Latest recall - sales stop!

I think the Prius is restyled to find a new niche.

A corolla hatchback, once it gets a hybrid option, is basically a gen 4 and earlier Prius when you consider power/HP and conservative styling with a hatchback and smaller tires.

I personally think the Prius isn't going to be their flagship hybrid in the future. It's probably going to transition into being only PHEV or EV based name badge sooner than later as their transition towards EVs. Same way it was their big hybrid push, its probably gonna keep on the "next evolution of green driving".

After the BZ failure, I think it's better to not have the BZ moniker for EV push on their end. The BZ seems like it was them phoning it in more than anything else.

To be honest though, the gen 5 Prius is fantastic. So very happy we waited for our delivery and didn't grab something different when we saw the waitlist. When we need a second car, not sure I want something different. Might grab a used corolla for a couple years to wait for the gen 6 Prius or next effort full Toyo EV to be honest. Not much in the small car market available. Maybe the Chevy bolt but it feels like Chevy is moving towards the EUV and making other SUVs go EV for them. Shifting to bigger cars vs small ones.

Soon the model 3 might be the only smaller sedan like EV if no one else takes up that space. But not a hatchback... And I love hatchbacks.

 

My wife has been looking to replace her 2017 Prius 2 LE with something. (She's giving her car to our oldest daughter)

After months of looking, and not liking the Crown or the Camry (as much as me), and visiting three Toyota Dealers, she went ahead and put an order in for a 2024 Corolla SE Hybrid AWD (with premium package). Hopefully we get a build/delivery date soon. She was torn between the red and light blue colors but we found a Toyota in the light blue (celestite) and she loved it. I like it more than the new Prius, too. (Which is, still, not even available to place orders on.)

Looks like it's just my same engine/ECVT as my 2021 Prius so maintenance will mirror mine...even same oil and oil filter.

This is it...I like the 18" wheels....no stupid hubcaps to mess with during tire rotations.

 

Hi Mr *******,

I have had a look at the latest ETA, it is currently showing June delivery to the dealership. It has not given us a confirmed date as the vehicle is still in build.

Martin is currently on annual leave until Tuesday, I will get him to give you weekly updates going forward if you wish?

I will speak to Martin on his return to the business, I will ask him to give you a call to touch base.

Enjoy your weekend.

Kind Regards

As promised, the reply to my enquiry. It makes little sense. Expected delivery is in June but as the ‘vehicle is still in build’ how can it be finished, shipped to the UK from Japan and delivered ‘to the dealership’ by in June bearing mind we are in the last week of May. Additionally there is no mention that production will not recommence until the middle of June. Of course there is possibility my car was made before the recall and production halt and it will arrive at my dealer in June BUT I won’t be able to take delivery until the door switches are sorted.

 

Nice to hear you love your Prius. It will be interesting to see what Toyota does next. Wish I could get a Prime since I likely won’t be able to upgrade any time soon.

 

That's presumptive.

That's better.

 

If only it had a hatchback…ha!

 

Yes…assuming it survives. : } I sort of feel like I’m waiting for a car that’s already on its way to being dated considering what’s coming down the pike.

 

What's the miles on your '09. I'm going into "Cuba Mode", with our '10 third gen. Absolutely no problems, just squeaked by 100K kms. What I don't relish with the latest/greatest Prius:

1. Every increasing tech dreck.
2. No spare.
3. Reduced headroom, storage room.
4. Lower entry.
5. Preposterously oversized rims/tires, with replacement tires expensive and hard to come by.

And hey, we're lucky to drive once a week, and how much longer will we need a car. I'm 72 now, starting to get cagey regarding large purchases.

 

Pushing 222,000 miles. I drive quite a bit and don’t have someone to rescue me when car breaks down. It’s a complicated inheritance situation. I would rather the $$ but I can’t complain about getting a new car.

I also want the new safety features. This new car could be my last one considering I usually keep them until they die. : ) I need to keep myself in shape or I’ll be crawling in and out at 75. (14 yrs from now).

 

Get a Rav4 Hybrid. No crawling in and out, latest features, better ride and unlikely to be a catalytic thief magnet. More likely to be widely supported as the top selling Toyota rather than the least.

 

Hi I haven’t seen you on here in a while. : ) I know it definitely has its advantages. I sat in one back when I was deliberating and RAV4 is too big for me. I see someone parking her’s where I regularly park and the most recent model is just so big! IMO If it had comparable fuel economy, I might try to get used to it.

 

Why not get a used Gen 4 Prius or Prius Prime for now? Or even a used Gen 3 Prius or Prius Plug-in? You can then upgrade to a Gen 6 in a few years. A Gen 3 costs only $7k as opposed to $35k for a Gen 5.

 

If I could, I would. By doing that I unfortunately wouldn’t be given the remaining $28k for the future purchase. It’s complicated.

 

If you are owed the $35k to buy a car just strike while the iron is hot.

The last thing you want is a gen3 with oil burning, head gasket failures and outright blown motors with holes in the block. To say nothing of hv battery fails, brake booster, inverter and cat clogging.

You really don’t want an early gen4 either which by now will have hv battery soon and exhaust heat exchanger created engine overheating.

So for a car that will make 15 years with a hope of reliability over that time, you need a new car. Which is what your person funding the car wanted you to have.

 

Why don't you buy any car then sell it?

 

I might have to depending on the timing of this Prius situation. Time will tell.

 

This is what I would buy in your price range if a Rav4 was out (which you should drive anyway).

Corolla Cross Hybrid with 2.0L


It has the Prius 2.0 engine. Power and Prius size with more storage and easier access. Essentially a modern Prius v wagon with all the safety systems.

An even better deal is the Corolla hybrid sedan with the gen4 1.8L and 53 mpg. About $25k msrp.

 

I really like the look of this cross hybrid especially in red. : ) Then I test drove it. Felt like I was driving a wobbly boat. Hard to explain the sensation. Maybe the suspension and being up so high? Then again I was only driving it around the parking lot. It was already sold so I couldn’t take it out on the road. I’ve driven a Crosstrek and it felt much more solid. Any ideas why?
Thanks for the suggestions. I need the hatchback. Just looked at Camry online and it looks so weird looking to me after having my eye on the Prius.

 

Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn't have a spare, if it matters. I believe RAV4 Hybrid does have spare. And the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, not sure.

 

Driving in a parking lot is not a test drive.

Corolla Cross Hybrid rides better (4/5) than Gen 5 Prius (3/5) according to Consumer Reports.