2015 Four or 2014 Five?

Impossible to tell without knowing which (if any) option packages are on each!

 

You can get a new prius for that price

 

Neither One.....unless money is no object, in which case you would not be asking the question....especially if your kid is needing the car because of college.

Cash flow most or all of a new one and drive it for 10 years.

Buying an up-optioned car makes no sense because you're buying yesterday's technology at tomorrow prices.....and Priuses already have a higher buy-in cost over other eco-hatches.

Good Luck!

 

You should teach your kids the value of a dollar and let them by their own vehicles and keep your 3. How old are your kids? We did about the same thing you're attempting to do and have regretted it ever sens

 

Well......we disagree, but if you're paying cash for new cars then who am I to give you financial advice?
I have to drive paid-for used cars.

My comment on options stands.
A garden variety, base Prius goes for about 22 and some change...new.
The way I see it is that you can spend about five thousand over that and get a loaded out new G3 with outdated NAV, and outdated Radio, and a few other baubles -or- you can roll the dice on a used one and let the depreciation cover the overcharge for the pleather seats, the factory nav. and a radio that doesn't suck quite as bad as the next lower unit.

You make an excellent point that an up-optioned used Prius bought with cash is still not a bad way to go at all - particularly if you're not into self-upgrading the lights, radio, seat covers, etc...

For most people?
Factory options are a total rip.
OEMS have a rather low profit margin for the car, but they make a killing on the options, which is why you have 'select' options that are only available on "the next higher trim level."
Thus, you wind up paying several thou to get that one "must have" feature that's usually not worth the asking price....and four years later you're still upside down in a $20,000 eco-hatch that MSRP's from 22 to 29. That $7,000 margin doesn't buy 7K worth of hardware....IMHO.

Your Call.

Good Luck!

 

since the 14 and 15 are virtually the same, and they would have similar mileage, i would go with the high end '14. all the best!

 

It depends on what you're looking for. We had a pretty fully optioned 2010-4 with solar roof and navigation. Second time around (2013) we went with the Persona which is essentially a model 3 with leatherish interior, NAV and 17" wheels. I happen to like the interior and love the wheels (handling is much more confident even with a few MPG penalty). They can keep the NAV. We use our iPhones.

 

Or sell it to them, for a good price.

 

I'm partial to the model with 17" rim, for its steering upgrade as much as the rim. If you're not excited about sunroofs, maybe the persona?

 

We have a 2010 Canadian Touring model, has the JBL, plus LED headlights and the 17" rims, but not the sunroof. Also not the high tech stuff on US 5. They still have that model, but believe they've dropped the JBL, now. ;(

 

When I bought our 2011 five -- I did so because of the wheels and the LED headlights. I like sunroofs on cars as they allow more light into the cabin (I don't often open them) -- but the Prius design has so much glass ...this is not an issue. The five not having the sunroof was not a negative to me. The five's larger wheels and slight ratio difference is noticeable if you drive them back to back -- the fog lights are worthless (no value at all) ... but the LED's work very well -- very bright and white. Dealer had to trade cars to get me one without any additional options. In 2011 the 4 and 5 had real leather -- although it is rather plastic (its not my Jaguar's leather) the heated seats are rather crude -- they are "on" or "off" and have hot spots -- but are better then not having them on a cold day.

I got 90k out of the first set of 17" tires -- car now has 108K (three years old last January)

 

I agree about fog lights, actually forgot we have them. You turn them on, on a dark road, then invariably end up turn them off and on several times, to verify something's happening, lol.

Also, I made a point to sit in front passenger seat of cars with/without sunroof. My hair was brushing the roof with sunroof, irritating. I'm 5'-11"~. Don't miss sunroof, like the the cleaner look.

But I'm being chauvinistic: lots of people love the sunroof, just not me.

There's a subtle difference in the difference with the 17" wheel option cars, I think: we first test drove a Canadian Technology package, 15" rims and the base steering configuration. To be fair it was the first test drive, and it was night time. But I did not feel comfortable in the car. Then we test drove, in daytime, the car we bought, Touring with the 17" rims, tighter steering ratio. I felt at home right away in that car, and I think the steering had something to do with it.

It's definitely not just the 17" rims: every winter we switch to 15" snow tires, the same same size as base Prius, but the steering/driving feel is just the same. Could be BS, was just first impressions, I'm not really sure, but...

 

The only basic difference that matters is 17's vs 15's, tradeoff for better handling is slightly less mpg, if you do want the sunroof option you are stuck with the 4, having one a year newer might make a difference on the warranty ( the 10 year part), enjoy whatever you get, should run for a decade.
I think your finances and your children's discipline is no body's business but your own.

 

Speaking from experience as a father and son, I say get them a low end used Corolla or Civic and keep the Prius for yourself. In that age group it's not a matter of if they will wreck the car, but when. The cost savings on a lower priced reliable beater will more than make up for any difference in fuel savings. Now if you are just looking for an excuse to buy yourself a new vehicle...