2015 Four or 2014 Five?

I don't think everyone has gotten into an accident.

As a father, I've spent a small fortune on raising my kids, giving them one of the safest cars to drive in their vulnerable years is the best thing I can do for them.

 

There may actually be a few out there in 16-20 age group that have not, but statistics and insurance rate say it's a very small number...and as the OP stated "kids"...as in multiple...the odds are against him by a landslide.

 

I have the trim five liftback. Never drove one with the 15 inch wheels so can't really comment on that, but I do like the LED lights and heated seats were a nice way to save on gas when it wasn't extremely cold outside, like 30-40 degrees.

Like others mentioned the fog lights are terrible, and I don't know why Toyota only puts it on the highest trims, unless it's because they're so bad they hope no one notices it lol.

I don't have the sunroof on mine either, but having seen them for a while now on other cars, I can't say I'd absolutely need them either. My brother once told me that no sunroof means one less thing to break down on a car. Now I know what he means by that.

Money probably isn't a huge concern for you, but for others reading this and facing a similar choice, one thing to note is 17 inch wheels/tires cost more than 15 inch ones. That might be a deciding factor, especially if you have to get winter tires and put them on their own set of wheels.

 

Personally - since the Five you are looking at doesn't have the Advanced Technology Package, I would choose the 2015 Four, and I'm not just validating my own choice (ok, maybe a little) .

I'm very happy with my 2015 Four. No sunroof, 6.1" Entune w/JBL, power heated Softex seats, 15" wheels. See mileage below. I live in pothole and snow country so I was wary of running with the low profile 17" tires.

To me, the Five is mostly beneficial if one wants to order the Advanced Technology Package - I think radar cruise control and pre-collision braking are excellent options, and I expect them to be available for much less extra $ in the 4th Gen.

 

Those are the options that makes the Five so great. Everything else is just meh..

 

Have the 17" OEM rims, but when getting snow tires I used 15" Corolla steel rims.

 

Does the 2014 Model Five have the ATP option? If so, that should strongly bias you in that direction. The main feature of the ATP package is the DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruse Control - AKA "Adaptive Cruse Control"). I really LOVE that feature.

 

...and what about self parking .

 

No longer available on the USA Prius From 2012-2015.

 

Smart move.

 

I just traded up my 2010 level 3 with about 60k miles on it for a 2013 level 4 with 15k miles The 2013 has the sunroof and heads up display

The 2013 cost me $19,500 out the door they gave me $13,500 for my trade in
The original inception date on the 2013 was 02/17/2014 which is kind of nice

 

congrats to you both!

 

All kids should start out with a USED Honda civic - cheap and reliable. Both myself and my husband had Used Honda civics for our first few cars. Paid cash for my first civic at age 17 (used treasury bonds that my grandmother had gotten for me over the years. I paid my own car insurance and had my own policy. in college my parents paid gas and maintenance) that civic i eventually sold to my husband and he continued to drive it - it was 17 years old and 200+ miles when it finally died, and never had any major issues other than cat needing replacement) and at age 24 I bought a used Honda civic which just finally died last week (I'm age 33 now).

Honda civics are also easy to maintain, cheap parts, and the boys can learn how to do some maintenance on their own. Just my .02. Your family, your money, do what you want

 

you sold a car to your husband? damn, my wife would just take mine for free

 

Probably wasn't married yet.

 

a

he was my boyfriend at the time so I made him pay for it. HAHAHAHAHA. sorry I should have been clear.

BUT it gets better, I sold it to him for only $1,500. he drove it for several years after that, and was able to re-sell it for $1,500 to some poor soul...... hahahaha!

 

I agree 100% with the advice regarding the Civic first car advice above!!! Worked for my wife and I, then our son...

 

I plan to sell my wife and then give her Prius to my daughter.