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Ex-gen 4 owner about to get a 2021 Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by pakitt, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    I didn't know what a Monroney label was. Wikipedia was quite helpful, as always (as well as this other website.)
    In particular, from the article:
    Based on the text, and the fact that *I* need to remove it, they cannot fool around. Good to know.
    I am concerned of getting the TSS2.0 vs. the TSS1.0. I had it on the Gen4 and any update would be much appreciated.

    I am pretty sure there is a similar sticker/requirement in Europe, as dealers do need to show the energy efficiency rating (in letters A+++ down to F, I believe,) but I am not aware the sticker has a specific name.
     
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  2. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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    I haven't noticed any outward changes between the 2020 Limited we just traded in towards a 2021 Limited. One of the reasons we made the swap was for the TSS2.0 upgrade (love it!). The generous trade in, dealer incentive, mfg rebates, Federal and State tax incentives made it a "must do" for us... and we got to try on a different color.
     
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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Found the graphics I wanted to show.

    upload_2021-1-29_22-29-30.png

    upload_2021-1-29_22-31-11.png
     
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  4. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Thanks. Find anything on the Wind chill white Pearl?
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Unfortunately, no.
     
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  6. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Well I found an unofficial post that it was color coat plus clear coat. So looks like the red has an extra layer which is interesting.
    Ordered touch up paint and it comes in two bottles. Base coat and then clear coat.
     
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  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Titanium oxide is a common material; it's in white paints and tooth paste. I wonder why there isn't other IR reflective paint options.
     
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  8. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    When I ordered the touch up paint for my grey Gen 4 in Germany I got also 2 bottles.
     
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  9. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    PS: as of today I haven't heard anything from my dealer in a week. He said he could get me a Red Limited with black interiors from NM.
    I wonder if I will get a Prime in time at all (end of Feb.). It seems I am buying a car that either nobody wants (in SLC area) or that everybody wants (hence no stock). I thought it was easier to get a car in the USA with stock and all. It seems to be just the same as in Germany/Europe in the end.
     
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  10. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Pretty much hit and miss. Several blues! Red and white at some dealers. The black interior is better than I thought so I bought the white with black interior.
    Dealers are anxious to get rid of the blues.:LOL::sick:

    Was considering getting a second one but still on the fence as my Highlander is too new to get rid of.

    Also need to get motivated and do some more center front low speed auto stop tests. I will be angry if the deleted that for the lane lines display.
    Probably user error but Toyota will do some weird stuff sometimes and not inform people.
    A Child's life is more important than any additional smoke and mirrors.
    All worked fine in my 2019 Limited Regular Prius. Maybe!
    No apps on the 11.6" display unless I hook my iPhone up with a USB cable. Not the mama!
    I use my USB port for 32 GB of tunes and consider deleting etune and replacing it with the Toyota app a marginal move. But I could be wrong as time unfolds.

    So far, 100% run over the safety cone tests on the center front.
    Side note is that the RAV IV Prime is out everywhere.
     
    #30 ETP, Feb 4, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2021
  11. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    Got informed just now that the Red Prime Limited is there waiting for me :) Complaining on Priuschat seems to work :D
    If you look up the inventory for the Prime for western USA (that doesn't seem to include CA and west coast states), there are only 10 Primes. Of those 10, only 6 have black interiors, 3 of which are Limited (I want the HUD). The blue one is reserved already, the reed one is mine, so in fact there is only 1 Prime Limited with black interiors in the whole western USA. That is pretty thin for the Prime, if I may say.
    For the regular Gen4, 52 cars available, of which 24 have black interiors.
    It seems that the Prime is either in such a great demand they don't have stock, or nobody wants it, so they keep stock as low as possible.
     
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  12. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    They have a red one here with moonglow which is what I wanted but it involved a dealer exchange rather than get a better deal with the one on the lot.
    Straight up cash here as Florida does not have any incentives. I was lucky to get $500 off and that took a lot of dealing.
     
  13. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    OK test 10-20 on auto stop and MPG results.
    Warns me but does not stop with a center traffic cone. Will not see a Home Depot bucket in the center of the front. When I hang a cooler bag over the cone it stops. Seems the sensors may be adjusted too high and not straight ahead or slightly toed in.


