Hi! I have been seriously considering a Prius for quite a long time, and with some costly maintenance work in the very near future for my current vehicle (Acura TL-S), I think it's about time to switch over. I decided to do a little research online tonight, and found this place. Awesome. In the 30 minutes I have been clicking around, I already have ideas about what to expect, what modifications a geek like me would like (scanguage and DICE anyone?), etc. And almost all the threads I have perused seem genuinely helpful, which is always nice. So, the dealership down the street from my has a multitude of Priui in stock, so I think I will head over there this weekend. I stopped by today to see what they had (expected a waitlist) and to check options and pricing, etc. It seems the Touring edition is not around anywhere and needs to be special ordered, but pretty much everything else is ready and available. Question 1: The touring appears to have a) bigger wheels B) different headlamps w/foglights c) larger spoiler d) tuned suspension. These are the only differences I can see that are not available in the standard Prius options. Are any of them worth waiting for (and paying for)? I am not hugely into asthetics, so I don't think the wheels and spoiler will do anything for me. I am concerned about the headlamps. I would assume that if i felt it necessary, I could add aftermarket tuned suspension that could be better quality and possibly less dollars? Question 2: Can someone verify that the only difference in the US packages 5 and 6 is leather? I read on here that it may be better quality and pricing to have aftermarket leather put in at some point also, if that is of interest to me; anyone want to validate that? =D Those are my only two questions really. The trade in value on my current car is pretty good, and I am a pretty heavy commuter, so switching from a 17mpg/premium only vehicle to a regular 40+mpg vehicle should make a huge change in my pocketbook. Now the money will go to a car payment instead of gas stations. =D I have questions about satellite radio, but I put them in the appropriate forum here, hehe. Obviously, I will test drive a Prius before I purchase one, but I already know that I will have to adjust. I used to drive a 1998 Honda Civic, and then was fortunate enough to upgrade to the Acura TL-S, which is definately a powerful, sporty, luxury sedan. The Prius is non of those things, so far as I can tell, and it will probably take a while to get used to it. Road noise, lack of 'get up and go', handling, etc. My thought is that it will remind me of the Civic. There are obviously positive reasons to switch though =D Can people who have made the switch from "luxury" to Prius comment and let me know what things they noticed, positive and negative, as well as what things they though they would take issue with, but turns out they didn't? Thanks everyone, hope to hear from alot of you soon. -Scapegoat
Welcome to PriusChat, Scapegoat! You won't regret buying a Prius if it fits you. See if you can rent one from the dealer for a day or over the weekend. Many dealers will absorb the rental fee if you buy, and then you can get a real test drive, not just a few minutes. Some people love the seats, others writhe in agony after an hour (OK, I exaggerate). Go to the Toyota Prius site and "build your own" to get a feel for option packages and prices. Number 5, NL (No Leather), is fully loaded with cloth seats, number 6 adds factory leather in the seat and back. Both come with the HID headlamps and fog lights (which are a decorative feature only), navigation, Bluetooth phone connectivity, (limited) voice recognition, etc. There isn't any difference between the standard and touring packages in terms of creature comfort, the differences are in the wheels and suspension. Code: Suspension        Front    Std:  Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar          Tour: Independent MacPherson strut with tuned stabilizer bar     Rear    Std:  Torsion beam with stabilizer bar              Tour: Torsion beam with tuned shock absorbers, springs and stabilizer bar The standard model comes with 15" alloy wheels and Goodyear Assurance Integrity tires, whose main, perhaps only, claim to fame is that they are low rolling resistance. Changing your tires can have a major impact on handling, ride quality, and road noise. It can also have an effect on fuel efficiency, usually negatively, but not by much. The touring model comes with 16" alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, which are better than the Integrity tires by all accounts. Suspension, wheels, and spoiler is the only difference. The "get up and go" of the Prius is deceptive. Instant torque if you like to jack rabbit. Top speed is about 108 mph. The Hybrid Synergy Drive is unlike the transmission in any other car: no shift kicks, just smooth accelleration, on the Prius' own accelleration curve. The car is computer controlled, your foot on the accellerator tells the car's computer how fast you want to go and how fast you want to get there, the computer decides how much electric motor and how much engine. Many new drivers will accellerate and hear the engine "race", which in other cars is bad, indicating a slipping clutch. They let up on the accellerator, telling the computer to slow down, and then wonder why the car doesn't have "get up and go". Just hold down your foot until you reach the speed you want, but be careful. Without the shift-kick clue, you may wind up speeding without meaning to. Go for a two day test drive! Enjoy! Welcome once again!
