4th generation coming 2015!

I see Toyota has announced a recall of 6.5 million vehicles world-wide. I'm looking for the "positive effect" and concluded at least they addressed the problem, unlike GM.

I had the latest Prius recall performed today, not that I could detect a problem, or recognize what benefit was achieved from sitting in the waiting room for 1-1/2 hours. However, I was able to read all the car magazines. Plenty about many other 2015 vehicle, but nothing about Toyota (see my previous post). Clearly, I enjoy the reading-about, planning, and anticipation of a car purchase more than the actual buying.

 

So...I just called my dealership to try digging.

In fact our dealership (Northampton) is **SOLD OUT** of Prius Plugins. Apparently Toyota allocated only a certain share for each region. The region came in #2 to Boston. There's limited production of the 2014 Prius Plugin and usually they replenish it but for some reason they're not so the guy said he would have to order from another region.

Weird huh? Or signs of things to come?

Here's even weirder. I asked about the 4th gen Prius...

He said he's heard about it and it's coming out 2015. I asked is it a 2015 model? He said yes? I asked if it'll come out later this year, he said "No". So I asked when it will come out. "Later 2015".

LoL...I don't know. Sales Managers don't seem to know much about these new cars these days. I remember first asking a Sales Manager about a PiP and he said I could only drive in EV mode if the battery was fully charged. I asked about a long hill scenario and he said "No, it can only be used on a plug for that portion".

Aye aye...

 

inferno - Good story,

Yesterday I had the computer recall performed. While I sat around, I asked the Parts Manager about the need for "scheduled" maintenance (my 2010 will soon have 100,000 miles). He obviously had no knowledge about my question, finally he said, you should change your belts so they will not fail and strand you. I thanked him, and went on my way back to the waiting room.

 

At Toyota for a vehicle maintenance, always like to dig for info here.

Here's what I found out (much to my dismay!)

• The salesguy admits they don't know much about anything until Toyota sets a press release or tell them
• He said that Toyota usually tells them heads up in November, and last November they were told, Sienna, Yaris and Camry are due for a redesign, same engines just different exterior. Camry, a little less (that's what we'll see in a few days)
• Asked about the Prius of course - he said nope, 2015 is a carry over, but he suspects FALL 2015 for the 2016 version will be the redesign. I asked about the engine and he said why would they change it (shows how versed they are) - just a physical redesign
• Asked about Fuel Cell he says yep, they expect to have them in! And no idea how it'll work but the dealerships will have fuel for them...
• Asked about other hybrids and he said Toyota wants to create a hybrid option for everything, whether that happens or not really depends

There you have it! Now I wonder, can a car's release be early 2015?

Ok, now back to Edmunds and hoping they're hardly wrong.

Yaris is due for a refresh
Camry is due for a refresh
Sienna is due for a Carryover

So now there's discrepancies there. He was right about Yaris and Camry though I believe refresh is a less drastic change. Elsewhere I heard the Camry Hybrid Refresh might sport the new hybrid engine?

So...take your salespeople with a grain of salt lol. Can't really get any info until you hear from the horse's mouth!

 

When I worked for Chrysler, they typically sent a package to the dealership with very basic "teaser" pamphlets maybe 2 months out before a major redesign, had us train on a computer course that went into more detail a month or so later and if it was a high value car, they'd send some of us out to an event with the new cars to play with, test drive next to competitor vehicles and have speeches about what makes the new design better than anything else. Usually all this doesn't happen until about a month before product launch. This is usually the procedure for the big guns. Less important cars like the Yaris, they may just have you sit on the computer to take a course about it a month or two before. If a salesperson tells you about a redesign a year out, it is most likely just rumor and bs.

 

This is good to know? At Chrysler what were the big ones in your experience? Also kind of funky that each person you ask "knows" what they're talking about...even the managers.

 

I worked in a Dodge focused dealership in the south, so as you can imagine, the new Dodge Ram was a huge event, the minivans are huge sellers and when the Challenger came out it was a huge deal as well. Generally, a salesperson and just about anyone working at a dealership know very little more than anyone who loves cars and actively watches news and rumors on websites. Most sales people I've known really didn't care about cars besides making the next sale. Most of the time, someone would act like they know something to either gain a perceived trust with a customer who seems interested or to direct a sale (why wait a year and a half for the new Prius when you can have this one now on sale). Just saying. A person at a dealership isn't an expert and doesn't know sh!t. I had a lot of friends working Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, it is all the same. You don't gain any insider access to any info that Bob Smith sitting in his PJs reading Car and Driver.

