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moving from prius gen3 to PIP. Regrets?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by wantaprius, Sep 20, 2014.

  1. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    My cost per mile has dropped to maybe 10% from what it was with a Prius.
    My routine maintenance costs have dropped even more.
    My time saved sending gas money to the enemy has dropped to zero most months.

    A Prius with a bigger battery is pretty cool, I understand everyone's fanboi enthusiasm. If it suits you, fantastic!!
    A Proper 4-season EV is cooler. And if it is an EREV even cooler in my book.
    Technology marches on.
    What will the next Gen PiP be like? Probably more Volt-like, no?

    ps, sorry to rile the rileable....
     
    #101 Bill Norton, Sep 23, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2014
  2. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    I am at least glad to hear there is a reason the plastic looks more"cheesey"
    I dint look at the end but it was in EV mode most of the way and we went until ev was used up. I have found that most of the dealers I have talked to know very little about the PiPs. I feel like I know more than they did and I am just learning. They really don't even know the selling points! I think I could sell it better! BTW why are there so few PiPs out there to buy?
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they ran the '14 inventory down with specials and the '15's are trickling in. toyota doesn't want to have to discount the heck out of them to move them this year. limit supply = increase demand.;)
     
  4. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    I am disappointed. There is really no negotiating price. It seems 30,600 is about it for a base model. When I bought my prius in '06 it was the same thing. The price came down the next couple years after I got mine. Not many were available then either.
     
  5. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    It does exist. Just hook up Torque app to monitor RPM, IGN Timing and HP of the ICE during the warm up. You can see it making only a few horsepower (should make around 15hp) at around 1,300 rpm with IGN timing totally different than in normal operation.

    It pollute less because Atkinson cycle is cleaner than Otto cycle. To put it into perspective, see this comparison.

    PiP emit less CO2 than a regular Prius. That means it uses less gas to finish the warm up (as CO2 has direct correlation to the amount of gas burned).

    So, stop making blind states that said more EV miles with bigger battery is better. There is a need to balance the two power sources and I think Toyota nailed it with PiP with consideration of interior space, recharge time, cost, emission (especially upstream), etc.

    Running on EV is not always cheaper. When I lived in NY, EV miles would cost me more if I switched from a Prius running on gas.
     
  6. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    "EV miles in NY cost more" than a gas burner? Than why would anyone ever buy an EV, PHEV, or EREV in NY. This is hard to believe, sorry.

    I personally don't want to 'balance the two power sources'. I want as much EV as possible. It is WAY cheaper, even without 'free at work charging'.
    I let that stinky gas burner hibernate until it's really needed. Much less maintenance needs that way and longer engine life, you think?
    A Pre-heated/Pre-cooled EV is such a joy to drive in all 4 seasons!!! It's the future, now. Not just a stepping stone.

    But it only has 4 seats, so it's not for the OP, sorry.
     
  7. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Yup, most who purchase the PIP come to the same conclusion, we know more about the PIP than they do!
    You really have to be motivated to buy the PIP.

    ^ See above....:(
    At one point when Toyota was offering $5,000 Toyota Financing discounts on the PIP- (and when you included the $2,500 Fed tax credit) you could get the PIP for the same price as a Three! Now that's nuts.....
     
  8. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Some of us in NY get free charging at work... so $/kW don't matter.
     
  9. Chazz8

    Chazz8 Gadget Lover

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    Answers for wantaprius; I hear and believe that there is not much dealer profit built into the PiP MSRP so they don't reduce the price from there much, if at all. Also, Toyota is not selling the PiP in many states (Mostly selling in CARB states) so there are not and abundance of used PiPs on the market.
     
