Anyone planning on trading THEIR 3rd Gen in for a 4th Gen

I'm planning on going another 5 years or so with my Gen III and wait for the last year of Gen IV production to be sure all of the kinks have been worked out. I'm an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it kind of guy", plus the Gen III is paid off.

 

Smart.

I have been looking forward to the AWD Prius since I first heard rumors a couple years ago. Since we had to buy a car last year I chose a Honda Fit on the premise that I could sell it in a couple of years with modest depreciation.

 

It depends, as others have said, what it actually looks like with the AWD option. Would like to sell the RAV4 for winter, and get down to one car.

 

None available here yet. Too bad.

 

The Rav4 hybrid is coming out this Fall. That will have AWD version.
I don't envision an AWD version for Prius but remains to be seen.

 

I see why some would want AWD, I'd not be very interested because...

1. I've lived all these years (where it snows) and did not need 4WD or AWD to get by. If it's that bad out, I don't need to go anywhere, or I'm camping out at the office.

2. 4WD and AWD come at a cost to fuel economy and maintenance issues. Worth it if you need them and use them regularly, but a waste for that rare occasion they would be handy. I have a 2WD pickup truck with snow chains. If that can't handle what's out there, I really don't need to go out.

I just don't see why Toyota is putting a lot of thought into a feature that runs contrary to why the platform was created...fuel economy.

 

*double post*

 

do we know if they're putting any thought into it at all? after all, the number of things listed in the thread 'what we actually know about the gen IV prius' is zero.

 

Do you say the same about AC, seats, safety beams ... ... ?

Or did you remove the headlights on day #1 to avoid the power drain, extra weight and worse aero profile, and just wait for daylight ?

 

And this is the biggest fear when they try to 'improve' the Prius. They'll ask the focus group what they want and they probably all would like an AWD option and don't really mind the small hit on economy. Then it'll be bigger fancy low profile wheels and expensive tyres with another small hit on economy. Then maybe a little wider and taller, maybe with extra ground clearance and before you know it you have another mini SUV hybrid getting 35 mpg.

Now that they're phasing the Prius out in the European market and building it in the US to reflect US market requirements, the day of the Prius being a world class 'world' car with the best economy available for the size are numbered. What next? a diesel option for Europe?

But hey, we have the Mirai to look forward to

 

Definitely agree with you on the fancy low profile wheel thing... with Gen3 it has come to the point where dealers are purposefully advertising cars stating higher mpg and low emission figures quoted against smaller wheels to sell cars with bigger wheels. The Prius is about going to extremes to scrape every last mpg possible yet it seems somewhere along the line a bunch of petrolheads at local Toyota headquarters get together and create the different grades completely disregarding basics. Same with lexus. Have a look at the NX300h, the 17inch wheel is only available with the entry level option. I have tried to raise this issue with Toyota UK and they keep pointing me to the fully kitted out Prius with Solar roof which comes with smaller wheels by requirement rather than choice.

With regard to AWD, I agree most people don't want it. On the other hand, there wouldn't be any mpg penalty as the effectiveness of regen is also increased. It will definitely add to price thus can be good as an option. However, knowing Toyota UK, I wouldn't be surprised if it only came as an option to the highest and most expensive grade and yes, that grade would most likely come with fancy low profile big wheels.

 

I am hoping there will be a slightly upmarket Toyota Plugin at some point (hopefully soon). At least NS4 was supposed to preview a model with a bigger ICE, better spec and performance.

 

new pip is due around the end of 2016. will it be 'upmarket'? depends on your definition.

 

I can't believe it's been 5 model years already.
But I remember the enthusiasm and excitement for the release of the 3rd Generation Prius.

Perhaps it was because the 2nd Generation Prius had such a long and successful run, and because there was such a jump between the 1st Gen Prius and the 2nd Gen.

Perhaps it was because nearly simultaneously Honda was releasing it's "New" Insight.

I don't feel the same excitement for the arrival of the Gen 4 "yet".

I think as more information is leaked about what the Gen 4 is about, and what it may offer, I think more excitement will be created. There will always be people with the financial resources and desire to own the "latest" as soon as possible.

Probably 2 things. I've never really been able to afford to be among the first with the latest. But as far as automobiles go? Neither have I minded letting others go before me and do the "real world" testing. I tend to like to be buying a model and model year that has been vetted in real world experience.

So I won't be lined up or signing up to be one of the first to own a Gen 4.
But I will be reading and following all that happens surrounding it with great interest.

It's "fun" and cheaper to live vicariously through other that have made the leap.

 

Electric Me,

5 model years?

It's been 6, and the first model year was a year and a half long (5/09 to 10/10) and
This last model year will be over 1 year too. Has to stretch to what, January 2016?

 

I keep my cars until they are pile of rust. WHEN I buy the Gen IV, I will keep the Gen III and hand down the Gen II to my son. My daughter might want the Gen III at the same time though, so my second car would be the Firebrid.

Bill the Engineer

 

I have a BMW i3 BEV in addition to my 2012 Prius Plug In. At one point, after having my PIP for a year and a half, with over 10,000 miles, I was at 76% EV. I did it for the challenge, but it wasn't fun. Driving all EV is where my heart is, and there's too many other options now, and EV range will only increase. I'll keep my PIP for the next several years to compliment my BEV. Not sure if another hybrid, and definitely not another PIP, is in my future. No disrepect to the Prius, but Toyota has failed in offering a all EV vehicle, available other than 2500 RAV4EVs, available in California only, which there's clearly a current market for. My BMW i3 BEV is the coolest car I've ever had, and a pleasure to drive.

 

Okay, whatever....but models years don't have to match calendar years, which is why I said "model years".
I remember the Gen 3 coming out, in 2009 but it was still referred to as a 2010.

 

it looks like the one in spy pictures then no. Actually hell no.

 

lol...you guys have not been keeping up. Tesla Model S with AWD is more efficient because front and rear motors can be optimized for different speeds. An AWD Prius may have the rear wheel motor optimized for lower speed launches, the front MG for mid range, and the ICE for highway cruising. It would probably be able to sustain longer EV at a higher speeds.