Yup, people are in different situations. If the $10k is coming from excess money available for discretionary spending that is a lot different that if the person is borrowing money to get the $10k.
If someone has $10K of excess money I hope their house is paid in full, the car is paid in full and they have zero dept. If not you cannot really call it excess money.
When I bought mine I also kinda wanted the roof, I enjoyed the moonroof on my previous Corrola, but Prii with that option were IV's starting at $28K. I thought about it and realized there were only a handful of months in the spring and fall where I could really use it opened. Instead I got the III for $23K and upgrading it slowly into a IV for less than $1500! In the hotter months I just park in the shade when possible and crack the windows, free breezes keep the interior from cooking!
The prius is really my wife's car, she insisted on the solar roof package, but doesn't really like driving with the roof open! For some reason over the past few months I drive both our cars with the roof open quite a bit. The prius has the "quietest" roof I've ever experienced, no wind noise at all. The roof is also significanly smaller than the others I've had. I would say don't trade in to get one. One feature I do find myself using constantly is the HUD and I wonder why more cars don't have them. Entune is definitely the biggest disappointment in the car.
I completely agree with you about the apps and navigation. Regarding the nav- the user interface is so cumbersome it's completely prohibitive and the voice recognition is absolutely hit or miss, with the mistakes being SO ridiculously bad as to be comical. COMPLETELY USELESS. Are other people complaining about this? If you know about a larger forum on this topic I would be very interested.
We bought 2010 with solar roof recently. I would say it makes a big difference in cabin temperature IF 1) I put the sunshades front and rear and 2) crack a rear window open 1/2 in then the car is just warm when I get in. Not HOT. Overall, I like it. Thanks, - Alex
You not going to die without this option. What is the big deal. You want cool air, just open the Windows. For that much money, the benefit is very little. Beside, you change your car every few years.
