Purchasing first Prius

one is a fleet car, i would stay away from it. pretty sure the only thing that comes standard is 50 mpg. i like the '12 myself. otoh, have you priced a '14 or '15 pkg. two? i hear they are giving them away due to low gas prices. all the best!

 

options. more like a rental or corporate. generally speaking, you can't buy them new. i think cruise control is a big one.

 

My thoughts:
-- 17" wheels will affect mileage, but when you're looking at ~50 mpg, is ~47-48 mpg all that bad? I thought about a Personna and a Five, but I'm quite happy with my Four, wheel covers and all.
-- AFAIK, the solar roof is heavier, so it too will affect mileage, but not by much. I think you're overestimating the effect the black will have on interior temp. AFAIK, tests have showed that darker colors will heat the interior quicker when parked in the sun, but the interior will still get as warm with other colors, it'll just take a little longer. You may also be overestimating the effect during the summer in Iowa, but that depends on how often you park in the sun long enough to over-heat the interior. My experience here is that the Prius A/C does a good job of cooling a hot car and I don't regret not getting a solar roof. There are aftermarket solar-powered venting systems and if they were really good, I think I'd see them all over the place here. I'm also hard-pressed to find a Prius with a solar roof here too and you'd think they'd be a pretty standard option here given our heat.
-- A model One would be a non-starter for me unless it had the features I'd want. Fleet vehicles can be either well-maintained or not maintained at all. You also have no idea how it was driven. Many people who have no vested interest in a vehicle generally abuse them, though it's probably more difficult to actually abuse a Prius.
-- You didn't mention the mileage on any of the vehicles, so that makes comparing the deals a little more difficult. The number of months left on warranty is meaningless without the mileage because the warranty is 36 months or 36,000 miles.
-- Having rented a 2010 model Two (3 days/1,1000 miles) and now owning a 2014 model Four, I'm partial to the Softex seats, but mostly because my driver's seat is power-adjustable. The heated part doesn't hurt either during our road trips.
-- I'm partial to "new", so I also suggest checking current prices on new 2014 models.
-- FWIW, I also considered the audio system that came with the model Four.

 

I would go with the newest. I would also be looking new as they are harder sells with low pump prices if you can believe people would look at anything else! Hal

 

The big pitfall to watch out for is the condition of the hybrid battery, among other hybrid components. I'd suggest getting the opinion of a good mechanic who is familiar with the Prius before considering the purchase of a used one.

 

That's always a better bet than going it alone in my opinion. You can get some sweetheart deals by buying privately, but the risk-level is high.

 

A new Three-Solar is probably going to cost another $7000. A Three-Solar is somewhat uncommon as not every Region has ordered them.

All the cars are covered by the balance of the warranty.

The Three on 15" wheels may get higher fuel economy compared to the Persona on 17". Do a couple mpg bother you? 15" tires should also be cheaper than 17".

Using a sun shield in the windshield makes a noticeable difference.

It's all about how much you like or dislike the gizmos in each car. Either one would be a good choice presuming they are mechanically sound.

Make sure you get two fobs.

 

The gizmos I added to my '09 Corolla made all the difference when I sold it online. The guy "had to have it." I'm sure I could have done even better, but I already got over twice what the dealer offered me for it. Apparently he was a satisfied customer, because I haven't heard from him since he bought it.

 

Most cars vent themselves while running and/or moving, so running the solar fans wouldn't do much. Plus, it's recommended to run the A/C year round to keep the traction battery cool. There is a vent with a fan in the back seat that needs to be kept clear and clean, so make sure the kids don't accidently cover it up with blankets, jackets, etc. The Prius A/C compressor is electric, so there is not the normal drag on the engine like there is with typical systems. The solar fans don't actually "cool" the interior, they simply remove heated air to keep the interior temperature close to the outside ambient temperature. My wife doesn't like moon roofs, so it was not really an option for us and it does use up a little headroom.

In addition to lower mileage, some say the 17" wheels result in a little harsher ride and, like someone else mentioned, the cost of replacement tires may be higher. They also might last as long. However, over the course of ownership, I don't think these are all that important, at least not financially. For example, the diff between 48 and 50 mpg over 10,000 miles is about $30, depending on the price of gas. And, how often do you buy tires?

 

Yep, The Prius One was sold primarily as a fleet offering. Unless it's mislabeled, and NOT really a Prius One.

I'd just cross that one off the list.

Ultimate condition would be my primary factor in determination.

Having said that? Between a Persona and a Solar Package, I would probably opt for the Solar Package. I think the sunroof can be really nice.

I think the Persona is a very nice Prius as well, but most of what makes a Persona is cosmetic. In other words I think it is easier to have a Solar Package Prius, and update wheels, rims, interior..than it is to have a Persona and try to add a sunroof or solar powered ventilation.

So if both were in good/great condition? I think I'd personally choose the solar package.

 

Very happy with the solar roof.
You can tilt the roof open while letting the fan run in the sun and the car's much nicer on sunny, warm days.

 

Maybe you should be asking what it doesn't have?

I remember when The 3rd Gen Prius was released that the Prius One was offered as primarily a fleet (bare bones) Prius. I can't remember what it did or did NOT have.
I seem to remember it NOT having Keyless Entry. But I could be wrong about that.
Since it wasn't going to be widely available as a commercial choice, I did not even pay very close attention to what it DID have.