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

Decision to Make

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by kutztown46, Mar 1, 2022.

  1. kutztown46

    kutztown46 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2014
    31
    20
    0
    Location:
    Kutztown, PA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I own a 2015 Prius with close to 120,000 miles on it. It's been a good, reliable car and I've averaged about 50 mpg over the life of the car. I decided that 2022 would be the year to trade it in and get a new one. As a younger man, I used to beat cars into the ground and would be unhappy if I did not get close to 200,000 miles on a car. But I am leery to take that approach with a hybrid because of the potential high cost if I have to replace the battery. Besides, as I get older, the safety features that are now standard on the new cars are very attractive to me.

    I visited a Toyota dealer in January. As all of you know, no one has any inventory of new cars these days, so I paid a deposit on a 2022 Prius-XLE. I wanted the advanced tech package and I wanted a blue car. A few days later they initiated the "allocation" process and have been giving me weekly updates. I told them I wanted to take delivery in April. I do not want it sooner as I will be driving into a large city for a few days at the end of March and would rather not take a brand new car. But I do want it in time to break it in and take it on a long trip in June.

    I was informed a few days ago that there was a problem getting a car in my desired timeframe that matches my specs. Today the dealer told me that they could get me a 2022 Prius-XLE AWD. The car is already made and is sitting at a port. It was destined for another dealership but my dealership was able to get the car redirected for me if I want it. The car is scheduled to arrive at my dealership in mid-March and they will hold it for me until the beginning of April if I want it. The car is not blue - it is sea-glass pearl, which does not thrill me but I can live with it.

    The AWD car will cost me an extra $1000 and the estimated mpg will be less by 3, so I would pay more for fuel over the life of the car. Being retired now, I do not have to drive to work in the snow any more, so the AWD, while not worthless, is of minimal benefit to me.

    So when I get to see the car in a few weeks, I can a) accept the car and they will hold it for me until next month, b) refuse the car, keep my deposit in place and hold out for Toyota to make the exact car I want, or c) get my deposit back, walk away, and consider other hybrids. They are offering me $10,500 for my existing Prius for a trade, which I think is a good offer given some minor body damage. I am inclined to accept the AWD Prius so I can immediately take advantage of all the newer safety features, so I will have a new car for my trip in June, and so I can take advantage of their good trade offer. However, I will have to pay more for the car and it will cost me more to operate it than a Prius without AWD.

    I should also mention that I like the hatchback design of the Prius, which is not available in say, the Honda hybrid models.

    Any opinions, especially about the AWD question?
     
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    I have a 2020 AWDe. It replaced my 2016 Prius 3 and gets the same gas milage. The low speed AWDe helps me up my driveway when it ices over. The only drawbacks are that the pace for a spare tire is occupied by the power electronics for the rear axel motor and the gas tank is a bit smaller to make room for that motor.
     
  3. slowmachine

    slowmachine Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2010
    69
    69
    0
    Location:
    Alton, NH
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Absent a compelling need for AWD, I would not give up the spare tire for it. Also, check the interior specs for the AWD XLE vs. the standard XLE. I think you will find that Toyota keeps the AWD cost down by downgrading the seating, etc. You lose when you buy, and you lose when you sell. I would keep driving the 2015 until they locate the car that you want.
     
  4. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    886
    493
    0
    Location:
    Cow-lee-fornia
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    It's not the one you want, its the one you settled with. Are you fine with that?
     
    robsnyder20 likes this.
  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'd be interested in what carmax would offer for the 2015. At least it would be a second opinion. Carmax or dealer trade-in, neither requires dealing with tire kickers to get the car sold.
     
  6. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    886
    493
    0
    Location:
    Cow-lee-fornia
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    I recently had Carvana value my car out of curiosity. When I was at 56k miles, they were gonna give me $20k for it. Really enticing.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i'm waiting. i don't buy cars everyday, and i can wait until the shortage is over to get the one i want at a reasonable price.
    your situation may differ, but a 2015 with 120k is still a peach.
     
    robsnyder20 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  8. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    1,150
    741
    0
    Location:
    Lancaster Co PA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I would agree to get second offers. Carvana is offering the most in my neck of the woods (very close to you!)
    Sold my 2015 to them last July for a crazy price, but low miles.

    In my humble opinion, I would be fine with a color change at a chance to get a new car these days,
    but I dont think I would settle for something that is not what im looking for.
    You should have some time left on the battery.

    hope this helps
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If you have a 2015 that's running well, you should hold out for the car you want. Sea Glass Pearl is a yucky color LOL
     
    robsnyder20 likes this.
  10. 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
    But get on EGR cleaning ASAP. More info in my signature.

    Did the car you put deposit on have a spare? If yes: the AWD version tosses the spare and puts the rear wheel motivation components in that space.
     
