Buying a Prime - need some input

We own two Priuses. In both cases we bought new. Both times as we reached the end of the warranty period, we had to make a decision. With our vehicles, neither of them seemed to be the proverbial factory lemon. We still drive them and we love them. But you will never know if that new car is going to be a lemon. It is a risk. I would feel safer, if it turned to be a lemon but was still covered by a warranty.

 

I don't know exactly what has changed on 2022 models from 2021, but I have owned 2017 PP Premium, 2020 PP LE, and now 2021 PP Ltd. Your 2018 PP Premium is very close to my 2017PP Premium and assuming nothing has changed on 2022 models, there are some differences between 2018 to 2022. Do you ever need 5 seats? 2018 is a 4 seater. Do you ever need to use CarPlay? 2018 does not have that option. Do you need more sophisticated lane-keeping assistance? 2018 with TSS-P has a very rudimentary lane departure warning but not much assist. Do you need a sun visor extender? 2018 does not have it. There are few other differences between model years, but overall, 2022 is going to be more improved over 2018.

Since the oldest PP on the road is only 4-5 years old, we don't know the longevity of the model, but I have not heard or read about huge complaints about any year's model of PP so far. That being said, 2018 PP is going to last less than 2022 PP. The battery may be slightly degraded, so you may end up not being able to drive a full EV range the new PP offers. In my local with a huge Toyota rebate, it made absolutely no sense to buy a used PP, but at your location, that may be the only way to find one. One thing you may want to watch for if you are buying a used PP is where the car was driven for the last 3 winters. Chances are, it came from somewhere north. If it was driven in a snow belt last three years, then you will have some rust already developing on the underbody and around the suspension. If it came from CA or somewhere south, then you have less worry at least for the rust.

 

Don't forget the $4502 federal tax credit for a new Prius Prime, and possibly other credits/incentives based on your state (provided you have at least that much of a tax liability). That erases the $7-$8K "saving" to only a couple of $k... worth thinking about a brand new car with full warranty vs 4 yr old car w/o warranty and ? condition. Yes/no?

 

But...that federal tax credit is not refundable. If one's federal income tax is that much or more, great. If the total income tax paid that year is less than $4502, then only the tax amount is credited. That's not bad, but it might not be the full amount.

Wannabuy, what is the estimated delivery date they're telling you? Any guess how reliable that estimated date is?

I just read about a new wrinkle in the supply chain. China has serious electricity shortages now. It may be just the very high current price of coal, whatever, but some factories are being slowed down. I don't know what components from China are in the Prime, but it would be a surprise of there were none.

 

You'll be OK with any year PP you decide on. Here are differences between years -

ENGINE OIL FILTER: early 2017s cartridge, later 2017-current spin on

ENGINE OIL: 2017-19 0W20, 2020-current 0W16

AVGMPG DISPLAY: 2017s maxed at 199.9, 2018-current max at 999.9

TRIMS/GRADES: 2017-19 Plus, Premium, Advanced. 2020-current LE, XLE, Limited

SAFETY: 2017-20 Toyota Safety Sense-P. 2021-current Toyota Safety Sense 2.0

SEATING: 2017-19 4 seats, 2020-current 5 seats

SUN VISORS: 2017-19 no extensions, 2020-current sun visor extenders added

SEAT HEATER SWITCHES: under center console, 2020-current relocated by center cup holders

ENTERTAINMENT: 2020 Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and two rear USB ports added to standard features list, 2021-current Android Auto only on LE trim. Note: Amazon Alexa can be added on all PPs with software upgrade.

PAINT COLORS: New for 2020, Supersonic Red replaced Hypersonic Red and Midnight Black Metallic added. New for 2021, Wind Chill Pearl replaced Blizzard Pearl White.