Thanks for the info! I will what I can do about an extended test session. It sounds like the touring edition only contains stuff that I could add (possibly better versions of) via aftermarket if I really want them. So, once decsions down. Touring is out. hehe I am pretty used to leather in my car at this point, so it's still a toss up between package 5 and package 6. It may just come down to what vehicle colors they have available. Only remotely related: When will 2008 models start to appear, and does anyone know if there any significant changes slated? I heard that the 2009 model could be very different; but I can't wait that long to make a vehicle decision. If 2008s are going to be out in a month or 2 though, I could probably hold out until then.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scapegoat @ Apr 26 2007, 10:10 AM) [snapback]430442[/snapback]</div> This question has been asked quite a bit lately in the forums. I believe (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the 2008 model year will release in the September time frame. The 2008 should feature no significant changes over the 2007 (with the possible exception of different package options) so I don't think you have any reason to wait! Good Luck with your buying decision!
Hi scapegoat I traded my 2004 Prius last November for a 2007 Touring Edition, also having test driven the 2007 Standard before making the trade. An important observation for me: Since I was buying the Package 6 (Fully equipped), at that time the MSRP difference between Standard and Touring was only $270 which I considered incidental since for me the 16" wheels and Bridgestone Turanza tires alone were well worth the difference. The tires provide a larger 'footprint' (more rubber on the road) which in turn yield more traction. That would also indicate more rolling resistance and a slight penalty in MPG, but better brakeing traction. You mentioned headlights... The foglights being present reveals also that the headlights are HID (High Intensity Discharge) which provide the bright blue color, higher illumination and wider pattern - somewhat better than the Halogens which are standard. The $270 difference can easily amount ti ZIP depending on your trade allowance and discounts. I found the suspension to be firmer, less lean on curves and overall a more secure 'feel.' the foglights are basically 'decoration' and don't provide very useful illumination. The longer spoiler has no advantage I could see. With 6 months of use, and having driven my 2004 Prius for 2 years, I'm happy that I chose to go with the Touring Edition. So, there's my 2¢ worth.
hi scapegoat and welcome to PriusChat! HIDs/foglights are available on non-Touring models so that won't be an issue. A few more suggestions after you get the Prius. - Make the dealer do a tyre swap (hopefully you just pay the difference in cost) because the stock Integrity aren't the best set (esp. if you're coming from a TL-S). - Add the BT Stiffening brace (available through the PC shop). It replaces the stock brace and could help with the handling while you wait for your suspension upgrades. As for leather, it's up to you whether you want factory leather or an aftermarket set. Factory ones don't come with heated seats, so if you want heated seats, you might as well go aftermarket leather since they'll be ripping up the fabric to install the heating elements anyway.
I have an 06 Package 6 which includes HID and foglights, but no leather or nav. I added the BT brace which improved the handling and feel (at least for me). I'm fairly critical of car's handling, having done some racing, and currently autocross a Subaru Impreza. The Prius handles fine for me, for the driving I do 99% of the time. I kept the Sube for the other 1%. The Prius is actually quite entertaining to drive, in lots of ways, and I don't find the handling at all a problem. On the other hand, you can't get a proper set of 16" wheels and tires for the $270 or so the Touring edition costs, forgetting the other enhancements. I bought my car "off the lot", wrong color (wanted blue, settled for white) (wanted grey interior, settled for beige), but I wanted the option package, so I took it. If the Touring was available, I would have probably have waited for it, though I'm fully happy with my 06, 32,000 miles since Jan 06 ZERO problems 49+ mpgs without obsessing mpgs. Just do it, any way you won't regret it.
