Prius 4/4T Autopilot vs Tesla?

How about leasing a EV for a couple years until you see what other options come out? The part about Tesla, as much as I love them, is that they seem to have multiple issues which can leave you without a running car. Sure Tesla will fix it for free and give you a rental but unless you are totally all in on that type of experience, it may not be for you. Someone posted a video where someone had a Tesla S for 2 years and was on their 3rd drivetrain (among many, many other issues). The technology is only getting better though and in the next few years, who knows what will be out including a new Prius EV.

 

Not really contributing, but where do you get Teslas serviced? I have seen a few around town here and wondered what they did. We are literally in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure being in CA is completely different, but what do you do?

 

That'd be pretty important criteria. Where I live, a number of Tesla show rooms have popped up plus Tesla has built charging stations along the freeway to encourage people to buy. I looked and there is a pretty close servicing station (closer than my Toyota dealer). Tesla also has towing service and I'm pretty sure they will bring you a rental car if your car is completely out of service.

 

On your S you could always add a hitch, and a



Then you can range as far as you want.

 

And the S has an actual tow rating vs. the Prius' big zero.

 

I tried to find a source but I saw a European site that indicated that the Gen 4 Prius has a 1600 lb towing capacity, but I don't see that on the official specs so not sure where that came from. Although as someone who has never towed anything, it isn't a priority for me.

 

Autopilot is not ready for prime time. Too many obstacles such as bad road markings, rural roads with no markings, dirt or gravel roads, snow which is covering any markings and potholes to name a few.

Get the Prius now and when the Model 3 comes out, reevaluate your needs.

 

Your $1000 investment on a Model 3 also might be worth more in a couple of years to someone anxious to get in line for a delivery.

 

Autopilot won't be generally useful until someone figures out how to power (and afford) embedded RF transmitters to supplement/replace painted lines.

 

I just read a first drive of the Mercedes Benz 2017 300E and it stated the following:

"The Mercedes Drive Pilot system, a semi-autonomous system, can handle highway driving up to 130 miles per hour — and still up to 81 mph when road markers "are unclear or non-existent."

Makes me wonder how quickly software engineers are progressing, or are marketing departments pushing the envelope?

 

I would suspect that Tesla prices will gradually creep down - part of the increasing model range.

But my suspicion is that not just with Prius, but that safety features (BSM, RCTA etc) will be mandated on all cars in the not too distant future.

 

Being an embedded software engineer myself, complex systems with multiple CPUs are very hard to make bug free. Yes virtually all can be safely recovered, but its that critical dormant one that can sneak by FOQ testing...

 

I don't believe the japanese carmakers will introduce the autopilot systems soon. The Japan government and their law system is veeery rigid to the AI driving. The Tesla itself doesn't enable their AI features for cars located in Japan.

 

The Japanese are in there too. Nissan, on 12 March, was reported by BBC News to be working on Driverless cars.

And on October 7 last year, BBC reported "Toyota has become the latest car manufacturer to test a driverless vehicle on a public road. The car, a modified Lexus GS, was tested on Tokyo's Shuto Expressway".