Why are you keeping your 4th gen Prime?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Andy2, Apr 6, 2023.

  1. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Sounds like a wise financial decision, unless the used market remains crazy.

    I honestly still like the outgoing Prime, and if I had a 2020+ model (with 5 seats and CarPlay at top of the list) I would not be considering upgrading either (and would still consider buying a used one at a decent used price, if the market wasn’t what it is…).

    In my situation, my PiP is now 9 years old with 213K KM and well off battery warranty, and would prefer to upgrade before something expensive goes (as unlikely as it is), and I feel I have earned it now since I originally bought this car used when my last one gave out as “temporary” car since the Prime was not available yet…. 7 years ago, LOL. But then life and other financial priorities got in the way so that was delayed. o_O

    In any case, as far as size, I am 6’2” with what I figure is an average torso:legs ratio (?), and I felt like I fit fine in the 2023 Prius (not Prime, but should be same?) in the front seat when I sat in one at a car show a couple months ago, since the seat does go pretty low. The back was a bit dicey; I could fit, but headliner was very close, and was best to slouch a bit… but I am not sitting back there anyway. ;)

    I figure at 6’4” you will probably fit as well, but will certainly be tighter, and you should probably try to find someone in your area who has one to do a sit test, if you decide to entertain going ahead with an upgrade…. Otherwise you are looking for a unicorn RAV4 Prime.(y)

    Cheers.
     
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  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Not on Toyota, but there are still bargains to be found. I traded my 21 PP for a 22 Ford Escape PHEV with no money out of my pocket. Escape PHEV was ~$12K off MSRP after tax credit and local incentive.

    The OP's question is about the reason for keeping Gen4PP. It did not ask for buying Gen5PP. For me, selling Gen4PP and getting a bigger PHEV with no money out of pocket made financial sense. But I do miss 65mpg I was getting on my PP.
     
  3. captqc

    captqc Member

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    I’m the same, 6’3” with only a 30” inseam, haven’t seen a 23 in person yet but I’m not sure I’d fit based on the information I’ve read so far. Also, I have to keep my 22 for two years or the state will take back part of my rebate.
     
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  4. DukeofPrime

    DukeofPrime Member

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    I doubt a Rav4 is in my future. Last time I sat in one, I didn't fit. Well, sure I could fit in the driver's seat, but the front roof line kind of has a lip that impeded my forward vision... just like the side "lip" over the door makes getting in and out more difficult... something the Prius doesn't have. In fact, I never intended to buy a Prius, but after not fitting in the Corolla and Rav4, the sales guy said "try a Prius". I was amazed that it both had ample headroom and a large door opening. Took me a while to warm up to the idea, but when I discovered the rebates and discounts being offered in some states, the Prime got a lot more desirable.
     
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  5. DukeofPrime

    DukeofPrime Member

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    There were decent deals on the Ford Escape PHEV when I was shopping for my Prius, but I didn't need the extra space. I was actually looking for the smallest, cheapest car I comfortably fit in and was really trying to avoid an SUV (tend to be more expensive and worse gas mileage) - but in your case, 1 car is almost always cheaper than 2.
     
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  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I have had Escape PHEV as our only car in our two drivers' household for 5 months now. Yeah, I still have not done a comparison to having two cars. But I am sure I have saved a lot already. If the PP was a bit larger, then I could have just kept it and gotten rid of just Pathfinder Hybrid SUV which was a fantastic car for long trips with 4 full grown adults and luggage. I just could not see 4 adults plus luggage fitting comfortably in the PP for a 6+ hour trip. Maybe the rooftop carrier might be the answer. But with the fantastic trade-in price on the 21 PP, I had to take the deal. Besides, if I did not get Escape PHEV last year, I would have paid ~$7K extra tax to Uncle Sam last year.
     
  7. Craig59

    Craig59 Junior Member

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    I bought a 2018 Prius Prime last year as a second vehicle. My garage has a level 2 charger and on average I'm fully charged in an hour. Most of my driving is around the city so I rarely need any gas. In the warm weather I'm getting 58 km on a full charge with the Bridgestone Ecopia tires. I have a 2023 Prius Prime XSE Premium on order and the dealer said that might be here by 21 May. I'm keeping my 2018 Prius Prime and selling or trading a 2019 Honda CRV Touring with 56,000 km. I firmly believe that PHEVs is the way to go.
     
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  8. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    That’s interesting… I never realized the (<= 2022) Prius had more (?) headroom than the RAV4, but I just checked the specs and you are right, at least barely for the front seating. However, the rear seats in the RAV4 have more headroom than the front, while it is the opposite in the Prius (as would be expected). Interesting.
     
  9. gene

    gene Member

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    This was one reason I went with the PP over the RAV4 Prime--I could not get into the front passenger seat without contortions and/or hitting my head. The insane price/discounts on the 2021 Prime was also a contributor, but the front head room was big.
     
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  10. E-GINO

    E-GINO Active Member

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    In her lies the true Prius spirit... do you know what Prius means in Latin? "First".
    Well, my favorit Latin sentence is "Parva, sed apta mihi"... small, frugal, but sufficient for my needs. Furthermore, I do not know any other car that left parked under sunlight, slowly replenish the "electric tank".
     
  11. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

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    2018 Prime with only about 20k miles. Planning on keeping it about 2 more years then want to take a very serious look at the new Prius Prime. Basically waiting the 2 years in the hope that the supply chain issues will clear up and I don't need to pay a $1k dealer markup just to get the vehicle.

    Will probably also jump into a dealer waiting list (i.e. Longo Toyota) to avoid the markup. Probably a 1+ year wait before I get a chance at something, though.
     
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  12. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    I have been reading about the 2023 Prime and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and considering them as my next upgrade. Might be a year or two and by then there may be better choices. I liked the idea that the new PP gets 39 EV miles on a charge, but just read an Edmunds test comparison of the new Kia Niro and the 23 PP. Seems that the Kia is rated at 33 miles EV and it got that, but the PP also got only 33 miles.
    Anyway, my Prime only has 25K miles, so I am in no hurry to upgrade.