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New to be owner of a 2018 Prius Alpha aka Prius Plus aka Prius V with 7 seats and a lithium pack

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Max Taiwan, Mar 29, 2021.

  1. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
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    2018 Prius v wagon
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    Base
    Hi there ladies and gentleman. I am reporting in for the Prius V page, moving from the Prius C page.
    We are expecting a new member to the family near the end of May thus I started to shop for a 5+2 MPV roughly two months back.
    We first looked at the following vehicles: Mazda 5, VW Touran, Toyota Previa, Toyota Sienta.
    Out of the above I put down a deposit on a vw Touran 1.6 TDI and a Prius Alpha but got out bit by another buyer. Nearly pulled the trigger on the Previa and worst case scenario I was going to wait for a Toyota Sienta Hybrid which they teased about launching later this year in Taiwan. Within the time looking I worked out how much they were selling the Sienta Hybrid in Japan and India to get a rough estimate of how much it would be when it comes out in Taiwan. The end calculations wasn't too pleasant.
    Being a new vehicle means we will have to wait 3 to 6 months for delivery and there may not be too much room for discount.
    After careful calculations I told my wife that we will have to pull the trigger on a used Prius Alpha or a good Touran TDI if the chance presents itself because the new Sienta Hybrid will be too costly and also depreciation is going to hurt every month if we get it new. I worked in a stealership when I was going through my immigrations in Canada and trust me the depreciation starts as soon as you sign on the doted line.

    So I called up my agent who sold us the 2013 Prius C and put a ticket in for a Toyota certified white Prius Alpha. Gave him a budget for a decent Touran and didn't hear back from him for nearly 2 weeks.
    One day out of the bloom he texted me; there is a ex-lease coming back and the owner wants to sell it. He continued to send me photos and we went back and forth about millage, accident history but never spoke about price.
    I knew the Prius Alpha was going to be over my budget because of the good condition it is in, and truth be told I was pretty much liking the Touran since I use to drive a EOS in Canada. A VW is any young mans wet dream especially a Golf GTI with a convertible hard top, oh gosh I miss that car!
    Anyways the adult side of me took over and I coughed up the rest of it knowing that this vehicle wont need a bloody DSG replacement, although they did come out with cheaper replacement kits from China I still thought about the resale of a Toyota being way better than a European car.
    The other reason I know that I am limited to Hybrid vehicles is because the Mrs likes to sit in the car for the whole day while I take my daughter sailing. She stays in the car with the AC blowing for 5 hours without end not leaving the car due to mosquito on the banks and beach. Only a Hybrid can stay idle like this without killing some component of the engine.
    Thus we paid the deposit and are awaiting patiently for the delivery date.
    I can not wait to put in a Red Bullet and use the custom machined risers. But before that I will do a baseline with the stock solenoid, I always like the way the 1.8 engine pulled on the Gen 3 and 4 Prius, The Prius C tends to over rev without much torque but the 1.8 I tested with the Red Bullet when I was measuring the risers has a hell of punch when you floor it.
    I will be doing to following upgrades on delivery:
    1. 10 inch+ floating display just like on my Prius C but maybe this time I will upgrade to a faster unit then the quad core. Together with a HD dash cam.
    2. Blind spot side mirrors which will light up if there is a car hiding there. compliments of the agent for making the deal.
    3. Power tailgate with foot sensing for the Mrs.
    4. Air bed for the Mrs and the baby.
    5. Red Bullet solenoid.... I know I know... The dealer is using his own stuff.
    6. Gel coating the car since we had lots of issues keeping the Prius C white.
    7. All weather floor mats, I think the car already has it... will see.
    8. Silicon wiper blades, my last pair on the Prius C lasted 2 years and still going strong without any sign of wear.
    I will post back when I make the upgrades.
    Here she is!! Oh I am going to get rid of the front windshield tint and 1st row tint. Can not believe how these people drive at night.
    203440_1616866200200.jpg 203441_1616866216292.jpg
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    What year and mileage?
     
  3. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Hi there rjparker,
    Its a 2018 with I think 50k km on the clock.
    I am still zipping around in the Prius C, going to miss this little city zip machine when I take delivery of the Alpha.
     
  4. Kitamina

    Kitamina New Member

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    2017 Prius v wagon
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    Five
    Curious why the Toyota Wish wasn't on your list also.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  5. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Hi Kitamina Welcome!
    We picked the Prius V and the VW touran.
    Fuel consumption in the City is under 10km/l, wife likes to use the car as a mobile air condition room when I take the kids sailing.
    If we use the Wish I will need to make sure the fuel is full before we go into the water.
    The build quality is JP for the Prius V and local assembly for the Wish.
    Nearly all taxi in Taiwan use the Wish, so used cars have near to zero resale value in fear of ex-taxi cars.
     
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Congrats. I won't be giving my my 2012 Prius v anytime soon. It's just the best car that I ever owned.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  7. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Thank you for the confidence. We are very anxious to take possession. A little concerned about the fuel consumption because of coming from the Prius C. but looking forward to be set and not have to shop for another car in a while.
     
  8. Kitamina

    Kitamina New Member

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    I have fairly extensive experience riding in taxis in Taipei, and the Wish has always impressed, but I've never been behind the wheel. Had no idea the fuel consumption was poor.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  9. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Yes indeed. The Wish is very thirsty when it comes to stop and go traffic. For the Taxi its a tax write-off for putting in gas so it doesn't change the bottom line that much but taxi and Uber are switching to hybrid vehicles such as the Rav4, Corolla cross and some Prius V to go the extra mile and also write-off the gas expense too.
    For private use and the Mrs. needing mobile air condition room this was a easy choice to make. I still feel very heavy for the VW Touran since the interior and space within is so much more up to date compared to the Prius V.
     
    #9 Max Taiwan, Apr 8, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2021
  10. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Base
    Oh my god! she is fat! Takes a little while to get going. We took possession of our new Prius V last night, photos coming shortly.
    Feels like double the weight of a Prius C. Still getting use to the size and the time needed for stopping.
    We have yet to pop the 20km/l mark. this is a fair bit of a difference for us since we are use to 25km/l and above on the Prius C.
    The parking spots in Taiwan is not designed for cars this big.
    The agent backed out on the blind spot indicators in exchange for transfer tax and pollution tax he will still get us a discount on the mod with $100 off, as we drive with international standard and shoulder check all the time we might opt out on the blind side indicators and just focus on the power tail gate and the center 10 inch head unit, given the glove box is really close to the center console we might have to go with a 9 inch instead of the 10 inch.

    So far driving only in normal mode. I am thinking of doing the next tank of gas using the Red Bullet solenoid but also thinking about trying driving around in ECO and Power mode.

    I will continue to update my progress here.
    So far we are sitting at 19km/l with the stock solenoid in normal mode. Air condition used as needed = all the time in Taiwan with 70% humidity and 29 degrees C. I have static run my ICE for a few times already in the city,
     
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.