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

jumped ship...got a chevy bolt

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by hyhi, Jan 4, 2023.

  1. hyhi

    hyhi Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    159
    47
    0
    Location:
    fl
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    May live to regret it though jump shipped even before the 2023 Prius hit the dealer lots. Picked up a chevy bolt premier euv yesterday. At times I have a bad habit of 'buying the sale' purchases. In this case, not waiting until the year 2024 to get the federal tax $7,500 off the price directly at the dealer instead will claim it when I do 2023 tax return. Figure I can get $7,500 owed to ira as my SS starts in Feb of this year (taxed at 85%). It won't be my daily driver in that I also have an ICE toyota highlander 2022 hybrid. I do hope to drive the snot out of the bolt.

    Won't try to sort out which is better, Prius with 2023 refresh is a home run in many ways. Hoping the extra seat height and rear window area is a win for the Bolt. Will still check in on the site as I did love my prior Prius and will be interesting to read owner reviews of the 2023 model.
     
  2. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2018
    498
    463
    0
    Location:
    CT shoreline
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Here's to wishing you a good experience with it! Please do keep us informed on your impressions
     
    TGrracie and samsprius1 like this.
  3. bat4255

    bat4255 2017 Prius v #2 and 2008 Gen II #2

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2007
    654
    261
    0
    Location:
    Dodge Co. Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    My daughter bought one a few years ago, she loves it.
     
    TGrracie and bisco like this.
  4. 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! Did your MSRP reflect the most recent price hike announced just a few days ago? I think for EUV it was +$600?

    GM bumps Chevy Bolt pricing, but the increase is lower than expected

    I am seriously thinking of buying one too for our second car... But our aim was to try to do without having a second car, at least for a while. Unless I find a preferred trim without markup at a local dealer's lot, I may decide to hold off.
     
  5. hyhi

    hyhi Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    159
    47
    0
    Location:
    fl
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Darn I clicked and deleted my post typed.

    Well, that was a false alarm. Long story short dealer was going to charge me $5199 over the windows sticker total price and that window sticker price included the destination delivery fee. I simply could not justify giving the dealer that kind of money on a 39K plus car. So I missed out on several rebates that expired yesterday but you just have to draw the line somewhere I feel.

    Maybe it is a sign to consider a 2023 Toyota Prime in several months. Thinking it takes something like 2hr and 10 minutes on a level 2 charger to recharge the battery good for like 38 miles of ev driving.

    I did LOVE the ACC in the 2022 Bolt EUV Premier I drove, would not want to buy a bolt without it.
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  6. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This is a funny phenomenon, but on the Volt forums, they seem to loathe the Prius, for the most part. I've had posts deleted on the Chevy Volt fb page because I stated how much I like my Prius (I am also a Volt owner). But here, people can see past the sillyness and agree that the Bolt is also a reasonable EV..... But you wont ever see me in one :D

    Holding out for the '23 Pri. Will sell my '17 Volt at that point, and probably keep my '15 Prius Four. Im loving the buzz over the new design!
     
    ColoradoBoo and bisco like this.
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,595
    11,216
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I think part of that is that most here that got a Prius did so because it was a Prius, not because it was a Toyota.
     
    TGrracie and PriusGuy32 like this.
  8. John321

    John321 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2018
    1,104
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I bought a South Korean PHEV and belong to a forum for that vehicle.

    Many there are previous Prius owners including myself who speak very highly of the Prius. It was the vehicle that for many of us was the gateway to a PHEV. I don't recall a single person on the almost 4 years on the forum who didn't speak highly of their former Prius - the positive experience with the Prius was what motivated most of us to try a PHEV.

    For those of us who live in the Southeast region of the US, we never had the opportunity to buy a Prius Prime - Toyota Southeast Regional Division refuses to sell Prius Primes to its customers. I do not know if this has changed in the last couple of years or not.
     
    #8 John321, Jan 4, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2023
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    and most buy the bolt because it's a chevy?
     
    TGrracie and PriusGuy32 like this.
  10. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    221
    162
    0
    Location:
    Bucks County, PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I have a Prius Prime and a Ioniq 5. I bought the Ioniq 5 In March 22 while it was still eligible for the $7500 tax credit. I probably would have bought a Bolt but they were having battery issues at the time and were not eligible for the tax credit.
    Some days I drive both the Ioniq and the Prime so I have a really good feel for the characteristics of the vehicles. The Prius Prime feels so primitive compared to a BEV.
     
    #10 ems2158, Jan 5, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2023
  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
    bolt is two small for me, although i love the price. waiting for the next size up
     
  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    Why is this in the Gen5 Prius forum? Seems it should be moved...
     
