So I get a call from my Southern CA dealership that they received a 2023 Prius Prime in that has no one's name on it and they asked if I want to take that one instead of the one I have on order. This one has a few more bells and whistles which will cost me an additional $1200. I can come in and drive it but if I don't prefer it, can just wait for my other one to come in which is expected in mid September. Toyota doesn't miss a trick. I had been conflicted about getting the XSE versus the Premium and decided for me, the XSE was a better value. It had everything I needed, lest maybe the auto gate lift, tinted windows and ventilated seats (I live in the desert, so those are very appealing). Now here they are calling and saying this one is ready today and it's ALMOST like the one I have on order. They got me. I go to the dealership and there is it all sparkly and beautiful. I had already found a local place to tint my windows so no problem there, but that auto lift gate is quite nice (a huge improvement from the older model is that in all the models, you can open the hatchback from the inside now), and since it's 114 degrees out as I'm looking at this new Prime, I'm thinking ventilated seats will come in pretty handy. The windows are factory tinted on this one (a $400 value from my research), so I'm quickly calculating if this one is worth those extra bucks. I drive it and the first thing I realize is how poor the back visibility is. That little extra piece of glass in the lift gate is gone now compromising its already poor visibility from older models. It does have have a better back up camera now. The pick up is remarkable and I'm not even in EV mode. Guess I'll get it. Now I wait. Wait for it to get detailed, and to meet with finance. The battery hadn't been charged so now I can't drive it home in EV mode. WTH? Anyway, I insured it while I'm waiting, caught up on some emails, and now it's time for my salesman to explain all the functions before I drive off. Talk about overwhelming but I'm one of those people who actually reads the manual so I know I can't absorb all this information right now. Plus, I'm tired. Once inside, I notice there are no floor mats inside. This is the top of the line, Prius Prime Premium which is over $42k out the door and there are no floor mats? I question my salesman who says "This one didn't come with any." I tell him that's very uncool and he better order me some. Another fail if you ask me! He says he would and time will tell on that one. Meanwhile I'm driving off with those paper mats they put in your car when it's getting serviced! Unbelievable!! I'll update this after I've had the car for a while, but the entire experience of buying a car in so much demand is brand new to me, and frankly didn't feel so good. Don't know what I expected really but I'm happy it's behind me.
Charge Mode will charge the traction battery to 70% using just the ICE. Press and hold HV/EV button for a few seconds. Then you can drive a decent distance on EV mode.
Congrats! I envy the ventilated seats. That’s the one thing I wish I had on my XSE. Pics? What color is it?
Congrats on doing it and your car looks great in your garage. Just keep “checking” on it to remind yourself how cool the car really is (despite the discoveries). Mine also came depleted. I made them hook it up and prove it started charging, but since to get to their charging port the car had to be blocking traffic, they wouldn’t charge it. They had two days prior to put $2 worth of juice in it but didn’t. I also felt a $40k car ought to at least come charged. Really weird yours didn’t have either carpet or rubber mats inside. (The carpet mats are thinner than my prior Prius, but good.) Yes, it is smaller inside (than my prior) with less visibility but I absolutely adore my XSE. No other car interested me, and two months tomorrow owning, I have no regrets. (Except perhaps having to pay $700 for a full size spare tire for hurricane escape, but that was last month’s budget hit!)
When I got my Prime in 2018 the dealer ALSO didn't charge it. They didn't even know HOW to charge it. There was a 4Runner blocking the charger. Since I traded in a Leaf that was nearly out of juice I made them move the 4Runner. Dumb dealerships are everywhere.
I thought I did put a picture in. It's the guardian gray which to color blind me kinda looks blue! The red is awesome!
I hope you checked the window sticker if the mats were included. When I bought my new 2020 it had the rubber mats, but not on the window sticker. So many cars on the lot then I guess someone was looking at it and took the mats out of another car. I asked about it. Salesman said a deal is a deal as car is shown, they’re yours now. Then when I get home no charger cord. It was in the back on test drive. Prep guys left it out. They mailed it me. Charged? No, off I went to the freeway and on home 50 miles. Good time to break in the engine anyway, beneficial to get it good and hot. Congrats, what a contrast to the cars around it in the parking lot. Like a car design history display there.
Well I guess my experience is hardly unique. I checked the sticker and they weren't included but I was upset about it and was later sent the rubber ones free of charge. Been driving it now for a week and really am enjoying it. I'll focus on that!
Great looking Prime, Deb. My `2017 color is Steel Blond Metallic or Titanium Glow which is the same color silver on newer models (and has the same paint code, just a different name). When I looked at at your pic I thought it looked just like mine and was surprised when you said it is the which I wouldn't be at all surprised has some blue mixed into the gray, like mine has some yellow mixed into the silver (according to a couple body shop painters I've talked to while researching Toyota (kinda) new waterborne paint process). I can relate to trying to absorb all the features the car comes with. Ours is already 6 years old and I still don't get all of the features, gauges and programming of the many computers (ECU's electronic control modules). I just focus on what I use and have learned about while owning the Prime and am happy with that too.
i watched a Youtube on the new colors and one reviewer said guardian gray has gold undertones in it. i’m too colorblind to notice but i definitely would say it’s in the blue family. i had the pearl white on my last prius which is gorgeous but impossible to keep clean especially here in the dusty desert. definitely prefer this color.
Rear visibility was mentioned in a couple of posts above. First thing I did when I got my car home was remove the two rear outboard headrests. Improves the view greatly. I bagged them (in case there was grease on the metal 'rails', and tossed them in the trunk for when I needed them. Did the same thing with a mid-2000s Honda Civic sedan, which also had a small rear window.