 

New 2015 Camry unveiled today in New York, hope to see Gen IV Prius before next year's show!

Looks great!

 

Guys we have to be up next... Every major Toyota car has been remodeled since the gen 3 had its refresh. corolla, Camry, Avalon, rav4, highlander, tundra... What's left besides the Prius? matrix, venza??? They have to be pushing out the G4 sooner than later.

 

I like the look of the last gen Camry better than the current, which I like better than the next. Hopefully the Prius will continue to look better.

In any case, what I'm hoping for is a 2014 release of a 2015 so I can get the 2016 after they've worked out the kinks the first year. Of course, if the new Volt has a bigger - and taller - back seat, well.......

 

**Meh**

Do you guys notice that all the new designed Toyota's have basically the same theme in the front? The eyes/lights are like all the same and we the "bottom breather" feel. I don't dig it on the Camry.

These days I'm more interested in technical advances, like a better engine and what not, but that wasn't present in the video so it just made me go **meh**. Ok, no Camry, doesn't look as good....

Maybe 4th Gen won't be a 2015 model but be a 2016 model released 2015

 

I like inferno's description ... "bottom feeder." I don't understand manufacturer's fascination with the enormous front grille. Surely it is not needed for cooling, and I would have suspected it increased wind drag. Also, with all the small components, edges, cavities, and supporting framework ... it increases noise as wind encounters each component. It looks to me like an area that will be easily damaged in the slights fender (remember what those were?) bender.

jlaibson, I bought a 2010, the first model year of the G3 .... there were no kinks to be worked out. As I near 100,000 miles, it has been a terrific vehicle. Two recalls to update computer software, neither of which could I determine changed anything. I would have no hesitation from a "kinks" standpoint, about purchasing a new Prius when it comes out. My decision will be based on the technology .... and the appearance. I assume ergonomics, and reliability will remain somewhat the same as the G3.

 

I can't say I've ever seen the Prius as a kinky car.

 

Maybe I used the word "kinks" to harshly. I guess if the technology stays the same, I'm less concerned about things that aren't working up to snuff. But the other thing that I find is that often the standard or optional features get tweaked slightly for the 2nd year - not a refresh, but it's like they didn't realize how much people would really want Option X, so they make it standard, etc. I don't recall exactly what changed, but I'm pretty sure they did that on the v (which I was coveting for a while), and I think on gen3 as well. So to me it may be worth waiting another year to see if I can get a little more.

Keep in mind I'm 43 and have only owned 3 cars in my life, so I can be pretty patient. When I buy a new car, it's got to be right because it won't be replaced for a very, very long time. My current vehicle is 11.5 years old, and just under 110K miles. (Once I get a Prius, I'll be putting somewhat more miles because that will be the road trip vehicle in the family.)

I came this close to buying the Gen3 in Sept 2010, decided to hold off a few months for financial reasons, and then the tsunami hit and the prices were ridiculous. By the time they got reasonable, I had seen a v prototype, and got really excited about that (but sad there's no solar panel option). By the time the v came out, my impulse had subsided, and I was able to approach it more practically - yes I'm getting crappy mileage, but I've got a great car that's paid off, so why spend 30K on something that's going to have a new gen come out soon?

I know I probably sound crazy to those of you who refresh your vehicles every 2-5 years.....the fact of the matter is my Subaru could probably last me another 10+ years. When I bought it in 2002, I was so excited to finally have a car with a CD player. Now I'm WAY behind with no aux/USB port, let alone Bluetooth. ;-)

 

Remember, Toyota said NS4 was a dedicated model. So, "PiP Gen2" can come out before or after Gen4 Prius.

 

Huh?

There is no way the V, C or PiP will come out before the Gen4 model. No way!

What's irking most of us is "when". What, we saw the spyshots a couple years back now? Is Toyota strategically trying to do a head on collision with Vol Gen 2? Tesla Model X? etc...etc..? NIssan Leaf gen 2 would probably come not too long after! Release now, get your buyers now damnit.

I know I would consider a Volt 2 when it releases...

 

You had no idea what we went through in 2009 for the Gen3 anticipation!

 

"Good things come to those who wait...and wait....and wait.....and wait......and wait.......and wait...." (wink,wink)

 

Hmm I'd love to know. Are there threads here going back to that?

 

the Leaf 2015 specs were leaked/released today so no new Leaf until the 2016 model at least.

My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - 2015 LEAF specs - no range increase