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Newbie - 1st post seeking thoughts

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Insert name here, Jan 24, 2018.

  1. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    Hi All,

    I've been spending quite a time on PC lately and reading many of the posts and reviews on Prius.

    I currently drive a new gen Honda Civic (great car) and am averaging over 33 mpg. I spend much of time time in traffic going nowhere with some highway.

    I have recently become very interested in the Prius. Where 60-70% of my driving for my business in city driving, I'd like to do better than my Civic gas mileage. Thus, I am debating between the Prius Four Touring and the Prime Advanced.

    Some concerns/thoughts:

    - I currently can expense gas usage for my business, so I may not be able to expense the cost of electricity for the Prime as I can gas for the PFT (Prius Four Touring);

    - I enjoy the way my civic handles and am concerned lugging 275 extra pounds around on the Prime vs. the PFT will be felt and a detriment - I am sensitive to handling having had performance cars in the past;

    - There are only 2 Primes within 60 miles of my home and I am in a very large metro area with 6-8 dealerships to choose from - this concerns me from a resale and service point that the Prime may be a fringe car;

    - I use and like trunk space, and fear the smaller hatch area of the Prime may be an issue from time to time;

    - But I still like the idea of partial EV of the prime;

    - The new Honda Insight looks cool, but all my research shows (I am very OCD) that Toyota seems to be superior to Honda on hybrid tech.

    - I'm really concerned the extra weight of the Prime with more narrow tires will be a turn off.

    Has anyone else faced any of these concerns / thoughts while going through their decision making process? Any insight would be appreciate.

    Thank you!
     
  2. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

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    Based on reading your summary: the Prime is not for you!
     
  3. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Take them both for an extended test-drive. PRIUS's advantage will be that it will use close to ½ the fuel of CIVIC. The CIVIC might handle better, but I'm not sure, having not driven one.

    PRIME is a Plug-In version of PRIUS, with only 2 back seats and as you say, smaller boot space. To get a benefit from Plug-In PRIME, you need to be able to plug it in - that way you get cheap electric motoring for, I think maybe 15-20 miles then it kicks over to becoming a Hybrid.

    If you can't plug-in, PRIME wouldn't be any advantage over PRIUS.
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    the best way to buy a prime is to fly to nj/ny and take advantage of the $4,000. tout cash back and deep dealer discounts.
    you would have to ask your employer about reimbursement for electric use, although it won't add up to much for business travel compared to gas.
    and btw, that means you need other reasons for saving gas such as the environment and geopolitics of oil.
    you definitely need a test drive, because it will be nothing like a civic.

    all the best!(y)
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would reconsider that; most of your other points are stacked against it. And since it hasn't been mentioned: do you value having a spare tire? That's still available on some US levels, not with the prime.
     
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  6. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    I agree it may not seem logical in my case to go with the Prime. I wondered if maybe I wasn't considering all the facts correctly.

    I like the looks of the Prime better, and sometimes there are days with the 25 mile range of the EV will be enough. I also like the idea of an EV without range anxiety. And being a Gen X'er, and remembering how bad the American cars were while growing up that I owned, I will never, ever, ever own American again.

    But not being able to expense electricity as I do gas is a negative, and knowing I am in tune with how a car rides, I can't image not feeling the extra weight of the Prime batteries. I liken it to when I go to the nursery and put bags of soil/mulch in my trunk - I can definitely notice that extra weight.

    The Civic is a fantastic car. I just go practically mad when sitting in traffic going no where or spending my life at red lights every 1000 yards thinking of how it is killing my gas mileage.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The reg Prius will spend a lot of time with engine shut down, in traffic back ups. As long as they're not protracted: after 5 minutes of stop and go in electric only, the battery will run down to where the engine is forced on. Still a good balance, much easier on the sanity.

    Test drive?
     
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  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Plus the RADAR Cruise is great in slow traffic. Drive them and see how you like them (though your CIVIC might have that too).
     
