Should I buy a 2015 Prius or wait until 2016?

wait!!! the deals will be even better, and you'll know whether there's anything about the '16 you really want.

 

There is always something new and better around the corner. Without knowing you/Her reasons for wanting/needing a Prius, without knowing which version of the Prius you might be considering and without knowing your financial situation, I'd not be able to say.

The classic arguments for each (assuming you are talking about the hatchback) are:

The 2015 fastback is proven, available now, and discounted. You know more about it than some possible future model.

The 2016 is liable to have a few initial bugs (all cars do in their first model year). Also availability may be initially limited and so prices actually demanded by dealers may be higher. You don't know now what the model/trim variations will be nor the pricing. Only vague marketing speak.

The v and C versions aren't expected to change much in 2016,

 

Hawk,
You will have buyer's remorse no matter what you buy. The 2015 model is likely the best deal out there on a Prius right now.

 

The 2016 is slated to be a new generation of Prius so that suggests waiting as I am doing. The dealers are desperate for sales now for fear they may be stuck with unsold inventory that will be obsolete with the new model. That might allow you to make a deal but the nature of car sales is that the advantage goes to the dealer since they are professionals and have more experience with the process.

It's sad that buying a car has to be so unpleasant but that is the circumstance with which we must live. Bluebook prices are by year so logic says that buying at the beginning of the new model year minimizes the loss on resale.

It's also hard to know what the packages will be on the 2016. Toyota, and other manufacturers, are very secret about their plans since they don't want to undercut their dealers who are stuck with the 2015 inventory. Keep in mind that Packages Two and Three may not be the same on the 2016 as they are today. Toyota has a tendency to make packages confusing for shoppers.

Unfortunately, it takes a considerable time investment and an unpleasant encounter with a counterparty to buy a car. Hence, the best option of all is to keep your current car going for as long as you can and to try to avoid the stress of trying to buy a new car.

 

Wait until the 2016's are out and you can go and touch a real live G4.

If your CFO is an adult, chances are she will want a G3, which will be lot cheaper by then.
If not?
Get her which ever one she wants.

If you make a choice as a family to have two cars, then you don't really have the option to "oppose" or "condone" what she drives, unless she wants something that's either wildly impractical (which is usually a guy thing) economically untenable, ot just plain so butt-ugly that you cannot stand to see it on your (meaning both of your) property.

The 2016 Prius might come close as far as ugly goes....but that's probably her call to make.

It's a "pick your battles" thing.

Good Luck!

 

Hawk, this site 2016 Toyota Prius specs, engine, mpg seems pretty credible. It suggests a December 2015 release date for the Gen IV 2016 Prius, which rather makes sense.

 

great link, thanks! pretty much says it all, 60 mpg, lion battery, bigger, faster, better, prettier, more comfortable, roomier, less espensive, whats not to like?

 

Top 10 Ways to Beat a Car Dealer - 2014 Update

 

#1) stay home.

 

#2 See: #1

 

Gen 4 is not going to appear at the dealership overnight. There will be information released by Toyota months before it arrives. Wait until Gen 4 gets announced. There will wealth of information by then. At that time, you will have enough information to make an informed decision. Gen 3 deal is not going to disappear overnight when Gen 4 gets announced either. there will still be time go get a good deal should you decide that Gen 4 does not meet your needs. If you need a car right away but still want a Gen 4, buy a 2010 for cheap. When Gen 4 gets released, sell or trade the Gen 3. The depreciation hit won't be as bad as buying a brand new Gen 3 only to trade it in a year later.

 

All good advice. I recently bought a Gen 3, knowing the Gen 4 would be coming out at the end of the year. My reasons were that I wanted the better gas mileage now! (Upgraded from a 22mpg car) and my older car was getting to the point where it might start costing me more money in repairs if I waited (needed tires and brakes). But the longer you wait, the better deal you are likely to get on the Gen 3 (unless gas prices go up significantly).

 

good point. and the 16 rail be there down the road for less money.

 

There is a transaction cost every time you sell and buy.

In the case of a house, think real estate fees commissions and taxes.

In the case of a car, the buyer of your car wants a better deal than standard and you have to struggle to buy at better than standard especially early in a model when the dealer doesn't have plenty just sitting on the lot. Plus admin fees, licensing and taxes. The fewer transactions the better off you'll be $ wise.

And plan to keep the car a long time and you have the potential for buyers remorse for a long time. Buy it right and buy it once.

Keep the wife, the car and the house a long time and laugh at those who trade up frequently when you look at your finances.

 

It's rumoured Toyota will show it in the fall, when it will be available is further into the future, next spring?

 

I like the idea of new wife, new car, new house

 

In that case, you've been living with the wrong wife, in the wrong house and you've been driving the wrong car....

 

If you are at all haunted by the ghost of the idea of potentially being disappointed with the Gen 3 in comparison to the upcoming Gen 4 my advice would be to wait. Especially if waiting is an option.

Waiting is the only choice that allows for a choice. Even when the Gen 4 is released, you still would find good deals on remaining Gen 3's or newer used Gen 3's if you wish. And obviously waiting allows you to see what the Gen 4 will be all about.

So IF waiting is a possibility that doesn't create hardship. I'd wait.

That being said? I'll confuse the situation by admitting this. When I was originally first looking at Prius, it was in the time period just before the release of the "new" Gen 3. I did wait....and then some. I actually had some remorse that I didn't buy one of the last brand new Gen 2's as they were trying to sell them off.

But I still think if waiting is possible? Why not wait?