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Hi All

My Wife has been wanting a new Prius for two years now and we've been waiting for the next year improvements since then. We drove and got a price on the '08, but we understand the '09 has some nice improvements. With rising gas prices, we're going to move on the first available package 6 '09 we can purchase.

Some questions:

1. Does anyone know when they will be available for purchase?

2. I was told that the Prius is shipped into the Jacksonville FL. Port and dealers can trade other dealers to get the color and package I want. Is this true?

3. Any confirmation on body style or operational changes?

4. Is a block heater an add-on or can you order with one installed?

5. At this point, my Wife likes the White color, is there any new color changes or recommendations? Really wanted to stay with a color that will help stay cooler here in So. FL.

6. Will neutral coasting be an option in EV, FAS, engine on?

7. Does the '09 have a factory EV button for cold starts now?

8. Any other recommendations for a new purchase? This will be my first Toyota!

GaryG

Hi GaryG I will try to answer.

1. Does anyone know when they will be available for purchase?
I don't think anyone knows yet.

2. I was told that the Prius is shipped into the Jacksonville FL. Port and dealers can trade other dealers to get the color and package I want. Is this true?
I believe this is true. When I purchased my Prius, my dealer got it from another dealer.

3. Any confirmation on body style or operational changes?
I have not heard or any actual changes yet. A lot of rumors but no substantiated/firm list of changes. We all believe that 09 will be a major change, but it has not been announced yet.

4. Is a block heater an add-on or can you order with one installed?
Currently it is not a dealer option. You can get the EBH and install it yourself. There are several places to get it, maybe someone here can help you.

5. At this point, my Wife likes the White color, is there any new color changes or recommendations? Really wanted to stay with a color that will help stay cooler here in So. FL.
I don't know.

6. Will neutral coasting be an option in EV, FAS, engine on?
Currently you can "neutral coast" anytime you want to by just selecting N. You can select N either with the ICE running or not.

7. Does the '09 have a factory EV button for cold starts now?
We don't know yet. Toyota's other hybrides such as the new Highlander have it so it would make sense that the new Prius would. The EV button isn't really for cold starts. It is for running the car with the ICE(gas engine) off.

8. Any other recommendations for a new purchase? This will be my first Toyota!
Shop around. It helps to get the best deal. Be willing to travel to purchase your Prius, as your local dealer may not provide the best deal.

Wow! Pretty exciting! I can't wait to see what you can accomplish with one of those, too. :D

Hi Gary:

___Just pretty much covered it …

1) The 09 will make its debut at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit next January. You will probably see it on local dealership lots in February or March. Expect a huge premium to begin with …

2) If I were you, I would stay clear of any Toyota dealership in your locale as they are locked into that crazy SE Toyota distributorship model with a few hundred added on just because there is another middle man.

3) Best info available today is a 62 mph Glide/EV capability and another 10 – 15% in FE. NiMH will be the std. along with an EV button.

6) See #3 ;)

7) See #3 :)

8) Purchase from any dealer in the Midwest or Central East Coast. I wouldn’t mess with any dealership stuck in the SE Distributorship group myself.

___Rumors are also hinting at a similar MSRP vs. the 08’s too!

___Good Luck and I suspect you will consider trading in your FEH to one of the locals even if they are part of that model once you drive your wife’s ;)

___Wayne

Hi Gary:

1) The 09 will make its debut at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit next January. You will probably see it on local dealership lots in February or March. Expect a huge premium to begin with …

2) If I were you, I would stay clear of any Toyota dealership in your locale as they are locked into that crazy SE Toyota distributorship model with a few hundred added on just because there is another middle man.

3) Best info available today is a 62 mph Glide/EV capability and another 10 – 15% in FE. NiMH will be the std. along with an EV button.

8) Purchase from any dealer in the Midwest or Central East Coast. I wouldn’t mess with any dealership stuck in the SE Distributorship group myself.

