Testing Driving a 2013 Prius 4 soon, What to look for?

How odd, I went from driving a 1998 Toyota Camry to buying a 2013 Prius 4 (new last year though)!

1. Make sure the seats are comfortable for you. The 4 has the extra benefit of lumbar support so test that out as well as the height adjuster. Sit with the car in reverse for about 30 seconds to see if you can live with the beeping (if it still has it). I kept mine because I sometimes have other people who are unfamiliar with the car driving it and it just seems like a good safety feature to have. If you don't like it, ask that the dealership remove it before you take delivery. Look for any scratches on the exterior of the car or imperfections in the interior and make sure those are taken care of before delivery or, if you don't mind them, factor that into the price. At that age, the Prius should have no issues.

2. I bought my new car for $26,800 before TTL. Checking KBB, price for private party used at that mileage is very good condition is $22.8. and between $25-26k from a dealer. But that's just in my area so try checking several sites using your zip code. But there's always wiggle room when it comes to dealerships and I'd try to lower it to around $21k if you're a good negotiator or around $22.5k if you're not really a big pusher.

3. The driving experience is a bit different. The '98 Camry was a smoother ride for me, but that could have been because the shocks were worn. HUGE technological transition though. Going from a broken tape deck to an Entune system required more eyes and arms than I had to explore the first few months. I definitely prefer the Prius in all things except the squeak/rattle area. The Prius wins there.

4. Take the Prius on the highway to make sure you can comfortably get up to highway speeds in your area. Try out the Eco, Power, and Normal modes (your salesman should be able to point these out to you if you can't find them) to see if you prefer one over the rest. I drive almost exclusively in Eco mode except when I need a fast takeoff, and then I switch into Power mode. Your test drive will probably be short and bad for fuel economy but try resetting the trip meter to see the mileage you get. Make sure the car can smoothly transition between EV (large battery pack) and ICE (gas engine) in local driving. Make sure that the battery stays around 3/4 of the way filled most of your trip unless you've used it heavily. Make sure it refills steadily when depleted.

This was much longer than I had originally anticipated but I guess I was just excited to find someone who was in a very similar situation as me

 

I would add to enter and exit (driver seat) multiple times to ensure you find it comfortable to do so. I was off on buying the 2012 Prius because I had to adjust the seat to enter/exit and then readjust for seating. 2013 fixed the ergonomics enough to make a difference.

That said, also either see if you can get a rental and drive it for several hours to see if you have long-term seating comfort issues (2 hours should be enough). I suppose you should commit to sitting in one for at least an hour. This is a hard part to test on the lot or in the showroom.

If you don't like the backup beep, you could ask them to have service disable it (change it to one beep) before you accept delivery. It's a quick fix for them.

I'd do a lot of online shopping. I forget who I went with, but it was a website that let places put up what they had, and I wound up going to NC (I'm in VA) to get my Prius. Local dealers weren't going to negotiate much on price. NC dealer had the car I wanted for less than anyone else....even after factoring in the drive to go pick it up. I didn't haggle beyond that. Tried to see if anyone else would match the price/features and went with the lowest price. Lots of places make enough business off people who aren't inclined to drive 2+ hours to another town to pick up a new car to not bother closing deals by coming down $1,000 or so off their price.

 

In addition to the above. If you are unsure, or want to get a better feel for the Prius, my recommendation is to find a local dealer that has a rental program. I rented one for some long weekend road trips to get a feel for the car, comfort and how much we could haul. After the rental period (and reading through PriusChat) I was pretty much more knowledgeable than any of the sales persons. Renting also helps serve as a benchmark for used car comparisons.

It worked out well for our family hauler needs. In fact, our family of four with an 11 & 14 year old just took the Prius on a~2,000 mile week long round-trip to Disney and back.

 

No problem!

Edit: I don't know why my computer decided to delete most of my message.

As far as interior room goes, I feel that the older Camrys and the Priuses have pretty much the same dimensions. I don't feel like I'm driving a boat in the Prius and I don't feel like I'm driving a clown car. It has the same feel that the old Camry did. Trunk space is taller definitely, but maybe not deeper. But if you put the seats down, you can shove pretty much anything back there.

 

Sounds like a good idea! Good luck, and let us know how it works out

 

Congrats!

I never use Eco, I prefer normal for highway but depends on your area and how congested and/or flat it is! Around town I like normal or power modes

I don't mind the backup beep either. Been like that always so no worries. I actually back up to start and then go to N anyway so it doesn't last long.

 

Out of curiosity, how much did the dealership give you for the Camry?

 

congrats priusrook14, all the best!

 

Just bought a new 2013 Four with solar package for $29. Lifetime oil changes, inspections, warranty. Wanted white, which is why I went new instead of used. Loving the 60 mpg!!

 

$29!!! Where did you get that deal?

 

White is the way to go!!

 

Stafford, VA. I got lucky, and they we're looking to deal. ☺️☺️