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Is Model 4 solar roof worth it?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by jdcowboy, Mar 13, 2012.

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  1. jdcowboy

    jdcowboy New Member

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    I am looking at new 2012 model 4. Solar roof/upgraded GPS option seems expensive for what you get. Is the package worth the extra $3,500? I live in SoCal.
     
    #1 jdcowboy, Mar 13, 2012
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Depends, of course, on what priority you give things. I love mine solar roof and think it's a great idea and worth the big bucks but I also did get a significant discount.

    Since it's a big ticket item, I'm sure a salesman would understand and help you conduct a simple test: have two Pri (ideally the same color) parked together in the sun; one with solar and the other without. NOTE: The solar vent button must be on/pushed in while the car in ready mode and the hvac system on and set to something like 75f before turning off the car and exiting. It will come on approx 10 minutes after closing the door and in full sun you can hear the vent fan running while standing next to the car near the right, passenger front windshield wiper. Come back in an hour or so (lunch) and see if you can tell a difference. :rockon:
     
    #2 fotomoto, Mar 13, 2012
  3. njmurvin

    njmurvin Member

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    My wife wanted the sunroof and it only came with the solar. Would I have ordered it separately? I don't think so. But, since it's there, it's kinda cool. And, I like the contrast of the roof with the blizzard pearl paint.
     
    #3 njmurvin, Mar 13, 2012
  4. B. Roberts

    B. Roberts Hypah Milah! Ayuh.

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    Not really worth the extra money. The cost of a small solar panel and sunroof shouldn't be so darned high. It should also be able to add charge to one of the batteries as well! Something like that could nudge me to think it's worth the cost. But, in this case, my wife picked it out, she likes it and that was that. She's happy with it, so I'm happy.

    It is nice when the sun is heating up the car and you don't have to go through several minutes at boiling after you get in.:)
     
    #4 B. Roberts, Mar 13, 2012
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You also get the Premium HDD navigation system which is a high resolution 7" split-screen capable headunit with DVD playback capability. This allows you to monitor, say the Consumption Screen (that's the spreadsheet-like bar graph) and have your audio screen next to it, or have nav and audio etc etc.

    Another cool item is the Heads-up Display or HUD. It'll project your speed, the HSI (the horizontal bar on the smaller 5" MID that's standard on all Prius. It's the Hybrid System Indicator) as well as navigation instructions when you're under route guidance. (very cool!).

    So as a whole, moonroof, solar panel, harddrive-based nav and HUD, it's a pretty good package for $3,500. Yes, still pricey in the grand scheme of things but it's pretty cool technology.

    If you just want the solar roof and you don't mind getting cloth (and adding aftermarket leather), then you can grab a Three w/ SR and I think that's only $1,500. A Katzkin leather install with heated seats should run you about $1,000 so it's about $1,000 cheaper to go that route.


    For me, I love my SR. I like moonroofs so it's a no brainer and it just happens to come with the solar panel. The luxury of never having to step into a furnace-like interior again is well worth the money (esp. if you have to meet clients and you don't want to be sweating for the first few minutes). The Remote A/C has limited use (because of the limited range of the key fob) but if you're able to activate it from your office room before heading out, you can take full advantage of the SR system.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Mar 13, 2012
  6. jdcowboy

    jdcowboy New Member

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    For me, I love my SR. I like moonroofs so it's a no brainer and it just happens to come with the solar panel. The luxury of never having to step into a furnace-like interior again is well worth the money (esp. if you have to meet clients and you don't want to be sweating for the first few minutes). The Remote A/C has limited use (because of the limited range of the key fob) but if you're able to activate it from your office room before heading out, you can take full advantage of the SR system.[/QUOTE]


    Thanks. I was wondering about the remote A/C. I park right outside my office and could activate it from inside I suppose. Does the remote A/C actually cool the car down rather than just act as a vent and swirl the air around?
     
    #6 jdcowboy, Mar 13, 2012
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Yes but only for 3 minutes and certain conditions have to be met.

    I did as Tideland suggested. I purchased the Three with solar instead knowing that I could add leather whenever I wanted.
     
    #7 F8L, Mar 13, 2012
  8. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    I like sunroofs -- always get them .... That said... the sunroof package on the Prius is way overpriced.

    And you don't get the value back in the resale.

    If you love sunroofs .........and the prius is you only car......... and you are going to keep it for a while.........get it
     
    #8 yeldogt, Mar 13, 2012
  9. Royal5280

    Royal5280 New Member

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    Ditto... picked up a used Prius 3 with Solar, nav and leather installed...

