Is it better to wait a few years before getting the PHV?

Thanks John1701a for the info!
I assumed that this ordering system means that we will pay MSRP and the dealer is not allowed to add "Add-Ons"?
Wow, 1900 miles?. I can not even imagine putting so many miles on a car that is not broken in yet in a couple of days. I am trying to learn as much as possible since I have not even had a ride or a test drive in a hybrid vehicle yet.

I was looking forward to a 2012 Lexus ES 300h when the plug-in registration opened. Now, I want a plug-in, my work is 6.1 miles from home. I can see myself come home after work, plug it in again, have dinner and shower and go out again in the evening, mostly on electric.

 

That one is still up to debate....
I expect them to be like gold in California with the new HOV green sticker...
I will see how the ordering system goes...

 

I'd say go for it when they're released, but be aware that if the car develops ANY faults or problems your wife will blame you! lol

 

It has a warranty and it's by Toyota, with (not arguably, simply with) the most experience in this area. It will be fine. I imagine it will have some kinks, but they will probably be mild.

 

There is always going to be a better PHV coming out, like smartphones. Take a look at what Toyota was testing in 2007.

 

Yup.
I don't have a dog in this race (they're going to be priced out of my depth band) but I hope the wiz-kids in Aichi know what they're doing.
FOMOCO super-hyped a car once upon a time. They spent a ton of R&D money, and bragged about how the Edsel was going to be revolutionary.
One PVH's trickle down to common folks like me, I think it will be a good thing....so C'mon Toyota!!!

Start trickling!!!!

 

A few things concern me with the current offering:

* Lack of temp. spare tire
* Extra 300~400 lbs weight
* So-so EV range
* First version

Just speculating: the next version might figure out a way to reinstate the spare, lower the battery weight, increase the range. For sure it will address a few bugs.

 

Unfortunately temp. spares are going the way of the full size spare, evidenced by the lack of a spare in vehicles like the Caddy SRX, the overhyped Elantra & Cruze. Cost, weight savings, interior packaging being the driving factors. What really amazes me is that these vehicles don't even have runflat tires like AWD Siennas. You get a can of fix-a-flat & a prayer!

 

Off topic a little, but you get a spare with the Cruze, it just doesn't come with the ECO model equipped with the manual transmission (for the EPA rating I'm sure!) All other trim levels have them...and unlike some autos....you can get the spare and install it if you so desire. Probably not a big deal for some folks in the city, or who have AAA. My only problem with the PHV is that there's no place to bolt a spare, which is a little odd, since even the Enginer (R) kits allow for you to be able to retain your spare tire.
Buuuut...that's Toyota for you.
<Blink-Blink-Blink!>
Turn signal on.
Getting back into the right lane.

EDIT: Somebody a few posts later than this one makes a good point. It's possible that when the the car rolls out for real---it just might have a spare tire.
If this turns out to be true, somebody get back to me about it please, so that I may make sincere and humble apologies for my apostasy! -ETC(SS)

 

I'd be surprised if run flat's are also LRR. But I would be happy to be surprised.
Do they provide multiple prayers for different religions? What are the prayers?

 

The Prius PHV prototypes don't have the spare tire. Let's wait and see if the production model before jumping into conclusion.

 

Hail Mary, mother of slime....

Something like that?

They could just do like Ford and offer 5 years of roadside.

 

It's a tradeoff between cargo space and battery size, among a million other things (such as weight, cost, shared parts with the non-PHV, etc.). It looks like you keep the spare with the Enginer kit, but you have to pull out a few screws and lift that massive battery to get to it!

I feel like these days, a spare tire is a lot less important (in many areas of the country, anyway) than it used to be. Tires are more reliable, roads are well-paved, the vast majority of people live in urban areas with a multitude of services available, and almost everybody has a cell phone to call for help. Many people I know (though probably an extraordinarily small percentage of the type of people who would seek out PriusChat) would prefer to call a friend or tow service for help than attempt to change their own tire - so they have little use for carrying a spare in the first place.

So I wouldn't be surprised if it's still not on the production version. I also wouldn't mind having it, but at least to me it wouldn't be a deal-breaker. Those who can't live without the spare can always buy a 5th tire and rim and carry it everywhere they go. Maybe the dealer would even give a good deal on a Gen3 spare tire as a condition of the sale.

 

I agree entirely with Macman408. I did not have to use the spare tire since 1996, 5 new cars. I always carry a small tire air compressor in my trunk and a tire repair plug kit on long trips.



I was thinking they should probably offer it as a small spare tire package in a box, as an accessory for those who want to buy it. I would leave it in the garage and definitely take it along for long trips.

 

Seriously I've only use the small tire compressor and tire repair plug kit. And I've only used the tire air compressor when I came back from travel and found one of the rear tires had deflated a bit. Not too sure I've ever seen a pregnant woman ever try to use a scissor jack along the side of the road trying to left a 3000 to 4000 lb car or SUV. If I did I'd probably try and help of course. Of course I thinking of my daughter here but you get the picture.

But with all the warning lights and the pervasive TPM systems on almost all new cars the number of times I've seen it are very rare. That along with AAA, Onstar, Lexus Enform, and Toyota Safety Connect to name a few leaves little doubt a spare tire will be the exception rather than the rule for all future model cars. Anybody care to guess whether the Prius C will have a spare, NOT.

 

Another possibility will be that TMC will provide to the USA market and free of charge for their PHV owners, road technical assistance as a complimentary service for the non existent spare tire and an occasional electric boost with an on board generator; with out to incur on a towing service expense.
THAT will be the Toyota support for their PHV line of vehicles...:rockon:

 

I look on spare tires like life insurance: great if I don't collect, but I still want it. Regardless of the pros/cons, it's a deal braker for me. You know:

The space for a spare tire is still there (I think), just blocked by the PHEV battery over it. Maybe they could redesign the trunk floor so the spare was suspended under the the floor (truck style), and you dropped it down to the ground to use it?

 

Back when the Classic Prius first rolled out, we had just a donut spare. Many expressed intereset in a full-size spare, primarily because that size wasn't common.

That's not the case for the PHV. It's an easy to find size. Tires are also more reliable than a decade ago. Calling for help is effortless now too.

And since other vehicles are beginning to drop the spare entirely, you do have to pause for thought about the need. A donut is easy enough to toss in back for long trips. After all, it's amazing how much you can stuff into the cargo area.
.

 

I am waiting for PHV technology to be put in larger, more comfortable and utilitarian vehicles. If I bought a PHV Prius, I would still be in the same Gen III body I already own with its current utilitarian pluses and minuses, except it would be somewhat cheaper to operate (but probably more expensive TCO) and a novelty for a short time. How would you (and your wife) feel if Toyota or Ford or GM came out with a PHV SUV, truck or large luxury car shortly after you purchase the PHV Prius?

 

Compact spare tire works for me (is that what you mean by donut?), no spare tire does not. As long as there is a choice, I will buy the car with the spare tire. No spare tire: no sale. Just a fact of life for me, like sun rising in the east, etc