2020 Prime Tidbits (North America)

I am sure I am in the minority, but I liked the 2-seat back seat and would like that in a 2020 as an option. I like all of the other changes they made and expect to be either buying or ordering a 2020 Prime Limited in July. Just waiting for my wife's current DD to sell.

 

I'm with you.

 

If you don't need a new car right now, you are better off waiting for incentives.

You can probably find someone here to swap rear seats with.

 

Me too!

 

If you can get a dealer to order for you, you usually negotiate a price and place a deposit before the car is ordered. Dealers many times like to look at incoming cars & trade with other regional dealers rather than order directly, but it can be done.

 

I have not received the VIN. I was told that one was generated and that the car was constructed this past Monday, May 27th with delivery late June. I’ll ask for the VIN. I was told that the price will increase from 2019 by $500.

I did place a $100 deposit on April 1. I ordered from a Minneapolis dealer.

The 10th character of the VIN is an L.

 

I'm willing to give away the 2 rear seats on my Prime Advanced to anyone, in exchange for an ultra light coupe 2 seat hatchback body for my Prime Advanced!! It's hilarious how people's tastes differ so much!! I want a much smaller, lighter Prius Prime and all these other folks want a bigger Prime!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

Perhaps you are not a Prime candidate.

 

Let us know if you receive any info on the 2020 Toyota Safety Sense features. I'm most curious if the 2020 is TSS-P or TSS 2.0. Since they didn't put TSS hardware on the 2019, I was hoping they put it on the early release 2020, but the 2020 slick sheet that Toyota put out last month didn't mention.

 

They don't want a bigger Prime. They just want it to have most of the capability of a Prius or other 4 door car.

 

I'm not a Prime candidate; I'm a compromising Prime owner hopeful that I can eventually obtain the smaller package of Primish inspired vehicle that more closely meets my needs. Bigger or more capacious is not better for everyone. I want thrilling acceleration, excellent handling, and economic reliability achieved using more efficient lower weight and smaller size. I never carry more than myself and a single passenger so all that extra ballast hinders my goal. I understand that many people want bigger and bigger cars; I just want something different, something smaller, simpler, and lighter, something that is becoming harder and harder to find.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

I'm unaware of any PHEV options, but perhaps these will be of interest.
Gallery | Sondors Electric Car
eRoadster - Electra Meccanica

 

I'd like to get rid of my two rear seats, move the battery to the floor behind the driver, and have more room for cargo. Obviously that configuration doesn't exist, but it would be ideal for the way I use my car. I move cargo more often than people.

A lot of people in Europe have the rear seats removed and a barrier installed between the back and front. I think that makes it a commercial vehicle or saves some on taxes. But for people who never have more than 2 people in the car it makes sense.

I did try removing the rear seats in the prime, but it doesn't save enough space to be worth it as a diy solution. There's a lot of stuff under the seat that really should be protected (like the main HV cables), and there's no easy way I could see to build a thin cover to replace the seat cushions.

 

Cool! Good ideas, but I don't have that kind of gumption! I just wish that Toyota would come through for us.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

They did. It was called the MR2. Now they're trying a new Supra. There is also the 86, except it still has a back seat.

Except for sports cars and commercial trucks, two seaters aren't big sellers, and it costs a lot to bring one to market. A PHEV one may show up, but I would bet against it being from Toyota, and converting a CRZ or Insight would likely be the quickest way to get one.

 

Great points/suggestions. My idea was along the ORIGINAL Honda Insight 2 door with perfect layout and weight (1800 Lbs). That car's execution was the problem with a dumb approach to hybrid and no plugin. Usage of carbon fiber everywhere with the plugin synergy system, without GPS, no 11" screen, omitting a large majority of video arcade crap. No airbags. These improvements would make me a happy camper. I realize that I'm living a fantasy here, but I can dream, can't I !!??
This type of small car would make a terrific commuter for a lot of folks, many who could afford a secondary lumber wagon for other purposes! BTW, do I really need 15 airbags in a car!! Give me serious competition-grade seatbelts instead. The deployment of the airbags in my otherwise repairable Honda Civic led to its being declared a total loss by the insurance company; ridiculous!! I was quoted $2500/airbag to repair the car.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

Alas, you're among those connoisseurs in search of...


Curse you, Red Baron!

 

You da man, Old Bear!!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

I'm ever hopeful!.....

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com