Hesitating between new Gen4 and used Gen3

We made a similar decision about 18 months ago. Our decision was both based on price and feature differences. We ended up buying a new 2015 for $19K rather than a Gen IV which would have been over $25K. Price was a very big decision factor of course, but I had already been looking outside the Toyota line for an alternative. At that time we had a 2008 Prius with 173K miles which had been repair free.

There were just things about the Gen IV that I didn't like. External looks are not very important to me but I have to say that the more I see Gen IV cars around town the less I like the looks. But the white accents in the interior were huge turn-offs for me. Less cargo space was also a very big decision factor. And some Gen IV models do not have a spare tire.

My wife loves to go to a local lake/beach. She transports two Inflatable Stand Up Paddle (iSUP) boards, a child's kayak, a cooler, bag with towels and lunch, two folding chairs, a beach tent, and a small compressor for the SUPs. All of it fits in the trunk of the Gen III, and it has a spare tire.

 

2012's are super-reliable, and will last forever.
An extra inch of clearance is great. I scrape my 2012 at the base of my driveway if I'm not very careful. I'd hate to have an inch less.
$10,000 that you'll save by buying used buys a LOT of ANTHING you love. You'll NEVER make that up in the slight bump in gas mileage buying new, because savings are on a percentage basis. I dn't know newer mpg number, but to use workable numbers: if you were to get 5 extra mpg buying new, compared to the used which gets 45 or even 50 mpg, then you're saving about 10% on gas. So, you save like $80 or MAYBE $130 per year. You'll never make up your $10,000 additional expenditure on that new car with those types of savings. As i said, Prius' are super reliable. if I had to do it again, I would ABSOLUTIELY buy a 2012-2013 (or maybe a 2014), used, private party sale. Killer deal and will save you a ton of money in gas, repairs, etc.

 

I'm not sure, this postulate that God only blessed 2012 onwards, sheesh... Our 2010 didn't get the memo, so far. Knock on wood...

 

I recommend 2012's over 2010's because they're old enough to be in the sweet spot for being cheaper to own per year (depreciation has already leveled out by then - I.e. anything 4 years old or older are in that position), but the floor mat issue has already been taken care of, plus I think the 2010's have some mechanical repair issue, I can never remember it, that is more likely to be a problem, but was updated in 2012. 2010's are great, but 2012's and onward are a knotch better and no more expensive to own (per year). And still will last forever.!

If I had a 2010, I wouldn't sell it, but if buying, I'd go 2012 and up. But not 2015 - too much mark up for being so recently built!

 

Maybe different intake manifold from 2012 onward?

 

how much is a gen 4, package 2? have you tried negotiating yet?

 

Wow, I always thought dealer advertising on the back of a car was tacky -- never seen it on the FRONT before!! Any deal you make should include either removal or get them to pay you annually for being a mobile billboard for Chasse Toyota!!

 

Yes, I think that's it. (...um..?)

So my sister has a 2010. Have all figured out definitively if she would want to clean that /etc / other for preventive maintenance?

 

have them add an R to it.

 

Do you have a front plate in La Belle Provence, that'd cover it. Maybe. But yeah, get it off, and before you sign the dotted line if possible.

 

congrats, all the best!

 

this is all you need to say to people when they just really want to buy a 16 or 17 prius. just look at the gas saved a yea/r section of the paper on rear passenger door and thats enough information to decide to buy a ca/r 2012 because the depreciation has plateu'd

 

$11k is a bit much for 2012. That’s dealer price.
Back in 2018, Toyota of Irving Tx offered me their 2012 Prius II 96k miles for $7k.

It’s a year later but has fewer miles. So, $6-7k is fair.

 

Test drive a Gen 3 and then a Gen 4. There won't be any question regarding which one you want. The Gen 4 is light years ahead of the Gen 3. The Gen 4 has an independent rear suspension and the Gen 3 has an ancient twist beam solid rear axle. Drive 'em and see. The Gen 4 is way mo' better for ride and handling. Gen 4!

(However, my 2011 Gen 3 has 218,000 miles and going strong. I've been saving for quite a while for that Gen 4)