What features would make you jump ship?

You need to upgrade—also upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 11 already.

 

Be sure to check any XP box for 11 compatibility.
Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements | Microsoft
most any machine currently running XP for techstream use, will for sure run like a 2 legged dog after installing 11 and most likely 10 too.
I know it was a joke, but still at least try to understand what you're implying.

maybe get a new window 11 computer, if you really want one of those beasts of burden, with all their advertised new and magic security features. And join the herds of others with similar interests.

 

I cross shop everything and am loyal to no brand.

The main factor for me is cost. If I can't afford it I won't get it. I might even forgo owning a car altogether if things get any worse.

After that, if they took out the rear seats and made the Prius a two seater then I wouldn't consider it. I almost got a Prime when they first came out but the lack of a 5th seat was a real deterant and part of the reason I didn't get one.

I'm pretty resilient to all the other nice features that are being taken away with every model.

• We just pack 4 people in the back when we have to haul 6 since front bench seats no longer are an option.
• I've owned a car without a spare tire, so I just have to get one and fill part of the cargo space with it and drill holes so I can strap it and the jack down.
• Now I drive cars without real knobs and levers, so I have to pull over every time I need to make a change to the stupid heater or A/C.
• I just have to sit in my car in the cold as it warms up to defrost my breath on the windshield since it doesn't let me lock the doors when I start it in -30°F weather.
• Automated lights and rear-view mirror dimmers are a real pain, but I've learned to live with them.
• I drive around with an irritating TPMS light that constantly flashes since I insist on having my winter tires on different rims.
• I just have to shovel more snow out of the way when I get stuck since I can't rock my car out of deep snow without a clutch.
• When things stop working or I need to replace the brake fluid I just take 250 miles to a mechanic, stay there all day, pay like $600, complain they didn't do what I had asked, and then drive home.

If I survived all that I'm sure they can't make a Prius or any car too bad for me.

The Chevy Bolt seems like a canadate for me if something were to happen to my Avalon soon even though I wouldn't get even a quarter of the tax credit back. But it would still depend on whether I could afford one or not.

 

Not necessarily. The scheduled charging can be overrided because the car will ask you "Charge Now?" every time you plug it in. Ignore it to let the scheduling take over or answer yes on the steering wheel to start charging immediately. The scheduling can be set up on the car or in the Toyota app. Like @bisco I used finish time (and on my Prime I had the car preconditioned). You can also select a start time to start charging but it won't precondition the car.

My 2017 Prime was rather pessimistic in estimating when to finish as it always assumed you were using Toyota's L1 EVSE cable so it would finish about an hour early. I don't know if they fixed this or not in later MY Primes. On my L2 EVSE it would finish a full charge on my Prime in 70 minutes so I could plan ahead if I had to use it for 3 or 4 trips during the day which I sometimes did. On the 2023 Prime, if it has a 6.6 kW charger, the L2 EVSE would be done in about the same 70 minutes on its 13.6 kWh battery. My Prime had a 2.7 kW charger inside.

 

I am eagerly awaiting the charge rate for the solar roof on the Prime. Can I get 10 miles worth on a sunny day over 10 hours or will it be something like 2?

 

The Toyota European estimate for the 2023 Prius PHV (Prius Prime to us) solar roof, which is quite optimistic, says it'll supply 8 km (5 miles) per day on a sunny day. I'd predict something closer to 3 miles. Don't forget that it will help run the AC while driving so the drain on EV range won't be as severe.

 

Actually run the A/C? I thought the old one only supplied the 12V accessories while the car was running.

 

Getting back to original post - the following would be a deal killer for me.

1. Head room in front seats will have to be fair to good. What I mean by that is anyone 6' 2" or under can sit comfortably in front seats and not worry about hair, head or baseball cap touching cabin roof. If I buy the Prime SE I'll pass on sunroof, which should help with head clearance. I'm not concerned about back seat sitting height, but front seats better have some space between one's cranium and interior cabin roof.

2. Prime's going to perform/drive very quietly in battery mode for say first 40 miles. Have to hear how it sounds when motor's running on roads, highway, rough pavement, etc. Wind noise, road noise and motor noise. Body wise it's a little on the small side so I wonder if that works against it - regarding incoming noise levels.

