I've been intending to buy a new Prius level III with the solar roof option. Now my wife says she wants heated seats. It seems that we have to go up to level IV to get that. These features differentiate the level IV from the III and I really don't see them as very valuable to me: SofTex-trimmed seats and steering wheel 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support JBL® GreenEdge™ speakers with amplifier Available Deluxe Solar Roof Package [11] with HDD Premium Navigation [8]with Entune™ [9] and Head-Up Display (HUD) Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® [12] universal transceiver Projector-beam halogen headlamps with auto on/off feature Not sure why they are mentioning the Deluxe Solar Roof Package because I think this is available in Level III also. So my question: Is there a cost effective way to get heated seats into the level III package so that I don't have to pay $1-2K more for this feature? I guess I could buy something that plugs into the cigarette lighter or whatever the Prius has for accessory power but I'm looking for something less messy.
I believe the dealer can install heated seats, but someone may correct me on that. However, I think the cost wouldn't be worth it given the extra price to go up from the III to the IV. I have a II, and my Dad has a IV, and the power seats definitely improve the comfort because of the lumbar and ability to adjust better. Also, the speakers are a huge improvement over stock (although still lacking compared to many upgraded speaker setups). I would call up the dealer and see what they would charge for the option, and then compare it against the cost to upgrade to a IV. Test drive both and see if the price difference at that point is worth it. Best of luck!
I had heated seats installed in our Honda S2000 (less than $250) and have found them to be as good as the factory heated seats in our Prius package 5. ... Worthless in the California summer and a delight in the winter.
Any competent upholstery shop can install heated seats, but it might not be much cheaper than buying the package, and you probably don't want anyone tearing into your brand-new car. The cig-lighter heaters may overload the cig-lighter circuit... apparently it's only good for 10A.
I searched and searched for a 2010 IV and it is worth every penny get the roof the JBL the seats and you'll never regret the extra $ Why pay 20K plus for a car and not get everything you want?
It was 52 degrees out yesterday. I set my climate control to 65. I turned on the heated seat, boy did it get hot quick! I ran it for 1 min and was too hot to bare and I turned it off. Maybe I will try when it gets to the 30s.
That's not how one is supposed to dress for a Winter's drive. It doesn't sound like much but the @$$ warmer can't be beat when it gets nippy. Mine's been on a couple times already. The Solar package is listed because it is only available on the Three and Four. Your choices: Three Base Three Nav Three Solar Four Base Four Nav Four Solar Get a quote from an upholsterer for heated seats. The upside is that you get to choose the color & quality of the leather. Notice how the seats are no longer leather.
The features you listed are very worthwhile; I really wish my car had them. The Softex seats are much more comfortable than the fabric seats -- not the covering, it's the better lumbar support. The JBL sounds a lot better. But what's not worth it, in my opinion, is the solar roof. It's very expensive, and all it does is operate a fan when it's hot out. I'd much rather get a Prius IV without solar roof than a Prius III with solar roof.
I like my Four Solar Plus Performance. The moonroof is nice to have open while cruising the boulevard The solar fan does it's job. The look of the black glass roof is incredible. I have zero regrets. Mike
An FYI to the OP and some who have replied, as long as the OP is referring to purchasing a 2012 since he said 'new' (or 2011/13 for that matter but NOT a 2010) his model choices are Two, Three Four and Five, not II, III, IV and V. Roman numerals were only used for model designation in 2010.
Interesting. I stand corrected. I have since learned that I can actually get leather heated seats as an add on to the level Three for about half the price it would cost to go to level Four. So then I will have to figure whether the better sound system and the different headlight system and rear mirror are worth the additional bucks to go up to level Four. I play music sometimes but mostly talk type podcasts. As for NAV I have little interest or use for a GPS navigation system. If necessary I have an iphone to tell me where I am.
The rear view mirror is nice. The auto headlamps are nice too but all Prius turn their lights off automatically so you just leave the switch set to on all the time. Now you have auto headlamps for no extra cost Mike
Heated seats for a winter in Loma Linda? It may not exactly be next door, but I remember living through winters in Upland and Claremont where shorts and t-shirts were fine year 'round, and that's just down the 10 from Loma Linda.
Winters are tough, here in So. California. It sometimes gets all the way down to the 40s. If it got much colder, we could walk on water, like the folks do during winters in Chicagoland.
I bought a Volvo that did not have heated seats, but the dealer had a local company they used regularly to install them. The install looked just like it came from the factory and worked great. I don't know what it cost, as they included it in the deal. They kept the car for a day to do it. I believe there was a low and a high temperature setting, which was nice.
If the dealer is charging half the difference between a three and four for heated seats, I suggest you go for the four. The softex seats alone are like a $1200 option. And if you combine that with power seats and lumbar support, they are totally worth the price difference.
I am pretty confused by the difference between level Three and level Four Is there a temperature control on the heated seats or is it just On and Off?
