Date:         Fri, 20 Sep 2013 12:03:47 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Friday, update on Prius electronics rant
In-Reply-To:  <TKvY1m02e08X5Fr01KvZ0t>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Some of you may recall my rant about the "multi-function display" going out in my Toyota Prius, and the exorbitant (extortionist) price for replacement ($6.3K new, $2.9K rebuilt).

I got a used unit, allegedly from a low mileage Prius, and to avoid possible electronic glitches during installation had a dealer put it in.  I paid $175 (including shipping) for the unit, and with a "loyal customer discount," got it installed for $99 (one hour labor at $125, discounted).  It works, at least for now.

But another thing to irritate the customer (me) popped up.  After I had already bought the used unit, but before it was installed, one of the dealers I'd spoken with about this called me, and said they had a repair program.  They would remove the unit, send it to "the factory," where it would be rebuilt, and install it, all for $375.  I certainly would have done that.  That option should have been offered up front.  I would have had to drive around with a hole in the dash, and be without air conditioning (not a trivial thing in Oklahoma in September), heat, and audio (or at least their full functions) for ten days or so, but would have felt better about a repair with a Toyota warranty than a used unit of an electronic component known to be failure prone.

But oh well.  For now, I have a functioning unit.

mcneely