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Toyota Prius c

23 messages,  Last post on Nov 16, 2012 at 1:10 PM

You are in the Toyota Prius Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius C, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 23 Toyota Prius c by backy

Jan 14, 2012 (11:40 am)

The new Prius c is almost here! Introduced at the North American (Detroit) Auto Show, it's smaller and less expensive than the traditional Prius hatchback and evokes the Yaris in size and styling. It's supposed to list under $19k US and get ~52 mpg city (but a few less mpg than the Prius-with-no-suffix on the highway).
 
I am looking for a small, fuel-efficient hatch for my next vehicle purchase, which is at least a year out. I was thinking of getting a Prius-with-no-suffix, used, as one alternative. My desired ceiling before TTL is around $18k. But the Prius c provides an intriguing alternative, as it's smaller (but probably big enough for me) and gets better FE in the city, which is usually where I drive. So I'll have to check it out once it hits the dealers. I am hoping there will be a Prius c at the upcoming Greater Twin Cities Auto Show in March so I can take a good look at it.
 
What do y'all think about the new c?

#2 of 23 Re: Toyota Prius c [backy] by bobw3

Jan 23, 2012 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jan 14, 2012 11:40 am)
I wish it had the dash layout of the prius V. I think the shifter is a waste of space.

#3 of 23 Re: Toyota Prius c [backy] by maxx4me

Mar 02, 2012 (5:20 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jan 14, 2012 11:40 am)
One may very well be in my driveway in a year too. I am down to the Fit and Yaris, and now C. I just can't get past the poor gas mileage for the Fit's 1.5 liter engine. It costs $20k for one with navigation just so I can have hands free phone; at that point we're essentially talking the same amount of money for the C. Since I do my own maintenance, I sure hope I don't see the dreaded plastic apron underneath, preventing me from accessing the oil filter. I'm fearing it will be there since Toyota likely wants to keep the air flow under the engine bay to eliminate additional drag. The standard features on the C look attractive at this point so I can't wait to see one for real.

#4 of 23 Re: Toyota Prius c [maxx4me] by stevegold

Mar 02, 2012 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: maxx4me (Mar 02, 2012 5:20 pm)
I have a 2004 Prius. No apron so DIY oil changes are a snap. Not so on my wife's 2007 HH. The apron removal and replacement add 30-40 minutes to what is already a messy oil change. I'm not sure about the 2010+ Prius. It wouldn't be a deal buster, just a pain. There is another BlueTooth option if you don't get the GPS. It's not the same but with a smartphone it probably works almost as well and it's much less expensive. I tried my GPS iPhone app on a recent trip and it was pretty good. Smaller screen but good enough if you're not always visiting strange cities.

#5 of 23 Re: Toyota Prius c [maxx4me] by backy

Mar 02, 2012 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: maxx4me (Mar 02, 2012 5:20 pm)
Read a "first drive" report in (I think) Motor Trend the other day. They weren't very complimentary. The FE is compelling, but frankly based on how much I drive (~7500 miles a year), it will be hard for me to justify the C vs. a car I know would be a pleasure to drive like a lightly-used Rabbit or Golf, which would cost several thousand less than a base C. Or even something new about the same price as the C, e.g. the Mazda3i Skyactiv, which in CR's tests averaged 32 mpg. Or for the same money, a lightly-used Prius, which I'll bet is more refined and has a lot more rear seat leg room than the C.

#6 of 23 Re: Toyota Prius c [backy] by maxx4me

Mar 03, 2012 (5:18 am)

Replying to: backy (Mar 02, 2012 7:03 pm)
the mileage driven per year is exaclty my dilema too. I'll be buying the car for a new driver, and there simply is no better car out there for a new driver than the Fit. The visibility is amazing, and the interior is simple. If the driver is not going to be racking up a whole lot of miles, there does not appear to be much of a reason to pay for the hybrid despite the escalating gas prices. But like you, I'll look forward to checking the C out since we both do our homework years in advance and know what we will buy ahead of time so we can spend the rest of our time searching for a used bargains.

#7 of 23 What's in a name? by backy

Mar 03, 2012 (6:38 am)

I was wondering... how does the C stack up to the C Class? Will it be favored by C-level executives? Will driving it give you your daily dose of vitamin C? Will Toyota offer it in Deep Blue C? Will it be "sharp" handling? And will Toyota come out with a marketing program for the USA around July 4 with the slogan, "Oh, say can you C?"

#8 of 23 Toyota press conference highlights by blackdynamite1

Mar 03, 2012 (10:38 pm)

Bob Carter of Toyota said the following:
 
1. Expecting sales to start late March (Really start of Q2). 35-40k this year expected.
2. Prius C Two, with Cruise, Engine immobilizer, 6-speakers, and split rear seat still under $20k
3. 9 airbags including airbags UNDER the seat cushions, to help keep passengers in best position
4. Primary competitors are subcompacts Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Honda Fit, plus Honda Insight
5. Was designed to have a different feel and interior than Prius to attract new, younger customers
 
Between the Prius, which sold 140k last year, with supply/production issues all year due to the tsunami, the Prius V, which is selling 4k a month, and is the hardest Toyota to find at a dealer, the Plug-In, and the new C, which is basically a 50MPG Prius with a 5k price break, I don't see how Prius family doesn't sell 250k this year, especially with gas prices skyrocketing all winter, and already averaging $3.70 nationally in February......
BD

#9 of 23 Re: Toyota press conference highlights [blackdynamite1] by backy

Mar 04, 2012 (9:19 am)

Replying to: blackdynamite1 (Mar 03, 2012 10:38 pm)
Typical Toyota... to get basic features like a split-folding rear seat, you have to get an options package. Who wouldn't want a split folding rear seat in a hatchback?
 
Unfortunately for Toyota, at just under $20k for a C with even basic equipment, it will not only compete against much less expensive cars like the Fiesta, Fit, Accent, Rio, and Sonic (and Toyota's own Yaris), but also with cars one class up, some of which get excellent fuel economy, e.g. Elantra, Focus, and Mazda3 Skyactiv. All of those are available pretty well equipped for under $20k. And the subcompacts have a $4000 or so price advantage over the C. For someone who drives 10k miles a year and could get 50 mpg in a C and, say, 33 mpg in an ICE subcompact, it would take over 8 years to make up that difference with gas at $5 a gallon. So for me, the C will need to beat the alternatives overall, in ride, handling, seating comfort, interior quality, NVH, etc. FE will not be enough. If it were, I'd rather spend my $20k on a lightly-used Prius.

#10 of 23 fit vs prius c by bobw3

Mar 05, 2012 (11:18 am)

I have 5 1/2 year old Fit that averages about 32MPG. At 10,000 miles/year at 32mpg at $4.00/gal that costs me $1,250 in gas. If I average 50mpg in the Prius C that would drop to $800/year in gas, or save me $450/year. My Fit has 70,000 miles on it now and I'd only get $8,000 for it, so to get the Prius C I'd pay $12,000 to save the $450/year in gas. The Fit is so simple and reliable, it will probably go another 10-15 years without any major problems, so I'll just keep it.
 
But if I were in the market for a small car, I don't know if the price premium of the Prius C would be worth it to save $500/year in gas. The Prius C is designed for city MPG, not highway. If someone is putting 15,000 or more miles per year in a car, then they're probably doing a lot of highway miles, in which case they might want to look at something else.
 
BTW, my other car is an '06 Prius I bought used because when comparing to other cars with about the same interior passenger and cargo space, there wasn't a big price difference as compared to the significant MPG difference. I can't really say the same thing with the Prius C.

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