prius IV features worth the price?

There is a switch to turn the Plasmacluster on and off. When it is turned on it operates in conjunction with the A/C fan. The Plasmacluster will automatically turn off after about 3 minutes if the driver does not turn it off before that. I think that when these manuals are translated to English something is lost.

 

I was set on buying a III with navigation package, but there just weren't any available in my area, particularly in blue. I'm not normally a leather fan, so I originally felt like I couldn't justify $3k more for what seemed like primarily just the upgrade to leather. Luckily I reread the brochure to check out some of the other upgrades.

I ended up with the IV and I am extremely happy with it. I haven't tried Plasmacluster or seen the water repellant windows in action yet, but everything else has been great. As mentioned above, I think the lumbar support/power lumbar is a great feature which I really felt was essential for longterm comfort. I had Homelink and auto dimming on my previous car, and though I could have lived without them, I am really happy to not have to go backwards having been used to them for 5 years. Heated seats I really don't need, but I had turned them on by mistake my first night and boy did it feel nice; will be more fun in winter I didn't know/understand how the door lock features worked at the time, but I do love it now, particularly as mentioned for the trunk when carrying groceries, etc. I love being able to leave my keys in my pocket and still access the doors, though I admit it took a while to get used to, and even after 2 weeks I still forget every now and then.

So honestly, all that was already worth the extra when I stop to think about it. Now add the very nice leather seats and it's almost a no-brainer.

 

-water repellent windows
Our windows had more rain drops stuck to them than the neighbors cars after a recent rain storm.

-plasmacluster
Haven't noticed it.

-smartkey for passenger and hatch backdoor
Love it!!!

-autodimming
Haven't noticed

-homelink
Maybe get to use it someday.

-leather seating
Pretty nice. Probably would have been just as happy with cloth (They don't sell III w/NAV here)

-heated seats
Looking forward to trying them out.

The smartkey has been very useful to us and I think made it worth the cost.

 

This will be very subjective to the buyer. I wouldn't mind getting the solar roof as I am here in the desert, but I don't need the navigation (installing my own) so I can't justify the premium. It would be nice if the cars could be ordered as opposed to buying them in packages.

 

One thing that is not mentioned in the brochures is the footwell lighting. It is a very minor feature that adds a luxurious quality. It is soft lighting that stays on while you drive. Also, the footwell lighting as well as the other interior lighting comes on when you approach the car and the smart key antennas pick up the fob in your pocket.

These are nice touches that are not in the II and III models.

Also remember that the leather package includes the leather wrapped steering wheel and (fake) leather door panels.

 

That is the standard "micro dust and pollen filter" that is on all Prius models (at least in the U.S.).

The Plasmacluster is automatic and has no on/off switch, for better or worse. I personally wish it could be disabled.

 

You are correct! I should have read the manual more closely. Maybe the translation is better than I thought and my eyes are worse than I thought.

 

The SKS is something I've never had before and never even thought I'd need or want. But now that I have it I LOVE it. I don't think I could ever go back to digging through my purse for my keys. I've become too spoiled.

I really wanted leather because my parents both have Gen II Priuses with light fabric, and both of their interiors are filthy. I'm really a neat freak when it comes to my cars. I love the leather, the lumbar support and I imagine I'll love the heated seats come winter. I was concerned the seats wouldn't be comfortable after all I've read, but I find them quite comfortable.

BTW, if anyone is looking for a 2010 Prius IV and lives in SoCal, there are four of them sitting at the lot here in Bakersfield! Two reds and two silvers. It just amazes me because I keep reading of people waiting weeks or months for their cars to come in. I guess around here more people are interested in the IIs. The higher levels must be tougher sells.

