Is the Solar package worth the extra money?

It would depends on where you live. I live in California, and yesterday was very sunny and car got a little hot. I got in and was very glad to have the fan working. Plus the open feeling a sunroof gives is just unbeatable. Almost like you're driving a convertible. Almost.

 

Hmm.... are you saying you got the sunroof w/a package V? Thought the sunroof was not an option on the V?

 

I missed not having a sun roof on my 2008 Prius.
So my 2010 Prius III has the Solar and Navigation package.
The sun powered ventilation is nice, but I still purchased a set of Ventvisor deflectors.:thumb:

 

Is the Solar package worth the extra money?

It is in Phoenix, AZ in the summer..... keeps interior at outside temp
ie; only 110^ instead of 130+^ .... & of course the remote AC
start on the key is welcome too!

 

For me it was a no brainer. Iwould have liked to have had the 17 inch wheels and led lights but primarily wanted the sunroof. I made the right decision. Toyota has had a shortage of sunroof packages available due to the underestimated popularity of this option. The sunroof means more resale value later on if nothing else. I wish they would have offered it on the V series though. I dont know what I would do without mine at this point! Get it, you wont be sorry!

 

Just picked up my Prius IV w/ Solar coming from an Audi A4. I've always owned cars with sunroofs/moonroofs and I couldn't imagine owning another without it. Living in SoCal, this past weekend the Solar Roof came in handy many times. I came into the car with it on and the car temperature was very comfortable. Although, the seats were a bit warm, not hot. I'm sure that will be remedied as soon as I get the car tinted.

I wanted the V, however, the conveniences of the sunroof/moonroof, remote AC, solar roof won me over because of the temperatures variances here in SoCal. And, I don't have to drive around and worry so much anymore about finding a parking spot in the shade so I don't come back to a hot car.

 

This topic has been discussed many times over....so do a search if you want more opinions/thoughts than what you find on this thread. But in a nutshell, the answer to your question is - It depends upon your use and needs.

For me, having the sunroof/moonroof was a must, ie, that was my major reason for getting that package. That siad, having used the solar for about 3 months in hot weather, I LOVE the solar option. Even on the hottest days, the interior (I park outside at work - ie, no garage at work) is always close to the ambient/outside temp. No 120-140F cabin temperatures, which has two benefits:

(1) Reduces the initial heat load that the AC has to work against when first starting the car/AC. Cools down much, much quicker.

(2) Since the inside never gets much above 90F, it's not oppressive when you first get in...and I've actually left grocheries/flowers/plants in the car that would have otherwise spoiled/died without the solar colling option.

Oh, and for those that typically have afternoon T-showers...leaving the windows/sunroof open is really not a viable option.

 

I actually have a III with solar. Of course I love the sunroof and the solar, but navigation, JBL sound system, and satellite radio comes with the package. To me it was worth it.

 

I came from an Audi RS4...needed better mileage and lower operating costs. I wanted a few toys since I drive it so much and didn't want to regret the decision to buy it.

I'm not sure the solar roof is worth the money just for the solar part. But, you're also getting a sun/moon roof. It's nice to open the roof on a nice day, and it makes the interior feel more open.

I guess I'd say you have to want the sunroof and solar cooling to justify the cost.

 

I have only had my 2010 Silver Prius IV with the solar package for about a month, but I am glad I got the package. It was the only way to get the sunroof and it had all the other features in the package that I wanted. So far it hasn't got hot enough to get a lot of use from the solar roof feature, but I'm sure it will feel good in the heat of the summer here in South Florida.

 

Living in the UK the solar ventilation is not the main benefit, but I like what we call a sunroof, so to me it is an expensive sunroof with some free toys....

But I just have to upgrade those little 15" wheels as they are horrible...

 

$4000 for a nice sunroof / solar venting ???
VS. ~$460 Toyota REMOTE START good alternative for a/c and heat in the winter

 

That includes the Nav/Bluetooth/SOS/upgraded audio package as well. It's still pricey for a sunroof, I agree. As I pointed out in another post, for lessees, it works out to about $42/mo. Nav, by itself, costs about $24/mo. So, the solar/sunroof combo attributes about $18/mo to the payment.

 

If you just want the sunroof there are quality aftermarket units that look like OE and will save you a bundle. Had one installed on my Gen I. Worked perfectly. Looked like standard equipment from the inside and outside, was programable and even autoclosed when you turned the key off. There is a photo somewhere on this forum from a member that has done it.

 

I wanted the sunroof/moonroof as I have had on eon my cars for the last 10 years. I just bought my Gen 3 two weeks ago and the roof has already been open tons - side roads not the highway. The solar fan actually does seem to help keep the car cooler so although I wasn't looking for that I like it a lot.

 

My opinion--I'd rather they offer a regular ol' sunroof for typical price--US$750 - $1K or so. But that would cut into the sales of the solar ventilation package, so the marketing gurus win on this one. I didn't want/need the NAV, so I went without. I do miss a sunroof--every prior car I've owned had one. (Except for that '81 Skylark I had for a while, where it would have come in handy for looking up and asking "why me, God, oh, what did I do in a previous life.." )

 

I will let you know in another month or so when the Florida sun really kicks in. So far it just moves around the hot air, might be a little less stuffy when you first get in. I used to open the rear hatch back to let the hot air escape from my 2005 Pri. I can now open the sun/moon roof while continuing my drive. I just wanted this package when I purchased it, if I knew what I know now and was concerned about cost/benefit coefficient, I probably wouldn't have got it.

 

I think the black roof makes a nice contrast with the Blizzard Pearl as well. We would have gotten Nav + sunroof for sure. We never would have purchased the solar option even though I live in So. Calif.

 

Amortize the initial cost as insurance: Ever left a bottle of wine in the car and had it ruined by excessive heat? Ever locked your wife in the car while going to the pub? The solar roof works. It's uncomfortable -- my wife sure complained -- but the cooling fans stop the car becoming an oven. So just think of the ruined wine you might save by buying this package.

Add the benefits of a sunroof too and it's well worth it.

 

"O reason not the need"