joining the club but which to buy?

[stonewell]

well guys, this is my first post (yay!) and i hope this won't be the last. I've been looking into hybrid camry and prius for awhile & after getting a demo for 24hrs on both cars, i've decided to go w/ Prius. but there's certain things that kinda need prius owners help with.

1) i'm trading in my sports car so i don't mind the "sporty ride" but can you tell that much difference in the ride?
2) in TN (cinnci region), doesn't offer leather seats (in Touring Edition that is) so, is it possible to get the same leather cover to replace the cloth?

the reason for those questions are that i really don't wanna spend money for just the tag of "Touring Edition" if i can get TRD or other aftermarket to make the ride better or the same. and i need leather seat cos i have dogs. many ppl thinks that sounds weird but vaccuming & cleaning leather seats is lot easier than clothee seats

I'm hoping to get my Prius b4 March 31st, for the tax thingy so please help me! >.<

[Beryl Octet]

The Touring Edition seems like a real bargain, it includes springs, struts, 16" wheel/tires and HID headlights and was only a few hundred dollars if I remember correctly. It might be easier/cheaper to add the leather seats aftermarket to a T/E than to upgrade the handling of a regular model with leather seats.

[NoMoShocks]

I drove them both, and I could not tell that much difference between the two.

I think you should be able to find someone to add the leather that is as good as or better than factory, and at a lower price.

At first, I was going to buy the Touring for the 16 inch alloy rims, because I thought they looked a little better. Then, the sales people pointed out to me that if you remove the beauty rims, the 15 inch rims look more like the 16 inch rims, and I found IMO they both looked better without the rings.

Since I bought my non touring Package 5, I have heard that the rear spoiler is a little bigger on the touring edition. I may have went for it if I knew earlier, because I am a Wing Man.

Whichever you buy, I think you will love the car.

[Gadgetdad]

<_< If you are upgrading from your sports car, I would recommend getting the Touring for the improved handling. Later add the BT stiffening plate to tighten it up further. Good luck, let us all know what you get.

Lee

[Beryl Octet]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Mar 15 2007, 11:11 PM) [snapback]406558[/snapback]</div>

At first, I was going to buy the Touring for the 16 inch alloy rims, because I thought they looked a little better. Then, the sales people pointed out to me that if you remove the beauty rims, the 15 inch rims look more like the 16 inch rims, and I found IMO they both looked better without the rings.

[/b]

Looks aside, I'd pick the T/E just to avoid the experience of driving on the Integrities that come with the base model. I like the 15's without the trim rings, too, I see about half the Prius's here have removed them. The OP should probably try to drive both versions and see which one they like better.

[V8Cobrakid]

Touring model


my $.02

[stonewell]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Mar 15 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]406556[/snapback]</div>

The Touring Edition seems like a real bargain, it includes springs, struts, 16" wheel/tires and HID headlights and was only a few hundred dollars if I remember correctly. It might be easier/cheaper to add the leather seats aftermarket to a T/E than to upgrade the handling of a regular model with leather seats.
[/b]

hmmm you have a great point Touring Edition may be the way to go for me.


What do you guys think about the nav? is it better to go w/ the aftermarket?

[cireecnop1]

I would say touring all the way, but definately get a Prius with the Nav already in it. I just like factory options makes it funner to use and looks better then a Garmin sitting on your dash. my $.02

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stonewell @ Mar 16 2007, 05:53 AM) [snapback]406684[/snapback]</div>

hmmm you have a great point Touring Edition may be the way to go for me.
What do you guys think about the nav? is it better to go w/ the aftermarket?
[/b]

The consensus on this seems to be that, while the Toyota nav is acceptable, many other (aftermarket) nav units are superior when it comes to the navigation software. However, as TomorrowMatters points out, the fact that the Toyota Nav is integrated into the car is very nice and gives a much "cleaner" look.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably pick the Toyota Nav, since it gets decent reviews and the "integrated" factor would be a big one for me.

[mooney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Mar 16 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]406728[/snapback]</div>

The consensus on this seems to be that, while the Toyota nav is acceptable, many other (aftermarket) nav units are superior when it comes to the navigation software. However, as TomorrowMatters points out, the fact that the Toyota Nav is integrated into the car is very nice and gives a much "cleaner" look.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably pick the Toyota Nav, since it gets decent reviews and the "integrated" factor would be a big one for me.
[/b]

The integrated factor is a huge one for sure, but damn, the price is steep. You're going to spend 2k or so on integrated nav. Check over in the Audio and Electronics Section, I just posted a link to Costco.com where they have the Garmin Nuvi 350 for $349 until March 22, that's a hell of a buy.

In the end, I opted for no nav simply because I travel alot and having a handheld GPS made the most sense. If you don't travel a lot, will want nav primarily in the Prius, then it's hard to argue with the integrated GPS, although the price still stings.