Hello PriusChat community. First post here. :rockon: I was considering purchasing a new (or used) Toyota Prius for a few reasons. One of those reasons is to eventually do a plug-in conversion. I would be looking at a low end Prius, either the I or II... maybe (but very slim chance) the III. If i am not mistaken, Toyota Motor Sales (lower 48 states) only offers Prius I for fleet sales but Servco Toyota here in Hawaii (a completely seperate distributorship) does offer the Prius I to the public. One of the key differences with the I and II+ is the lack of EV mode. So my question is, would it be wise for me to purchase the Prius I considering in the future there may be a very good chance i will doing a plug-in conversion? Or do the conversion kits already address this issue? Thanks
I have never seen a Prius I so I don't know what the differences are. For me (non-plug in Prius) the EV mode is a useless, you can get the car to run on the battery in one of the other modes by using the HSI indicator and it will do a better job than EV Mode and exceed 25 MPH (max speed in EV). When you push the EV button a lot of times it won't go in to EV mode anyway, battery to far down, engine cold, etc. Where I live, and not having a plug-in, I usually find myself trying to avoid battery use because the engine is more efficient in most circumstances. I did see one of the First Engineer PHEV conversions and talked to Dan but I don't remember anything being said about the limitations of EV mode. Here is a thread, if you PM Dan I'm sure he could answer at least some of your questions. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ic-vehicle-installation-in-portland-area.html
You lose cruise control, smart key, a couple of speakers, and a bunch of other stuff. Stick with the II 2010 Toyota Prius I Equipment Level: Not Available Any Time Soon - All About Prius Note toyota isn't going to make a kit available, so you will need to get an aftermarket kit and it will void the warenty. You may want to get a gen II used since more is known about those kits, or wait until the plug-in prius is ready for the public in estimated 2011.
Thanks for the reply's Features the Prius I lacks: -EV mode -Touch tracer display -Cruise -Smart Key -Rear wiper -Rear tonneau cover -Intermittent wipers -Heated outside mirrors -Power door lock switch only on driver side door -Rear heater duct -Rear fold down arm rest -Fold-forward headrests on rear seats Most of those features are things i don't really need. The only thing that concerns me is the lack of EV mode... but as TumbleWeed mentions, it is almost useless. But my main concern was "upgradability" to a plug-in conversion in the future. If i do not have EV Mode, will i not be able to upgrade in the future? I won't be purchasing immediately... so i'll definitely be keeping my eyes open on the Plug-In Prius, but i don't think i can wait too long into 2011 as that is too far away.
So how much do you actually save buying a I over a II? Edmunds.com thinks the price in Hawaii is basically list price, where we are paying basically invoice price on the East coast. Here are the prices they give for a base II with no options: Edmunds "TMV" price for 96801 zip code: $23476 MSRP: $23550 invoice: $22182 (all including destination charges, but not tax and tags) How much is a I?
The savings would be $1000. MSRP here in Hawaii for a Prius II is $22,400 + $750 destination and Prius I is $21,400 + $750 destination (both $400 less than Toyota Motor Sales, USA)... plus there is currently a $500 discount on all Prius'. However not much more discount is possible as Servco Toyota has a monopoly in Hawaii.
Interesting. Seems like a lot to lose for a 4% cost difference, but it does lower the cost of entry which is always a good thing!
I have a II, and I wouldn't want to give up the above for any amount of cash savings. It's like getting cheese on your burger. Pay the extra and enjoy it.
A base used Prius G2 sounds to me like a better starting point. With PHEV it will cost less than a G3 Prius alone, package I or otherwise.
The Prius II sounds a much better buy to me and I would expect it to have significantly better resale value In Hawaii I would want -Cruise -Smart Key -Rear wiper -Rear tonneau cover (security) -Intermittent wipers -Power door lock switches -Rear fold down arm rest (Rear cup holders) -Fold-forward headrests on rear seats (Big visibility improvement) If I was considering a future plug in conversion, I would also want: -EV mode For anywhere it gets cold, I would also want: -Heated outside mirrors -Rear heater duct I have not found much value in: -Touch tracer display
Touch Tracer is more for safety/coolness factor. It so you can highlight those buttons on the steering wheel instead of looking down it will show you up on the screen. Once you memorize the buttons its more just for the coolness factor.
i agree with you... but i would rarely (if ever) use those features. Heater and heated mirrors are useless here. Touch tracer is a gimmick if you ask me. Almost impossible to use cruise control in Hawaiis traffic. Rear wiper, never use it. Rear tonneau cover, i will have tint. So IMHO it has very little to no value to me. the only thing i reaaly want is the JBL stereo, but i would rather upgrade with aftermarket rather than folk over the additional $2000 from a Prius I.
OK, but when they build the bridge from Hawaii to the mainland, and only Prius owners can make it on a tank of gas, you will be wishing you had cruise control then. Just kidding, I hope you enjoy your car like the rest of us do.