  11. kutztown46

    kutztown46 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2014
    31
    20
    0
    Location:
    Kutztown, PA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Thanks for all the replies. The salesman told me today that another car may be coming into the picture - a blue one (yay) which will be available in May (acceptable) but he does not know yet whether it is an AWD. He tells me that 90% of the Priuses being made are AWD because they have been received so well. He did confirm that the AWD has a smaller gas tank - he will check into the exact number. He will also check into the spare tire issue and also any compromises on the interior quality. So far the only thing we can ascertain is that the FWD has an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat while the AWD has a 6-way adjustable driver's seat (non-power). The FWD has 17" wheels and the AWD has 15" wheels (which I would prefer - cheaper tires, and probably helps with mpg). Also, the FWD has a lithium ion traction battery while the AWD has a sealed nickel-metal hydride traction battery (I don't know whether to care or not).

    I had an amazing phone call with my insurance agent. I wanted to find out if there was a difference in insurance cost between the two models (there isn't) and how much my insurance would go up when I trade my 2015 for a 2022. It turns out my premium will DECREASE by about $100/year when I get the 2022. We surmise it is because of the improved safety features in all new cars compared to what the 2015 has.

    I performed a calculation on what I would pay extra for fuel with the AWD. If I drive 15,000 miles per year and get 49 mpg average instead of 52, I would have to buy an additional 18 gallons of fuel per year. Even at $4/gal, that is only $72 /year. That has to be balanced against likely higher maintenance costs in the near term with the 2015 (I will need new tires much sooner for one thing - $$$).

    The lack of a spare tire bothers me a little, although my 2015 does not have one and it's never been a problem for me. When did the Prius start coming with a spare tire? Maybe I can buy one and just keep it in the back. The smaller gas tank would be a pain if it is too much smaller. The higher cruising range is one of the main pluses with a Prius vs. other cars I've owned.

    Still, the 2022 has some wonderful features that I am eager to take advantage of ASAP. I'll keep chewing on it.
     
    dig4dirt likes this.
  12. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2009
    1,389
    947
    4
    Location:
    Foot of Pikes Peak
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Then there is the expectation that the next gen Prius will be out about a year from now. If I was in your position I would wait until there is some real news about it (possibly in the fall, just rumors at this point) but I can understand your not wanting to wait that long.
     
  13. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2016
    616
    317
    2
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    I think following further investigation that the gas tanks between the AWD and standard Prius are the same and your dealer is making s#@t up
     
  14. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    The tank in my 2020 AWDe is almost a gallon smaller than the tank that was in my 2017 Prius.

    JeffD
     
  15. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2016
    616
    317
    2
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    From the 2021 sales brochure. SAME size
    D388EFDC-6C58-4A1C-A480-A33FE35FAB2B.png
     
  16. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2022
    940
    343
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Per the 2022 owners manual: 2WD Models - 11.4 Gal; AWD Models- 10.6 Gal.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  17. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2016
    616
    317
    2
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    Wierd. And you don’t have the Pearlecent dark Blue in US either.
     
  18. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Maybe true in the UK. But North America usually gets the factory seconds. Here's the 2022 US version:
    Screen Shot 2022-03-05 at 3.13.57 PM.png

    The brochure is available online and it's the best way to compare features. Way, way, WAY better than asking the salesman.

    Edit to add that only the LE in 2022 has a spare tire. So, if you opt out of the AWDe to get a spare, you'll need to get the LE.
     
  19. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    You can add the spare to all of the other Prius models except the AWDe

    Jeff
     
  20. kutztown46

    kutztown46 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2014
    31
    20
    0
    Location:
    Kutztown, PA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Here is a good news update. The blue Prius coming available in May turns out to be an XLE - no AWD! I have decided to put my name on that car. The car was made the last week in Feb. and is on its way from Japan to the U.S. It is due at my dealer on May 10. I would have preferred April but I can live with May. I just want to get used to the car before we take it on a long trip in mid-June. My gamble is that the car will indeed arrive when it is supposed to or not too much later. The only bad thing is that the car I am now getting does not have the advanced technology package. I hear the head-up display is nice, and the adaptive front lighting system sounds worth having. I will accept that compromise.

    The car has the premium convenience package which includes a moonroof. I would not ask for that but I guess it will be nice to have. One interesting thing I found out is that the standard XLE without AWD comes with 17" wheels but if you get the convenience package, you get 15" wheels. The salesman thinks that is to help with mpg, since the moonroof adds weight and hurts the aerodynamic characteristics of the car slightly.

    I am looking into purchasing a donut spare tire since the car will not come with one. The car will come with a "fix-it kit". Any opinions of how well these kits work?