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

2010 to 2014 Prius, plug in or not

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Priusrage, Feb 8, 2014.

?
  1. Keep your current one silly!

    15 vote(s)
    35.7%
  2. Not worth it, just get the regular Prius!

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%
  3. Totally worth getting Prius plug in! Be perfect for you!

    26 vote(s)
    61.9%
  1. mindmachine

    mindmachine Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2009
    394
    79
    7
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Russel Toyota in Baltimore MD. Yes I liked the people and thought I was treated well. Only suprise, there is a title handling fee for an agency to process the out of state title transfer to Ohio of about $250 that includes the registration and new plates.
     
    Priusrage likes this.
  2. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1,968
    813
    0
    Location:
    L.I.- NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It's not really practical to do because it's a complex system which requires battery balancing, precise charging, etc..
    If you really want longer than the 10-12 mi EV range of the PIP- look into the Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in. It's roughly the same size and price as the PIP but has more than the double the EV battery size and up to 25 mi EV range.
     
    Priusrage likes this.
  3. Satch

    Satch Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2011
    30
    11
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, WV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Lots of talk about $ here, but I think the environmental benefits are worth mentioning. I bought my PIP for both and the fact that Prius has the concept dialed in. OK, so it's not going to save the planet, but I want to be one of those who contribute to the solution, not the problem (of greenhouse gases). Even if it's not a perfect solution, at least we're trying. It just feels good to drive it and I like things that feel good. Add in the dealer, Fed and State incentives and it's a good deal financially and environmentally.

    Personally, if cost wasn't a major issue, I'd wait for the next Gen. Knowing Toyota, the technology will be pretty cool. Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
    usbseawolf2000 and Priusrage like this.
  4. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1,968
    813
    0
    Location:
    L.I.- NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Agreed!
    Sometimes I see 3-4 mile long backups on the L.I.E. which is three lanes across and the cars are absolutely standing still only to be followed by a 10 ft creep forward to sit still for another couple of min. I can only imagine the amount of emissions coming out of those thousands of cars that are just idling without moving. I like to think of what it would be like if they were all hybrids that shut down when not moving... and the nice silence it would produce too!


    Last week I had to use my old CRV for my work commute as the PIP is getting some body work done- it absolutely drove me nuts when I was idling at traffic signals... so wasteful!
     
    SAronian likes this.
  5. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    1,024
    506
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base

    There are essentially no environmental benefits of driving a Prius. Any gallons of gas that we do not burn have the effect of holding oil prices lower, which in turn increases consumption. In other words, every gallon of fuel saved will eventually be burned somewhere else. Fossil fuels will continue to be burned until the price rises above alternatives.

    So, the financial motive is the most relevant issue to discuss. It most directly affects the life of the person considering the purchase. If the Prius didn't save money, it would be pointless to own.
     
  6. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Some likes to downplay it but it is one of the factor for buying a Prius.

    PiP is cleaner than a regular Prius, using average grid mix.
     
  7. Michael33

    Michael33 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2010
    372
    62
    0
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    That's a bit simplistic, as well as nihilist. Just promoting sales of this kind of vehicle, and leading by example, have a positive effect. It certainly isn't a solution, but it at least represents a desire to solve the problem, in a tangible way.

     
    fortytwok likes this.
  8. rorystewart

    rorystewart Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2013
    48
    8
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Funny too that the PiP gives me the perverse desire that fuel prices go up. I cringe whenever I see lower prices than the week before at my local station now. I want to feel justified in buying this car, damn it! :)
     
    mtbiker53 likes this.
  9. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    478
    66
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I agree with markabele. "IF" you already decided to buy a new car, that is one thing. But if you are looking at your 'cost of driving', especially with under 5,500 miles/year commuting, you cost of gas savings is no where near like our PiP purchase decision. My wife was changing from a 22mpg commute car that she puts 22k miles/year on to the PiP which we estimated at the time of 65mpg. So with Calif. $1500 rebate, Federal $2500 tax credit AND saving $200/ more on gas, we decided to go for it.

    You never said your 2010 Gen III's mileage, but from a 'cost to drive' perspective, I'd say that if you are strictly buying a new car for a cost savings, then my opinion is no. Or at least wait two years to see what develops when your 2010 may 'then' be ready to replace (or change to low(er) mileage second car).

    Of course if you are Jonesin' to buy a new car and you have the discretionary income to do that, then, make a choice between the Prius3 and Plug-in based on the best price you can get on both.
    If they let you always plug in at work for FREE, then your charging costs are basically cut in half. But, as you do not drive enough to have a large gas bill to offset, then that savings is not the major driver in this decision, IMHO.

