Hey- I am getting mixed messages from my dealer and the service guy at the dealership. Maybe all you smart people can help me. Bought a 2012 II in April. Last week my front wheel cover fell off (i have no idea where it is and I am pissed) after going through one of those automatic car washes. ANYWAYS I call the dealer to try and get one out of them for free/cheap. No. I tried to get the carwash owner to pay me for his jank car wash mishap. No. The dealer tells me that the wheel cover is important for cirulating air through the black alloy wheel (hot brakes charging hot battery). Then the service guy tells me that's BS and that those caps are cosmetic. But then I read that after market rims can lower MPG? Whats the deal? 1.Why is there a BLACK wheel under there?! 2.How can they ACTUALLY CHARGE $80 bucks for a new cover?! 2.Who has the hookup on one wheel cover/anyone wanna buy my 3 wheel covers and black wheels so I can get rims I actually find attractive? Brand spankin' new. 3. Why are dealers such scammers? Why don't they have their fact straight? Ok, I am done ranting. But seriously- anyone have an older model and a 'grass is always greener' mentality that wants to buy these alloys off me?
The wheel covers probably have some minimal aerodynamic effects. That said, plenty of folks take them off as they prefer the black look, with no reduction in MPG, cooked brakes or battery. If I were you, I will just leave them off. As for the dealer price, they are free to charge whatever they want, and you are free to shop around. It is a free market. If you want to buy another cover to lose later, you might find a better deal online. I see a lot of Toyota wheel covers, most of them of the Corolla varity, on the side of the road when I am out cycling, so it seems Toyota has problems with their wheel cover retaining system.
Take the other 3 off and sell them one by one on ebay for something like 30 bucks a piece to people who keep loosing one at a time. Spend half the proceeds to buy the small center caps off ebay and you are done with that problem.
