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Looking into buying a Prius

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Gatorfan, Oct 3, 2019.

  1. Gatorfan

    Gatorfan New Member

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    Good Afternoon. I'm looking into buying a Prius but I have some questions that I can't really ask a dealer. I live in the country and I work from home, so a daily commute isn't a problem. However, I do travel about 25 miles to town every few days (probably 4 times a week)-all backroads, no highway. I also go to Gainesville frequently, about 50 miles away both highway and city. Also, I'm a Disney pass holder so my family and I go to Disney (about 1.5 hours away, all highway) too. Finally, we also take some road trips up to Michigan every few years-lots of highway driving!

    Given my driving habits, would a Prius be a good choice? Also, is it a drastic change from driving a non hybrid car? I drive a 2012 Ford Fiesta currently.
    Thank you so much!
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    25 miles is long enough to warm up the engine such that you should see excellent mileage on the back roads. (If you’re able to keep it in the 30-40 mph range, perhaps 55 or 60mpg is possible). On the highway, 45-50mpg depending on how fast you go (60-75mph).

    drastic? No not really. The idea is that a hybrid is now not some weird science experiment but just a normal car with different powertrain (just like a different engine choice). It’ll be smoother on acceleration as you don’t have to deal with the shifts of an automatic transmission.

    Also, this is a Prius Prime subforum. Are you also considering the plug-in Prius or just the regular one?
     
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  3. Gatorfan

    Gatorfan New Member

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    I'm considering both, sorry for posting in the wrong forum. Does the plug-in have anything major advantages over the regular?
    And thank you!
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    sounds like a prius is the right choice for you, but i would test drive one before buying. the biggest quirk is the engine shutting off all the time.
    bring your family to see if it is the right car for those michigan trips.

    all the best!
     
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  5. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat !

    **************************
    I just came back from a long trip, once the ~25 mile battery charge runs out it seamlessly switches over to gas engine (ICE) and simply goes down the road that way.

    On this same trip I rented a Tesla S through Turo for two days, I'm VERY glad I own a Prius Prime !


    Rob43
     
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  6. Gatorfan

    Gatorfan New Member

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    Thank you both so much!
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ahh. It’s fine. I just wanted to make sure you get the replies that you want.

    well the major advantage is the ability to travel 25 miles in EV (20 miles in the winter and 30 miles in the summer).

    The 25 mile trip might be doable in the summer in all EV so you only pay for gas on the way back (unless you charge in the city as well).

    If you travel through mountains, the bigger battery means more regeneration capacity.

    Also, a Prime might be cheaper after tax credits but that depends on your situation.
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Keep in mind with the Prius Prime, the hatch floor is raised about 4", to accomodate the extra battery. It also doesn't have a spare tire. If I'm not mistaken only the base level Prius (non plug-in) has spare now?
     
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  9. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    And, the driver usually doesn't even know when the engine is running or not. Toyota's system is very well designed. The operation is smooth from electric to gas to electric to gas to....

    We are in a situation much like yours. The Prime works very well for us. We'd buy another.
     
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  10. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

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    As a Ford and Toyota owner I would say that going from a Fiesta to a Prius for the sake of TCO and peace of mind is likely to become one of the best automotive choices out there :)

    The Prius is a marvel of engineering. It's just such an incredibly well thought-out and made car that I don't even know what to compare it to ... perhaps the Mercedes W110-W123 back in the 60's-80's? or the DC-3, the only airplane to have been in service for 80+ years? In 2017 I decided to jump onto the EV bandwagon, and guess what: the POC that was supposed to replace the Prius was returned to GM, while the Prius is getting a new set of rain deflectors, a new set of tires, and unlimited tenure in our household!
     
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  11. Gatorfan

    Gatorfan New Member

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    Thanks for the help everyone. We test drove one today. The dealer said that "very few people wanted the plug in because the regular model does everything the plug in does without having to remember to plug the car in." If that's true, why would anyone want a plug in? Does it have any benefits over the non plug in?

    Thanks again.
     

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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Only if you want AWD and even then, it’s just a light version (for rain and snow in the city).

    i guess also a larger cargo area (models without a spare tire have a cavernous trunk).
     
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  13. evpv

    evpv Active Member

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    1. Electric driving is fantastic: smooth, quiet and powerful
    2. 133 mpge (more if you drive less than 30 miles per day, see the Prime Mileage forum)
    3. Tax incentives (depends on where you live, but in SoCal I got $7000 back from fed/state/electric company)

    Prius Prime MPG.jpeg
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think even in hybrid mode the Prime gets significantly better mpg?
     
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  15. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I chose the regular Prius over the Plug-In because I prefer the extra luggage space and can't make use of the tax credit and don't commute anymore, but that statement from the dealer is the lamest excuse ever for not buying the Plug-In. It sounds like they don't have a Plug-In to sell and want to steer you away from it for that reason. For the usage you describe, I think you would be better off with the Plug-In.
     
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  16. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

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    Yes, does everything the plug-in does, and even charges itself! aka the "self-charging hybrid". Simple, catchy and 100% true.

    New Niro Self-Charging Hybrid | Kia Motors UK
    Toyota Self-Charging Hybrid Range | Toyota Ireland

    But seriously ... with a Prime, you will be able to do most of your driving (30 mi/day a few times a a week you mentioned) on electric power, which is convenient from many points of view. The new Prime has 5 seats again, so its main IMO disadvantage is gone.

    Another thing to consider: unless you are lucky to already have a 240VAC outlet where you want to keep the car, you'll need to make arrangements for installing an L2 charging station, which can be expensive and difficult. For example, if you live in a condo, the HOA rules and the topology of the power lines, and the costs of the appropriately qualified and licensed electrician etc could spoil the party ...

    To my eye, Prime's face is a lot less controversial than that of the regular Prius; that said, for 2020 the non-plug Prius has "borrowed" some of the Prime's external features to help with sales I assume.
     
    #16 Dimitrij, Oct 6, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Hang on, you can charge at regular voltage, 110~120 whatever it is. 5 1/2 hours, which is slower, but works for overnight.
     
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  18. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    The old meme of "How do you tell when a car salesman is lying? When his lips move," remains true. Why do we like our Prime?...3 cents a mile on electric operation. Burn much less gasoline. Quiet & smooth. Better hybrid due to the larger battery: 60 mpg on the highway after the battery is depleted.

    We always charge at home at 120 volts. Works fine. Toyota's included portable charging cable has only a 120 volt plug on it.
     
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  19. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    Curiously, was the Prime you test drove charged up by the Dealer before you drove it ?

    Also realize that if you have a conveniently located 240 volt outlet, you can charge up your Prime by using the included Toyota OE 120v EVSE at 240 volts. This costs less than $50 dollars and your full charge time will be about 2:28 minutes.


    Rob43
     
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  20. Gatorfan

    Gatorfan New Member

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    Everyone, thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate you guys helping out a rookie like me. Thank you!