  10. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    Just put a deposit down on an '14 PiP for 30900 but they are bringing it down from Seattle so I feel ok about it. I think I would have to wait awhile longer to get the '15. I get the 2500 tax credit and I did get 0% financing. It said it is good till the end of Sept but then they will probably give it in Oct. Knowing me the '15 s will come out much cheaper with more incentives but OH Well.
    If i didn't get this I would have gotten the Prius 3 or 4 with a moonroof and it would have cost about the same.
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't feel bad, i paid 32k. the good news is, 2 1/2 years later, i still smile every time i drive it.:)
     
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  12. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    Well I pick up my new car tomorrow. Very excited. Are they going to talk me into adding anything to it. Anythings that you wish you would have purchased from the dealer at the time you bought it. Looks to me like I can get everything like floor mats etc cheaper elsewhere.
     
  13. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    First off... congrats!
    You may want to call before heading out to the dealership to "remind" them to charge your PIP. When I picked mine up.. it had no charge at all for EV mode :(

    The finance guys usually push hard with the extended warranty... it's a Prius, no need for extended warranty.

    100% correct!
     
  14. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    Good idea to ask about plugging it in. I did that before I went for a test drive and by the way the guy talked he wouldn't have done it!
     
  15. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    The heated seats are just plain electric. With the cloth seats, they heat quickly.

    For fogged windows, you have two options:
    1) Use Defrost mode. This requires engine heat, and thus, the engine will start immediately.
    2) Use the Air Conditioner to blow cool, dry air to defrost. To do this, the climate control temp must be set to LO. Then, turn the fan on, direct air to vent to the windshield, and start the AC with fresh, outside air.

    If it's really cold, #2 won't work, because blowing air on an iced windshield won't defrost it. But if it's just fogged, it will work and the ICE won't start up.
     
    wantaprius likes this.
  16. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Reb,
    I don't know about your signature list!?!

    With a Volt you don't have to play "eeny - meeny" if you want a defrosted windshield or a comfy interior.

    In fact you can have both of those waiting for you with a 10 minute 'precondition' from your phone app. Plugged in or not! Hot or cold!
    Let that engine hibernate until needed.

    And wasn't the EV1 just another BEV? Like a Tesla? What if you want to go far?
     
  17. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Bill, I've reported you. At no point did the OP say anything about a Volt. Your coming onto this thread is the definition of being a troll.

    (And like a politician I see you moved away from stuff you don't know hard numbers on.)
     
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  18. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Replies off-topic and promoting another vehicle are blatant attempts to undermine. That's sad and rather desperate.

    When there's ice & snow, having that electricity available does exactly what it was designed to BOOST MPG.

    It's a clear improvement over the regular model Prius, without having to give up any seating room or storage above the false floor.

    It's still a remarkably efficient vehicle. Heck, I just did a 175-mile trip the other day with 2 bikes on back. Arriving with 70% capacity still available, the result was 46 MPG.
     
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  19. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    marka,
    Not sure what there is to report? Did I "rile" you up,,, again? That has got to be totally my fault that YOU are riled up. Sorry.
    john,
    Sorry to "undermine",,, whatever it could possibly be I'm "undermining"... Please tell me what it is, please.

    First, I was responding to rebound's post and his 'signature'.
    Second, is it a rule to only talk about one possible brand of vehicle when choices are talked about?

    I realize the Volt will not work for the OP. I was pointing out to others how another PHEV handles defrost and heat duties without all the fiddlefarting to keep the stinker from running. Just a friendly FYI, you know?
     
    #119 Bill Norton, Sep 29, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2014
  20. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    As the original poster I want to put in my two cents. I compared the two (Volt vs Prius) when I started this quest. I have had a Prius GenII for 6 yrs and there was not one thing about my Prius I didn't love. I would have driven it forever but my 28 yr old loved it just as much and kept prodding me to get the plug in(only so she could have my car.)
    I don't know all the ins and outs of how an engine works (yes you can tell I am a woman) I just know what I love and what works for me. The Volt and several others were out the minute I looked inside. I can haul two carseats and my daughter from the Airport in the back seat and that is a priority. I only wanted to know if it was worth getting the PiP or the reg Prius. I thought it was perfect for me due to my short drives but after reading this site I think I would get it even if it was a longer commute. I see lots of benefits!
    Therefore I really only want to know the benefits of the Pip over the regular Prius.
     
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