[MrTuffPaws]

I bought a 2002 model today. Fully loaded, gps, 6 cd changer, and every other bell and whistle you can imagine. First time buyer with no trade in. Affordable deal, but still steep. Well worth it though.

Driving it is a complete scream, in fact, my wife did just that when it went into stealth mode. People in parking lots don't hear you coming. No deaths, just rude stares.

Now my questions:

The dealer did not have any paper work on hand for the Fed tax reduction. I went to the Toyota web site and found the Toyota Certification Letter and the IRS Acknowledgement Letter. Just what exactly do I have to do with these to get the $2000 deduction on my 2002 taxes?

I live in the Sacramento California area. I found other parts of the state that have incentives to owning a hybrid vehicle, but nothing for the Sac area. Does any body know of any thing different?

Does everyone get the "Eat My Voltage" sticker? Does anyone ever use it?

Has anyone with the gps nav system ever needed to update the map software?

How many of you have fumbled around in the night looking for the gauge light adjustment knob only to realize that the odometer is in the middle of the dash?

Thanks
MrTuffPaws

 

[mrv]

I bought a 2002 model today. Fully loaded, gps, 6 cd changer, and every other bell and whistle you can imagine. First time buyer with no trade in. Affordable deal, but still steep. Well worth it though.

Driving it is a complete scream, in fact, my wife did just that when it went into stealth mode. People in parking lots don't hear you coming. No deaths, just rude stares.

Now my questions:

The dealer did not have any paper work on hand for the Fed tax reduction. I went to the Toyota web site and found the Toyota Certification Letter and the IRS Acknowledgement Letter. Just what exactly do I have to do with these to get the $2000 deduction on my 2002 taxes?

I live in the Sacramento California area. I found other parts of the state that have incentives to owning a hybrid vehicle, but nothing for the Sac area. Does any body know of any thing different?

Does everyone get the "Eat My Voltage" sticker? Does anyone ever use it?

Has anyone with the gps nav system ever needed to update the map software?

How many of you have fumbled around in the night looking for the gauge light adjustment knob only to realize that the odometer is in the middle of the dash?
MrTuffPaws

Congratulations on your purchase. We can all breathe a little better now.

For the Federal Clean-Fueled Vehicle Tax Deduction, see IRS Pub. 535 (business expenses (but private purchasers can take this deduction also)), ch. 12. I believe all you have to do is to list it as an adjustment to your gross income, write in the dollar amount and "Clean Fuel" in line 32 of the 1040 tax form.

My "Eat My Voltage" sticker came pre-affixed to my Prius on the rear window just under the brake light (as it did on many other Prius). My salesman was super-apologetic about the sticker and was more than willing to remove it for us, but I wanted the sticker... Surprisingly my mother didn't get an "Eat My Voltage" sticker with her Prius, not even in the glove box or the documents package she got...

The word is that so far the DVD with the Nav maps that comes with the Prius is the most current revision. Updates could be in the $300 range (going by the price of the current DVD offering (which updates the DVD in some Lexus models).

I was freaked out one day while driving and I couldn't see my spedometer/odometer/fuel gauge/etc. ... Turns out that if you turn the light dimmer switch all the way down, it'll turn off all of the dash lights. (Never had a problem with the center display - I can actually see it there, as opposed to driving a conventional car where it's always obscured (for me) by the steering wheel...)

 

[T. S. Kimball]

Another new owner

I bought mine about a week ago (also an '02), and very happy
with it.

Due to availability I got the base model with side airbags.
Hope to buy and add the Nav system at later time, and will
get an aftermarket MP3/CDC eventually. The loan agreement
included a LoJack and Platinum extended warranty for life
of the loan (6 years), so I'm happy.

I've looked at the car since it was debuted on "Wall Street Week"
(when Lou was still there :wink. But recently it was John1701a's
web site and forums such as these that put me at ease in buying it.

Thanks everyone!