    MPG. Repeat of other tests show that possibility 85% is the spot where driving in HV will stay charged after a full cord charge.
    Odd finding. Looks like 74.3 MPG after resetting the trip odometer at the 85% charge point with casual mixed driving.

    This Prime is very miserly on gas.
     
  14. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    I have already asked how CHG Mode works. Got it.
    I also understood that you can charge the battery "forever" going down a very very long and steep hill. Much more than the Gen4, as the capacity is much much bigger than Gen4.

    I am likely going to get my car delivered with little to know battery charge. This means that the Prime will work in HV mode, and will not charge the whole of it unless I set it in CHG mode. But I will be driving for 1-2 days mainly in the suburbs. And that is ok.
    Then I will drive from SLC to Denver. I was thinking of:
    • Driving in HV mode (that is, auto-EV mode) for most of the drive
    • When "driving down" on the other side of the Rockies, approaching Denver, activate CHG mode
    • By the time I hit traffic and suburban slower driving, she can drive in EV mode
    Questions are:
    1. Is the above "strategy" saving any fuel vs. driving the whole trip in HV mode only?
    2. how soon do I need to set the CHG mode, to make sure I get a full battery, to drive the last 20 or so miles, in EV mode only? Is it more a distance or a time trigger? (e.g., set CHG mode 40mins before hitting traffic vs. set CHG mode 50mi before getting to the destination, regardless)
     
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  15. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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    Tell the dealer to have it charged up for pickup (all three of ours came with a full tank of gas and fully charged). Be cautious using LDA w/SA (Lane Departure Alert with steering Assist) or even cruise control on those icy mountain roads. Either operation, especially the Steering Assist can present {ahem} "excitement" to your drive on slippery roads. You can definitely feel the corrections it makes!

    Congrats and enjoy your new Limited!
     
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  16. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    I'd like to get the car with: 1) reverse beep disabled (I have a Carista OBD adapter I used on the Gen3 and Gen4; I don't know if I need to pay the app extra to remove the stupid back-up beep); 2) check that the charger is working (avoid getting home after a 10hr drive and discover that the 110V charger cable doesn't work; 3) have the battery and the gas tank full as you propose

    How realistic it will be to get all those done? In general in Europe they give you a new car "dry" and they "forget" anything you ask them to do before delivery. It is a rarity to get a tank full. Usually they give it to you with the reserve. I was asked only once if I wanted it full at delivery, against (gas) payment of course.

    I was not too happy about TSS1.0 on my Gen4. I disabled a lot of the features because they were more either gimmicky or didn't work as advertised. For example:
    • Automatic headlights would blind too often oncoming drivers. Always off.
    • The radar cruise control would brake for no apparent reason with no vehicles in front of me (but big trucks on the lane next to mine). Or it would brake fast and speed up ludicrously trying to keep up with aggressive German drivers on the Autobahn (I used to live in Germany). I ended up using only the standard cruise control, on rare occasions, and the DRCC only in traffic jams outside of the city.
    • Road Sign Assist would either miss completely clearly visible signs, or would identify speed limit stickers (required by law in Europe) on the back of trucks. Always off.
    • LDA w/SA would often not see very visible lines (and it would be off unless on a highway - in the city it is annoying to hear it beep any time you attempt to change a lane quickly before you even touched the blinker). Always off.
    I do hope that the TSS2.0 improves on all the above. I recently drove a Mitsubishi rental here in Australia and the LDAw/SA and lane keeping. It was quite impressive, and it almost felt the car drove itself.
     
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  17. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    1. Very good advice above! Have the dealer charge it. Only 5 ish hours!

    2. I can verify that the road sign feature is a gimmick. Sorry! The sign pops up when ever there is a speed zone change even with no sign present. And sometimes fail to pop up with a big sign in front of you if the speed zone sign is the same speed.
    However it is a good reminder to watch your speed without looking at the navigation screen or the HUD navigation information.

    3. Still testing the auto stop slow speed features. Only issue so far is the exact front centerline with some objects. Rear seems to be fine! This is similar to most limited in the last few years. I think the center line road trace function is the culprit as the front sensors are different and more advanced.