___Rumors are also hinting at a similar MSRP vs. the 08’s too!

___Good Luck and I suspect you will consider trading in your FEH to one of the locals even if they are part of that model once you drive your wife’s ;)

___Wayne

Thanks Guys

Sean, the FEH has many available tricks for those who want to learn and play with everyday, but I don't know what to expect out of the Prius. The great list of Prius hypermilers here will be hard to beat and I would be hard pressed to follow in their footsteps. I'm hoping my wife will at least average what I do in my FEH, but I'm not holding my breath.

Wayne, you got to be kidding me that the '09 Prius will not be available till Feb. or March '09? I was wanting to park my Explorer at least by the end of the summer! I'm sure it will be worth the wait, but it's going to cost me much more gas than I had planned. It also looks like the '09 FEH is going to be a long wait.

The Broker I use has become a good friend and I've already got him searching for order dates for both '09 vehicles. He deals with the Fleet managers of all the different dealerships, and will get me the bottom line price for my area. I used him for my FEH, and three other vehicles for relatives that have had pleasant purchases with no changes in the price he quotes. It seems it's all about supply and demand with these hybrids, but I will also be comparing prices and consulting with my broker for out of state deals. I see no reason he can't deal better than me with an out of State purchase. My credit union provides him an office, he provides them loan business in turn. The credit union lets him get zero percent dealer financing for credit union members also, so it's a win win situation for everyone. I've been with my credit union for 33yrs, so they treat me great as I know most of them including the President who my family grew-up with and lived across the street from me.

Looks like I'll be stopping by my broker to give him the news on the '09 Prius!:mad:

GaryG

Hi All

Went in to order a '09 FEH from my broker today and checked on the conflicting information about ordering a '09 Prius with the new body and 62mph EV shutdown.

Here is what the Toyota Fleet manager told us on the speaker phone today:

Sometime in August, Toyota will change only the title of the '08 Prius to a '09. There is no changes to the '09, and it will continue to be the '08 body style etc. Like Wayne stated, the new body style with the changes in programming for 62mph will become available in March '09, and be called a 2010 model as far as the fleet manager knows. I also read an article that helps explain this further:

"Toyota will introduce their gen3 2010 Prius in January 2009. It will use a refined version of Toyota’s parallel Hybrid-Synergy drive (HSD), whereby electric and mechanically-transferred gasoline-engine propulsion are used individually as well as in various blended forms for propulsion.

Toyota has clearly stated goals for the gen3 Prius: reduced HSD-specific costs, weight reductions and most importantly, a targeted gain in efficiency of 15-20 percent. This should result in combined EPA mileage numbers of 53 - 55mpg (2008: 46mpg). Since average user mileage for gen2 Prius runs 42-44mpg, gen3 Prius should deliver real world mileage of 50+mpg.

The new Prius will have a more powerful electric motor and increased battery capacity, extending its limited EV-only range. Other refinements: improved aerodynamics, further efficiency gains in the Atkinson-cycle gas engine; and improved regenerative braking and hybrid system control.

For the first two years of production, Toyota will stick with the tried-and-proven NiMH batteries. In 2010, li-ion cells will go into volume production at Toyota’s battery supplier Panasonic. With the higher energy density of the li-ion pack, it’s safe to assume that the EV-only range of the base Prius will increase, perhaps double. This should further increase fuel efficiency, possibly to about 55mpg.

Additionally, there will be a plug-in Prius. Fleet tests start in 2010. If all goes well, volume production will begin the following year. Early versions will have a NiMH pack that will provide an EV range of about seven miles and an EV top speed of 62mph. When the definitive li-ion plug-in Prius arrives, its EV range could be some twenty miles."
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-great-hybrid-showdown-chevrolet-volt-vs-toyota-prius/

I'm sure this article was available here on Cleanmpg, but I must have skipped over it.

My wife and I talked tonight and agreed to kept my '05 FEH for her to drive till the 2010 Prius is available in March '09.

GaryG