Gen 3 Prius Trunk area looks bigger than Gen 4, is it?

Thanks. So models without spare are One, Two Eco, Four, and Four Touring, but One has smaller cargo vol 24.6, all other three models have 27.4. That means One has higher flower just like TWO or THREE, just without spare tire? In any case, comparing Gen3 Two, Gen4 Two Eco might be larger cargo volume above the hatch floor. I assume there is no under floor storage for Gen4 like Gen3 Two?

 

That's correct.

We pushed a generously proportioned barbecue into our 3rd gen yesterday, should have snapped a picture. Took one of the outrigger tables off, the other side was fine. Having level floor and threshold really helps, and rear suspension doesn't intrude much.

I always have the rear floor covered with a blanket, and added a tarp for this move, the barbecue was pretty gross.

 

Thanks. Have you ever looked at Gen4 Two Eco or Four model with this lower floor in cargo space?

 

there are lots of pics here, buried in early gen 4 threads, especially adding spare tyre threads.

 

Picture can be deceiving sometimes. I should have looked at Gen4 Prius Two Eco while I was at the dealer looking at Prime last week, so I could have compared all three models side by side by side. Oh well, it's too late now.

 

Is that a bee hive in the picture....

 

Yes, it is! A long trip from my home to pick up a nuc.

 

Do you keep a lot of bees? I was looking to start.....any advice?

 

My advise would BEE... Don't do it, unless you can make a full commitment. You will need a good mentor, or at least take a few classes and read a lot of books. You have to spend a lot of money on initial equipments and live bees. You will not get return on investment for many years to come. This is only my third year of beekeeping, and I know I have not recouped my investment yet. Then again, where you live would be much easier to have bees overwinter than where I live. So, it may be easier. Good Luck.

 

I've got 8 acres and I'm still deciding what to do. Based upon what I've read, I was thinking about a couple options. A berry farm, or wine grapes and bees was one. The land is open and clear, and gets a lot of direct sun. Bees are from what I can see growing in demand, and decreasing in population. I'm not looking for a super fast turnaround, as long as the turn around comes I'm good. I have a huge barn and a basement I could use if it got below freezing to long as well.

 

Location is important, but you don't need a huge land to have bees. I only keep 6 hives in my backyard, but only for hobby. If you are in it for money, then I can not make any suggestion. Apiculture is just like any other farm business, in which I have no experience.

BTW, bees stay put throughout winter month. Once you put a hive down for a colony, unless you are renting them out for pollination, you do't move them. Our Northern bees survive thorough sub zero temperature winter weather without any protection.

 

We saw a demo 2016 at our nearby dealership. In Canada pretty much all levels (3) have spare. The top level, with an added tech package, removes the spare. So anyway, the one we were looking at had a spare, but the floor level behind the rear threshold still dropped a little, an inch or slightly more. And yeah: no under-floor tray.

 

Thanks. I was just checking at Toyota site to compare cargo cap on different models. That means if I really need to purchase another Prius for larger cargo space, the model to get would be Gen4 Two Eco with 27.4 cf or else Prius v with 34.3 cf.

 

I wouldn't get an Eco. Compared to the 2, you:

1. Pay $500 more.
2. Lose tonneau cover.
3. Lose rear wiper.
4. Lose spare tire. (utter deal breaker for me)

It just doesn't make sense to me. Supposedly, there's better mpg, for some elusive reason, but I'd pass.

 

Without actually seeing the cars, it's hard to tell real difference, but for cargo space comparison alone, Gen 3: 21.6 cu.ft. Gen 4 Two: 24.6 cu.ft. Gen 4 Two Eco:27.4 cu.ft, Two Eco wins.

1. $500 for a new car is a change money, I wouldn't worry about. If I really want go cheap I should look for used Prius v.
2. For 2.5 years of driving Gen3, I have never used tonneau cover.
3. For 2.5 years of driving Gen3, I have never used rear wiper.
4. After owning AWD Sienna with run-flat tires with no spare for 12 years, I have no anxiety for not having a spare in a vehicle.

5. The biggest plus for Two Eco that Two does not offer is the three door smart key. I didn't have this feature on my Gen3 Two, but I now have it on my new PRIME, and LOVE it. This feature alone is worth $500 more to me.

 

What is that?

 

With three door smart key, if you have a dongle on you, you can unlock either two front doors or hatch door. With single door smart key, only door you can unlock is the driver door. So, if you want to unlock hatch or passenger side door, then you first unlock the driver door and then have to power unlock the rest, or actually take out the dongle and press the door unlock.

 

Yeah if I had a dog in that race, I would probably go for a 3.

Note: the tonneau cover bought separately (I think the more heavy duty, tradional roller-blind style) costs about $500. Yeah I know: never use it.

 

I would gladly sell mine for $500.....

I must have the smart key, one push is drivers door, second push is all. I can just walk up and open the back with out pushing anything. I just assumed it sensed the key in my pocket, but maybe I just have the magic touch!

 

I think all of Prius comes with Smart Key, but lower trim has only driver side door smart key. Not sure about Prius v. My previous Prius Model Two did not have three door smart key, but now I have it with PRIME. Not needing to take out the key fob to unlock the back door is so nice when your hand is full with a grocery bag.

The tonneau cover... that is another story. PRIME model I purchased came with lightweight storable tonneau that looks like black pantyhose. Yeh, its sexy, but I will not take it out of the storage bag in public. LOL