    Buying new, with all the options will get expensive. They do not hold the premium over resale though. In otherwords, I would not expect $3500 more for my car b/c it has solar roof installed when selling used. So, I took advantage of that when purchasing! Best of luck either way you go, you will be happy.
     
    #9 Royal5280, Mar 14, 2012
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes. It turns on the A/C because the compressor is electric and runs off the HV battery instead of the engine like in a regular car.

    The Solar Panel Ventilation System is the one that vents out the hot air and draws in relatively cool outside air.

    There's a 3 min timer on the Remote A/C (or when the battery gets low, whichever is first).

    The SPVS runs even if you unlock the car (As long as you don't start the car or go into IG-ON). The Remote A/C will stop the moment you open the door and you'll have to wait 10 mins again before the SPVS starts up.
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Mar 14, 2012
  11. ArkiePrius

    ArkiePrius Junior Member

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    Cowboy, it is an expensive option, but I have it and I am glad I went ahead and got it . They do kinda hold you over the proverbial barrel on the options packages, but in the end get what you want and enjoy it. I had a chance to make use of the solar roof option yesterday, the temp got up to around 85, I parked with it on, put up the sunshade in my windshield, I have tinting on all the glass, except windshield, and when I came back, car was very comfortable to get into, really makes a difference in my opinion, and that was not using the remote AC.
    One other thing I noticed yesterday on a long drive, was that my back didn't sweat on the Softex seat covers, like it would do with real leather. This was almost a deal breaker for me, my back will really get hot on real leather, but I wanted the car with all the other features it had, so I took it. I love the feel of the softex and am very pleased with it so far.
     
    #11 ArkiePrius, Mar 14, 2012
  12. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    Can you explain about the hard drive based NAV and the DVD play back capability? Does that mean the NAV software can be installed onto the hard drive and then removed, and then that slot can play a dvd media? How do you access the hard drive? I read the manual for premium NAV and can't find anything about the hard drive.

    Thx
     
    #12 amati5, Feb 5, 2015
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The harddrive part is that the navigation system is stored on a built-in hard drive (rather than reading off a DVD like the 2010-2011 versions). The navigation is already pre-installed when you purchase the car. I'm not sure if HDD versions have space for music (some manufacturers offer the remaining space to owners to store music).

    The DVD playback capability means that the disc drive in the car plays Audio CDs (i.e. music), CD MP3 (those that you burned) and DVDs (to watch movies). You simply insert a DVD (movie only, no DVD-A discs) and if you're in Park with the parking brake engaged, the car will switch to "DVD" and start playing the movie.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Feb 5, 2015
  14. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Do you want the look or the functionality of cooling your cabin a little bit?

    I'd say get the 3 with the solar package if you want the cooling effect….. but still it's a pricy package (you are at Persona price range now)..

    If not get whatever trim you think you need and get a vinyl wrap on the roof for $200-$300 (I was quoted $250 installed for 3m gloss black wrap).

    FYI
     
    #14 Blizzard_Persona, Feb 5, 2015
  15. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    I actually haven't got time to play around yet. but i just noticed a different slot for the map, right below the cd slot. I didn't see any reject button for the map slot. I don't even know if there is a dvd map in map slot or not. Thx
     
    #15 amati5, Feb 7, 2015
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The eject button is under Map DVD coverage (on my car, it's under the INFO-PHONE menu).

    If you see a map when you press MAP-VOICE, there's a DVD in there.
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Feb 8, 2015
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  17. PartsNinja

    PartsNinja Junior Member

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    Worth every penny. It came with my used one and I am glad I have it. When it is hot outside, it nice to get into a car that doesn't bake you. In milder temps, I have even sat in the car with the windows rolled up with no need to start the car for the a/c. If you are taller like me, even if you don't open the sunroof, just moving the shade open on the roof makes the car seem less confining.
     
    #17 PartsNinja, Feb 9, 2015
  18. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    Wow, who would have thought under "INFO PHONE". I read the manual (online) and don't remember seeing the instruction of removing the map dvd. Thx
     
    #18 amati5, Feb 9, 2015
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's because it's not in the Owner's Manual; there's a separate Navigation System Manual that covers the navigation system
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Feb 9, 2015
  20. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    I read the manual for the Navigation (online from Toyota) but not sure for which type, or may be I missed it.
    thx
     
    #20 amati5, Feb 9, 2015
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