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2017 Prius prime Advanced lacking many good features

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by AJDL, Oct 30, 2019.

  1. AJDL

    AJDL Junior Member

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    Prime Advanced

    I am kind of little unhappy owner of Prius prime Advanced a whopping 35k top trim in Prius Prime due to these things.
    1. Luxury/top trims cars has leather, but this one has vinyl or fake leather.
    2. There should be two sun visors, one you can move to side window and one you can keep on the front window, this is really helpful during morning and evening travel.
    3. The heated steering is kind of joke, they only put the heating coil at some places on the steering, I live in New England and when it is negative temperature, holding the wheel is really difficult during turns.
    4. Front camera
    5. Biggest is the Apple car play and there is no provision of 2017 model to get apple car play. I did a lot of research and found that Beat Sonic makes Apple car play after market stuff for 2017 Prime, but not 11.6" model. I spoke to them and they told me that I am probably only the 6th person asking for that need. In my mind I am thinking that this is the only reason for which I might need to buy new 2020, if some how we can fix that issue, then I don't need to spend a lot of money on the 2020 and loose money on my 2017. They asked me to send them emails @ [email protected] stating the I have interest in this product and if they receive enough emails they will think about the Apple Car Play solutions.

    Please share your problems and issues which Toyota should have addressed?
     
    #1 AJDL, Oct 30, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2019
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    raised hatch floor
     
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  3. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    No spare.
    No Rear Wiper.
     
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  4. smyles

    smyles Active Member

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    People complaining re lack of apple carplay.
     
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  5. tomstodola

    tomstodola Member

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    The rear window gives additional fuel economy, but really takes away storage space. I am not complaining, I knew the window and raised floor (8.8kW battery) were part of the tradeoff. I am OK with it because I just got my carpool stickers, and in California getting in the carpool lane takes 30 minutes each way off my commute.
     
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Loss of cargo space for me is the biggest pet peeve. The 11.6" is also underutilized.
     
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  7. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    No Apple Carplay/Android Auto is the biggest

    However, lack of a EV/HV mode switch on the steering wheel annoys me every time I have to switch modes.
     
  8. AJDL

    AJDL Junior Member

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    I think people who want carplay can send the email to [email protected]. This will help them see how many people are interested.
     
  9. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    OP - now that we know what you don't like, what do you like?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  10. CraigCSJ

    CraigCSJ Active Member

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    I have learned to feel for the raised line on the EV/HV mode switch so there is no longer a need to take my eyes off the road to use the switch. For a long time I was annoyed, but no longer.
     
  11. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    How long have you had the car? Did you do any research before buying?

    Sure, some of these things are disappointing, but should not have been surprises if you did any research before buying, most of these have been common discussion points. Some of these are addressed with the 2020 model (visors, CarPlay).

    Personally, I prefer the Softex in my PiP to real leather, like in my wife’s Leaf SL (2016). I find it softer and more comfortable, and also ages better... the leather feels more stiff, and is already showing some age after only 3.5 years and 55k KM. The Softex in my PiP is 2 years older and more then 2.5x times the mileage (165k), and looks brand new. Unlike what some complain, I don’t find the Softex “sweaty”, unless it is very hot out (30C+) and I choose not to use A/C), but that would be true of any car...

    I plan to upgrade to a Prime at some point and I had 4 things I didn’t like since it’s introduction, in descending order of importance to me;

    1. 4 seats
    2. No CarPlay
    3. Reduce cargo space
    4. Lack of rear wiper

    1 & 2 have now been resolved with 2020, and 3 and 4 are minor annoyances, not deal breakers for me (one other wish list item for is I wish the Prime had a moonroof option too, but the Toyota plugin has never offered this...). I am also intrigued to see what the RAV4 PHEV has in store, being unveiled later this month, which in theory should fill the gap on all of these, but of course at added expense and fuel economy hit... so we’ll see.

    Just my $0.02.
     
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I think you made a wrong turn. You meant to complain to Toyota US who no longer visits here to learn from actual users.
    Nobody here can help or influence the packaging decisions made by Toyota US except to purchase a competitor product that better meets our needs and desires. I suspect my next vehicle purchase will not be a Toyota due to their obsession with large black cow catcher grilles.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    at this point, i'm going to wait for the next gen to see if they fix 3 and 4, then it will be the ultimate car.

    hey, it's only a few years away:cool:
     
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Quite a few people here have found the Tesla Model 3 to be the best choice. I doubt you are going to win an argument with former Prime owner @bwilson4web about which is the better choice. ;)
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you want full bev, it may be. too expensive for my blood, prime is ze peoples car :)

    for me personally, there is no bev which wouldn't require a serious alteration of lifestyle, which i (and more importantly, mrs bisco) am not ready for.
    at 90% ev, my pip hits all the checkmarks currently
     
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  16. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    At my age every year is a crap shoot.
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  18. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    The Prius Prime has plenty of deficiencies as identified in the original post and I agree with all of them. My priority is low operating and maintenance costs. This is where the Prius Prime excels. The Prime is not really class leading at anything except being cheap to operate.
     
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  19. mister2cool

    mister2cool Member

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    I don't understand.. 2020 MY are out and we are complaining about features missing on 2017 MY?
     
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  20. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    Three years later, exactly the same car. Toyota added Carplay and a 5th the seat. Still no Android Auto that is used by half the US market.