3. Last thing would be a combination of hating rear view (via windshield mirror), along with steering wheel blocking view dash gauges. I assume SE trim has the option too upgrade to better mirror - but not sure. And I assume in adjusting steering wheel will eventually allow a position that drive will be comfortable with. As far as viewing MPH gauge, gas tank gauge, etc.

 

Quote from Toyota USA's press release: "The panels deliver supplemental power to accessory functions, like air conditioning, when driving and they also use a clever design that conceals the electrodes for a seamless, glossy appearance."

Poised for Performance: 2023 Toyota Prius Prime Revealed - Toyota USA Newsroom

How much of that it actually runs is up to speculation which is why I said "help run". I'm thinking maybe the fans which is actually a big deal.

 

The fans still run in my cars with engine off. Guessing they are a 12V accessory. Didn't the gen3 solar roof run the fans for cabin venting?

 

But what seating position? Laying down nearly flat like a Formula 1 driver or sitting straight up with hips and knees at 90% angles like in a dining room chair?

I'm 6'1" and am plently comfortable in any of the cars I've owned, including a 1972 VW Beetle, a 1985 VW Golf and a 1993 Mazda 323. But I preffer a "Lazy Boy" seatting position with my seat inclinded back a ways and feet "put up" in front of me. Sitting for a long period with my back straight up in a moving vehicle kills my back after a while as the only thing supporting my back as the car moves around is, well, my back.

Personally I hate driving around these SUVs and pickups that put a foot or so of wasted space above my head.

 

For further info see #47 posted by @E-GINO on his 2017 Prius Prime with the Solar Roof option in Italy. Europe and Japan were allowed to have them but the US wasn't. He reported on a good sunny day and the roof washed he got 7 km (4.3 miles). He recovered about 96 kWh after 14 months and 6000 miles. That was the old Panasonic supplied solar roof (180 W) and older electronics.

 

Just as long as it doesn't get so quite it emphasizes my noises.

 

Whoa - just watched Demuro's video review and he was some what negative on road noise and tire noise. So I will have to factor that in. What also surprised me was his lack of excitement regarding 0 to 60, where other reviews have been more positive on improved pick-up.

 

For me, it's headroom. I'm 6'4" with a long torso, and I'm pretty sure the 4th gen Prius is the *only* Toyota I easily fit in (it's not just headroom, but also the size of the door opening).... even the SUVs... in the late 90s, I "tried on" every Lexus model, and none worked for me. As someone who prefers cars, there are fewer and fewer that work for me.

I wonder if for all of its "goodness" (better styling, more power, updated interior), this new model will miss the mark. I question who the target market is for this. The EVs have captured the "greenies" so, IMHO, the Prius's main audience today are cost conscious people looking for a very efficient, high utility, non-SUV vehicle. This new one misses on each one of these points. It's slightly less efficient and has less passenger and cargo space. At least it's not an SUV . It's not sporty enough for those looking for zoom, zoom.

SM-F721U ?

 

The market is Japan. There, Toyota seems to be positioning it as a little brother to the Crown, or at least something more upscale than the Corolla. The market there will have the 1.8L option for efficiency, though those looking for that also have the Aqua to consider.

Europe is only getting the PHEV. If North America had the Corolla hatchback hybrid, I think it would have been the same here.

Even though we aren't getting the 1.8L, the new Prius is still better than the Corolla in efficiency; the LE almost matches the old L Eco, with the higher trims of the two gens being effectively the same. Depending on equipment, it has equal or more cargo space as the Corolla hatchback, which is only available with the less efficient engine. Performance may end up being more important when people are cross shopping it against a plug in. It is there to further differentiate it from the Corolla hybrid.

Which is the issue for Prius sales. There are more hybrid choices available that are in the range of the Prius efficiency, or are better at hauling people or things. Perhaps more importantly, they look like ordinary cars.

PS: Just learned that for 2021, a buyer could choose to delete the spare tire for more cargo space in the Corolla hatchback. Perhaps adding one to the Prius will be as simple.

 

One thing that I used to say would steer me away from the RAV4 was it's lower crash test ratings. But the newer RAV4's are getting really good ratings, even making their way onto the IIHS's top safety pick plus list.

So I feel I should hold the Prius to the same bar. If the new Prius doesn't get a 5 star crash test rating or doesn't make it onto the IIHS's Top Safety Pick list, then would definitly consider not getting a Prius.

I would likely get either a Corolla or a Subaru Outback or a Tesla Model 3, depending on how I'm doing financially, as those cars have good rating right now.