As my research continues, I have noticed that on Toyota's online "Build Your Toyota" tool that a Prius V is apparently not available without Nav (the radio button is selected automatically). You can choose ATP+Nav with another radio button, but there is no "Base" choice. This is odd, since they say the V starts at $28,070, but the real price is $31,150 with the Nav they force you to take. Seems like false advertising. Does anyone have a V without Nav? Can it be special ordered?
I would suggest that you try to 'build' a car from their website, using a zipe code from another part of the country. Other posts here have indicated that the Toyota.com website will require your zip code to build and price a car for you. If you use the Zip code for Chicago (60605), you will see that you can build it with Navi. It is priced at $28,820 here in Chicago. If your region does not make it available as you want, another region may be able to assist you. However, that will cost you something (and likely not be able to negotiate as much) so that it may end up costing you more in the long run. I have a V with Navi (not the Tech Package) and love it. I would not want this car without it built in, and think it could only help your resale value as well.)
The NAVI is nice for 2 reasons for me: 1. Rearview camera...yes, the Prius is small, but i also have two toddlers running around. And it does help with parking too. 2. Phonebook download via bluetooth. This is a BIGGIE for me since i'm on the road a lot. Speed dial is easy with it. The navigation system itself is OK. But, the above two reasons are far more important to me.
Depending on your region, your dealer may not be able to preference it. Similarly, the V with no ATP can't be preferenced in Southern California and must be acquired through non-traditional means such as at the port en route to other regions or from other dealers.
You are going to have to look for a car outside of the New York Region. Try PA, MD or DE. If you build & price a car at www.aaa.com using zip code 08077 the cheapest price is a dealer in MD. Hope this helps you to get the car you want. Tonight their price for a base V is $26583 from a dealer 103.1 miles away.
I have a V without Nav. Was a requirement for my purchase last May (09). I lucked out as an unassigned Red V without Nav and no port option scheduled was on the boat. My dealer was able to trade for it. Personally I did not want or need the $1800 option - I have a great Garmin, Bluetooth works great, and installed a nice rearview camera system. But in hindsight would I have liked the Nav? You bet. I didn't want to cheap out, but felt the $1800 +++ was a bit of gouging. No doubt the non-Nav V is rare as Toyota would prefer to sell these units loaded.
I too thought that the $1800 price tag was too high for the Nav. But, when I found the III that I wanted with the color that I wanted along with the other options, it came with the Nav. Now that I have the Nav, I am really glad that I bought it. I agree with Thai's two main reasons along with the built-in functionality. No external mounted hardware, no exposed cables, etc. The GPS is not perfect but I have had no problem with it at all once I had all of the presets like I wanted them.
I have a iv with nav and sunroof, and the nav is one of the best things about the car. I can't imagine driving without it now. It's well worth the money to have a big built in screen with no suction cups, wires, etc. You have to amortize all the costs of these options over the 15 years the car will last. So the $1800 nav costs $120 a year. Big deal.
Although, it is $1800 more, with today's economy and Toyota's transient falling reputation, you can haggle away at the dealer to get a lower price if the only vehicle on the lot comes with NAVI.
Good to keep in mind. Although in six months, when I am ready to buy, who knows? Is the ATP worth it? If you had to do it again, would you get it? Which gadget do you use most? Can they be turned off, individually?
I love ATP!! Yes, you can turn on/off each feature. I drive to work 35 miles each way, mostly highway. Therefore, i need good headlights...thus, level V. Like you, i was debating ATP or not. Since i drive a fairly long way and on the highway...and sometimes in the middle of the night, i bought ATP as an additional safety measure...to keep an eye out for me, even when i am not! As soon as i enter the freeway, i turn ON my radar cruise and lane keep assist. For me (i am a neophyte at hybrids), the radar cruise is more efficient at driving than me on the highways. As you know, it keeps preset distances from the car in front (you can adjust the distance via 3 selections). In addition, it will prep you if there is a collision...and will help you brake IF it sees that you're still blind as a bat. So, right there, ATP is worth it for me. LKA is helpful to keep you in the middle of the lane and to beep when you're approaching the limits. LKA is good, but if Toyota left it out, i would not have minded much. As for the IPA (park assist), i like the back-in feature. It does do an excellent job...better than me for the most part. Parallel parking is a major weakness for me and this IPA does do it...but, living in big Texas, parallel parking is hardly needed for most places. So, for me, what sold me on ATP is the radar cruise and its collision mitigating feature.
This is all great info. Thanks. You have me thinking about going all the way now with a loaded V! Is the V ride THAT much harsher than the other levels?
At the dealership where I bought mine, they had 3 V's, only 1 of them had Nav. I was making small talk about it and the salesman said they order 'em that way "because most people don't like 'em and find them too dificult to use". :::facepalm:::
NAV is not a big deal if you've never had it, but a huge deal once you do. If I could design the perfect 2010 package it'd be the V with nav but without the 17" alloy wheels. I'll slap on my own 18" rims thank you very much.
Three negatives with the 17": 1. Harsher ride 2. Increase road noise 3. Decrease in fuel economy 1-2 mpg (according to general opinion around here) My brother has 2010 Prius IV with the 15" rims. I have not ridden in it to give you a good comparison. Given the general state of going from 15 to 17" rims, i am sure that the 15" will provide softer ride and possibly a tiny bit quieter. The fuel economy decrease is probably the biggest negative for a Prius owner. Since i have not been a "greenie" before last month, i am very happy with getting EPA numbers (51 mpg city / 48 mpg hwy). My brother is getting 1-2 mpgs better with his Prius IV. (My brother is also more experienced than me at driving a hybrid...so, take these numbers with a grain of salt.) The positive with the 17" rims is that the handling and steering is significantly better (again, per folks around here). And, IMHO, the 17" rims look better than the 15" rims. I just don't get the wheel cover on top of 15" alloy rims.... So, for me, despite the "negatives" listed above, i am very happy with the 17" rims...and getting EPA numbers ain't too bad.
They're hot commodities and you may make a profit selling them, or at least pay for the price differences.
