To Do list on my third Prius Prime

Just got a new 2021 Prius Prime Limited which is now my third PP.

I was debating the purchase, but with the imminent return to daily commute routine, I pulled the trigger before the inventories run out and Toyota's great cashback offer ended. The only PP left on the lot at our closest Toyota dealer was this Titanium Glow PP Ltd. Not the color and trim level I would have picked if I had a choice, but I can live with almost any color if the price is right.



Being the third PP, I know this car inside and out, better than any other car on the market. But since this is the new 2021 model and my first top-level trim PP with all the bells and whistles, I may still have to consult the manual from time to time especially on the use of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies I never had on my previous PPs.

Before I take it out for a long drive, here is the list of what I have already done and what I plan to do on this car very soon.

On Navi/Audio system DONE

1. Beginning/Ending Sound OFF
   
2. set system time (daylight saving was off, thus the time was 1 hr off)
3. set sound BEEP OFF
4. register/connect Bluetooth to two phones (one for phone, another for Audio Player)
   
5. register HOME on navi
6. Set the Screen OFF ( I will have the screen off most of the time from now on)

On Navi/Audio System TO DO.. I will do those initial settings for rare occasions I need them but chances are that I will not be using much for those functionalities once set up.

1. set maintenance information (first oil/filter change at 5K miles and every 10K miles thereafter)
2. transfer/enter contact and destination information
   
3. connect USB switch with 4 different USB devices (3 thumb drives and an iPod) to the front USB port and do the initial file sorting on the system for all 3drives ( I should be able to register two USB devices on the car and should be able to switch to the others on the fly with this set-up... that was the way I had on my 2017 PP)
   
4. preset my favorite AM and FM radio stations (there aren't too many I can receive around where I live, and I do not listen to the satellite radio)
   
5. adjust the sound to my liking (it got JBL, I will at least do the initial adjustment for my preference.)
6. I may train the voice command, but most likely I will not be using it if it is the same functionality and capability as the previous models of PPs I had.
7. Entue App Suite and Toyota App, I plan not to use them... but I may have to install the Toyota App for the next on the to-do list
8. OPT-OUT from Safty Connect.. I did this with my 2020 PP LE, I plan to do it on my PP Ltd. Yeah, I am going to lose some functionalities such as remote climate or remote charging, but I am sure that I will never use them. The catch is, to opt-out from the connected service, I may have to install and register the Toyota App just so that I can opt-out. I will see how this goes.

On MID Setting DONE

1. Set to split-screen... unfortunately, this means RSA must be turned off. What a design flaw!
   
2. Set clock and check the calendar.. yeah, it was close but 5 min off... The multimedia clock has no display and seems to set time automatically if the time zone and DLS are set correctly. Why couldn't they sync those two clocks? BTW, on my previous PP, I never bothered setting the navi clock. I don't think I have ever used the arrival time estimate on the navi.
3. Set EV Drive monitor on HSI to EV Energy (battery SoC in % displayed instead of GoM miles)
4. Turn off all Pop-up Display except "Traction Battery Cooler"
5. make sure the "Traction Battery Heater" option is set to be ON... I have no idea why Toyota want any owner to turn it OFF as an option

Interior TO DO

1. Customize door lock and window open and a few other things with Carista if I can get another free trial period, but if not... I may not bother. No, I am not going to change the backup beeping. I am fine with continuous beep
   
2. install mesh seat cover ... I already ordered one for the front seats. I just can not stand Softex feeling
3. remove the retractable hard cargo tonneau cover and throw it in the garage. I will never use it.
4. remove the flat tire repair kit that came with the car and throw it in the garage. I will never use it.
5. put the full-size spare tire and tire repair kit and tools and a small compressor in the footwell of the rear seats
6. put the lithium battery jump pack under the front passenger seat
   
7. replace interior lights with LED bulb
   
8. delete piano-black... I am going to wrap all piano-black plastic on the dash and enter and door of this car just as I did on my 2020 PP LE
   
9. DIY install plastic cover for the rear cargo area including the back of the rear seats... I hate the black felt-like material used to cover the cargo area of this car. It is so hard to keep it clean. I have bought plastic fatigue mat material for this project, but I don't know how it will work. Another option would be to buy a custom-made Canvasback cargo liner.

