2010 Prius Option Packages at NAIAS

I hear ya bro. Sometimes I go back to my car a few times, forgot this and that. To be able to just grab the handle, open, push door button, close is so convenient.

3-door Smart Key rocks

 

You shouldn't have a problem if you really want an option that includes lumbar back support. I pretty sure you would just adjust it to the flattest position as if there was no support to begin with.

Try this link for emailing feedback to Toyota Customer Relations. You'll get an quick auto-response, likely followed by a human(e) response too.

Email Toyota

 

Guess I got spoiled with my #3 2006 that had smart key on 3 doors, and a backup camera....

I really hope this thing is priced to match some of the features that were taken away.

Huge strides forward with some things, then steps back with others. The base shouldn't be priced 1 nickle above 23,500.

 

edmunds.com is listing the 2010 base price starting at $23,500

I'm pretty sure edmunds also listed the base 2009 price as $22,000 a month before Toyota announced that price on their website.

 

if thats true then thats really not that bad for the improvements they did

however it would put it out of my price range since the prius was already at the top of it (mainly b/c i wouldnt want a base package)

 

You're right, and, you're right.

I just wanted to add a little perspective to this discussion. We do a great deal of research with a great many customers to understand what they want and how they want it. You can be sure we're listening.

So why can't we offer every conceivable option you might want? Three factors. One is engineering. Sometimes some equipment conflicts with others, period, for MPG, safety, or many other arcane reasons. And it is simply impossible to design for all the variation customers want. We don't have that many engineers! (Fun fact... at one point in development the 3G Prius had something like 40 different front bumper wire harnesses!)

The second issue is related to the above... distribution. Even if you could design and make all the configurations, getting that one exactly that way and correctly shipped to the right customer doesn't work in the US dealer-inventory model.

Finally, pricing. We want to keep the price as low as possible. So that means we're giving you better value to many even though it may not be equipped exactly how some might want it. Tough to do, but that's my job.

Bottom line is this. Most of the concern you've brought up about packaging we've already been thinking about for many moons. Some we've figured out how to solve, others are not possible due to the above reasons. We'll continue to listen and improve as time goes on. Hope that helps.

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

really? Prius with #2 is 24.5 according to Toyota.com.

You think new one should be 1k cheaper?

I think 23.5 would be awesome price thats actually an steal compared to Gen 2.

 

Doug (and Erica et al.),

Thank you for listening in, observing and interacting with us. (And, again, thanks for PCD!)

I think you've made a great move to increase interior space and comfort AND increase MPGs. I know a 10% increase isn't the world, but I also think you've increased it at the next sweet spot for many folks: Highway MPG. If I could trade in my 2007 and get the improvements w/o too much cost to me (and keep my Silver Pine Mica), I'd be all over it. My hope is to trade in our Sienna for the 2010, but that's another story.

I like the safety improvements, though the loss of the rear-view camera in the base model is a disappointment. I would say the other concerns I have with the 2010 are the LED lights and the 17" wheels. I don't have to get the Platinum, but I want the added safety features more than a moonroof/solar panel (I live in Northern Illinois!). I am worried about the MPG loss and safety loss while driving in rain/sleet/snow on the 17" low profile tires. I love the LED concept, but I am concerned about reliability and replacement cost.

The Platinum is a near-perfect package for me, though I would drop the 17" wheels. AND (since I'm giving you my wish list input) I'd like the Misty Grey leather in the Blue Ribbon Metallic. All-in-all, what I would not get is very small compared to what I would get in the fully-loaded 2010. I'd say you've done a remarkable job of Marketing, and I hope this is borne out in sales for you. In a different economy, I doubt you'd be able to make enough of these cars. Even so, you are going to offer the best production car in the world, and you will be offering some luxury features not even available in $50,000 automobiles. No doubt you'll draw in more people looking for creature comforts, and you'll be able to expand your Prius owner base. The concern is the lower-end price range, so I can see why the base model is even more, well, base.

Overall: Great Job!

(Now, can I have exactly what I want in my car? A rheastat for the heated seats, or a timer, at least; reasonable price on the LED replacement or a warranty for them; Misty Grey - oh, you know; 16" wheels and no Integrities; electric block heater built it; more battery; EV, oops! I'll wait 'til next year to continue.)

 

LED's are supposed be at 90% of their strenght after 15 years, so i wouldnt worry about it... for everything else, get an insurance

 

FYI - my local Toyota dealer (I'm on his 2010 list) just faxed me the same Base + 3 optional packages list and asked me to get back with him on which I thought I would go with, along with car color. He was clear that they can't take orders yet but wanted me to understand what the preorder options were and get me thinking ahead of time to make the order process go smooth.

For me, it's either the Blue or Pearl with the Gold Package. My wife and I will be heading over to Toyota soon to see the Blue (on the current Camry I think) to help us make up our minds. I want Pearl, she wants Blue, so the odds are 80/20 for Blue

 

Don't forget the Blizzard Pearl also is available on the Camry, so you should be able to do some side-by-side comparison. I was doing that Monday!

 

It is not on the Camry, though there was a special edition last year in that color. It is on the highlander and Venza.

 

Maybe the new #2 is 24.5, but not the #3 in 06. It was 23,500 at the time, and good old Unckie Sam gave me 3k right back come tax time.

Like I said, some steps forward, some steps back.

If Papa Prius got totalled tomorrow, I'd still be getting myself an 2010.... still can gripe about the shortcomings though.

 

True enough! I just had the opportunity to do a side-to-side, because the dealership had one of the anniversary Camry models there. They had the Venza in Blizzard Pearl on the showroom floor.

By the way, the Venza NAV system is the same as the new NAV to be found on the 2010 Prius.

 

OK. So, to add my 2 cents in...

Firstly, it's very cool that Toyota monitors these forums. It reminds me of the Lotus forums where Lotus staff monitors the site, but unlike Toyota, they're not permitted to respond to any threads (long story on how I know that).

Secondly, when the 2010 Prius was announced, I was looking to "fully load" the car; meaning solar moonroof, LED headlights, RADAR cruise control, etc. Seeing that the "platinum" version deletes the solar moonroof, is incredibly disappointing to me.

While I perfectly understand Toyota's quandary in figuring out the best way to package car options, I find it odd that there's a package combination that eliminates some of the interesting and useful new technology that Toyota is bringing to the table.

I'm hoping that this is a pre-order scenario, as some here have said, and not a permanent option configuration. From an "MPG" perspective, I'd personally give a smidge on the mileage and improve the car's functions/features/utility. This is a car I plan to use on a daily basis (I put on over 20K miles/year), so the complete feature set is important to me. I'll be moving from a BMW X5 where I'm lucky to get 18-20 MPG to something that would get me 50 MPG. If I got 48 MPG instead of 50, I'd live. It would be well worth it.

Thanks for listening...see you folks from Toyota at the NYC event on Feb 5. Perhaps you'll let me state my case again while I'm there!



--DotComCTO

 

did you guys notice that in ce's book, they estimated 5% of people will take non platnium? I suspect that might be due to Platnium's price being up there close to HS250h...

 

Yes, that helps. The issues with packaging options certainly aren't unique to the Prius, or Toyota. It's great to see more safety features standard, and in some ways, grouping options into packages makes sense, from both the manufacturing and marketing viewpoints. Still, it sure would be nice to pick and choose from a list, and not have an adjustable seat cost an extra five grand in other stuff I may never use.