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

Why I Got Rid of My New Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by James Luckett, Jan 10, 2020.

  1. James Luckett

    James Luckett Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2014
    21
    21
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I bought a 2020 Prim XLE in October 2019. In January, I traded it in on a brand new 2019 Hyundai Ioniq PHEV. Here's why:

    1) I could, and drive away with a profit. The tax credit ($4500) plus the state incentive ($1500 -- just reinstated after not being available for the Prime purchase) more than covers the depreciation on the Prime and sales tax on the Hyundai. I paid $27k for the Prime and got $22,700 as trade-in. The Hyudai was $31k list but with discount and all in I paid about $5000 cash. I will get $6000 in tax credits and state incentive.

    2) I got fed up with the busy, overly-complicated controls and instruments on the Prime. I love the actual physical knobs and buttons and less-busy displays on the Hyundai. This was the main thing.

    3) 29 mile EV range vs 25 that was usually more like 20.

    4) Blue Hyundai vs Silver Prime.

    5) Leather seats vs leatherette

    6) Blind spot monitor vs none

    7) Lane assist that really moves the steering wheel, if I want it, vs. beep and imperceptible or no assist from Prime. Maybe I didn't learn to use it on the Prime. It was hard to learn things about the Prime.

    8) Inattentive driver alert.

    9) Lifetime battery warranty

    10) Blue Link remote start etc from the phone

    11) 5 years of roadside service

    12) Bigger trunk.

    13) Shorter by about 7 inches, which helps us because we have a Smart electric that we park single file in our garage with the Prime/Hyundai. More space to walk around the cars when both are parked in the garage.

    14) Heater off the ICE coolant, assisted by heat recovery off the exhaust system, so you don't lose EV range when you use the heater. Instead, you go into hybrid mode for a little while until the heat is up, then the engine goes off and you continue to have heat for a while. The engine will cycle on and off in short bursts. When it's on, it is charging the battery and/or driving the car forward, so the heat is free instead of being very costly the way it is with the Prime electric heater.

    15) I just love the Hyundai. I tried to love the Prime, but the chemistry just wasn't happening for me. The Prime told me "It's not you, it's me," which I thought was very sweet of it. I said the same thing back.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just curious: what did you have prior to the Prime?

    I'm with you 100% on point number two. I just "tolerate" our 3rd gen's controls, and it seems like 4th gen is yet another level of disconnect. I suspect if no one pushes back they will have all the controls on a touch screen before long, and the mantra will be "just put it on "auto"". Further, the reason for this is to cut costs: it's cheaper than designing/testing tactile, ergonomic controls.
     
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,604
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Be 'wary' when manufacturers say 150,000 mile traction pack warranty - or 'lifetime'. This lesson was learned the hard way, years ago, first, by Honda hybrid owners - than Nissan Leaf owners. Their batteries lost capacity. that meant mileage went down because gas was now doing more of the job. Buyers asked for replacement batteries. Dealers refused because MOST boilerplate says NOTHING about capacity loss ... even 50% .... 60% .... or higher. In other words - owners were told that capacity loss is normal. It'd take more of a catastrophic type failure in order to get replacements. Through litigation - some manufacturers finally started doing the right thing. Not all. Read the fine print. If it's not there in writing? It's not there.
    other than that? congrats's !!
     
    mikey_t, Wolfie52, edthefox5 and 5 others like this.
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    HV mode in Prius Prime works the same way. Once you've warmed up, that ICE coolant will be taken advantage of even when switched back to EV mode.

    Most people find disappointment from Hyundai upon finding out electric heat isn't available. Lack of choice and dependency on that type of heat (gas still costs too, it isn't free) makes it less appealing design.
     
    E-GINO, Lee Jay, jerrymildred and 2 others like this.
  5. Chazman62

    Chazman62 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2019
    108
    65
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Ioniq PHEV was also my 1st my choice before I bought my 2020 Prime in early December 2019.
    But I settled on Prime because of following reasons:
    > No nearby Hyundai dealers had either of my choice of colors (blue or white).
    > No discount. Full MSRP price on Ioniq.
    > No rebate from Hyundai.
    > $3000 less on my trade-in than what Toyota dealer would give for my Tacoma.
    > In HV mode, Prime gets better mileage.

    At the end of the day I'm happy with my Prime.
     
    #5 Chazman62, Jan 10, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2020
  6. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2014
    1,373
    1,044
    0
    Location:
    VA, BMW Race Car, BMW R1200R, BMW 330Ci, Ford F350
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My instantaneous first thought....

    Years down the road when you sell your korean based hyundai, it will not hold its value like the tried and true Toyota Prius. So any money that you're currently up on, will be lost on the backside.


    Rob43
     
    gcbron, Tips, pghyndman and 3 others like this.
  7. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2005
    1,731
    1,154
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    When I’m at a dealership I always take note as to how full the service bays are. My dealer is rarely more than 25% and usually has next day appointments. The nearby hyundai dealer was packed. I asked what the typical wait time to book an appointment for routine maintenance. 1 week. Not sure about non routine. I crossed Hyundai off my list. Pretty much similar at the Nissan dealer.
     
