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Questions about Prius Prime Options

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by psoque, Aug 31, 2017.

  1. psoque

    psoque Member

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    I'm really new (not yet an owner of the vehicle), but this website has been very helpful. Please forgive me is this has been discussed already somewhere else, but I was not sure where to post these questions:

    1. Are the optional alloy wheels mainly (entirely?) for looks? Or do they have any sort of performance/safety advantage?

    2. Why is there an "alarm" option? Does it mean, without that $395 option, the car has no alarm whatsoever?

    3. It appears it takes minimum of 2.5 hours to charge a Prime, if you are on a road trip and find a public charging station, what do people do for 2.5 hours? Or is the point of this is to charge frequently enough that you never "run out" of electric charge?

    4. Are there "must have" options that I should consider getting at the time of purchase? I'm thinking about all season floor mats/cargo tray and door edge guards.

    Thanks.
     
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    1 hr 50 min for a full recharge at home with my JuiceBox.

    As for road trips, just use the engine. In fact, take advantage of charge-mode on the highway for EV later at your destination.
     
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  3. Dm84

    Dm84 Member

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    If you're on a road trip you're going to burn gas. That said, if you find yourself parked for an extended amount of time you may as well plug in.

    The all weather mats are great. I was glad to find the car I bought came with them.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Yes, just for looks. No performance changes. I'd strongly advise you look at the threads here that show pics of what the stock alloy wheels under the wheel covers look like. Most of us think they look pretty good and just keep the stock alloy wheel and remove the wheel covers. Sportier look for no $.
     
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  5. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    "Hidden" alloys look great, but you do need to add the factory center caps to "finish" the look of the Prime.
    Some kind of floormats are essential.

    Regarding alarms, a determined thief can steal any car; just put it on a flatbed, if necessary. This is not likely with a Prime, however, what does occur are break-ins to steal items in the car. Again, not much can be done about these "smash and grabs" except never park car publicly with valuables in it. There are remote alarms which can alert you with a beeper, if your car is being tampered with; they do have good range, and work. However, you must be prepared with a weapon, should you confront a thief, and I don't consider that a viable option. My Advanced comes with vehicle locator, so if taken, it can be traced. It also has vehicle disabling features to discourage thieves.

    One essential that I've added to my Advanced, is a manually controlled beeper to warn nearby Presbyterians . I've asked people on parking lots if they could hear me coming; they said absolutely not. Get it; It saves lives!!

    Charging time on my 220volt (L2) home charger takes 1 hour 50 minutes, during "sane" weather! With our current 100° temperatures in Socal, the Prime has prompted me to choose to charge with A/C cooling activated; when I do so, charging time can increase by as much as half an hour or more.

    Good luck!!
    .
     
    #5 HPrimeAdvanced, Aug 31, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2017
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    1. Mostly for looks. The Prime comes with alloys but have aerodynamic plastic wheel covers (to reduce the gap between the spokes) and some people prefer the look of regular (normal) alloy wheels
    2. Is that "alarm" option a Toyota-approved dealer-installed accessory or some 3rd party thing that the dealer installs? Nowadays, the "alarm" option really is just that - the audible alarm. The Prime comes with an electronic engine immobilizer.
    3. Think of it as opportunistic charging - you just top up whatever you can. Toyota ensured the Prime is the most efficient car in hybrid mode (ok ... not including the Prius Eco or Ioniq Blue models which are special eco-minded trim levels). There's also a CHG MODE where the Prime can use the gas engine to charge the battery up to 80%. This way, you can use EV mode while around town at your destination if you don't have time or a place to charge en route.
    4. The base Prime is pretty well equipped. I think the Premium is the sweet spot between features and price (you get a power driver's seat, the 11.6" HD display and SofTex seats but it's not as pricey as the Advanced). If you want cloth or a CD player, the Plus is the model to get. Advanced gets you HUD, heated steering wheel, Blind Spot Monitor & Rear Cross Traffic Alert and JBL Audio among other things.
     
  7. psoque

    psoque Member

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    Thanks for your reply. Did you know that, in Japan, the government was planning to require all EVs to install some sort of a speaker system to create "car noises" to make sure people can hear them??
     
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  8. psoque

    psoque Member

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    Thank you very much.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did you know that prius/prime already has it?:p
     
  10. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Mr. Bisco, my Prime and PIP both have/had it; the public cannot hear it in a normal (noisy) urban environment. I've heard my Prime's in my ultra quiet garage, at midnight, while holding my breath!! My new manual beeper gets all the attention, both in front and in back, that I need, to protect all those meandering innocents!!

    .
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hey, let's get a video of that new manual beeper in action!:cool:
     
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  12. JGC61

    JGC61 Active Member

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    The Prime Advanced is the only way to go IMO.
     
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  13. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    yup, the button in the center of the steering wheel achieves the same result, and, guess what? It comes standard on all three models of the Prime. No need to shell out any more cash for a manual beeper:p:rolleyes::whistle:
     
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  14. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Yeah, you just love watching those Presbyterians jump!! I know, you get a kickback from your local cardiologist! And, what about backing up; people have to think you've just got extra elbows, or you're going to a hippy wedding!!?? My little beeper just says, "Hey, his Highness is coming, step aside peasant!!"

    .
     
  15. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    @HPrimeAdvanced:rolleyes:
     
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  16. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Plug in when it's convenient for you. Otherwise, just drive. Roughly, a full charge saves me about a buck's worth of gasoline. Worth doing but not worth worrying about. Even without plugging in, the Prime is a better Prius. The larger battery gives more efficient hybrid operation than the regular Prius.
     
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  17. JMalmsteen

    JMalmsteen I love my Prius!

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    I can't imagine what people do for 2.5 hours unless they are doing something and there happens to be a plug. We charged the car for 40 minutes while at Costco and since I just got the car, another time I sat and read a book for a half hour and got 5 miles. But, those five miles somehow got me 88 mpg vs 70 mpg for a 60 mile commute! It was fun seeing the mpg display when I got to work.

    We got the floor mats since they came as an added option. I would recommend going with an Advanced since you get so many fun features. When we were driving yesterday, I pressed a button, said "play Alan Jackson" and the car created a Pandora station and played Alan Jackson. And, it will park and un-park itself, which completely unnecessary, but is amusing as anything.
     
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  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    IMHO, none of dealer installed option is worth the price. If you really want/need it, you can always add it later for much less than sticker price. For example, 10 spoke allow wheel option will add whooping $899 on your sticker price, but you are not going to get the extra OEM wheels and hubcaps for that price. If you purchase those wheels after you purchase a car, it will cost you less than $899 for set of four and you get to keep the OEM wheels.
     
    #18 Salamander_King, Sep 6, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2017
  19. Michael Ge

    Michael Ge New Member

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    The public charging stations are 240 Volt and can charge the Prime in about an hour and a half if it is totally depleted.
    Alloy Wheels weigh less and thus provide a better look as well as weight reduction
    You should look at body side moldings instead or in addition to the door edge guards, all season floor mats are good if you are in an area that has severe winter weather
     
  20. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    We have very busy crowded parking lots here in Southern California. I have started thinking that maybe this is Mother Nature's Way of thinning the herd! Even with my new outside beeper blaring, my brake lights on, and my inside beeper warning me in my Prius Prime Advanced, that there are peasants everywhere, I still had two Presbyterians and a skateboarder practically beg to be run over by my car as I was very slowly backing up. For just a split second I had a feeling that maybe I should help Mother Nature do some culling!



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