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2017 Prius Prime First Drive: Best Prius Ever

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Danny, Jul 11, 2016.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ???(n)???
     
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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  3. jdonalds

    jdonalds Active Member

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    I think I may have found my next car. There are several things I don't like about the 2017 Prius Prime, but the good may outweigh the bad.

    First is the price. For me buying a Prius (we own two) is about one thing - Good Value. I can find cheaper cars that don't have the features I want and eventually will cost more due to lower mpg. I can find more expensive cars that clearly will never pay, and frankly most of them don't have the main features I want. The Prius hits a sweet spot for me, and the Prime is just one step better.

    With a number of hybrid or EV cars coming out in the mid $30K range, including the Volt, the Prius Prime simply looks like it is going to be a huge winner. With a starting price around $27K and tax incentives that can drop it down to around $21K it is really hard to beat. I see this as a Volt killer. Toyota already has me chomping at the bit. I've been actively researching new cars for about two months. My search is over.

    Okay now for the Cons:
    - I HATE the white steering wheel and console accents.
    - I've said over and over again lately that I won't buy a car without a spare tire
    - I'm not yet a fan of the huge flat screen center console design
    - I'm not pleased with the loss of the 5th seat
    - After 8 years of driving a Prius I still long for instruments in front of me rather than the center of the dash.
    - I'm sorry to see that Toyota couldn't put the batteries under the floor like the Bolt so the cargo space wouldn't be so impacted.

    But the Pros:
    - The price is SO attractive. For me this is the major factor.
    - Even better mpg than the regular Prius
    - Toyota Safety Sense in an under $25K car. Wow I love it. I long for the adaptive cruise control.
    - 25 mile EV range. For our particular driving habits that works pretty well, although 30 would have been perfect.
    - It still has 19 Cu Ft of cargo space, more than almost any sedan and much better than most hybrids/EVs.

    External looks aren't that important to me. My two comments in this area are I don't like the front end, and I think the rear is better than the regular Prius. A car would have to be pretty ugly (think Astek) for me to reject it on looks alone.

    I have been using four main criteria as I research for a new car. 1) Purchase price 2) MPG 3) Cargo Space 4) Spare Tire.
    It looks like I may have to give in on the Spare Tire issue and the other negatives because 1-2-3 are such a good match.

    Now the biggest problem I have, or I'd order one immediately, is I can't take advantage of the tax credits. Perhaps next year my tax situation will be more conducive.

    The other thing that may shift me away from the Prime is the fact that new car designs are coming out at a furious pace. It's not out of the question that a year from today the Prime won't be my first choice. The most promising design is an EV designed with graphene modified batteries that can go 300 miles on a charge, recharge in less than 15 minutes, and cost less than current EVs. VW hasn't said their targeted 2019 EV is based on graphene batteries but it seems logical that is the solution. That would kill range anxiety and eliminate the ICE.
     
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  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Is there a specific rational why the author seemingly/deliberately left out one particular manufacturer that many consider to be a competitor?

     
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I don't know so I posted a short, two paragraph entry in the comments. Otherwise, I have bigger fish to fry. <GRINS>

    Bob Wilson
     
  6. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

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    I used to think the same about a spare, but not any more. Flats are about to go extinct. Look what's coming soon:

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Sure . . . Been hearing that for years.
    .
     
  8. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    How long does that tread last? And the costs?
     
  9. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

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    No idea, they're still in development. I don't expect to see them in general use for several years, or longer. Just pointing out that there may be alternatives to spare tires.
     
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I don't see the Prime as a Volt killer. 53 miles of EV is still a big draw. The Prime would cover half my commute on EV at best. The cargo space is very close, and the extra half seat gives the Volt the appearance of more utility. With federal incentives, the after sale price difference is $4120.

    I think most, if not all, of Toyota's line up has gotten the TSS-P as standard.

    There already are alternatives; plug kits and run flat tires are already a thing.:)
     
  11. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

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    True, but my 60 year old back quits on me every time I try to plug one these days, and run-flats aren't OEM yet.
     
  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    But they are there for those in which a plug or the slime isn't acceptable, and with TPMS now required, there is no need for extra equipment installed on these cars coming without a spare.

    I think the Bolt will have run flats or self sealing tires OEM.
     
  13. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Definitely not the best looking


    iPhone ?
     
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  14. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    I hope I can get my new Prius Prime before our new president puts a tariff on Japanese imports
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    gawd forbid they have to build them in the USA as they originally planned on doing ...

    .
     
  16. Dragon Rider

    Dragon Rider Active Member

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    They have plant Here already. It will not be a problem for them To make them here.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Cargo space close? How do you figure? (10.6 vs. 19.8 cu. ft.) Half seat? Yeah right. I wouldn't want to have sit in the back of a Volt for any length of time.

    The Volt should have been based on the Malibu instead of the Cruz. The Cruz/Volt is a cramped automobile.
     
    #117 MikeDee, Nov 28, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2016
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  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Those aren't similar measurements. The 19.8ft^3 is a to the ceiling measurement; the 10.6ft^3 is to the top of the rear seats. For EPA size classification, the cargo space is to the ceiling, the Volt is listed as 19ft^3, which could actually be as low as 18.5ft^3.
    Compare Side-by-Side



    At the beginning of Volt development, the Cruze was a more popular and better selling car than the Malibu. The Cruze has more EPA cabin space than the gen4 Prius. The Volt loses it to the battery tunnel and maybe trimming the top for aerodynamics. Leaving it 1ft^3 EPA than the Prius. Basing the Volt on the current Malibu will make it the size of the Camry.

    Customer feedback on the gen1 Volt told GM that people wanted a fifth seat. So they put one in. It is a joke calling it a full seat, but most of those that really wanted it, wanted for a younger child or child seat. For two people, I expect the Prime rear seat to be more comfortable, but some people rather have the use of a nominal third seat.
     
  19. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    On that topic, anecdotally, I found the Prime rear seats very comfortable. I couldn't compare to the Gen 4 rear seats side-by-side, but from memory the Prime rear seats were way more comfortable.
     
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  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I think many of these measurements are suspect. On Edmonds, the Volt was listed as having 1" more knee room in the rear seat. Ha ha. Where was the front seat when that measurement was taken?