Less Excitement for PiP?

I very deliberately chose to buy the last Gen2 Prius rather than the first Gen 3 Prius, as I wanted to know that Toyota had 5 years to work out bugs.

PiP does not offer me much as I always drive at least 50 miles each way, never to the same location, it is a big win for drivers who sometimes have under 7 mile trips, or can charge at work.

When I am forced to buy a new car, I hope to get a Prius v with all the bells and whistles, perhaps it will be PiP as well by then. A 2029 Prius v with 240 v charging is a future I can dream of. It is possible charging stations will be widespread.

I would think that v, c, and PiP within 6 months makes this a exciting time.

 

it's probably more like the gen I prius build up.

 

I was not particularly excited about the Gen III Prius. Once upon a time I expected to trade mine in for the next major model revision. But the Gen III offered too little that was new, and too small an improvement in efficiency. I think the PiP is a great idea, but with its very short EV range, I would not have considered it. (Both Gen III and PiP are moot for me now that I drive the Roadster: The Prius is rarely used, and mostly for road trips.)

 

That's called effective expectation management. In other words, the underwhelming outcome of Volt following such extreme hype has caused people to wait, rather than allowing anticipation to build upon uncertainty.

Look at all the rhetoric already. PHV is causing quite a stir on the other side, even if you aren't seeing it here.

The excitement will grow later, from real-world data. It will resemble what happened with the Classic model. We're basically starting with a fresh perspective, not knowing what to expect beyond the reputation for reliability.
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Hey, I'm excited to get mine...

 

Low volume rollout
Geographically limited rollout (I cannot get excited until 2013).
Bigger deal for short commuters like me, where liftback has had greatest benefit to high mileage users.

 

I don't recall the PC excitement leading up to late May 2009, because I was deep into the first 2nd gen seat mod project. I had just purchased the used 2006 Prius driver's seat about 60 miles N of here and spent 2 weeks after work fashioning extender braces and having mounts rewelded so it could slide back a couple extra inches.

.... However, the first day the 3rd gen arrived at Piercey, I was down there and test drove the car the first day. Before even sitting in the car, (I finished seat mod 1 day after this) I measured the brake pedal to back of seat distance. Weird, but I was just so focused on that. Was also just drooling over a seat height adjuster in a Prius.... first time ever in the US. On that test drive I really enjoyed the much greater seat (to me), but I did soon notice the wheel telescope didn't quite match the newfound legroom ... it's 'just enough' for it all to work and just enough is enough.

 

Just wanted to say .... wait until the 4th gen liftback is introduced (hopefully) in just over 3 years ... wow, that should be huge. I'm thinking (hoping) that Prius should really start to 'gel'. But you never really know. We'll have pics of it 5 months prior most likely.


btw, I was talking to a 73 y/o gentlemen whose daughters went to my HS (oh couple year ago .... was sitting in my 3rd gen. Never met him before. ...

He started asking questions as the engine chimed on (was powered on, in park) ... is that kind of an electric car? Don't you have to plug it in?

He seemed fairly intrigued by it and listened to my descriptions of it. Nice man.

 

Now, we won't be saying "No, I don't HAVE to plug it in", we will be saying "No, I WANT to plug it in!"

 

When I got my 2004 Prius people asked "Do you have to plug it in?" When I got my electric Zap Xebra people asked "Does it have an engine?" Now, with the Tesla, people just say "Wow!" And when the Model S comes out, people are going to be speechless. (I'm not on the list for an S because I just don't need it.)

 

"Less Excitement for PiP?" No

 

..........$40,000.00 is A LOT of $$......

nuff said!

 

EDIT ALERT....
Let me excuse myself for being a bit of a wet-blanket about this....
....Right now ....I'm "glass-half-empty" only because my finances won't really allow for such a large purchase.
AND...I still have my '05 thats 100% still going strong and serves me well.
I faithfully LOVE prius technology and would be ALL-OVER A pip if my financial stars were in alignment....but the times being what they are for a big segment of us right now......it just ain't happening!

yes...$29.5k is FAR BELOW $40,000.00.....
are you a salesman?
you're saying you leave your dealership only paying $29,500?

My real-world price quote was closer to $40,000 for the base model.
$32,000 base price plus the dealer mark-up ($$) plus Doc fees, registration, excise tax, fees,etc...etc...Which brings the total cost (at closing of the deal) just shy of $40,000.00!

yes....you GET $2500 tax credit a year later!

 

There's your problem right there

 

I drive 90 miles a day roundtrip on one of the most congested freeways in America, and in a few months, I'll be able to make 90% of that drive in the commuter lane.

I can single-handedly convey enough excitement for the PiP. If only I knew the build date!