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Solar Powered Roof?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Liseberg, Jul 27, 2012.

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  1. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    You only get the heads up on the Prius 4. "Enhanced navigation" on a Prius is an oxymoron, the nav system on the Prius is poor in both functionality and accuracy no matter which system. Toyota asks for a $170 update each year.

    If you go with the Prius 3 without solar roof and nav you do get DRL's which is good but no auto/on/off headlights, no auto dimming mirror, no power seats (essential on 2012 Prius, seats are uncomfortable after 20 mins).

    If you can wait for 2015 vehicles, you might be better off. Prius will likely include those key safety features as Ford offers them standards plus others as option such as blind spot warning that Toyota doesn't even have.

    If you have to buy now and money is a concern, go for Prius Two, buy a Garmin nav have dealer add the DRL's in the blank spot.

    I do love my solar roof. It really works in ventilating hot car and keeping it close to ambient temperature in summer. I open it up a lot in nice weather. It looks great and adds the black roof effect that you pay thousands for in some high end cars.
     
    #81 ProximalSuns, Nov 22, 2012
    mikedow likes this.
  2. priusincc

    priusincc Member

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    Location:
    NV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    For me, the $4000 extra would be hard to justify on the Pri Four. The Pri Three with the solar option(+$1500) does everything I need. I really like the solar roof, it keeps the car comfortable in hot weather. I really don't open the roof much; I think I opened it once to see if it works. If it were a possible option, I would just have gotten the solar part without the opening sunroof, would rather have the quietness. The basic Nav is OK, it's a novelity for me since I never had any experience with any kind of Nav before. It is handy in strange towns.
     
    #82 priusincc, Nov 22, 2012
  3. OceanEyes

    OceanEyes Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2012
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    Location:
    Southeastern Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This was the first new car I purchased on my own at nearly a half century of age. The solar/sun roof was a must for me for whatever car I purchased and I have no regrets... I use mine as much as I can, having grown up with my grandpa's Chrysler convertibles (1960s genre, if I remember). My late mom's Rav4 (totalled in an accident in 2011) also had the sun roof and it was wonderful to have her hit a switch and enjoy sunlight. She bought the same sunroof in her Hyundai Elantra - never got to ask her why she did not stay with Toyota as my family has a long history of Corollas, Tacomas and the Rav4 - I was the first Prius owner.

    The solar roof aspect I most enjoyed was after a four mile run and a cooling system kicked on as I sat in the car getting ready to depart for home. I was like "Oh my Gawd, a hot flash detector! Sweeeet!" Owned my Prius since the end of September and even with a day in the 50s the roof was open on my way to Thanksgiving dinner. No regrets, other than my mom did not get to ride with me this year....
     
    #83 OceanEyes, Nov 22, 2012
    Batavier and mikedow like this.
  4. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    I say if you have the money and want something, buy it. The solar roof is very nice to have. It looks stellar on the car. The power drivers seat is super comfortable. The Softex interior looks and feels excellent. I don't use the factory NAV but it does look cool in the dash. A bonus is the audio system plays DVD movies that you can watch while parked or install the NAV Speed Override module and watch movies while you drive [​IMG] Not recommended by me though. Entune is a hit or miss deal. You'll love it or hate it but some on our forum say to setup your phone as a hotspot and do not install Entune on your phone, and it works. I have yet to try that setup but will do so next spring when I can drive my car again. Be sure to post up pics of your new ride once you get her home.

    Mike
     
    #84 WE0H, Nov 22, 2012
    OceanEyes likes this.
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
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    Canada
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    Other Non-Hybrid
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    Even up north, I'm taking in the benefit of the Solar Roof. It's a luxury not having to pop the moonroof up and because the air goes through the cabin air filter, you don't get the dust and pollen that you would if the window or moonroof was open.

    It cools it down to ambient only so don't expect an cold interior but it does mean that the interior will cool down faster once you start driving as the A/C doesn't have to work as hard.

    In addition, the Remote A/C function does allow you to pre-cool the interior with the A/C on but the remote range is a bit short to make it useful (unless you start it inside the building before you head out) and can further cool the interior before you step in.

    Lastly, I do like the moonroof. Toyota has made it a bit quieter with the moonroof open. I recall on our 2002 Camry that the wind starts to buffet at 60km/h (~40mph) but with the Prius, it's quieter at that speed with little wind noise from the moonroof.
     
    #85 Tideland Prius, Nov 23, 2012
    OceanEyes and WE0H like this.
  6. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    My Prius Two came with DRL's.
     
    #86 markabele, Nov 23, 2012
    WE0H likes this.
  7. mikedow

    mikedow Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    West Palm Beach, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    One
    My sincere thanks to the people who provided great advice the last few days on Prius Chat. This morning I purchased a Blizzard Pearl (that’s white in English) 2012 Prius 4. In the end, I decided that the adjustable seat was more important than the sunroof, so I went with the 4 without the sunroof instead of the 3 with a sunroof.

    My 2007 Prius was red, but it was close to pink when I sold it this morning, so it seemed white was the best choice for a car that is left outside in South Florida.

    I am now plodding my way through the controls at the manuals. That should cover my reading for about a month.
     
    #87 mikedow, Nov 23, 2012
    WE0H likes this.
  8. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    Four
    Well, I'll be darn...my (in)famy has preceded me!

    Here is the actually source: equation #1 (top of 3rd page, pg.226) of article by H.Maclean & L.Lave:
    http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es9905290
     
    #88 70AARCUDA, Jul 6, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2014
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