Gen 3 owners, how do you justify your gen 4 purchase?

If you are just considering dollars, it is always much cheaper to keep a well running old car than buy a new one. But life is not just about dollars.

On the other hand, gen 4 is getting "old". Gen 5 should be introduced for the 2022 model year. So, probably, a year from now rumors will be flying and the unveiling will be imminent. I'm waiting for the Gen 5 or an alternative depending on what the gen 5 has to offer and what else is available at that time. Lots of change going on in the auto industry in the next few years.

 

I came over from a Gen2 and everything is worlds better. Why don't you go take a test drive in a Gen4 to see how you feel about it?

As for Gen 5. I've seen pictures of the prototype and its even more weirder looking than the PPA. The front is is a nice and different look, but the back end ... leaves you wondering who designed it.

 

I think I know what you mean; was it linked here before? Any links? (Maybe I don't wanna look... )

What is that acronym?

Have you tried a test drive? If not, good first step. Have a goodly drive, play around with the controls, try a few things. Whether it increases your interest or deflates it, good to test the waters.

 

Here, we passed along our 2010 to our son, and bought a 2019. Comparatively, the 2019 rides like a luxury car.

Have you kept your Gen-3's EGR system clean? That's just a knock on the older design, but a time bomb if not addressed. Otherwise, the Gen-3 is very reliable.

I'd advise not to buy any new car until you can pay for it without financing. Collision insurance is also much less on an older car.

 

Do you really need to justify it?

It is often cheaper to keep and repair the old car. But if you can reasonably afford the new one, especially without needing to finance it, ...

 

Prius Prime Advanced. I shortened it, not sure what others are calling it.

My bad, it was a concept based on the Prius and not actual Gen5 prototype.

 

I had just clicked 200k miles on our 2010. Then a friend of a friend was looking for a car as he was down in his luck a bit.

I was thinking of a Prime for awhile, then this opportunity to upgrade presented itself, so I parted ways with our gen3.

I had maintained it well, so I could have run it for much longer (and that was the plan), but helping others is something I do .

 

I would buy one if the head gasket problem has been resolved

 

Based on descriptions from other PC readers, it seems that the EGR --> head gasket problem may not be completely cured in the Gen4, but it should be pushed out to several times the mileage that Gen3s suffer it. I.e. most Gen4s should be in the scrapyard long before running into this particular problem.

Though it is still too early for that expectation to be verified with real world experience ...

 

I suspect it's resolvable, with periodic EGR cleanings. And an oil catch can doesn't hurt. Maybe a 5k oil change interval for insurance.

Or it may all be rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, who knows.

 

I never bought a Gen 3 - tried it, but couldn't live with one. When Gen 4 came out, I tried it - it was a world better, so I bought one.

 

I went from a PiP to a Prime. No way to justify it financially. It'll take YEARS for the gas savings to cover the price difference.

But there's also value to putting in several 700-mile days in a row without your tailbone catching fire. And the better ride and handling. And the quieter cabin. And the occasional "Nice car!" comment including one such remark from a new 'Vette owner. It's hard to put a price on those intangibles, but they do have value.

 

If you believe a 200K Gen 3 is "perfectly good" then we probably won't change your mind. From my sig you'll see we've owned 3 generations beginning with Gen 2. The Gen 2 was okay, reliable, but not a particularly good ride quality. The Gen 3 was no better. In fact, the Persona was so bad I could not take it anymore and test drove the Gen 4 as soon as they came out. World of difference and switched immediately. Don't regret the switch. Finally traded the other Gen 3 for an all wheel drive Mercedes.

 

Kinda goes with buying anything new, unless you really need it, you just want it.

 

A lot of truth in that. When funds forced it (like when putting children through University etc) - I had some older cars, with high kilometres.

Last 20 years, I've replaced cars which were perfectly good while they were "perfectly good" - knowing that they probably would still be working fine in 10 years. But, I'm now at the age where I don't really want to have grease under my finger-nails every Saturday. My Gen4 will be someone else's in the next 6 months probably.

 

Remember my pics of the engine bay?

An egr cleanse won't be as easy on the gen4 / Prime due to the 12 volt battery moving up which pushed the inverter right next to the egr cooler.

An oil catch can will be challenging as well given if you want to mount it low, the front cross member is now 2 feet further back.

When I popped the throttle body off around 6k miles, there was very little spooge underneath .

But I'm getting 140 mpg, so the engine isn't running as often as a gen3.

Probably a factor as well.

 

My Gen III had 115,000 miles on it (and was running just fine) when my wife (who handles the books) said that since I am the primary breadwinner I should get a new car. I don't argue with my wife.

 

Currently have both a Gen 2 and 4 but had a new 2010 Gen 3 back in the day. Honestly it's been so long now I can't really make a good comparo' between the 3 and the 4 but stepping out of the 2 and into the 4 is a huge eye opener. The 4 is soooo improved in almost very measurable parameter.