1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

I Checked Out A 2012 Prius 4 Yesterday

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by iRun26.2, Feb 11, 2012.

  1. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2011
    683
    111
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    I ordered the 'Standard' trim Plug-in Prius yet kept wondering if I should have ordered the 'Advanced' trim instead (I've contemplate canceling and waiting to get the 'Advanced' trim a little later).

    To see what the Softex (fake leather) was like and to also look at the HDD screen and see what the Heads up Display was like I drove 40 miles to the only dealer in my area that had a 'loaded' (solar roof) 2012 Prius 4. This car has some of the same electronic goodies that the 'Advanced' trim PiP package has.

    I do not really like leather and the Softex seemed no different. It was a very cold day in Minnesota and the Softex felt very cold to the touch. I coild easily imagine the Softex sticking to my skin in the hot summer, too. I was also really not impressed with the HUD. The HDD screen was nice but not worth paying a lot of extra money and then not liking the Softex interior.

    I'm sure most 'Advanced' trim purchasers will be quite happy with their new car. I'm quite satisfied now that I ordered the right one for me. I almost always spend extra money to get the 'fancy toys', but this time, I made the exception. ($40K for a Prius... It just could not be justified for me).

    I guess I was also satisfied that I will still have a lot of fun with the electronics in my new PiP (even without the 'Advanced' package) simply because the new dash display looked so very good in the 2012 Prius 4 (and even the 'Standard' trim PiP gets this).

    While I was there I also got to see a 2012 Corolla in 'Clearwater Blue Metalica'...a very nice color, indeed (although it is almost a car of two colors, shiny blue in the shade, and silver blue in the sun)! The Corolla also had the new 6" display audio screen with navigation. I thought it was actually pretty nice. I will be happy with this in my 'Standarc' trim PiP.

    I now happily await my new PiP! :)
     
    #1 iRun26.2, Feb 11, 2012
    3 people like this.
  2. ddunlea

    ddunlea Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    22
    1
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks for the information. I was in the same boat. Couldn't quite justify the Advanced. I feel good about the decision. Looking forward to the PiP.
     
    #2 ddunlea, Feb 11, 2012
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,766
    5,251
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It's good to hear you're happy with that choice. But then again, we know Toyota did well choosing what to offer on the standard model. They research the market carefully and are very receptive to feedback.

    For my profession, I'm expected to be well informed about the latest technology... especially when in comes to user interfaces with everyday users. And how in the heck am I suppose to support something I don't have routine access to?

    Glad you like the blue too. I was drawn to the dynamic nature of that shade. It changes quite a bit depending upon lighting.
    .
     
    #3 john1701a, Feb 11, 2012
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    great info, now i'm starting to drool on myself. thanks i!
     
    #4 bisco, Feb 11, 2012
  5. mitch672

    mitch672 Technology Geek

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2004
    1,077
    197
    0
    Location:
    Randolph, MA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    John, are you trading in your 2010 Model IV for the PiP? I have a similar Prius (2010 Model V), it's almost the same car, except with the plug in capability, just not sure it's worth the nearly $20K it's going to cost to upgrade to the advanced PiP (I have a $20K offer on my 2010 from Carmax)
     
    #5 mitch672, Feb 11, 2012
  6. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,766
    5,251
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Plans are to keep the 2010 within the family, which is indeed well loaded. 4 is a nice package. But I've never been disappointed with taking advantage of the latest Toyota offers. They've proven years ahead of others... and I like the goodies.

    Having driven an early model PHV, the enhancement to EV is something I'm really looking forward to. It's going to make the standard package very compelling once the market for plugging is established... which I'll be happy to contribute to.

    Just a few weeks left of waiting. Yeah!
    .
     
    #6 john1701a, Feb 12, 2012
    3 people like this.
  7. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    1,639
    317
    14
    Location:
    Simi Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Do you feel that Carmax is giving you a better price than you would get trading your car in? I've heard that Carmax tends to low-ball on their offers, but I have no personal experience with them.
     
    #7 rogerv, Feb 12, 2012
  8. mitch672

    mitch672 Technology Geek

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2004
    1,077
    197
    0
    Location:
    Randolph, MA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The issue is, you get very very low offers from non Toyota dealers, I was offered $15K from a Chevrolet dealer (when I was looking at a Volt, which I cannot get into easily so thats now out), or when I was looking at a Leaf, that was a $15.5K offer. The KBB trade in value is about $21.5K, so $20K is a fair offer. Private sale on the car is in the $23.5-$25K range, but good luck finding a buyer looking for exactly a 2010 Model V Prius in Blue, willing to pay that.

    We'll see when the PiP comes in what my Toyota dealer offers, if its another lowball offer, I have the carmax offer as a backup to pull out, thats why I went to carmax in the first place, to at least get a reasonable offer, as Carmax will buy your car without a tradein, and give you a bank draft for it. I do not think it is a "lowball" offer, especially in this economy. It remains to be seen if I am going to take the PiP as well, I am not convinced its worth $20K to me to upgrade to the advanced PiP from a 2010 Prius, its not enough EV range, and its just about the same exact car. I have bought 3 Prius from the same Toyota dealer, so they did not require me to give them the $500 deposit, they are fine keeping the car to sell if I don't take it (and most likely marking it up a little over MSRP)
     
    #8 mitch672, Feb 12, 2012
  9. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    2,436
    517
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I also got a $20K offer from carmax. One toyota dealer offered $19K, the other offered $17K, but then came up to $20,250 when I showed him the carmax quote. Dianne (the Prius Goddess) thinks it may be worth as much as $25K retail, in the right color and condition. I'm not sure she was thinking of private party sale though.
     
    #9 ggood, Feb 12, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)