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'05 Prius got totalled- what's new in '11?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Ghoti, Jul 6, 2011.

  1. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    A soda delivery driver tried to make a delivery into my back seat the other day. I just got the call that my beloved, trusty '05 Prius has been declared a total loss.

    I'm in the process of getting my check from the insurance company, and am planning on using it on a down payment on a new Prius; I was just looking for impressions from any other forumgoers who have upgraded from an '05 to a current-gen model - What's new? Better? Worse?

    My '05 was a package 6 - all the trimmings, but I can't afford RADAR-administered cruise control or the sunroof- looks like for a comparable car I'm looking at a Prius III with the GPS tacked on, though I really just want the integrated Bluetooth functionality.

    Can anyone recommend a good dealer in the Phoenix area? I stopped to get some numbers at one dealer and got myself roped into a high-pressure sales situation with an otherwise nice gentleman who wanted me to drive off the lot with a 2010 model for more than the price of a better-equipped 2010.

    Are dealers for the most part sticking with MSRP, or are those days gone?

    (Jeepers, it's been quite some time since I last came here. y'all!)
     
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Sorry to hear about your wrecked Prius. BTW, is your handle pronounced 'fish'? :)

    There are a lot of improvements w/the 3rd gen (2010+ model year). See http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...5566-what-difference-between.html#post1351202. There were no significant changes between the 2010 and 2011 model year.

    Since it sounds like you had SKS on your 2nd gen, one annoyance you might find is on the 3rd gen, you have to get model Four (formerly IV) or above to get 3-door SKS. See Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota (prices are old and Toyota has gone to spelling out the numbers instead of Roman numerals). Otherwise, you'll only have 1-door SKS (driver's door only).

    2nd gen either had no SKS (aka 0-door) or 3-door SKS.

    Also, another annoyance on the (US) 3rd gen is that you must get the nav system in order to get the rear backup camera.
     
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  3. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    I'm satisfied with my Prius III and love the bluetooth. I think pricing is edgy right now as Toyota production to ramps up from the earthquake and nuke disaster. AZ is a big state, but don't let that deter you from searching dealer inventories/pricing across a spread of zip codes. There might be some 2010s through Toyota Certified PreOwned. Good luck!
     
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  4. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

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    Sorry about your loss!!
    My experience with the Toyota Certified Preowned website was not good. I was looking for a used 2010 or 2011. At least in this area (MA and CT) the website was 2-3 months out of date. Whenever I called about a specific vehicle, the dealers would tell me it had been sold ages ago. I don't think the dealers were posting fake vehicles because the site gives VIN#'s and Carfax reports.

    In any case, the prices were close to or even above MSRP for new 2011's, so I simply bought a new 2011 Two at MSRP.
     
  5. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    Oh, it's very possible some dealers post sold vehicles as a means to generate inquiries.

    I too notice that one year old prices are very high. I just used KBB.com and see that my 2010 Prius with 25K is worth more than I paid. I don't take that information too seriously, but it is an indicator that Prius pricing is still escallated. Pricing will come down.
     
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  6. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Glad to hear you are OK. I bought my '10 at Larry Miller in Peoria. They seemed nice and fair about the deal. Are you a member of Costco? If so, they might still be offering the Costco fleet deal which can save you about $800 off of MSRP.

    I have since switched my visits to Camelback Toyota as they are closer to me and they are nice too. Service visits are fast and very reasonable. See West Ballard (service rep) and he can hook you up with a salesman there.
     
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  7. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    Thanks. I'm glad to be okay :)

    It's funny you mention those dealers. I live near the former, and the latter is where I got roped into the sales pitch. Despite my protestations that I was still information-seeking, they were doing their damndest to get me to drive off the lot with their used 2010 which didn't have the features I wanted, and was throwing a skid alert light on the dash after stopping at every red light.
     
  8. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    That is indeed the right pronounciation! Well done.
    That's a shame; I was really spoiled by SKS but don't know if I can swing a Four. Maybe I can talk Pepsi into giving me a new car; it'd be really nice to not be out of pocket due to their driver's incompetence (Actual quote from the scene of the accident: "I totally didn't see you there!" I was rear-ended. I'd love to know which way he was looking).
    Well, since I need the integrated Bluetooth support (another thing I was totally spoiled by), it looks like I need to get the GPS anyhow. Does the '11 still have the "cheat code" so that I can allow my passengers to play with the GPS whilst the car is moving? I seem to recall people having trouble finding information on that for the '06.
     
  9. GSW

    GSW PRIUS POWER

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    Whatever Gen III deal you make, make the dealer adjust the backup "beep" down to ONE beep only before you close the deal. It will drive you nuts if you don't and you'll be searching PC for HELP! Good luck, hope you find the right Prius.
     
  10. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    We have non-nav bluetooth in prius III.
     
  11. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    BT phone support is included on all Prius with JBL system (Prius II - V), and BT music streaming is only included w/ nav.
     
  12. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    Were you pushing the brake hard when you stopped?
    That activates Hill Start Assist which does not have a separate light but lights up the skid alert.
     
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  13. spdyike

    spdyike Luvin my Prius

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    Sorry to hear about the 05. I don't know what bank you use, but if you're a USAA member you can use their car buying service. I got mine under MSRP back in March. Good luck with your search.
     
  14. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    Apparently I will need to read the friendly manual to find all the new features. I have been self-trained to basically stand on the brake when at a stoplight, so that getting rear-ended will be (slightly) less likely to shoot me into an intersection. I may have to retrain myself. Good to know; thanks.
     
  15. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    Does that include syncing contacts to the car's computer so that I can see who's calling, or is that only with the navigation system?

    I have a car I may be picking up tomorrow that my salesperson told me had a "better" Bluetooth system than the one they could install at the dealer post-factory. Is that the one with nav too, or are there two classes of Bluetooth support that don't also include the touchscreen?
     
  16. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    You can program the sks on the 11 to unlock all the doors at the same time from the drivers door handle, it makes things a lot easier.:)
     
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  17. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yep, but this doesn't replace not having SKS antennas and sensors on the hatch and passenger side door.
     
  18. Ghoti

    Ghoti Member

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    I can? or do I have to ask the dealer to? I remember doing some interesting magic with the power button and the ODO button to turn off the reverse-beep and to turn on the passenger seat belt beeping. Are there still magic incantations for these that I can do, or do I have to have the dealer do it?

    Also, if I can still get poor mans' SKS, I guess I won't have to be all gallant and open the door for my partner after all. Not that I'd've minded doing so, but there it is.
     
  19. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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  20. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    On my car (w/ nav) you can upload contacts to the car. It doesn't automatically sync every time you power up the car.

    Not sure about non-nav cars.