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Advice needed: Prius 3 or Prius 4

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by TomP10, Dec 21, 2011.

  1. TomP10

    TomP10 Junior Member

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    I am trying to decide between a getting a 2011 Prius Three or Prius Four.

    Other than heated leather seats, can any of you suggest what key "extra value" I will get from a Prius Four? I am willing to be convinced one way or another.

    I appreciate any advice you have.

    Tom
     
  2. ken7777777cars

    ken7777777cars New Member

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    I would advise a III . I got a III so I could get navigation then bought a top quality upolstry kit from a guy in Philadelphia-- it's higher quality than OEM and got heated seats with it
     
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  3. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    a 4 gives the day/night mirror with homelink, hid headlights, don't know what else, but you can check the Toyota website, oh I forgot, you also get the leather steering wheel.
     
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  4. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    No HID headlights in 3rd gen Prius, good thing (Five gets the LED headlamps).

    Four gets leather seats, auto-dimming/Homelink rearview mirror, rain repellant side windows, has navigation, USB, backup camera (plain Three doesn't), plasmacluster ionizer,
     
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  5. TomP10

    TomP10 Junior Member

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    Thanks. Since I will probably replace the audio system with an after market system, I think the homelink is the only thing I might really miss. Can that be installed by me or is that a deal installed accessory?

    Thanks, Tom
     
  6. TomP10

    TomP10 Junior Member

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    I live about 30 minutes outside Philly... from whom did you buy the upholstery kit from? Tom
     
  7. fulltank

    fulltank New Member

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    I test drove the IV first then went to test drive the III. At the risk of sounding shallow, I could not even bring myself to take III out on road because I'd fallen in love w all the leather!!!
     
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  8. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    Does the III have standard three door SKS like the IV does?
     
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  9. jbrad4

    jbrad4 Active Member

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    For HomeLink mirror info, check out this thread. On page 2, someone asks the question about putting it in a Prius Three.
     
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  10. prominence

    prominence Junior Member

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    I have a III and it only has 1-door SKS. Believe it or not, I wish I had 3-door SKS.. I convinced myself I didn't/wouldn't really use it to justify not getting a IV.

    Turns out, I'd sure love that 3-door SKS when my hands are full of grocery bags (standing at the trunk) and when I'm carrying items to toss directly into passenger side.

    I'd go for a IV if: Leather & 3-door SKS are important. Otherwise, get a III. I'm satisfied with my III.
     
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  11. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    I'm pretty sure that the new 2012 Prius 3 now comes standard with 3-door SKS.
     
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  12. jmb2010

    jmb2010 Junior Member

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    :)
    I had a 2010 III traded in on 2011 IV .
    Main reason was III's cloth seats were not comfortable on long trips & after 28000 miles began to show wear.
    I am very happy with leather seats.
     
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  13. ecoprius

    ecoprius Junior Member

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    I just got the 2011 IV mainly due to heated leather seats. :) I also liked the look of the leather interior better. I'm happy, the other stuff was a bonus. I plan on keeping my car a long time.

    Main thing is what will make you happy one year from now? From other posts Ive seen the higher packages do not always hold value on these cars, so how long you want to keep the car? Is trade in value important to you?

    Also, I doubt the cost between packages is worth it for people who are able to do their own upgrades/custom work. I will probably not do any upgrades/changes to my car and so I got everything I wanted with the initial purchase.
     
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  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    If you're getting a 2011, a 3-dr SKS is one feature I'd want in the Four (over the 1-dr SKS on the Three). If you're getting a 2012, then 3-dr SKS is standard on the Three. The other feature is power driver seat lumbar support which isn't available on the Three.
     
  15. EdyJun

    EdyJun Junior Member

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    anyone replace the cloth seats with leather ones, factory leather seats I mean?
     
  16. l3m

    l3m Junior Member

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    My 2011 Prius III came with homelink, Nav, solar roof/moonroof, backup camera, leather seats. I wanted auto headlights but that only comes on a V.
     
  17. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    You got a car where the dealer added leather and a homelink mirror or is your car a 4?
     
  18. l3m

    l3m Junior Member

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    It's a Prius III for sure. The Monroney shows:

    - premium leather trimmed interior upgrade
    - night vision mirror upgrade w/ homelink
    - inchspider inch net
    - rear bumper protector
    - premium carpet mat set
    - fog lights
    - vehicle shield pkg

    as Distributor Installed Options. Gulf States Toyota, Inc. is listed as the Independent Distributor. I assume the distributor ordered the car this way from Toyota.

    The only thing my dealer added was window tint.
     
  19. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    Don't know, but somebody on the forum does, but I bet that stuff was added at the port by the distributer......