. somthing about a store shorted somthing out.
I just take it to the dealer.. for just an oil change $19..

there are several here that do thier own services though

 

j24816, you are in Los Angeles, so I will recommend my favorite Toyota shop in Claremont (just east of Pomona).

But more generally, Prius has several maintenance items that need to be looked at every 5k miles or so. These are just like in a conventional front wheel drive car, and any competent mechanic could perform them.

On about 30k mile intervals, there are "real hybrid things" to be looked at, and few other than Toyota shops are equipped to address them. The cost-conscious Prius driver should recognize these distinctions.

 

I'm new to everything: Priuses (in fact, I've bought mine but haven't picked it up yet) and this board. But I'm trying to figure out the warranty situation and I thought you might help. Basically, I've figured out the dealer offer ($2000 for the 7 year/75K one) is terrible and I'm considering getting the one through Troy here at Priuschat.

But I have a mechanic I've used for many many years and he's not only good but fair (and cheap!), and he says he does Priuses. The dealer gave me the usual scare story about non-Toyota mechanics possibly voiding the warranty: do I indeed need to worry about that? Do most people get Toyota warranties? (A friend who just bought one said a friend who works in a Toyota Parts Dept. says it's not worth getting.)

And is there some difference between an "Extended" warranty and a "Maintenance" warranty?

Thanks so much for anything you can tell me.

 

Thanks for answering the second part of my question, about the difference between an extended warranty and a maintenance contract. The reason I was confused is that my dealership includes 36 months of maintenance coverage with the extended warranty.

The other thing I asked was about getting the extended warranty. My question was whether it's true that non-dealership servicing could void the warranty? If so, wouldn't that mean that most people do get a Toyota warranty?

 

Hey Mostly, for maintenance purposes the Prius is a conventional front wheel drive car. Every 30k miles or so, some hybrid things need to be looked at. Hey wait, I already wrote that. But the warranty-voiding spook is just marketing. Take the Prius maint guide (when you get it or print from the web) to your favorite mechanic and see what they say.