Help On Spec For New Prius

[gobiman]

Greetings,

This is my first post on the forum ahead of ordering a new Prius.

I need a car for my wife to take the children to school daily. Annoyingly the school is in the London Congestion Charging Zone so getting less than 100g CO2 is essential. I'm reasonably savvy on cars and have just finished an informal month-long process of looking at the alternatives. Given my criteria included automatic, four doors and good passive safety as well as the ability to do longer distances and "replacement" mileage for my other main car (BMW X5 4.8iS) with much better mpg, the only viable alternatives were the Prius and Auris.

I've read various posts on this site which have been incredibly helpful. However I had a few queries which I would be grateful if anyone could answer -

1. Are heated seats available? Someone has mentioned that they may come with the "safety pack" and they certainly do seem to be common in the US.

2. I definitely want LED and leather so am inclining towards the safety pack. Does anyone have it and is the "radar" method of motorway driving effective?

3. If one orders a number of options, the consensus seems to be that it is unlikely to be available in stock and therefore becomes a factory order. How long does this typically take?

4. Finally, looking around the internet and buying new for cash, it seems possible to get around a 10% discount currently. Does anyone have any current experience or recommendation?

I'm looking forward to getting a Prius and particularly 50 mpg + as opposed to my current struggle to get to 20.

Thank you in advance and any advice gratefully received.

Gobiman

[Seamaster73]

Safety Pack meets your requirements, but the lead time is 18 weeks and you may struggle to get much of a discount off a factory order.

[Jan&tone]

Greetings,

This is my first post on the forum ahead of ordering a new Prius.

I need a car for my wife to take the children to school daily. Annoyingly the school is in the London Congestion Charging Zone so getting less than 100g CO2 is essential. I'm reasonably savvy on cars and have just finished an informal month-long process of looking at the alternatives. Given my criteria included automatic, four doors and good passive safety as well as the ability to do longer distances and "replacement" mileage for my other main car (BMW X5 4.8iS) with much better mpg, the only viable alternatives were the Prius and Auris.

I've read various posts on this site which have been incredibly helpful. However I had a few queries which I would be grateful if anyone could answer -

1. Are heated seats available? Someone has mentioned that they may come with the "safety pack" and they certainly do seem to be common in the US.

2. I definitely want LED and leather so am inclining towards the safety pack. Does anyone have it and is the "radar" method of motorway driving effective?

3. If one orders a number of options, the consensus seems to be that it is unlikely to be available in stock and therefore becomes a factory order. How long does this typically take?

4. Finally, looking around the internet and buying new for cash, it seems possible to get around a 10% discount currently. Does anyone have any current experience or recommendation?

I'm looking forward to getting a Prius and particularly 50 mpg + as opposed to my current struggle to get to 20.

Thank you in advance and any advice gratefully received.

Gobiman

Please remember that the spec between the us Prius and the UK Prius is different in many respects. Don't look at the us one and expect the same here, US drivers expect, and get, different things to us here.

I don't know if heated seats are available in the uk, it will be on the spec somewhere if it is.

LED pack is available, specification as per the brochure/website.

If you order a number of options then unless the vehicle is in stock, you will wait up to 18 weeks, it is unlikely you would get a discount of much on that basis, you may if the vehicle is in stock.

I applaud your choice of the Prius after the m5 Especially living in London, I seem to remember it's a tenner a year or something to register for free entry with the Prius?

Good luck

[Seamaster73]

1. Are heated seats available? Someone has mentioned that they may come with the "safety pack" and they certainly do seem to be common in the US.

I don't know if heated seats are available in the uk, it will be on the spec somewhere if it is.

Actually, it isn't.

Ian13 reported getting them as part of the safety pack, but there's no explicit mention of heated seats anywhere in Toyota GB's literature that I can find.

[Jan&tone]

1. Are heated seats available? Someone has mentioned that they may come with the "safety pack" and they certainly do seem to be common in the US.

I don't know if heated seats are available in the uk, it will be on the spec somewhere if it is.

Actually, it isn't.

Ian13 reported getting them as part of the safety pack, but there's no explicit mention of heated seats anywhere in Toyota GB's literature that I can find.

I don't mid if they aren't, i use the wifes hands to keep my bum warm

[Seamaster73]

I love heated seats. I haven't had them since the 406 Executive I had as a company car circa 2000. If they are bundled in with the leather seats that are part of the Safety Pack it will be a welcome bonus when my Prius finally makes it to these shores.

[jont-uk]

Should be able to get around £1500 off even a factory order ... my t-spirit should be here for 1 March and I specced the solar roof and led headlamps, is novus grey with tinted windows and cost was around £25000 ... was 16 week wait though - primarily because of the roof ...