    TGrracie and Salamander_King like this.
  13. priusmouse

    priusmouse Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2022
    239
    80
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE

    Theres just so much wrong with the bolt, it is such a missed opportunity. The bolt should have just tried to be an electric Prius and it would be a hit.

    instead:
    *it is ugly and tiny, looks like a little clown car or something your kid drives bc he cant get a real car. Even from the perspective of someone used to driving a prius it is ugly
    *the interior options are terrible; no light interiors unless you get extravagant trims on the EUV, none at all for the basic EV model
    *outdated charging mechanism means slow charge and means that you will want to replace it once better options are available
    *chevy reliability

    If someone would just make a reliable EV that looked decent, was not a weird mini suv but a normal sedan/hatchback, had a light interior option, and is reliable, I would buy it if it costs what a prius does. Instead the only option that comes close is the tesla, and it does not cost what the prius does
     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  14. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,595
    11,216
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The Bolt started out as a Sonic EV to replace the Spark EV for nationwide EV sales. Expected changes to the CAFE rules didn't happen, so the South Korea assembled Spark EV wasn't going to help balance out GM truck sales. They needed something North America assembled. They had maybe a half dozen Sonic EVs made for testing. IIRC, range was around 150 miles. They went with the Trax, the Sonic's crossover sibling, platform because the raised height allowed for more battery under the floor.

    When the Bolt came out, DC charging on a BEV was still considered an option. The speed of its optional CCS system was what most owners would likely see at the public chargers out at the time. Then second gen could have gotten a faster system, but that actually takes more work than swapping out the AC charger in the car; the battery architecture needs to be redesigned for the higher charge rate. The Ultium suite was still in development without the supplier support in place.

    Making the gen2 Bolt comparable to BEVs coming out now in charging would mean higher cost. The EV, a 250+ mile BEV, is almost $2000 less than than the new Prius without a plug. Making it Prius sized would also increase the price.

    For those that want a Prius sized BEV, the Equinox EV will be out as a 2024MY. It is built with the same BEV platform as the Trailblazer EV, and will have the Ultium suite with faster charger. GM is aiming for a price 'around' $30k. After the gen2, the Bolt will likely end. GM could end up still doing a subcompact BEV, but I suspect they will be pressed to meet demand in larger segments.

    I liked the exterior and interior of my Sonic. It was a more comfortable car to drive than my Prius and Camry.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that's what i'm waiting for
     
  16. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2010
    185
    114
    21
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I test drove a bolt euv today. Good road feel, got up to 60 pretty easily. Decent space in the rows but a tiny trunk, and it was narrow so the middle back seat wasn't the best.

    For the tax credit, I think it is only eligible for half, bc the $ of the power train made in the US is not not sufficient for the full credit.

    I could live with the car, I wouldn't use it for road trips or when I was the school car pool guy (I would use my 2016 Prius), but I ended up passing. I'll wait for the new prius, rav4 hybrid or Sportage hybrid.

    Enjoy the car, it does drive well

     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,595
    11,216
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Gets the full credit for at least to March.
     
    fsu23phd and PriusGuy32 like this.
  18. samsprius1

    samsprius1 HEV Fanatic

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2008
    690
    156
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    If I could get my hands on one I would buy!!! what can you buy for 17 grand!! Enjoy!!!

     
    pghyndman likes this.
  19. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2010
    185
    114
    21
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for this post. I called 40+ dealers and finally picked up a bolt EUV last week, I took a train to Charleston, drove 4.5 hours home and paid about 1k in BS (nitrogen, extra floor mats, door edge guards...). I also had to get some options I don't care for (heated seats and steering wheel, leather wrapped steering wheel) but there are just no base models available unless you order and wait 5 months). And compared to Toyota, dealer fees are lower, BS add ons are cheaper and at least it includes one set of floor mats in the base price.

    I like the car, its barely big enough and drives well, but the purchase was bittersweet. This is the first new car I have bought that isn't a prius. I'm not confident about the longevity of the car, but with the tax credit, I will take the risk.

    It does much better with the hill in my driveway but still scrapes. :)

    I paid 32,600 out the door, so with the tax credit will cost about 25k. I think inpaid 27 for my 2016 Prius, so I'm happy.
     

    Attached Files:

    #19 fsu23phd, Mar 14, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2023
  20. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2019
    903
    593
    4
    Location:
    Monument, Colorado USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm also very much in love with the redesigned Prius and would like one. But, wait, how awesome is that Toyota Crown? No, wait, is Toyota bringing back the small pickup truck with the Toyota Stout??
    You're killing me, Toyota!!!!!
     
    fsu23phd likes this.