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If only price is considered, is the prime a better deal?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Bill La Mancha, Jan 27, 2019.

  1. Bill La Mancha

    Bill La Mancha New Member

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    I live in Virginia. Are there any premiums/charges for registering a plug in vehicle here?

    Thank you for the visibility issue/information with the prius. I suppose I'll have to test it out myself and see what I think. I'll also have to take a visual look and see if I think I can handle the different models and camping in them.

    I understand the floor not being level for certain models. I would most likely build something to make the back level and comfortable. I would plan on leaving it in all the time, I would only take it out to clean it and what not.

    I already have the tools you described above in case a flat happens, I've just never dealt with a patch kit before.

    All good things to think about and consider. Thank y'all very much!

    -Bill
     
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  2. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    Bill - You asked for negatives and got a few. Let me mention the greatest positive for me. It is driving an EV without the range anxiety and initial cost. 90% of my daily trips are less than 25-30 miles, so I enjoy the quiet and smooth drive on battery power. For longer trips it is probably the most fuel efficient family car on the market today, with Toyota quality built in.
     
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  3. Bill La Mancha

    Bill La Mancha New Member

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    Thanks Washingtonian! I appreciate it! :)
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    @wjtracy should know about ev/hybrid costs in va.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    also, if not mentioned, some lift backs have a spare, or room for one.
     
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Virginia I am thinking only all-electric BEV have to pay a minor annual fee as a substitute for pump taxes....
    so Prime should be no extra fee, if I am not mistaken.

    We have no state incentive except you qualify for free HOV if you buy a clean fuels plate, but that plate is much less useful these days.
     
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  8. smyles

    smyles Active Member

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    No fee (for Prime) and no new Clean Fuel plates in VA
     
  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    We can still get Clean Fuels plates, right?
    Agreed they are semi useless except Dulles Toll Road may be one last good spot to use a new one.
    [​IMG]
     
  10. smyles

    smyles Active Member

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    I stand corrected, CF plates are still issued, but pretty much worthless.
     
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Doesn't Va charge an annual property tax on cars? The Prime might be valued higher than the Prius for taxes.
     
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  12. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Yes indeedy property (car) taxes el stinko mucho, but it is local thing, and I am hazard guess from 23061 zip code that the OP is not in NoVA, so a little less painful there. If I thought he was NoVA, I would have flagged it too. But Bill is in La Mancha, and that cannot be NoVA..
     
  13. Bill La Mancha

    Bill La Mancha New Member

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    LOL! Yes, I am in "La Mancha". ;) I'm near Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA Beach, Hampton, Newport News, etc.) Yes, property taxes are horrible on a vehicle! I'm originally from Tennessee and was/am disgusted with property tax on vehicles! But...I deal with it.

    WOW! I'm so disappointed with the clean fuel plates! I didn't know about them before and now I'm wondering what is the point of them? I mean, you want to ride in HOV when it's busy...now you can't. Crying shame! :(

    So I looked and sat in a gen 4 prius and a prius prime today. Both were very nice and comfortable. I understand now about the visibility being lacking. As a matter of fact, that may be one of the worst I've ever seen. The Toyota Sienna and Toyota Matrix both have GREAT visibility and almost no blind spots. I can definitely see camping in the back of a regular prius being doable...though that prime. YIKES!!! That would be a tight squeeze! I'll have to look again and really think about it for the prime. Unfortunately I was in a rush and didn't have a chance to really check it out as much as the regular prius. Other than that, both vehicles seemed nice. I guess I have more research to do. :)

    BTW, I was talking about hybrids today and someone brought up the hyundai iconiq and the sonata...apparently they have hybrid versions too. Does anyone know about them? The good, bad, and the ugly?

    Alright, I have to get some rest. I'll catch up with y'all on Friday. Thanks and have a great week!

    -Bill
     
  14. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    There is a group of youtube videos on the camping thing
    Easy way to start watching is goto YT's main page than enter "camping in car"
    in the search box, which will bring up 5 or 10 different types of camping in car
    groups you can choose from depending on which is your main interest..
    imho great for anyone interested in leaning more about how the seasoned
    car campers live.
     
  15. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    The Clean Fuels plates are a by-gone era in Virginia.
    Around 2001 Virginia was among the first states to give free HOV to hybrids, and we sold so many hybrids in NoVA that the HOV lanes got clogged with Hybrids, so by 2006, I95 was removed from the allowed list, but if you still had the pre-2006 plates you can still use them a bit longer up here, and by 2011, I66 was removed, but if you have the pre-2011 plates you can still use them. We still have some sales bump/incentive because those with the old plates are grandfathered if they keep buying a hybrid or plug-in they can keep the plates. But we are slowly kicking them out with conversion to HOT lanes.
     
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Well, the Sonata is a midsize sedan, probably not the best for camping. The US might get the Kia Optima now. They are both full power, parallel hybrids; an electric motor sits between the engine and traditional automatic transmission. If do look at them, might as well look at the Camry hybrid.

    The Ioniq is a hatch along the lines of a Prius. The EPA ratings are in line with the Prius, but people on Fuelly report a little worse. There is a plug in version available. Kia has the Niro based on the same platform. They call it a crossover, but it looks like a small wagon to me. Better cargo space for slightly worse EPA ratings. No AWD the first year, though they plan to offer it. Also has a plug in.

    Same basic hybrid system as the Sonata, but with a double clutch transmission. If you want the advanced driver aids that Prius has standard, you need to upgrade the trim for them. There were some long running threads here on them.
     
  17. Bill La Mancha

    Bill La Mancha New Member

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    Thank you all for all of your help! My life situation has changed and I am no longer be shopping for a prius at this time. My wife stated that it currently is and will be too hard on her and the family for me to continue my college degree at this time. So, maybe in a few years I'll be back in the market. Take care everyone. Bye. :)
     
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  18. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Y'all come back now!