    #8 alanclarkeau, Jan 24, 2018
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  9. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    Yeah - Civic has the radar cruise though I never use it. I just don't trust the system. :)

    I will need to test drive but nearest Prims is an hour away. I was really interested in what other people's thoughts and experiences are/have been.

    I also will need to adjust to much slower acceleration as every once and a while I like to step on it getting onto the highway. But, I can get beyond that so long as the Prius can get out of it's own way.

    I will say the LED headlights on the Civic are not the best as the reflectors have a lot of scattered light and are not as clearly defined as some others I have owned.
     
  10. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    The Prius is quick of the mark with is electric motors instant torque, but not really that fast. However, you can easily cruise at 70mph. Any faster and the fuel economy drops off steeply.
     
  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I use the RADAR Cruise all the time - it'll work from 45km/hr upwards as normal Cruise - BUT down to ZERO following other cars. Yes, you have to be alert, but it will keep following really well, and keep the gap constant between you and the car in front, adjusted for speed. If every car on the road had it, congestion would be much better as it works on a more constant gap. Sort of like a pre-decessor to an autonomous car.
     
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  12. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    Yeah - Some people love it. I understand why it works for you in traffic.

    My Civic has a brake hold feature. It's for people that are too lazy to use their foot on the brake pedal. I never could figure out that feature. I mean, you need to hit the gas to go, is hitting the brake to stop so difficult you need to use the brake hold function? LOL
     
  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Not sure - never had it - PRIUS has an old fashioned foot-park-brake.

    When I read about brake hold, it was espoused as being great for things like traffic jams etc as well as at Red lights. As I understand it, you come to a complete halt, and can take your foot off the brake - till the traffic starts moving again, and you press the accelerator to start off again (or clutch/select gear etc if Manual). It sounded like a good idea.
     
  14. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    I had the Prius 4, and now have the prime advanced, when I need trunk room the back seats fold, it holds skis no problem, averaging 97.3 mpg going into winter, it's a much better handling car than the 16' Prius 4, acceleration with any Prius is good, the prime is better, but accelerate where, to the next stop light, the next speed trap?
    Call any dealer you're going to test drive at to make sure they plug in the prime to charge it, they don't, the chord is always new, and they aren't electric thinking people.
    Also take an air gauge and check the tire pressure, if it's 30 make it 40,if it's 50 make it 40.
     
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  15. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    WOW - THIS is the info I was hoping to find out! Can you please explain how it is a better handling car than the Prius 4?

    I've called and visited all the dealers in my area and they want nothing to do with me when they find out I am interested in the Prime. I emailed corporate and they first said it's because the Prime is so popular no dealer can get it in stock. I reposed back and told them that is an outright lie that all the dealers in my area I spoke to told me point black they want nothing to do with the Prime. Then Toyota responded back again (same person) and then claimed dealers order based off what they are told to order.

    Any info you can share with me comparing your 16 4 to the Prime would be very much appreciated. Do you notice the extra weigh out back?
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    as far as prime is concerned, see post #4. it is not yet being promoted in the south for reasons i won't go into now.
     
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  17. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    First Prius was an 06' I gave it the upper front strut bar, all the underbody braces and 18"wheels, it was a blast to drive. Second was an 11, it was a tank, great for long straight drives. Third was a 16 four with the 15" wheels, it was great, but it drove somewhere between the 06 and the 11', this 17 prime advanced has excellent turn in, and it's rock steady on corners, the brakes are phenomenal, Toyota advertised that it was a little race car, it is, I change from the 16 to the 17 for the heated steering wheel, well the 97.3 mpg helps.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    any idea what suspension changes they made between 2016 and 2017? or between the lift back and the prime?
     
  19. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    Thank you! Did you ever feel the rear battery weight made the rear bounce or alter the balance of the car?

    I do competitive shooting, so I often have the back filled with long guns and/or the gear for the range. I also am an instructor so I often have the boot filled with lots of gear for class. That is why I the boot space is necessary. The Civic trunk size can be a bit tight at times.
     
  20. Insert name here

    Insert name here Junior Member

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    Hmmm...ok. Curiosity peaked.