New Prius c Two (base) Owner in NC!

I am more than pleased with my Prius c Two that I acquired from 'Town and Country Toyota' (Charlotte, NC) yesterday evening! As for background, I have owned both a 1st gen Honda Insight (2000) and a 2010 Honda Fit.

I commute roughly 60 mi every weekday, so great mileage is desirable.

Research is a must -- know your model, options and pricing. Autotrader.com and other sites were very helpful in this respect, but in the end, I was led to my ride via a Google search (I recommend 'Sonic Automotive').

The current target MSRP will most likely serve as your base price (at least, I found that to be the case on a statewide basis). However, 'Town and Country' advertised my Two at under the current target MSRP! So I jumped and I'm glad I did!

Most dealerships I researched online had no more than 1 or 2 Prius c's in stock -- maybe.

As a note, I test drove locally last Saturday ...

'T&C' provided great instruction is some Prius c essentials before I headed out, including my iPhone sync ...

The Prius c is very responsive -- fun to drive! I appreciate the taut handling. Of course I am breaking in the engine right now, but certainly haven't seen a huge lack of power for my driving style. I probably wouldn't recommend using Eco mode in traffic -- its more for the open road. There are great, interactive, digital displays onboard with very useful numbers & figures. At speed, it has a lower sound level than either my Fit or my Insight. Phone integration has worked seamlessly. I really like the steering wheel controls for displays, phone, audio, temp, et al. There are way too many positives to comment on at the moment! The Prius c also looks great -- nice lines!

As a tip -- when purchased, my Prius c had Km/l rather than MPG displayed. Press the trip button on the steering wheel (right) to change Km/l to MPG.

FTR, I took a 18.5 mi spin during my lunch break today, over a normative route and "rolling" terrain (25; 35; 45; 55 mph) -- 63.5 mpg, with 26% EV on the trip meter. Those figures may change -- we'll see in around 3-4 tankfuls ....


Richard

 

Yes, I have owned both an Insight and a base Fit. My Prius c is better appointed than either (BTW, I have owned 6 Hondas). From my observations, the Prius c's engineering, fit and finish is top-notch -- the quality is evident throughout (also noted by friends).

 

In reference to my Fit, I found it to be a bit "pitchy" at times, especially when cornering. The Fit has a relatively high center of gravity. For that reason, some Fit owners lower their vehicles (springs) to provide better handling characteristics. I was never quite happy with my Fit's handling. In comparison to the Fit, my Insight handled very well, and would go wherever I took it.

Although the Prius c is only 4/10 of an inch lower than the Fit (& four inches shorter), it is a very stable platform and handles well. Also, I've noted that crosswinds don't affect it significantly, when compared with my Insight and my Fit.

 

Steering wheel controls for phone, audio and temp are standard for all levels.

 

The Honda Fit is a great little car; I liked mine and I do recommend it.

A "much more planted feeling" describes the c to a "t".

 

Thanks for asking! While I won't mention my out-the-door price, base price + delivery was under the target M.S.R.P. -- currently $21,740 for the Two, with no options. The delivery fee was lower than any I had seen. From there, add tax, doc fee, et al. As I took no options, there was little room for negotiation.

While I haven't heard of any bike / kayak racks for the "c", someone here has mentioned fitting his bike into the "c". I wonder if any existing racks would work?

In my opinion, one of the Fit's best features is its expansive hauling capability.

As for safety, while the Fit currently holds the top production safety rating, you have to consider that nine airbags are standard in the "c" including side curtain, seat, knee-level and rear passenger!

Richard

Richard