2010 Prius Models and Option Packages

Hi Jeremiah,

You probably know that Servco Pacific is the Toyota distributor that supplies Hawaii. This entity is independent from Toyota Motor Sales USA and routinely specifies different option packages. One notable example is that nav is not available for any Toyota or Lexus models sold there.

The option packages that you listed are for the 2009 model, so this is not applicable to 2010.

Since in the past Servco Pacific has not sold vehicles with nav, and since the 2010 nav is bundled with the rear camera at minimum, it will be interesting to see what 2010 option pkgs are made available there.

 

Ouch! Now you're scaring me! Thanks for the info. I've made an appointment for Sunday and will report back on the Hawaii options.

 

Toyota made some very bad choices when they planned the option packages for the 2010 Prius release. Please reply to this if you agree with me. I am strongly considering cancelling my pre-order because I really can't get the car I thought I would be able to get. The idea of levels I, II, III, IV, and V is great for the more frugal buyer, but that's about where the greatness ends.

I'm really disappointed that an excuse as lame as a "weight/engineering challenge" is the reason you cannot get a Prius V package with Advanced Technology and a solar moonroof. Isn't a solar roof advanced technology? If anything, a solar roof should be part of that package level! That the weight played into the equation makes absolutely no sense - how much weight can the sensors for the LKA, IPA, or Dynamic Cruse Control REALLY take up? And LED lights with fogs? That's standard car equipment - how on earth does that raise the weight beyond an acceptable measure? Further - weight aside - what kind of "engineering challenges" are encountered placing sensors and light bulbs that are nowhere near the moonroof? Let's get real here - entire cars are engineering challenges. They are amazing machines. Yet Toyota can't figure out how to put LED bulbs in when there's a sunroof on the top of the car? Hard to believe. Hard to stomach.

I don't like to sound cynical or be cynical, but this all reeks of a car that has either been released too early, or a car that is planned for re-release with better options as a profit strategy on Toyota's part. Am I alone on this? It makes me wonder if the first wave of releases may even be recalled if the former is true. If it is the latter, I would sooner never purchase from Toyota again.

I don't know if any other hopeful third generation Prius owners are as disappointed as I am about this. I even noticed that you can no longer get a black Prius with a tan interior, according to the 2010 Prius website. Black with tan has been a popular choice for a lot of buyers, and it doesn't make any sense to me why Toyota would do away with that kind of exterior/interior color motif.





Hey Toyota... if you're wondering why you might be seeing sales drop, here's why.

 

This is all very well said windstrings. I completely agree. It does feel like chain jerking. And it isn't fun.

 

There's also a thread devoted to this discussion: Aftermarket Moonroof for Prius V with Advanced Tech Package.

Look, more than one person has questioned Toyota's decision not to combine all of the goodies. If you don't like the decision, go ahead and make your feelings known. If you won't buy a car because you can't combine the options you like, perhaps you are just not looking at the right car in the first place. Still, it is possible Toyota will change and offer a "complete package" car in 2011.

While Toyota says the engineers didn't like the weight issues involved in a "complete package" 2010 Prius, I also have to believe they didn't expect there would be many U.S. buyers willing to shell out more than $35,000 for a Prius (and that cost is before doc fees, title costs and taxes!).

 

I counted a lot more than 3 words in your response, but I guess that's secondary. "After Market Installation" would have sufficed if you hadn't just parroted back what thousands of other threads have said... with the same silly reasoning for poor option packaging.

The fact that Toyota is aiming for the majority is all well and good - but obviously they missed a majority when deciding on putting a sunroof into a car that has the advanced technology options. This is evidenced by the numerous threads and posts that have said the same thing.

I am sure it's a very complicated equation to determine the right quantity of which trim level to produce... but that's the whole reason for trim levels. And the highest trim level has all the options. Even if the equation they use is complicated, that seems pretty easy.

 

I do agree that any complaints can be remedied aftermarket. That is what I plan to do as I think I will come out way ahead of the game by opting for a package 3.

