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Is the 2013 model launching in the next few months?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by aviphysics, Aug 31, 2012.

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  1. aviphysics

    aviphysics Junior Member

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    I tried searching all over for an answer but there is a lot of noise from people referring to the 2012 model as the 2013 model.

    My current car is heading towards a lot of maintenance so I want to trade it in while the thing is still appears to be running well.

    For reference, my current car is a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid that needs new motor mounts ($2000), battery ($3000), and probably a new transmission soon as well ($3000) :(. Very fun car to drive hard but I am always too fuel conscious to really take advantage.

    I am not in love with the Prius C, but it seems to be the best replacement car at this time. Thinking about a four series as I want a car that will be comfortable for the next 10 years. Really wish they had an upgrade for the plastic steering wheel.
     
    #1 aviphysics, Aug 31, 2012
  2. napmaster

    napmaster Junior Member

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    Prius C only came out in March of this year. I think it's too soon for a new model. Maybe next March.
     
    #2 napmaster, Aug 31, 2012
  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Four series? You looking at a Prius c model four?

    Plastic steering wheel? Don't most <$25K cars w/o leather interiors come w/plastic (covered) steering wheels too? Maybe you can get some aftermarket work done on the wheel (e.g. leather wrapping)? I've never have anything like that done.

    Sorry to hear about your HAH.
     
    #3 cwerdna, Aug 31, 2012
  4. tk1971

    tk1971 Active Member

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    I can't imagine putting a leather cover on top of the C's already monster thick steering wheel.

    If you do, then you gotta have sasquatch hands to drive it.
     
    #4 tk1971, Aug 31, 2012
    chicagoaficionado likes this.
  5. Ryephile

    Ryephile The Technophile

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    FYI go check out a BMW //M car; they have the thickest steering wheel rims that I can think of.


    To the OP: you can retrofit a regular Prius leather-covered steering wheel, but be prepared to pay OEM-level prices. Also, if you're not in love with the car, go test drive a bunch of other cars. The Prius c is not for everyone; it all depends what your're used to and what you like in a car.
     
    #5 Ryephile, Aug 31, 2012
  6. aviphysics

    aviphysics Junior Member

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    cwerdna. Yes. The "Prius C Four" will also look at a Three, but I really want to get the version I find most comfortable to drive. My first 30-60 minutes every day are in the car, so it plays a big role in setting my attitude.

    Ryephile
    I test drove a lot of cars and wasn't in love with any of them. A lot of it I think is from being spoiled by driving a big powerful car. A high revving 4 cylinder is just never going to match the beautiful low notes of a 3L V6 and none of the fuel efficient cars come close to the quiet ride of my Accord. The thing is I don't want to buy another big powerful car, because I don't like paying for it. Also, the CVT style transmission doesn't give that vroom vroom quality a conventional transmission has. When you push the CVT it sounds like you are going to kill the car. This seems to be the case with all CVT cars accept the Lexus RX400h, which has a V6 and only gets way lower mileage.

    Basically, the Prius C seams like the best of the practical commute cars and seems to have the lowest long term cost of ownership. If you don't plan to sell the car, it handily beats even the budget conscious Ford Fiesta (comparing car price vs running cost over 5 years). The only cars that have lower running costs, like Nissan Leaf, are much more expensive.

    I did consider the Nissan Leaf, the problem with that car is that every couple of months we need two long range cars for this or that reason. I test drove the Chevy Volt and found the console controls annoyingly unresponsive (what were they thinking with the capacitive touch junk). Both cars are a little to expensive for me anyway.

    Also looked at the normal Prius and thought the trim package I wanted was to expensive and I didn't like the performance much more and really didn't like the styling.
     
    #6 aviphysics, Aug 31, 2012
  7. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    Yeah that’s exactly what I was going to say. BMWs steering wheels are very thick, I love the way they are designed.
     
    #7 rioe, Aug 31, 2012
  8. tk1971

    tk1971 Active Member

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    Have you test drove something like a Mazda 3 or a Yaris with a manual transmission? Not exactly Accord V6 territory, but they get close to hybrid mpg and keeps some level of fun with the manual transmission.
     
    #8 tk1971, Aug 31, 2012
  9. aviphysics

    aviphysics Junior Member

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    I did test drive a Mazda 3, the thing is that my commute has a lot of stop and go so I tend to get closer to city driving mileage, for which the mileage on the Mazda 3 is not that great, at least not compared to the Prius C.
     
    #9 aviphysics, Aug 31, 2012
  10. strongbad

    strongbad Member

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    The 2013 Prius C will come in yellow or summer rain. They're dropping all the other colors. They're increasing the capacity of the battery to 1.5kWh and reducing it's size and weight at the same time by (finally) going to lithium-ion batteries. The new model will be able to fold the back seat all the way down as a result and mileage will increase 12%.

    That's the rumor, anyway. And I'm starting it.
     
    #10 strongbad, Sep 2, 2012
  11. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    33 or 31 mpg combined is "close to hybrid mpg"? See Compare Side-by-Side. Prius c and liftback are EPA rated at 50 mpg combined.
     
    #11 cwerdna, Sep 2, 2012
  12. JLee81

    JLee81 Junior Member

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    I guess I have sasquatch hands then, lol. I put a wheelskin on mine. It's so much better having perforated leather under your hands. My hands were always sweaty with the plastic steering wheel.

    SGH-T989 ? 2
     
    #12 JLee81, Sep 2, 2012
  13. tk1971

    tk1971 Active Member

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    I spoke from experience, as I also have a Wheelskin cover on my Expedition.
     
    #13 tk1971, Sep 2, 2012
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  14. PriusCinBlack

    PriusCinBlack Member

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    Mazda 3 gets terrible mileage for such a small car- like 23-25 mpg.

    Also, I put a Wheelskin on my C's steering wheel because the rough plastic was giving me blisters on long drives. It's comfortable, and I don't even have sasquatch hands. Costs a little over 50 bucks. "Problem" solved.
     
    #14 PriusCinBlack, Sep 3, 2012
  15. tk1971

    tk1971 Active Member

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    Anybody know what other Toyota leather steering wheels fit the Prius C?

    For my previous car (08 base Yaris 3-door), a $25 used (mint from the salvage yard) 05 Scion TC stock leather covered steering wheel fit nicely.

    I'd prefer to change out the entire steering wheel than to install a Wheelskin cover and get my hands all cut up with that dental floss lacing.

    Anyone want to post a pic of their steering wheel with a Wheelskin cover?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    #15 tk1971, Sep 3, 2012
  16. PriusCinBlack

    PriusCinBlack Member

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    There's already a thread on it from a month ago or so
     
    #16 PriusCinBlack, Sep 3, 2012
  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    If you're worried about comfort and quiet you should test drive a c and a Liftback before buying. Neither car is a luxury model but the c is a bit rougher.
     
    #17 F8L, Sep 3, 2012
  18. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    The '11 Mazda 3 w/SkyActiv engine is better than previous years and earlier engines, some of which are still available. It's EPA rated at 31 or 33 mpg combined, depending on transmission. It's still nowhere close to the Prius or Prius c.
     
    #18 cwerdna, Sep 3, 2012
  19. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    Exactly....
     
    #19 SILVERCwSUN, Sep 3, 2012
  20. ChinchillaGirl

    ChinchillaGirl OrcaCar

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    The Thread is here:Steering Wheel Cover doesn't Fit My C | PriusChat
    I posted my pics on Aug 11- still love the cover!
     
    #20 ChinchillaGirl, Sep 3, 2012
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