    4. As for testing MPG and drivability, my advice is to fully charge it at the dealer and always drive in HV/Hybrid mode (you will be on the road constantly and this is the best option). Also you can charge it at the hotel if you get a bottom floor.

    Once it drifts down to 85% charge status it gets a steady 74ish MPG with normal Prius Hybrid power and probably better than a normal Prius with more power.

    This is a fat pig on wheels if you run the battery down and drive in forced HV mode.

    You have to push the HV button every time after you start it.

    In pure EV this is a rocket but like most rockets they burn out fast.
    Probably 29ish miles in gentle town an country driving and closer to 24 on the deathway.

    5. Nice feature I just activated! Over speed limit warning! Use it! I have mine set at 5MPH. I would not go more than 10 MPH over for a warning.

    6. Put 40-42 PSI in all your tires! It does make a difference. And I love the 15" wheels and tires and glad to get rid of the low rider curb scrapper crap.

    7. Contrary to popular opinion on this forum, the rear cargo area behind the rear seat stinks for space. My wife is very unhappy with the double whammy on deleted cargo space and also no spare tire to rub salt in the wound.
    Plead with the dealer to throw a doughnut in the back from an old vehicle in the used car lot. Do not go on a long trip in the middle of nowhere without a spare, truck size spare tire in a can, and a plug kit (something good to drink). Don't drink the radiator fluid!!!!!! But you could get a gallon of whisky for antifreeze and medicinal purposes. :ROFLMAO:

    8. Most important: keep a gallon of dry red wine for emergencies (minimum). You never know when you will need it (just don't drive after more than a half of a glass). Some states have go to jail open container laws so be careful. Never know what happens on the road again/:LOL::ROFLMAO:
    Willie Nelson / On The Road Again - Bing video
    Keep the passenger seat empty. :LOL::ROFLMAO: I made that mistake in college and will never do that again.

    9. Take your USB stick with MP3 tunes.

    10. Auto headlights are better in this model as well as the 2019's.

    11. Turn on all the safety features with maximum warning.

    12. Same on line recognition/ that won't be fixed until there is a standard worldwide on road paint and faded lines actually get painted!

    13. COVID and everything else in life. In grade school my German science teacher worked for Bayer pre WW2. He always took an aspirin at 1100 sharp everyday.
    He said it prevented heart attacks. This was in 1957!
    Nothing has changed at all. Blood clots are the real killer! Vitamin D, A, as well as B complex. You know I had forgot what he taught me until in 1985 when a USAF Flight Surgeon told me (at my flight physical) to consider an aspirin everyday and why. That night I remembered all that Dr. %$#@##$$%% taught me, What a great man. Some of us were lucky to get the real deal in public school.

    Final note is Toyota is very slow to adapt new technology as you found out. The most advanced Toyota is the Prius limited with the advanced technology option if available.

    I am still stuck with the Prius because of reliability and dependability. But would consider a Subaru or an advanced EV in the future. Most of the other brands have a very poor track record.

    20 Most Reliable Cars of the Decade According to Consumer Reports (cheatsheet.com)

    Safe fun travelling my friend.
     
    #37 ETP, Feb 11, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2021
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  18. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    I don't think there is a jack in the back! Will look again today but I do remember seeing a lug wrench. Maybe!

    Me bad, it is under the rear seat in a slide in door.

    Did a recheck of some driving options and checked the Auto EV mode for a short drive.

    Was curious what the normal range spread for this mode?

    This might be a better option if it doesn't drain the battery down to the first bar (seems to mix HV/engine in certain situations). TBD
     
    #38 ETP, Feb 13, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2021
  19. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Jack is under the left side rear seat. Your car should have come with a bag of tools that has a lug wrench, jack handlebar, and towing eyelet bolt inside. It is usually stored in the long bin under the deck on the trunk.

    The EV auto for the most part behaves exactly the same as EV mode. It turns HV (engine) only if you really floor the pedal, but otherwise, it does not switch back and force.
     
    #39 Salamander_King, Feb 13, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2021
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  20. Db17

    Db17 Member

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    How do you get to the jack under the rear seat?