    Good luck with your decision. :)
     
  10. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2013
    467
    139
    0
    Location:
    Hopkinton MA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Davekro - he never said what his "other" non-work driving was like.
    My work miles are even less than his but I'm managing to put close to 11,000 EV miles on my PiP in a year...

    we can't assess the $ savings without knowing the rest of the puzzle
     
  11. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    478
    66
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I was just giving the OP more angles to consider for him to compare his only knowing data to.
     
  12. outoftown

    outoftown Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2004
    125
    66
    5
    Location:
    Cary, NC
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    We kept our 2010 Prius IV with solar panel, single stage heated leather seats, etc. which my wife prefers over the 2010 Prius III we sold. I drive a 2012 Prius PIP base, with 2 stage heated seats with lifetime XM/Sirius service. I don't mind driving either car. Neither of us commutes, so if she isn't blocking my 2012, which charges in the garage on the Siemens 220-V charger I got from Home Depot, we'll take her car. If I didn't have a PIP, I would have bought one when NJ and NY were selling them $4k off sticker in March last year. I would consider it again now that the MSRP is dropping $4620 (per Ward's Automotive), but I think I will wait until the fuel cell model is out in 2016. If I can get a BMW i8 EV at a discount, I may jump on that instead, but I'm not holding my breath. We would sell the 2010 for the next new car.
     
  13. Dr Surfdog

    Dr Surfdog Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2011
    18
    5
    0
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If it's purely an economic decision, it probably doesn't make sense to go from the 2010 to the PIP. That said, I did exactly that a couple of months ago. Why? I like consuming less fuel and I wanted the car pool sticker. That combined with the $4K in tax credit/rebate for CA residents put the price of the PIP at $23K (before tax). I paid $21.2K for my 2010 in Jan 2011, and the PIP has more features. I personally value the carpool sticker at about $1K year. Over 5 years, that's $5K. So in effect, I paid about $18K (plus T&L) for the car, not including fuel savings.

    In sum, if you can plug in at work for free, and value the car pool sticker (through 1/2019), I'd say go for it. But you better hurry as the car pool stickers will be gone in a few months.

    If you only view it as an economic decision, then probably not so much.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,468
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Even zero percent puts you in the hole. Just saying.

    Personally I like to buy for cash. And hold them for a good while.
     
  15. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2013
    467
    139
    0
    Location:
    Hopkinton MA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    "Even zero percent puts you in the hole. Just saying. Personally I like to buy for cash. And hold them for a good while."


    ? What hole would that be ?
    Even if you just put the $25,000 in a money market you'd end up over $1,000 ahead.
    A younger guy who funneled it into their IRA or 401k would be crazy money ahead
    Anyone who paid down their 4% mortgage would be well ahead

    Paying cash means your cash is doing nothing for 5 yrs.
     
    Lourun likes this.
  16. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    1,024
    506
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Read the original post of this thread for context to the post you misunderstood, and responded to. Buying a $25,000 car at 0% financing still puts you $25k in the hole compared to keeping an existing car that is paid off.

    Trading in a paid off car on a new one that is essentially the same thing is the very definition of a poor financial decision. No credible financial adviser in the world would recommend the new car, but if they did, you could bet they work for the federal gov't. :eek:
     
  17. Lourun

    Lourun Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2011
    289
    35
    0
    Location:
    Glen Rock NJ
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    So why don't you keep your old car forever!
     
  18. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    1,024
    506
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base

    I probably would have, if it hadn't been rear-ended and totalled! :p

    My previous car was a 1996 Subaru Legacy. It had 240,000 miles on it, so I bought a 2007 Legacy. After a month of driving the new to me car, I decided I liked driving the old Legacy and couldn't justify the expense of the new one. I sold the 2007 for $1k more than I paid for it.

    The TSX I replaced it with wasn't the cheapest car I could have purchased, but the 6-speed is hard to beat in the fun-to-drive department.
     
  19. Lourun

    Lourun Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2011
    289
    35
    0
    Location:
    Glen Rock NJ
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    We have a TSX also great car!
     
  20. outoftown

    outoftown Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2004
    125
    66
    5
    Location:
    Cary, NC
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Enough of great cars (who didn't buy a car they thought wasn't great?) and cost/benefit of financing, new versus used, etc. Everyone thinks their choice is best. LOL. I've sold three Prius that I bought from three different dealers for $2000 or more than I paid for them, not counting the one my wife totaled that I bought back from my insurance company for $700 and sold for $5000, after $2300 of body repair. I financed my PIP, only because Toyota Financial was offering $2K incentive to do so. I paid it off it off in two weeks. I've seen more Teslas in my town than Prius plug-ins. My wife has seen one in the past year, but it had VA tags (must have been visiting).