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Prius III confusion

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by GlennMc, Jul 28, 2012.

  1. GlennMc

    GlennMc New Member

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    I bought a 2010 Prius III from a dealer at the end of 2011. One of the conditions I had at the time was hands free phone bluetooth. Since it does not have the steering wheel buttons the dealer put in the blulogic add-on. It has kinda worked ok part of the time and not worked at all sometimes. I did a little research and this is where the confusion comes in, and accorinding to the Toyota website the thing that distinguishes a 2010 Prius III from a 2010 Prius II are a JBL AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer and Wireless cell phone link. I am pretty sure I do not have the JBL system since I only have 6 speakers and none have the JBL logo. As for the Wireless cell phone link I could not test due to no steering wheel buttons or other device until they installed the blulogic.

    So, with that said, how could my title say Prius III when the car does not have the things Toyota points out? Are there other things that make it a III? Maybe the wireing harness for a III was installed but the other items were left off. How would I get the info I need so I can upgrade my system?

    Glenn
     
  2. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    Prius III refers to the 2010-current model of the Prius. That breaks down further to Prius III/1-5 models. It sounds like you are confusing the Prius 3rd Generation/III with the sub model 1-5 option packages.

    You have a Prius III per your title.

    To upgrade you car from a Prius III/2 to a Prius III/4 would likely not be possible without spending huge amount of money. Just sell it as is and you should be fine.
     
  3. GlennMc

    GlennMc New Member

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    That clears a few things up. Thanks much for the information.

    Glenn
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Stop posting misinformation and using confusing terminology! You don't seem to stop despite me telling you to (such as at Can't decide between a C or a regular Prius | PriusChat and Can't decide between a C or a regular Prius | PriusChat) and others getting annoyed (Is the Prius v *that* much more comfortable than the hatchback? | PriusChat).

    I'm pretty sure Toyota has never referred to the 3rd gen Prius as "Prius III" other than the 2010 Prius model III.

    For 3rd generation Prius (2010+), in 2010, the models were called I, II, III, IV, and V. See Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota. Sounds like the OP has a 2010 Prius II, since on the 2010 and 2011, you had to go to model III (or Three in MY2011+ parlance), at minimum to get the JBL stereo and factory Bluetooth.

    Starting w/2011 model year, the Roman numerals were ditched in favor of spelling out the words (MY11 Prius | PriusChat), so I=One, II=Two, III=Three, etc.

    Notice at Toyota | Third Generation Toyota Prius is World's Best-Selling Hybrid (for 2011 model year), there's no III in there? Notice that at Toyota | 2012 Toyota Prius, America's Best-Selling Hybrid, Adds Revised Styling and Advanced Infotainment Features (for 2012 model year), there's no III in there?

    Notice that at All-New Third Generation Toyota Prius Raises the Bar for Hybrid Vehicles – Again and Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota the only references to I, II, III, IV, V are references to equipment packages/models?

    Google for
    Code:
    site:pressroom.toyota.com "prius iii"
    .
    Notice that the only hits are in reference to model III (JBL-equipped and w/Bluetooth) of the 2010 Prius?
     
  5. robertk328

    robertk328 Member

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    Mine is a 2010 Prius III and I have the JBL and steering wheel controls for bluetooth. The II didn't have either.
     
  6. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    That's correct.

    I also helped a friend buy a new 2011 Prius end of last year. She was originally considering a model Two (II in 2010 parlance) but went for a Three (III in 2010 parlance) as she wanted factory Bluetooth hands-free.
     
  7. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    The state got it right with the Prius III on your title, no doubt getting it from Toyota to designate the III'rd generation Prius.
     
  8. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    (n)
    Sigh... OP has a 2010 Prius II. He has no JBL stereo and no factory Bluetooth. Please refer to Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota again.


    The only reference to Prius III is for model III. 2010prius.png
     
  9. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    State and Toyota call it a Prius III on the car title.

    III as in third generation is a common practice and allows Toyota to differentiate between Prius Generations I, II and III and then, as we see on Toyota website, use One, Two, Three, Four, Five to differentiate trim levels within each generation.
     
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Where are all the URLs for (past or present) pages, PDFs or other documents hosted at toyota.com which refer to the 3rd generation Prius as a whole as "Prius III"? Pages that still exist will be much more convincing though. If the document has changed or the link is dead, Internet Archive: Wayback Machine might help.

    No, the 2010 Prius (model) III doesn't count.

    Toyota used Roman numerals to differentiate the trim levels on the 2010 Prius, before switching to spelling out the words starting w/model year 2011.
     
  11. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    I see 3rd generation (aka III) and then Prius One, Two, Three, Four, Five. The earth is moving under your feet, chuckle.
     
  12. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    URL of toyota.com pages that say "Prius III" other than pages talking about the 2010 Prius III (aka model III, above II, below IV)?

    Seriously, it seems like you just post your goofy nomenclature just to bug people. It's worse when you post misinformation when someone has a question.
     
  13. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    I have the 2010 brochure right here in my hand. Toyota refers to it as the third generation Prius throughout, never Prius III except when for the specific model configuration III. They are also frequently called gen 1, gen 2 and gen 3. The OP's title has a typo, that's all.
     
  14. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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  15. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    The print brochure has lots of text, welcome to the 3rd generation Prius, the 3rd generation Prius features blah blah, in designing the 3rd generation Prius we blah blah. If Prius III was ever the designation for the entire line I would imagine they would have used it, just to cut down on the verbiage!
     
  16. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    Well I wouldn't get too hung up about it. Whatever works for you. Prius III/1-5 works well to differentiate which generation and then the model in that generation. It was interesting that Prius III was on the title from the state.
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I go away for a while, and come back to find Prox posting even more misinformation than before.

    As the owner of a 2010 Prius II for nearly three years, until just three months ago, I must back up Cwerdna's version. Prius' 2010 trim levels are I, II, III, IV, and V. Toyota created some confusion for 2011 by changing trim levels to One, Two, Three, Four, and Five.

    I'm not going to scan in the 2010 brochure, but it uniformly indicates generation as "3rd generation Prius".

    For another point of reference, go to Edmunds Used Cars to price used 2010s and 2011s, and look at the available trim levels for each year.
     
  18. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    Oh dear. Guess you have a 2010 Prius III/Two now.
     
  19. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yes, very annoying.

    FWIW, I was amongst the 50 or so (mostly Priuschatters) who were invited to the 2010 Prius unveiling in Detroit in January 09. A # of notable and active Priuschatters were also there, including most of the current moderators and Danny. There were definitive no trim levels announced or decided at that time, but I'd been following announcements after we returned.

    Prius Team even made an announcement about 2010 Prius I at Prius I, and Other News | PriusChat. Unfortunately, due to the software change, the original post was lost, but fortunately quoted.

    In addition, I just downloaded a complete brochure from 2012 Toyota Prius Vehicle Brochure. I did a find for iii and III. Guess what? No hits.
     
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ... yet more misinformation. I have no such car now.

    Look left.