INTERIOR COLOR: 2017-19 black/white, 2020-current black or grey/white

HYBRID BATTERY WARRANTY: 2017-19 8 years/100k miles. 2020-current 10 years/150k miles

DRIVER’S SIDE SWITCHES: 2017 all illuminated with icons. 2018-20 all illuminated with dashes. 2021-current only side window adjustment and driver's window illuminated.

DRIVER POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH: 2017 chrome accents. 2018-current no chrome accents

OUTSIDE A AND B PILLAR TRIM: The base of the A pillar and the B pillar were piano black finishes on 2017-2020 models. 2021 swapped them to matte black.

STORAGE: 2021 added zippered storage slot behind driver’s seat

GVWR: 2017-19 4080 pounds. 2020-current 4255 pounds

INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES: 2017-19 black. 2020-current color matches vehicle color.

 

For longevity, our 2017 Prime Advanced has 203k miles, no issues.

How has lane keeping assist changed? On our car, it beeps, but doesn't correct the motion of the car (from what I can tell).

 

The 2017 model came with TSS1.0 (aka TSS-P) and it did not have LKA, it only had Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assis. The Steering Assist only gave a slight nudge when the car is too close to the edge of the lane, but nothing more. It was not meant to be used to actively keep the car in the lane. Came in the 2021 model with TSS2.0, in addition to LDA with Steering Assist, it is now equipped with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) to keep the car in the lane when used with DRCC.

 

May I ask average mile per charge you get now after 200k miles?

 

If I could trade, I would take the LDA instead of LTA. I turn off the LTA completely since I bought my 2021 xle. I wish Toyota made the LDA standard available to all trims

 

Ha? 2021 also comes with the LDA standard. It is included features within the LTA. My understanding is LTA's lane tracing functions only with DRCC. If you don't have DRCC on, LDA and steering assist still work to warn you if the car departs from its lane or course. That being said, I don't think there are separate on/off switches for LTA and LDA functions. On your steering wheel, if you turn the LTA off, then the LDA function is also off.

Edit: I checked the manual and realized that you can turn off the LTA function on and off from the setting. This is separate from the steering wheel switch. See below for the Setting table. I think when you specifically turn off the LTA steering assist function and/or LTA lance centering function, you can keep the LDA function keep working without those features. So, in effect, TSS2.0 LTA will work much like TSS1.0 LDA with steering assist only.

I never used LDA or LTA on regular driving conditions. The only time I used them are the long stretch (over 5 hours) of interstate highway drives. The roads I usually drive are not marked clearly enough for either previous LDA or newer LTA to function effectively.

 

My Bad, I thought LDA is the Blindspot alert. What I meant is the Blindspot that is only available with the Limited

 

Aha. Yes, Toyota somehow did not include the BSM into the TSS but kept it as a separate option feature. However, IIRC, regular Prius (non-Prime) all come with BSM even on the LE model but not on the lower L Eco model.

 

Took me 3 months to find out my 21 Prime XLE does not have turn signal markers on the side mirrors, uggg.
Im upset about that, but oh well.
Had them on the 15 Persona

 

No Prime ever had them. I did not know there was an OEM Prius model with it. Does any of the upper trims of regular Gen4 Prius have OEM turn signal markers on the side mirrors? There are after-market kits from Japan you can install. Not cheap but probably cheaper than OEM version if it exists.

 

Yeah I just got used to them on my "c" and and the 2015 Prius Persona.

I figured all the Gen 4 had them standard by now...but I was wrong for thinking that.
I do not see them listed for the 2022 Prime, but I had thought the 2021 Limited had them.
(since we were choosing between XLE and Limited)

One thing I overlooked, but again not a big deal nor deal breaker.
I wouldn't invest in aftermarket for them.....would be sweet tho.

The chrome piece on them also somewhat helped with the thought.

I wonder if the 'blacked out version" Prius has them

 

Just checked it, but it does not say anything about the side mirror-mounted turn signal. But I found out Limited trim has Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS) with auto-leveling headlights. Cool!

 

We are getting anywhere from 25 to 30 miles.