Exterior TO DO

1. install external TPMS sensors on tires. No, I am not going to remove the hubcap. I am fine with it.
2. install the battery monitor on the 12v battery. I was using a Bluetooth battery monitor on my 2020 PP, I think I will continue to monitor the health of the 12v battery using it.
3. if I really feel the 12v battery needs more frequent attention than checking the voltage occasionally, then I may install a NOCO Gen5X1 on-bard 12v battery charger
4. install door edge protectors. I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs, but it was for my Magnetic Glay PP... It may not look good on Titanium Glow
5. install door handle cup protector. I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs, but it is chrome. I may have to paint it to look good on Titanium Glow
   
6. install hatch glass gap filler... See this thread I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs
   
7. install mudguard. I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs
8. install the aero sidesplitter. I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs
9. install the Vent Window Visor Shades Rain Guards. I already have the parts... never used them on my previous PPs
10. install fiberglass epoxy fortified front grille sub-assembly (aka "glass jaw"). I already have the parts and fortified it with fiberglass and epoxy resin... never installed it on my previous PP
11. I thought I would have to muffle the "spaceship" sound on VPNS... but on my day 1 of driving it, I did not find it that annoying. Yes, it is louder than previous PPs, but not that loud to be obnoxious.
12. Oh, I almost forgot this one. Install Enelx Next Gen juicebox 40 L2 EVSE. I bought it almost a year ago when they were running a sale for 50% off of the regular price. But I never had an electrician to install it. It is going to cost me a quite bit to run the wire under the paved driveway and install the sub-panel box. But it would be a future-proof investment for my next BEV.

That about all I can think of for now. Am I forgetting anything? Any suggestions?

 

Yeah, I am not planning to spend any more additional money on this car than necessary. The seat cover was a must-have for me to cover the Softex, but other than that what I have listed is something I already have but never got to installing on my previous PP. Oh, I think I do have the vent shades or whatever you call it already. Yep, I bought it on eBay for my previous PP, but never installed it. Added it to the OP List.

As for the paint protection and Window tint, I will pass. This is the car I will not keep longer than a few years. It is truly a bridge vehicle before I find the perfect BEV for my needs. I am sure the original paint will be still in good shape when I sell it. And, I have no need for the window tint. I can use all the sunshine that can warm up the inside of the car.

 

Both HVAC and audio can be controlled by the steering wheel buttons. Certain functions are missing like turning on and off HVAC or browsing folder on USB. But for my use needs, once I set my HVAC on Auto and have the audio I want to listen to on the USB or on phone, I never have to turn on the big screen. I can do most essential functions from the wheel buttons and MID display. I learned this when I had my 2017 PP Premium with the 11.6" screen. I hated the large screen so much that I had it turned off and covered it with a window shade to cut the glare.

 

Yeah, it lasts way longer than a year. But when you can switch to a new car (this time far better car switching from LE to Limited) for no money or in my case for a profit, why not switch it. I am sure someone is going to buy a used PRIME and enjoy it longer than a year.

 

After having my old gasser Civic run to the ground, I have learned that in our climate, even if the car runs great, that is the engine and power train, the car does not last longer than ~10 years due to rust problem. Any car older than 7 years old in our climate is subject to rust-related problems such as corroded brake or fuel lines, rusted-out exhaust systems, leaky coolant systems due to rust, and rusted differential or anything exposed under the car. In the end, if it starts costing more to maintain a car keep running than buying a new car it is not worth keeping the car. The PP is the first car ever I have owned that paid itself by buying a new and selling it in a relatively short time period. Of course, I am not expecting this to continue forever, but for now, PP in NE is costing less to buy a new one than keep it running and modding. I try to keep the car until the initial cost and ongoing operational cost averages out to be less than $300/mo (this includes everything related to the car expense, from the initial cost of buying to ongoing fuel, insurance, registration, and maintenance). Most cars I have owned have never got down to the $300/mo range, even my Gen3 Prius. But my 1 st PP was below $300/mo, and my second PP actually ended up net-zero operation cost because the proceed from the sale was larger than everything I had spent for the car. Yep, insurance, tax, fuel, maintenance, car wash, accessories purchased, etc. everything included.

 

IMHO, I find the stock OEM alloy wheels ugly. The hubcaps are not much better, but it has a two-tone aero design which I think looks nicer on PP. Then again, I didn't buy PP for the looks. If that was what I really care, I probably went for Civic Hatch a long time ago. That's just my opinion, but I may take them off if I find cheap center caps to fit in the hole.

You can turn them off on the Setting on the MID display. I think under “Meter Customize” settings
Here is the list of what you can turn off (they are all ON by default). The only one I care to see pop-up is the Traction Battery Cooler pop-up so I can turn it on when needed.

LOL... Yeah, the pop-up display on the PP is worse than the ads that pops-up on the browser. But at least Toyota gives us the way to cotrol them. see above.

 

Most of them are just direct replacements. You just have to make sure the polarity is correct when inserting the LED bulb. I can't remember the size specs. There are basically two types of bulbs used for interior lights. A ply tool will help to open the plastic cover.
Here is a YouTube video I found. It is on 2016 Gen4, but the procedure is basically the same for PP.