1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2017 3 touring vs 4 need to buy one soon

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by April71, Dec 4, 2017.

  1. April71

    April71 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Carlsbad, ca
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hi everyone! I could really use your help. I need to buy a new car soon. I commute 65 each way every day. I test drove a 3 touring this weekend. I really liked it. I would like to test drive a 4 also, but there are none available in San Diego. The dealer said they can't find any available since it's the end of the year. They don't have any on the lot. I think I would miss the heated seats and I'm not sure if the drive feels different. I can get a great deal on a 2017 3 touring since it is the end of the year, but I could also wait for the 2018 four and pay more. Would I like it as much? I'm not sure since I can't test driven one. I haven't driven a 4 before so I don't know if it's worth spending more getting a 2018 four or should I just get the 2017 3 touring? Thank you!
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    In the States, and this is just my 2 cents: stick with level 3, so you have the spare tire. If I was in the market I'd go for the 15" wheel (non-touring) as well: bettery fuel economy, smoother riding, cheaper tires come replacement time.
     
    Montgomery, goldfinger and RCO like this.
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I am not sure the 3 Touring (17" wheels) has a spare.

    EDIT: According to Tony's original Gen 4 table, the 3 Touring has a spare tire.

    The 3 Touring has 17" low profile wheels. The 4 has the lighter 15" wheels.
     
    Mendel Leisk and RCO like this.
  4. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,388
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I think the non-touring four is the way to go. All the important features without the mileage costing wheels. The only thing I miss are the fog lights (for looks, not practical reasons).
     
    RCO likes this.
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You are missing a spare tire, but you do not "miss" it, I assume.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Go with the 3 Touring - 17" wheels w/donut spare.
     
    FuelMiser likes this.
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    To be honest, it really depends on whether you favour looks (3T) or features (4T).

    The Three Touring includes:

    • 17" Alloys on 215/45R17 tires
    • LED foglights
    • LED clearance lights (the 3 vertical LED dots below the foglights)
    • Blue contrast stitching for the SofTex
    • Blue outboard vent accent
    • Touring-grade lower rear bumper valence
    • Touring-grade suspension tuning
    • Foldable lightweight fabric tonneau cover
    • Spare tire

    Four includes:
    • 15" Alloys with aerodynamic wheel covers on 195/65R15 tires
    • Rain-sensing wipers
    • 10-way power driver's seat (including adjustable lumbar support)
    • Heated front seats
    • Auto-dimming mirror w/ Homelink
    • Roller-type tonneau cover
    • Tire repair kit (delete spare tire)
    • Larger trunk (because of the lack of spare tire)

    In addition, you can add a power moonroof and Head-Up Display (HUD) to the Four.

    In theory, they will drive slightly differently because the Touring supposedly has a different suspension tuning (increase damping force) and the wider tires will provide more grip in the corners and under hard braking. If your daily drive includes a lot of canyon roads or mountainous driving, maybe consider the Touring for the better road holding. Note that the larger wheels will slightly reduce mpg and of course your tire replacement cost will be higher than with the 15" wheels.
     
    RCO, bisco, krmcg and 1 other person like this.
  8. RonMc5

    RonMc5 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2017
    89
    73
    0
    Location:
    Santee
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced

    The Prime is cheaper if you include the Federal Tax rebate... and you owe that much in taxes. (they won't send you any money, only deducted from what you owe them) Hurry before The Congress and the President cut the Federal rebates off. Also, Ca and possibly some other states actually send you a smaller amount (Ca is $!,500) P.S. The middle seat is gone and you lose a bit of trunk space. The load deck if a bit longer to compensate, the you lose about 3.5" in height.
     
  9. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,388
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    No. I do not miss the spare tire.
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!
    are they offering you a good deal on the 3?
     
  11. Adam1a

    Adam1a Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2017
    50
    59
    11
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    I recently purchased a 3 touring a few (10) weeks ago and have over 8k on it as I commute 160 miles a day. Heated seats and auto dimming mirror would have been nice but I can add them if I really need them but having a spare tire was more important to me. I did give up some mileage by having 17” wheels but I wanted them and fog lights (I love the look) and I do average around 55mpg. As long as the price is right and you like the color, you can’t go wrong with a 3T.
     
    BostonREd1 and RCO like this.
  12. sclevine

    sclevine Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2016
    110
    133
    2
    Location:
    Northeast Florida, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Personally, I preferred the features of the 4 over having the spare tire, and also the additional trunk space is important to me.

    Maybe you've done this already, but I used Edmonds to find which dealer had the 4 in the color I wanted, and I went to that dealer, rather than have my local dealer try to acquire one, which is time consuming and prone to not happening smoothly.
     
    ETP, RCO and krmcg like this.
  13. BostonREd1

    BostonREd1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    5
    4
    4
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    I would say it depends on what you are coming from. If you aren't used to owning a Prius and driving it daily, you probably will enjoy either one of those options. The differences aren't going to make or break your enjoyment of the car.

    I personally had a 2012 Prius 2 and loved it. I drive a good amount and put about 70k miles in 2-1/2 lovely years. Sadly, the life of my prius was ended by it's twin brother. An almost identical prius rear ended it good. Anyways, I loved that prius enough that I bought the next Gen but decided to try to afford a higher trim than 2. Last week I bought a 2016 3T for about $16.5k.It had high miles, but I'm ok with that since I myself drive about 35k per year. So, the steering and handling is my favorite. Much more fun to drive than my old one. But best of all, it looks great too!
     
    pilotgrrl, RCO and Adam1a like this.
  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You need to correct your profile. It says you got a 2017.
     
    BostonREd1 likes this.
  15. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    535
    402
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    • You don't need heated seats in San Diego.
    • The drive feel will be the same.
    • 15 inch wheels are better.
    • End of year deals are the best.
    • Buy what you want.
     
    RCO and Prodigyplace like this.
  16. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    642
    560
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    A case could be made for either, but for me the Blind Spot Monitor would tip the scales in favor of the 4.

    It did not factor that into my desision at all — just another gizmo that couldn’t be trusted anyway, I thought — but not sure I could ever buy a car without after having a BSM on my 4 Touring for 22 months now.
     
    RCO likes this.
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    BSM/RCTA are no cost extras on the Two, Three and Three Touring for 2017/2018.
     
    RCO likes this.
  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I believe all later 2017 trim levels now have BSM as part of the no-charge TSS Plus "option" on all? (trim 2 + for sure) Prius vehicles.

    That is one festure I wish my early 2017 had, but it was not even available for Trim Two a year ago.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    your turn.:)
     
    RCO, BostonREd1 and Prodigyplace like this.
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Two, Three and Three Touring. It's not available on One and Two Eco.

    In addition, ICS/IPA is included in Safety Plus packages.
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.