Thanks for all the feedback folks! Let me put my current situation on the table: 2003 Acura TL-S, already paid for. Currently, it has about 70k miles on it, and it is in dire need of at least 2 new tires (getting unsafe), new brake pads (and possibly turned rotors), and a new battery. (this is all based off of the dealer recommendations from my 60k tune up) My current commute to work is about 35 miles one way a day (70 round), and can be either smooth freeway sailing, or more likely, 1+ hours of stop and go. This stinks. Especially burning premium at 18 mpg, when gas here is 3.71gal for prem. The trade in for the Acura is still pretty darn solid. BlueBook for one in my condition is anywhere from 12k-14k, so that will help a ton. To do the necessary maintenance on the Acura will most likely cost 1000+, and my guess is that if I do the work, and then trade the car, I will not see 1000 dollars difference in the trade in value. That said; I do not want to drive it anymore until the tires are replaced, so I need to make a decisions =D This whole scenario is why I would Like to get a Touring edition, but its probably not worth waiting, if I would have to invest the money into the Acura while I wait. I haven't done the math in a while; but the last time I worked it out; with the current cost of premium vs regular, the cost of gas in general, the mileage I put on the car weekly, insurance, trade in value, and car payments, I would actually break about even, even with a fully loaded package. The dollar amount I would save on gas over 5 years will negate the fact that I will have car payments. Thats incredible. Even if its not 100% true now, and I do end up paying a little more that I currently am overall, I will still have a new car. a cool car. an economical car. a new car. an environmentally friendly car. a new car. Did I mention I would have a new car? turns out that with my insurance policy, going from a 2003 TL-S to a 2007 Touring Prius... I pay 8 dollars less a year. hehe.
So, I think I'm all set! I made a few phonecalls to local dealers (SF East Bay area) and the Touring edition is hard to find. I was able to track down one with Package #6 (leather and all the goodies) about 15 miles from my home, so I think I am going to go out and make my purchase Saturday morning. They only have 1, and it is the Silver Pine exterior. I don't know what the interior color is, but I think there are only 2 choices with the leather anyway, and I like them both. I would prefer the Magnetic Gray exterior by far.. but really, unless I really hate the pine, I'm sold. I don't want to wait for the same package in the right ocllor =) yay!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scapegoat @ Apr 27 2007, 03:08 PM) [snapback]431339[/snapback]</div> hey scapegoat, perhaps you can ask if you can test drive both the regular and the touring version of the prius. IMO, all this regular vs touring is all preference. I think the regular will have a smoother ride while a touring with the suspension will have more of a "sporty" ride.
as far as work on your Acura goes, new battery = $50 - $60 new front rotors = $60 each new rotors means new brake pads = $25 tires can vary more greatly but assuming high performance tires $150 each estimated grand total = $ 500+ (assuming you know how to do this minor work yourself) but you are right, you most likely wont recoup this money back if you get this done and plan to trade it in anyway. Dont let them jack you on your trade either, they tried to only give me $400 on my 91 explorer and my wife bullied them to bump it $1500, in fact I recommend acting insulted from the offer and then leaving, they need to sell the car more then you need to buy it. A car salesman knows you are a sucker if you dont dispute their first offer. Another tip negotiate on salesprice first, do a yahoo or google search for the invoice price for your package and print it, you should be able to get for close to this price. Next do the deal on your trade. Now this is the part the dealer makes his real money (the financing) I highly recommend stopping at your bank for a pre-approval on the car (unless there is a low apr special from Toyota going on in your area, keep this secret then just all of a sudden say I already have a pre approval, and the deal is done.
Yeah, from what I was able to research you are about right for the price of parts. I unfortunately do not have the means (and only about half the know-how) to do the work myself, so I am accounting for at Least another 500 in labor to have the work done at a local shop. I plan on printing out the Kelly Blue Book info for both my Acura (for trade in/sale values) and the loaded Prius (for area pricing and invoice number). I won't take less than the low "fair" trade in value on the Acura, as I can just invest in the maint. and sell it later. As in demand as Prius are right now, I don't expect to get much lower than the MSRP, but I can probably squeeze a couple hundred out. I plan on just paying cash for the full amount up front. Usually if you pull the checkbook out first, they haggle a little... and when you pick it up off their desk and put it back in the pocket.. the come to meet your terms real quick =) All in all, I hope to get 13k trade in, and pay about 27k for the prius, and after all the fees and junk, and hope to get out of there writing a check for about 15k.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scapegoat @ Apr 27 2007, 08:17 PM) [snapback]431414[/snapback]</div> I guess I didnt realize how in demand they are out west, here in Ohio, Prius sells for about $1500 under the MSRP sticker at least according to a toyota saleslady I had talked to in Cleveland at the car show. Which this is also an advantage being that I dont really see many out here, but out here it is SUV / Truck country and Ford, Chevy, & Dodge are still dominate. I just checked and my sticker for my package 2 is 24,160 and even though I leased it, technically they sold it to me for $22,900 Good luck and enjoy your prius, by the way all the chicks at work are digging my magnetic gray, If you can get your hands on one do it, at first I liked the silver pine but was told from several people that it is more of a girly color.
Drive the touring model and compare the road feel of each model, to me the touring model handling was superior. That said I still purchased a regular pkg#2 :lol:
