Is the Solar package worth the extra money?

It wasn't for me. I bought a IV, and really am enjoying the vehicle. The solar panel only powers a small fan. I question the value of the fan even on a hot Summer day. I certainly did not include it in the category of "Must Have."

There is no power to either the 12v or traction battery.

 

My wife would not have agreed to our Prius without a moon roof. It makes the Prius much more "open" feeling, and I think it looks better from the outside. The solar panel hasn't shown its value yet, up north here. I'd have preferred a second moon roof, like that on the Scion tC, though. The NAV system has served us well.

 

As in all such decisions - it depends on your priorities/needs/desires.

It's true that the sunroof adds no benefit mileage-wise(*), and if used open at higher speeds might even decrease mileage due to more aerodynamic drag. On the other hand if you like the 'openness' of having a glass roof over your head, there's no question about it.

(*) The solar-powered fan will reduce the temperature in the parked car somewhat so that might save a little on the start-up AC load.

 

I bought my V in January, here in Floriday, any additional ventilation is a blessing. I will let you know in July. Also I wanted a sun roof, never had a car with one. The solar/sun roof option come together, you can't get one without the other.

 

I live in the OC and climbed into 3 or so priuses at the dealer, they had the solar roof closed but activated so the fan powered by the solar panels was blowing before I climbed in and each time I must say that I was really really impressed at the cooling effect. At first I doubted it would make a difference and thought it was just a gimmick but I was impressed, it does work and is a must for me. Cars without it were much much warmer inside on the dealer lot and it wasn't a terribly hot day. My advice is to get it!

 

Well i dont own one but bot of my grandparents purched one for each of the. My grandma got the solar roof and my grandpa got the ATP. My grandma got hers because we live in california and it is always hot here and my grandpa got his because he cant turn his head to paralell park right; (needs the brighter lights to see better aswell). but in a personal oppinio it depens on where u live or on you condition. i would go for too solar roof because i live in CA. i personally think the ATP is for the elderly people and the young lazy people.(But thats just my oppinion). But one added bonus to the solar roof u can run the fan through the solar roof or u can make the car come somepwhat alive and use the battery to run heater/ and or AC...so its all up to personal oppinion

 

What's your favorite color?

It's a really personal subjective call.

For me, the sunroof was a no-brainer and I can't imagine, now, not having one. The solar panels were part of my package and yes, I like them and find them useful. Will you? I don't know.

 

I thought about it, but then remembered I don't use my sunroof that much, and I didn't want to pay the extra fees associated with the moonroof. would have raised my Monthly pay by around $30. If I were a sales rep, or lived in a very hot locale... it would have been an easy decision.

On a side note, I am not a fan of the huge glass wind deflector that pops up, and how the glass roof goes out over the roof when open, exposing it to damage from flying road debris. This is just my personal opinion.

 

my grandpa got his because he cant turn his head to parallel park right;

I find that a little weird, you can turn your head but you still can drive

It like doctors giving patents Alzheimer's med and not take away their drivers licence

 

Its true...my grandpa when her was a kid had miningites (sorry if i spelt that wrong) but he had the worst king of it and practically paralized him... he had to learn to walk, write everything like that all over again... and because of that he has a stiff neck and can bearly turn it 1/4 to his side...just barely enough to use the mirrors.

 

I wanted the ATP, Radar Cruise Control was worth more to me than the sunroof, you can't get both, so I got the ATP and I use that every day, the sunroof / solar panels wouldn't help me, I park in an underground parking garage at work, and in a garage at home, my car is not parked outside very often...

 

I struggled a bit between V with no ATP and IV with SR before I bought my Prius. At the end, I got the IV w/SR. I like bright sun light inside the interior. So far the ventilation is a bonus to me, maybe I will change the mind during a hot summer day.

 

You've already been given good answers. Since Toyota packages options and ties them together you really have to think about what you want, and what you'd be getting in the big picture.

IMO admittedly as a non-owner, the solar panels and what they add to the function of the vehicle alone are not worth the cost. But taken as a whole, if you want a sunroof, leather, and all the other benefits that a Prius IV would offer? Then as a package it "might" be worth it to you. Only you can really answer that for yourself.

 

I live in Memphis, TN and the car bakes in the sun all day in a large parking lot with thousands of cars and no tree shade. I struggled in the decision between a IV with sunroof vs. a V with ATP (especially beacuse of the 17" wheels, the LED headlights, and included foglights). In the end I went with the IV/sunroof because it's more practical for me and I can easily upgrade the headlights to High Intensity Discarge. Still hate the look of the foglight blanks, so I'm anxiously awaiting the foglight package that Danny has been working on for the PriusChat shop.

The weather is starting to warm up and I've now activated the solar ventilation fan switch. The system is fantastic! The interior is indeed right around ambient temperature and when I enter, there is a quiet whirring of the ventilation fan working away. The added feature of remotely starting the A/C from the keyfob will be nice to futher cool things down before I get into the car. Also doesn't hurt to get the few extra mpg's with the 15" wheels over the 17's.

In the end it's just personal preference though. If Toyota had chosen to offer a package V with the solar roof in the U.S. as is available in other parts of the world, I would have chosen it without hesitation.

 

All you need is any Yaris OEM type fog light from eBay, about $50 shipped, and 2 OEM fog light covers from parts.com, about $70 shipped, $120 and optional if you want HID fog, get a set of HID, about $60 shipped, $180 then you will be a happy man

 

Thanks hlkc. Did you put the Yarus fogs on your IV? Also, what about the dash switch... does it fit perfectly into one of the blanks?

 

Yes and yes. See here.

 

My wife loves hers she works at the Hospital and goes in early and leaves work at 3:15 PM the hottest part of the day and has to park in the sun in Southern Indiana, She has found she does not need to run the air-conditioning. (She is not an air-conditioning person). So I would say it does improve our mileage. I usually drive the car at night but the few time I have driven it in the day I notice a big difference. One other odd point as other people fight for the parking spots in the shade you can have you pick of spots in the full sun.

I have always liked sunroofs because of the added light in the interior (solar stuff aside we would have gotten it.