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

We just got our 6th Prius -- Wife facing a learning curve.

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by jerrymildred, Aug 18, 2020.

  1. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    We did it! For a long time my dear, frugal wife wanted to drive the wheels off her 2007 Prius. In a way, she kind of did because it was going to need tires before long. But the reason for the change, I think, was that the poor old thing (the car!!! not the wife. She's still gorgeous.) was getting butt ugly with all the paint damage from the FL sun and that she wanted something more comfortable.

    We vacillated between waiting for the RAV4 Prime, but that was going to probably be a long wait and a big payment. Also considered the RAV4 Hybrid, but still pricey as well as not as economical to drive as a Prius.

    So, we were down to Prius or Camry Hybrid. Ever the frugal one, the wife was leaning toward a used Gen 4 Prius. Todd, over at Home - Tampa Hybrids Inc. had a 2017 trim two with safety package. It checked all of her boxes: cloth interior, small display with buttons, spare tire, outstanding fuel economy, five seats, Prius reliability. It did cost more than she wanted, but hey, it only has 20k miles on it and it's a Florida car and Toyota serviced, so it should last a long long time. Plus it had brand new Yokohama Avid Ascend Touring S tires.

    Those were pretty much my check boxes except I also wanted to have the safety features as well as the spare tire. A trim two with the safety package was exactly what I was hoping for.

    After she drove it (getting about 70 mpg on the Interstate at 70 mph), I asked if she wanted to head over to another place to try out the Camry. She didn't blink an eye. She just said, "Nope. I want this one." She doesn't decide what to order at a restaurant that fast!!!!

    I had a trade-in number in mind, but never stated it. Todd exceeded that amount, which was the final part of the decision process. So, here it is in our driveway. Now the wife has some learning do do since she almost never drove my Prime. (And by the way, I noticed that it doesn't act quite like the Prime acts in Hybrid mode. But that's for another discussion. ;))

    IMG_2286.jpg IMG_2287.jpg IMG_2288.jpg
     
  2. 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
    Good show.
    I hope you won't be too disappointed when that gas mileage number doesn't hold up long term.
     
  3. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    Wow...congrats! you are a couple of high rollers now! We are still rolling with our 2010 liftback and 2012 v. (y)
     
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks. I think my biggest motive in the purchase was just that the old car looked so bad paint-waise that it was getting embarrassing. ;)
     
  5. 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! I am sure your wife will enjoy the new ride, but wasn't another Prius Prime a choice? I guess, it is very hard to come by in your region.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    We thought about it. I also thought about a BEV for her, maybe a Bolt. But this was available and it'll actually be better than the Prime for vacation trips. I suggested a trip to the Northeast to get a new Prime and the tax breaks, but she wasn't very interested. I think she'll be happy with this.
     
  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hmmmm... You know how everyone says that the middle of the dash looks a little like Darth Vader? It just occurred to me that the outside color scheme, especially from the back, has a bit of a storm trooper look to it. :LOL:
     
  8. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,824
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    Jerry, You may want to add Body Side Moldings (see my photo of my 2016) to minimize door dings while shopping. Mine were installed professionally in my driveway for $125 in 2016.

    JeffD
     
  9. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good idea. First thing is window vent shades and a fitted windshield sun screen. It doesn't have floor mats either, so those are high on the list. I'm now REALLY wishing for a two-car garage.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congratulations, all the best to mrs. m!
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  11. pianewman

    pianewman Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2019
    264
    183
    0
    Location:
    DallasFortWorthTEXASregion
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sounds good, Jerry. We've had miles and miles of upper 60s mpg, but haven't cracked 70 yet.
    Parking spaces here in Fort Worth are wide enough that we don't need the door guards.
    Sunscreen? I'm very happy with the bright shiny rollup shade our dealer sells (around $40). They seem to reflect more heat than the spring loaded roll/fold light weight screens (which store more easily). But hey, you live in FL, you know all about windshield sunscreens, so for sure, I'm preaching to the choir.
    Good luck with the new car! (thread drift: I just put 3 coats of Liquid Glass on our red 2018...looks fabulous. I had good luck with the product [ease of application!] on the 2013 Ford CMax we owned for 2 years. What do you use?)
     
  12. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    I was told the same from a co-worker. Standing back, I can see how an artist with a wrap job would enhance the look.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  13. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2019
    310
    135
    0
    Location:
    usa
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    How does the Gen4 act different than Prime in HV mode?
     
  14. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I got one from the dealer for my Prime. It's not quite a perfect fit even though it says it's for the 2016+ Prius, but it's close. For the PiP I had one of the Heatshield brand that you could buy from the Prius Chat store before it went dormant. I think I'll get her this one
    along with a set of window vent shades.
     
  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I guess we were typing at the same time.

    What I noticed coming home from Tampa Hybrids was that cruising on the 50 mph road that I often drive in the Prime, the Prius stayed in HV with the engine running almost all the way. It was getting what looked like 70+ mpg, but running the ICE almost exclusively. The Prime on the same road while in HV will go for one or two miles in with the engine off and then go about the same distance with it on. It alternates back and forth and seems to come out to about 70+ mpg also. Just using a different method.

    One thing that the Prius has over Prime is when the Prime's EV range is depleted. When that happens, there is no EV mode available for just moving the car out of the driveway or something like with the regular Prius. It's not very frequent, but it has made me plug it in for a few minutes a few times so I could sweep the garage floor or something.

    All in all, though, they are very similar other than I don't think she'll be able to go five months without buying gas like I can. LOL!
     
  16. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2019
    310
    135
    0
    Location:
    usa
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Appreciate the insight! This is interesting. I'm not sure, but I think it often does let me use a little bit of EV driving for low speed driving. I do notice how it goes into pure EV even at 50mph if I'm not accelerating or going uphill.
     
  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah, Prime will go for quite a long time in EV with the EV range depleted once the ICE is warmed up. And I think I might have gotten away with the ICE not starting when staring up w/o EV range available. I might be remembering the PiP more-so. I guess I haven't really experimented with that.
     
    mistermojorizin likes this.
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Congrats! Looks like a great specimen (and a good package - Two with Safety Plus package).
     
  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    All 2017 have safety features included but they added BSM and a few others mid year. What is the mfg month? Yours looks like mine but I have an early 2017.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You want the carpeted ones? I have a set only used for a week because I bought rubber mats. OM me and we may able to work something out.
     
    alanclarkeau and jerrymildred like this.