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Is the 2015 still a good buy?

Discussion in 'Dealers & Pricing' started by Boji, Feb 27, 2015.

  1. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

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    I know that the 2015 Prius is the last year of the current generation, with the new 2016 coming out at the end of this year. However, as much as the new one will probably have a Li-Ion pack and be more efficient overall, it might have its share of issues: being built in North America for the first time, at a new plant, with an all new design and all new technology. Sounds like a recipe for disaster almost!

    This brings me to consider the 2015 Prius--Toyota has been building this car for 5 years now, so build issues should be at a minimum. I live in Canada, and am shopping for the "moonroof upgrade package", which I think is roughly equivalent to a Prius 3 in the US. But the dealer is only taking off $700, which sounds a bit strange to me when most people in the US seem to be getting $2500-$3000 off theirs. Am I right to think so? Would you recommend buying a 2015 Prius, considering it'll be revamped at the end of this year?

    Thanks!
     
  2. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    I do not know much about the add-ons and discounts. If I needed a new commuter car today, I would buy one.
     
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  3. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

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    Thanks ForestBeekeeper! I also forgot to mention that I do a lot of highway (90% of my driving is highway), and some say that the Prius isn't the best car for that reason, but I tend to disagree--many cars don't get 50 MPG on the highway, but the Prius does...
     
  4. haole man

    haole man Member

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    I find my Prius to be an excellent highway car. I don't have a long commute, but I've done several long trips and am very happy with it.
     
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  5. Bskija

    Bskija Junior Member

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    I have found that your mpg depends on the weather. If it is cold out side I average 50 mpg. If it is nice out side in the summer I can get 55 mpg. My city driving is about 90%. Because at the lower speed in the city the two motors do most of the work. Motors are at their best at low speed. Engines are at their best at highway speed. I have a Prius 2 2011. I use the o/20 synthetic oil and change it every 10,000 miles. I feel this kind of oil probably helps your gas mileage.
     
    #5 Bskija, Feb 27, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2015
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  6. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    At $700 off it is not a good buy, try other dealers. If you intend to buy the car and own it for 150 to 250 thousand Km, it's a good buy, but if you trade cars every 3 years, not so much.
     
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  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm going to hope and believe that Toyota has so much invested into The Prius brand, that the next Generation Prius IS going to be a great product.

    Having said that? I waited about 3 years before I bought my Gen 3 Prius just so the "bugs" could be worked out, and I could monitor the feedback of owners to see if any major problems were arising.

    It's up to the individual. Some people REALLY value being the first on the block with the latest.
    I don't have the money to gamble. I'm more conservative, I don't feel I necessarily HAVE to be first with the latest. I'll watch and listen to everything once the next generation is released. I'll be interested. But I can wait, probably until the first refresh before I seriously consider making a move.

    PS.

    When I first started considering seriously buying a Prius, it was the last model year of The Gen 2. I came a hairs breath away from buying a brand new 2009 Gen 2.

    I think it would of been an excellent deal, and my guess is I would of been very happy with it.

    So if you want a Hybrid and your question is, Is the 2015 a good buy? My answer would be Yes.
    And buying one today, doesn't exclude making a trade or "upgrade" 2-3 years from now.
     
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  8. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    Our Prius is great on the highways.
     
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  9. matt b.

    matt b. Member

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    Maybe the better option for you is to lease. Lease it for 2 years, by then bugs "if any" will have been worked out, then consider buying the 2015.
    Let us know, good luck.
    Remember, as long as it's a prius, you can't lose.
     
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  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    $700 off MSRP for a G3 is a poor price, but it only tells half of the story.

    In addition to whatever problems (if any) plague the G4, you already know that it's going to cost more than the G3.
    I also expect that the "leftover" G3s will go on sale after the G4 comes out of it's loooooooong gestation period.
    Lastly, and this certainly will NOT apply to me, some people will actually be drawn to the G4 by the new look of the car.

    Yes.
    I'll take a 2015 G3 over a 201? G4.
    You KNOW it's every bit as efficient and reliable as the 2010, 2011, 2012.....
     
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  11. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

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    Thank you for the comments--I like the fact that this generation, and the others before it, use tested technologies... knowing Toyota, they'll probably do a great job with the next generation, but to buy the current gen is the probably the safest bet unless you want the latest.
     
  12. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    I agree with buying a mature generation model for now. If the next gen is fantastic, your gen 3 will make a good trade by the time it's been out a few years already, and any bugs have been worked out.
     
  13. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    I bought the 2001 and it was fine. There were some recalls, but as they are recalls, they were free fixes. My main issues with that car were that it was lower powered than I preferred, and you couldn't fold the seats down. Mechanically it was perfectly fine though.

    I bought the 2004 and it was my daily car until this week, when it got totalled in a crash. There were some recalls, but as they are recalls, they were free fixes. My main issue with that car is the lack of an aux input for the stereo system. Seriously. Oh and I began to want AWD, but none of that generation offered AWD anyway.

    If it hadn't been for the crash, I would have waited for the 2016 to see what it offered. If I liked what it offered (particularly AWD), I might have bought it, or perhaps a Prius v version since we now have large car seats for the kids.

    As it stands now though, I'll have to get something else. Anything from a Prius v to a cheaper non-hybrid crossover, or perhaps more expensive vehicles all the way up to Lexus RX 450h. Tough decision. So many choices these days.
     
  14. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    lol I didn't realise that. So at long last Toyota are making the next Prius in the US? I'm guessing that'll mean they'll 'tune' the car for local expectations and requirements; a stronger, larger, more powerful engine, the car will be larger and wider. It'll become less economical but at $10 a barrel of oil who cares? Give it a few more tweaks and adjustments over it's lifetime and it'll lose it's title as worlds most economical car.

    Add to that the American way of offering parts contracts to the cheapest tender and you'll end up with a car that'll have the quality control of Chrysler.

    I think you're right. It's a recipe for distaster.


    Hmmm, this has got me thinking. Sales of the Prius in the UK and Europe are falling as locally produced hybrids are stealing sales. Sales of the Prius in Japan will probably be taken by the Mirai and the US built Prius will be tuned for and only sold in the home market. Will the gen3 Prius be the last 'world' model and are it's days are numbered?
     
  15. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

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    Perhaps--after all, if we look at the names, "Prius" means "to go before"; "Mirai" means "future" in Japanese.
     
  16. Bskija

    Bskija Junior Member

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    Toyoda means a fertile field of rice. When the Japanese purchased a Toyota Echo or Yaris they expect a free 25 pound bag of rice and a 50 pound bag of rice for the more expensive models. To correct this problem they changed their name to Toyota.

    The reason Toyota makes some of their vehicles in the US is the dollar is more stable than the Japanese yen.
     
  17. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    I have to agree with buying the 2015 for stated reasons. The price should go down near the end of any given month when the Dealership tries to make sales goals...if it's like here. As for the Prius being built in the US, I do have issue with that. The US work ethic and quality control sucks compared to Japan's.
     
  18. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    A lot of Toyotas and Hondas are assembled in the US and they are fine cars (I own a 2013 Avalon). American workers are not a recipe for disaster, now as for American executives, that's another matter. However since the big execs of Honda and Toyota are Japanese, no problem.
     
  19. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

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    I don't really have a problem with North American workers at all, but rather the fact that it'll be a new car, new platform perhaps?, new factory, new hybrid system, new battery. In short, it's a complete overhaul of the Prius, and that's what I'm concerned about.