 

You'd have a point if the fuel economy for the lexus sedan came even remotely close to the new Prius. The Lexus 250h is a performance hybrid. We are talking about two different cars. Just stick to the Prius.

 

That is true, to an extent, but there are certain things you just can't get in an aftermarket world.

You can save $$ by not paying $1,800 for the Nav/Premium sound and putting in your own sound system, but you won't get the in-dash Nav. You also won't get the in-dash view of a rear-facing camera.

You can save $$ by purchasing leather seating after market. Sometimes you get a better product, and you always get just what you want. What you don't get? Some of the other trim pieces (not much of a loss, really).

You can save another chunk of money by not paying $1,800 for the moonroof, because you should be able to get one installed for less. Unfortunately, you can't get one with the solar panels and ventilation package (or the early A/C turn on).

You can save lots of money by not buying the Advanced Tech Package, but you can't add those in the secondary market (at least not to my knowledge, and even if you did, you wouldn't be saving money).

In other words, you cannot go aftermarket and get everything.

I understand the complaint, but I don't share the angst. I simply wouldn't pay that much more money. I may consider the aftermarket moonroof, though!

 

That may be true, but I just don't think that buyers of the 250h are really looking at "economy" cars. They are willing to pay "extra" for the hybrid because it is better for the environment.

All of the extra costs when added to the Prius really take it out of the realm of comparison with "economy" cars.

 

There are two basic groups of people out here, the frugal and those who buy for different reasons than money alone.
It can be pride, a love for toys and techy stuff, to own the latest and greatest... there is a reason many movie stars and big money buy the prius and not the insight.

The latter "elite" group wants all the bells and whistles. For Toyota to say "it can't be done" is a bad comeback to a customer that says "I want it and I'll pay for it".

This is a bit similar to going out to a nice dinner and getting 80% of what you want instead of 100%.... kinda ruins the whole dinner.

My feelings the reason speculation arose is because of some of the "reasons" given didn't seem to make any sense. LED lights are too heavy???

There is allot of smart people out here and such simple boundaries and exclusions should make perfect sense.
The general public can go for simple reasons that make no sense but here there are engineers and many technical people that will start feeling like their chain is being jerked without a little more logical consideration.

All of us can agree that things take time and the options just may not be avail right now... especially if its merely a decision made my higher authorities.

I'm a person that although I'm not rich, I try to save and get what I "really" want rather than settle for less and regret and always wish latter.
Even if that means spending 2500.00 on a pair of swarovski binoculars.

If there were a nicer "hybrid" out there.. I would be trying to figure out a way to buy it. There seems to be a great gulf between the prius and higher end options.

Many customers just expect more options if they are going to spend the higher dollars.
No one wants anything for free.

I just think if Toyota is going to appeal to a more elite crowd on their high end option packages they need to follow the rules of discrimination that appeals to the elite crowds... The other crowds will buy the lower packages or the insight.

 

Very well said again. Maybe it's just the ambiguity of the "reasons" that are the source of angst for me. (And many others.) I would feel better if Toyota just said "We aren't producing that kind of Prius, period." instead of "We're not able to make that kind of Prius" because of engineering difficulties.

Part of Prius' appeal is to elitists. (Take all the movie stars who drive them, for instance.) It's only fitting that the top level package would follow suit.

 

I want the Prius V (model 1229) with the Advanced Technology Package. I know the solar moon roof is not available but can I get the standard moon roof?

 

That is not an option offered by Toyota. The moonroof on the Prius comes with the solar panels and ventilation system.

There's a thread discussing the possibilities of getting an aftermarket moonroof on the Prius V: Aftermarket Moonroof for Prius V with Advanced Tech Package.

 

If you've never gotten an aftermarket, just be sure you consider whether you want to lose a little headroom to have low profile, or go high profile otherwise.

For most, there is enough headroom to spare it won't matter.

 

Not a problem for me. I've got a wide head, not a high head.