 

SKS is also something that needs to be emphasized. i orginally bought the 2004 Pri, pkg 1. thought i did not need that stuff either. well, right after i bought it, i met a guy who had it, and found that it was very cool.

so, my next Pri the 2006 SPM, i made sure i got it. now i cant live without it either (or at least would have to struggle to live without it since my Zenn does not have it so i know what its like)

as far as rain resistant windows, no such thing in the Pacific Northwest. will be doing Rain-X as always. that stuff does work wonders...only thing is around here since we frequently get a mist more than rain (we also have 100% humidity EVERY morning here which means intermittent wiper setting is also a must here) Rain X needs to be reapplied at least once a month.

also, its getting cold again, will be trying out those heated seats soon!!

 

I think iv will make you a happier prius owner than a ii. I've never had any of the options for my previous car and I was thinking really hard whether to go for the ii or iv. In fact, I've put in deposit on the ii first and decided iv is the way to go. To side track a bit (and pick on non iphone owners) I have a lot of friends who are very very skeptical about the usefulness of an iphone, the common responses are " I can check email when i get home, I don't need nav, I don't need apps, it's weird no being able to feel the keypad...etc" Lo and behold, every single one of them who played with my phone alittle bit, end up with an iphone, completely forgot how bitter they were. So my point is, sure, it's not going to hurt you to live without those functions, but they sure will make you very happy.

go with the solar roof!

 

-water repellent windows
I can see the difference, but I don't know if it worth it!

-plasmacluster
Not available in my car?!

-smartkey for passenger and hatch backdoor
After a month of use, I really miss it when I drive other car without it. Well worth it.

-autodimming
This is something that you will never notice how well it work until you drive a car without it. I'd consider it essential.

-homelink
If it work with your garage door, its great. If it doesn't, you just paid for noting.

-leather seating
I will not drive any car without it. It very easy to clean and maintain.

-heated seats
This is the best thing invented in the world (I live in Toronto, Canada). I ready miss the heated steering wheel on my wife car.

 

I knew when I got the IV that I couldn't use Homelink since I live in a condo and have no garage. Now if only I could get it to open the front door of our building....

Because it says plasmacluster on the dash it is normal to think that there's a switch, but there isn't.

One question (I know, rtm, but..), does plasmacluster work both whether you have outside air or are recirculating air?

I haven't had to use the heated seats yet, but looking forward to it. I'm really not sure if all the goodies are worth $2800 but SKS is great.

Rich N.

 

The extra feature I was interested in was lumbar support. I don't care about the rest.

 

I still don't see the appeal of leather seats -- the only reason they need to be heated is because leather gets COLD the way fabric does not -- and in the summer, how can anybody stand getting out when wearing shorts? Don't your legs stick to the leather? The car I drive for work (as a nanny) has leather seats and I can't stand them! But, to each his own, I guess!

 

I live in Buffalo and yes leather can be cold in winter and hotter than cloth in summer. But heated leather seats heat quickly in the prius I found with out recent cool nights in the 40's. Nice on a snowy drive home for sure.

But I also find them to have more support as well. They are not as "soft" as the cloth seating material.

Personal choice in the end though..

 

actually, this has been the first real week that the heated seats could be tried and i will say first off, i have very little experience with heated seats, but i was amazed at how fast they warmed up and how much heat they put out. put a vibrator in there it would be almost as good as any of the massager chairs.

as far as sticky in summer, i pretty much wear shorts 100% of my off time between mid april to mid oct and never had an issue with stickiness at all.

 

Auto dim is great. If you don't have it, you can buy it from the maker (forgot the name...go Google) for less than $100. Easy install.

 

I have a Prius GIII V model. And, to tell you the truth, the extras have been well worth it. I didn't go as far to get the Advanced Technology though because I can drive within my lanes, parallel park easily, and such. But, I'm honestly impressed with this vehicle. I had a 2006 Prius GII previously for four wonderful years. So far, I'd have to give them a compliment for the improvements they have made.

 

I'm shure they worth the price but i'm not a good exemple, i bought the 2010 Prius with no extra equippement package since i found that the naked version was better equipped then any other cars i had in my life. I just find the sound of the media center a bit ordinary, still good but ordinary.
The standard equippement i find supperb ? : "auto-electric-window-up" and down on four doors. That's good and came standard !!!