Should I wait for the 2014 Prius C?

I like the Prius C, but the NiMH battery pack is a deal-killer for me. I won't buy a new hybrid with obsolete battery technology. So I wait. Toyota or somebody else will offer what I want soon.

 

Toyota lists the C3 at $21, 542 so 21,199 isn't $750 below invoice. Invoice is typically about 5% under list and there's a 3% kick-bacxk plud dealer icentives. There's no reasonm the C3 couldn't be sold at mid 19's plus tax, tags, and title.
as far as invoice is concerned, dealers 'print up' invoices all the time to impress buyers.

 

Just because its newer doesn't mean better; has it ocurred to you that LiH batteries might double the cost of a Prius?
Scaling from cell phones to car motors is a bit on the costly side.

 

Can't wait to see the pics! Great choice. You're gonna love it.

 

The only problem with that is the fact that the hybrid may never even appear in the North American market. I mean, a hybrid Fit exists now even. It just never made it over here.

 

IMO, there is also value in the Prius platform being "proven". I wouldn't want to be the test dummy for the newest hybrid system. Part of what drew me to the Prius is that it looks to be about as bulletproof as a car can be.

 

Isn't this one of those sham's that the dealer throws in to raise the tab and make more money?

 

If you paid for it you should go back in a few years and make them replace your interior :]

 

NiMH isn't obsolete... it just hasn't been allowed to be developed due to patent restraints. That will change in the next couple of years when the patent expires and people can do things with them.

 

Sigh... I think you are right. It's not coming. Not sure why given Prius C sales numbers.

 

Because 'Muricans don't like dem sissy hybrids.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand the NiMH batteries do the job with proven reliability and robustness, and the advantage of Li-Ion would be weight, with some concern that it doesn't have as much history to validate it for this purpose. So the relevance of the battery choice would be proportional to the weight and volume on each car. The Prius C has a pretty small battery for this class of car, 67 pounds (as opposed to 91 pounds on the standard Prius), and it's cleverly stashed under the rear seat. So it's not like the car is going to get lighter or smaller if that battery were upgraded to Li-Ion.

 

Generally, lithium-ion has three times (yes. three times.) the energy density of NiMH. So Toyota could double the kwh hours of the puny stock 900wh battery and still save 30% of its weight. This would save not only weight, but save space, and increase gas mileage and performance with a longer, stronger electric boost. No clean sheet hybrid design by any other manufacturer uses NiMH batteries. They're obsolete. A couple of years ago Ford said that they were paying $400/kwh for their Li-Ion batteries. Prices have come down quite a bit since then. So why does Toyota still use NiMH? Toyota owns the battery company and if they switch to Li-Ion, their battery company loses its biggest customer.

 

Don't Toyota buy their batteries from Panasonic?

Even if Toyota comes out with Li-ion battery version of the Prius, I would still prefer the NiMH version for now. It's a proven platform.

 

On the topic of the 2014 Prius C, are there any reports if Toyota will be modifying the trims at all? I've been Googling but have found nothing. I've kind of hoped that they'd add a standard backup camera.

 

Darn! It ain't coming...
Automotive News reports that while the Fit Hybrid seen here isn't expected to be sold in the US, the technology will come to America in the form of a subcompact sedan and crossover based on the Fit's architecture, as early as next year.
Honda reveals next-gen Fit Hybrid - Autoblog

I'm interested in the Honda Fit - my wife prefers her Fit (2007) and will not consider a Prius.

I would have bought a Honda Fit hybrid if they were being imported in 2012. I looked at the Insight and was rather underwhelmed.

So where is this news of the Honda Fit hybrid? I remember back in 2011-12 all the rumors of the Fit Hybrid being brought in and it never happened...