    Kaptainkid1 and GSK like this.
  8. Chazman62

    Chazman62 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2019
    108
    65
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Also, I've learned that Hyundai's lifetime warranty on the (traction battery) replacement is for a complete failure not for typical degradation of charging capacity.
     
    pghyndman and Kaptainkid1 like this.
  9. James Luckett

    James Luckett Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2014
    21
    21
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The Prime replaced a 2009 Prius that we sold for $5500 with 180,000 miles on it. Also have Smart ForTwo Electric. And a Dodge Grand Caravan which we use only for special trips that require it.
     
    Mendel Leisk and bisco like this.
  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Congrats on a profitable trade-in. That does not happen often in the car buying scene. So PRIME depreciated $4300 in 3 months. I don't think $27K on PRIME is after $4500 tax credit? If not, the net payment is only $22,500 after you file 2019 tax return, meaning you drove PRIME for three months for $200 profit as well. Not a bad deal.

    I just wonder if you decide to trade-in your brand new Inoiq PHV in three months, what offer you would get?
     
    Montgomery, pghyndman and dubit like this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congrats, all the best!

    please keep us posted on your experience
     
  12. James Luckett

    James Luckett Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2014
    21
    21
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The $27k for the Prime was gross. Take the tax credit of $4500 off that to get my net. So $22,700 on trade-in was no loss. I actually think Blue Book would be more, but he started at $22k and $700 more was all I could get out of him. No other Hyundai dealer showed the least bit of interest in talking to me. And I wanted blue and he had blue. And he is 15 minutes from my house.

    The $27k on the Prime was an awesome deal I think. The dealer said it was a mistake on his website that he would only honor for one day.

    Yeah, probably not a winner for future trade-in value. I've never worried about that on houses or cars. I want what I like best for myself.
     
    E-GINO, Montgomery and dubit like this.
  13. jeminy9

    jeminy9 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2019
    16
    7
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    It was also my first choice, what stopped me was reliability and resale value. Hyundai is new to hybrids, I expect them to take at least 2 or 3 redesigns before they have something reliable. Also if you check Hyundai forums there are VERY few PHEV owners active, you will be on your own when there is a problem or question.
     
    Prime Alex and Tips like this.
  14. heiwa

    heiwa Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    223
    215
    0
    Location:
    Central Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Your state incentive may come with an obligation to refund prorated if it is like CA.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    MTN, Prime Alex and Trollbait like this.
  15. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,194
    1,690
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Well, Consumer Reports gives the non-plug-in Ioniq, Prius, and Prius Prime 69/67, 79/74, and 79/74 overall/road-test scores, respectively.
     
    Tips likes this.
  16. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    2,306
    1,328
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I’d accept those as reasonable choices. I personally will stick with my Prius Prime though.

    Hopefully, Toyota (and Prius in particular) reliability vs. Hyundai reliability will never factor into your situation.

    However, I’ll add that I’m surprised that you would see only around 20ish real EV miles. Even while my 2017’s EV range was at its lowest (for now I mean; I’m sure it will drop in its old age), I never saw below 25 GoM miles (~23-24 real miles). It has recovered since to around 26ish real miles.
     
    #16 mr88cet, Jan 11, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2020
    Tips likes this.
  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    You many have completely mis-interpreted that data.

    What if the Hyundai dealer in your particular area sells 4X the cars that Toyota does ??
    Of all types and models, since they all share the service bays.

    That kind of means that they will have 4X the amount of service appointments, even if the "failure rates" are the same.

    What you are saying is kind of like avoiding the longest lines at Disneyland.
     
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,594
    11,213
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Perhaps that Toyota service department is the stealership stereotype, and people have learned to take their business elsewhere, including the Hyundai dealer as car dealer service departments won't turn away other brands.

    To do so on a trip that would be EV only requires manual intervention. A heat pump eats much less EV miles than a resistance heater, but it still eats some, and gasoline doesn't keep forever. To each their own.

    The ioniq is new, but Hyundai isn't new to hybrids. The Sonata hybrid came out in 2009. The second generation of it got a PHEV. The third generation will be out this year. It uses a parallel hybrid system like the Ioniq with the difference, besides engine and motor output, being that the Sonata uses a traditional automatic to the Ioniq's DCT.

    Time to update the profile.

    If I had to choose, I'd go with the Ioniq/Niro over the Prime, but mostly because all the Toyota's I've owned have been the least comfortable cars to sit in. I thought the Smart's size would be great for a second/commuter car, with it taking up just half a garage, leaving room for stuff, but my commute is far too long for the ED model.
     
  19. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,194
    1,690
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Regarding the EV range, mine also started low, around 20 miles, but now, it has reached 30 - 40 miles. Perhaps the brand-new battery doesn't have full performance. Climate-control system, acceleration, and climbing ramps or hills are the biggest drains of the EV range. If the EV range is important, I would turn off the heater and A/C completely, avoid any acceleration events (such as merging to a freeway) as much as possible, and avoid ramps such as in multilevel parking structures.
     
    heiwa and bisco like this.
  20. Priusdon57

    Priusdon57 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2018
    6
    7
    0
    Location:
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    This post doesn't make sense on may things listed.
     
    KCWhitney likes this.