Jon

[Doesn'tExist]

We 'downsized' as well for my wives school run primarily and actually use it together in the weekend as well now. Similar criteria and it is amazing that for auto and the space there really isn't much competition.

Auris vs Prius - well in my opinion that is no contest but don't want to upset more Auris drivers so from your list of requirements the fact that the Auris doesn't have HIDs as an option should say enough.

Heated seats I do not know, I really didn't like the quality of the leather (reminded me of the old fake leather/plastic upholstery my dad had on his opel in the 70's) on offer so decided to stick with the cloth seats which aren't too bad and definitely warmer on the bottom in the winter. A bit of a change as we always had leather and with children but so far they are standing up to chocolate and squashed grape staines

LED Headlights are great really like those, as the DAB upgrade, I'm happy with the JBL Sound upgrade now but it took Toyota and the dealer trying out 6 more amps and bi-amping to get it sorted. iPod kit I am still in a compatibility argument about as it has problems with an Nano 5G and iPhone disconnections following a restart, and the USB key doesn't ignore hidden files causing problems as well.

But mileage and space is great. The space age interior of the Prius is also a hit with other children.

[gobiman]

Thanks for all the replies.

I went into a dealer today. I agree with the comments on the leather - looked at a used model and it definitely didn't exude quality - practical probably -but not high quality.

However I then had a look at the anniversary model which seemed to have better quality leather so maybe later models are better.

Has anyone actually used the adaptive cruise control/safety braking and seen it work?

If it works well, I'll go safety pack (inc leather).

If not inclined to stick with cloth and spec LEDs separately.

Other than that, the wife liked it and it really is the only four door auto choice less than 100g CO2. Simply a debate about blue or white.

Thanks again for the replies which havae been very helpful.

[Seamaster73]

The leather that comes with the Safety Pack is higher quality and factory fitted. If you spec leather as an extra in the UK otherwise, you get a dockside/dealer-fit aftermarket leather interior.

[Doesn'tExist]

The leather that comes with the Safety Pack is higher quality and factory fitted. If you spec leather as an extra in the UK otherwise, you get a dockside/dealer-fit aftermarket leather interior.

Damn I didn't know, I might have specced it otherwise.

[Seamaster73]

These are the things you learn when you spend nearly a year researching a car before purchase!! ;)

[Gmac70]

Just want someone to clarify

The safety pack includes leather, this is factory fit ?

Standard leather is lower quality and a retro fit when car arrived in UK ?

Not been able to place my company car order yet as lead time is less than time left on current lease :-(, so suspect all the 10th aniv models will be gone :-( so will most likely go for t spirit with some options.

Anybody know if dealers in north east yet have a 10th aniv model in

[Seamaster73]

Yes, the leather that comes with the Safety Pack is factory fit. I had this confirmed by Toyota before I placed my order. If you search for the Safety Pack thread there is a discussion of it there.

If you spec leather without the Safety Pack, you get the standard interior of your car removed, and an aftermarket leather interior fitted (either at the dockside or at your dealers).

The Anniversary model was available to order on my company car system last month.

[Gmac70]

Yes, the leather that comes with the Safety Pack is factory fit. I had this confirmed by Toyota before I placed my order. If you search for the Safety Pack thread there is a discussion of it there.

If you spec leather without the Safety Pack, you get the standard interior of your car removed, and an aftermarket leather interior fitted (either at the dockside or at your dealers).

The Anniversary model was available to order on my company car system last month.

Cheers the 10th Aniv model is on my company car list issue is delivery is 16 weeks and my current car has 24 weeks left on contract therefore they wont let me place an order

[Doesn'tExist]

Don't you mean you have sixteen weeks left on current lease and delivery is 24 week?

Surely if it was correct what you posted Toyota can just deliver the new vehicle in 24 weeks instead of sixteen.

I'm probably dim but I don't get it.

[Gmac70]

No fleet department won't let me order early, and you would have thought they could have at least got Toyota to hold one but no, I have to wait till early April and hope they have not sold all 1000 of them

[noisyhen]

Should be able to get around £1500 off even a factory order ... my t-spirit should be here for 1 March and I specced the solar roof and led headlamps, is novus grey with tinted windows and cost was around £25000 ... was 16 week wait though - primarily because of the roof ...

Jon

Used web to find best price of a T Spirit and found Broadspeed. They put me in contact with Toyota dealer in Warrington who contacted me to discuss.

£1,800 discount and impressive part ex price on my current car - £1,500 more than local dealer. 11% discount on paint and options. If you take finance you get £500 back from Toyota and free 3 years servicing, finance can be paid off after 3 months without any penalty. LED option put the delivery back to May which was too far off for me as I would be paying for 3rd service MOT etc for current car. Free mats fitted!