Hot Deal – New 2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE for $16,529 + TTL

Hi All:

Insurance was the last item and that was completed today with a post date of March 4, 2020 and a premium of $1,064.48/year for $500k/$250k Liability, $100k Property, $1k deductible, and glass coverage. The Insurance card is in my hand so tomorrow it is off to Boston and Wednesday the pickup and return.

I finally received a reply back from the MA "RMV" about how to buy a car in MA and drive it back to CA.

CA does not register the car until it is inspected in CA, thus the temp permit.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The purchase was completed without a hitch.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE


Blue Magnetism​

I picked it up with 28-miles on the clock and it is currently parked and plugged into a Level1 in my parents garage in IL.

1,150-miles indicated - 1,152 miles actual.​

I charged at a Nissan dealership down the street from the pickup for a partial 12.2-miles indicated (21-miles actual) and one full charge from a Nissan Dealership near Sharon, PA overnight for 21.7-miles indicated in 25 degree temps (31-miles actual).

Wayne

 

Hi George:

I made sure I was not paying tax in Massachusetts. CA DMV said even if I did, they deduct what I paid to another state and would only be charged for the extra over to match CA state tax due over what was paid elsewhere. The dealership did not charge MA tax so I am good although paying CA state tax of 7.5 percent on $25,786 is no fun either.

I sold my 18 Elantra over 6-months ago.

Wayne

 

Hi George:

I use 156k miles for a TCO on all the review vehicles.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I arrived back home early this morning and by this afternoon, TTL and registration was paid for. $2,379 later plus a $42 SMOG check and I am good to go.

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All-in, $16,529 for the vehicle after the Fed $4,502 TC and CA $1k tax rebate. The One Trip Permit ($22), Prius Prime Carpeted floor mats ($70), 3 ft. Micro-USB cable ($6) and an iOttie pad ($5) brings the total to...

2020 Toyota Prius Prime: $16,529
TTL and Registration: $2,379
SMOG Check: $41
Misc.: $103

$19,052 OTD.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

While the rebate(s) have not increased, the $3,500 Toyota rebate has appeared in not just MA but is now available in ME, NY, NJ, CT, and RI. Remember the DOC fees in RI when I purchased a Prius Prime back in 2018 was just $220 saving another $275 if you can find one with the same level ($3,300) of MSRP dealer discount.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A ton to update incl. an LMPG of 79.5 mpg after four full tanks crossing the country and four full tanks in CA with free opportunity charging of ~ 1.1 full charges per tank.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate application has been sent in for the $1,000 CA State tax rebate as has the HOV Lane Sticker(s). 60-days tops and I should have the stickers and rebate.

I also purchased a 1 to 2 12V splitter from Harbor Freight for $4.99 + tax so I can plug in both the Garmin and a whole host of 12V to USB outlets.

Wayne

 

Hi Bill:

Unfortunately, the charging rate of 3.3 kW or 2 hours and 10-minutes from flat to full is to slow to use it extensively. Even if it were capable of a 7.2 kW charge, opportunity charging takes a long time and at most, a grocery store visit is about an hour and I can only receive about 12-miles of indicated range, ~ 20-miles actual, from it.

In the case of my Prius Prime, I have results for the aFCD accuracy since I have not charged over the last 3 tanks. Here is the latest example as a 12k mile update… One blown tire with a garbage replacement that cost me $97. I received my HOV lane stickers 2-days ago so I am ready! All the while there is still only light traffic on the highways with HOV lanes here in CA currently.

My last three tanks have been without any plug-in – electricity costs far too much here in Southern CA at $0.33/kWh before the 375 kWh home use threshold and $0.505/kWh to plug-in off the grid.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime


aFCD at 74.5 mpg over 810.3 miles indicated -- 70.2 mpg over 809.9 miles actual.​

A 5.8 percent over report has been the average over the three top off to top off tanks without any charging.

New items? The glass thickness is so uniform across all windows on the Prius Prime that there is little to know distortion no matter the angle. It is better than that of any vehicle I have ever driven. That includes high end Audi’s, Porsche’s, older Lexus’, and Jaguars.

I hear a lot of good about rear seat comfort and it is far more comfortable than my Elantra from days gone by.

I am still pissed about the lack of driver seat bottom length and the infotainment disaster which I work around with “Hey Google” on the phone itself. I wish I had room for a spare tire somewhere. It needs one given the flat tire and failure of the inflator kit earlier this month. BSM and RCTA are so missed as is dynamic rear view camera guidelines and no individual tire pressure readout. I miss those from my 18 Elantra.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

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I took this pic on my way back to California in Gallup, NM, one of the new COVID-19 hot spots in the country right now. This town is heading backwards in one hell of a hurry and this is not going to help.

Wayne

 

Hi Phlack:

Congrats on your purchase and a great choice too!

A 39,565 mile update...

2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE



lmpg = 79.7 mpg indicated, 75.636 mpg actual.​

Every tank sees the lmpg climb by .1 mpg so I expect to see the lmpg at 80.0 mpg within 2-weeks. I have not charged it since the last update so all in, about 10-full charges over its life and nothing in the last 4-months.

Earnings over those 39,565 miles incl. the 3,500 to drive between Boston and San Diego with a few days in IL. Working miles = 36,065 while gross working earnings = $35,252.17 between March 4th and Aug 5, 2020 so just a touch under $1.00 per mile all-in.

Expenses now include (2) flat tire repairs at $201 plus a $130 tow that I will be reimbursed $100 for. All in, $231. I purchased a mini-spare for the 18 Elantra LE Eco and after 156k miles, I never had to use it. I do not have room for a mini-spare in the Prime and in less than 40k miles, I have needed it twice.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE


Every now and then, a little rain will fall. Damned flat tire and no mini-spare!!!​

Fuel costs include 425-miles of free opportunity charging, the first tank was a free dealer fill, and 38,540 miles on 509.8 gallons at an avg. cost of $2.432 per gallon = $1,239.83.

Maintenance costs to date? The fist 25k miles were on Toyota so $48 for (2) 5 qt, jugs of Mobil1 0W-16 (I still have 5.5 qts. left to go), $38 for (10) Toyota Genuine Oil Filters (I still have 9 left), and one labor charge for $23 incl tip so far. $109.00 all in.

Insurance: $1,023/year for $0 deductible liability incl. towing

And what do those working miles entail? People, medical product, home repair, Landscaping, and general supplies.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE







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She is earning her keep and doing quite well on the balance sheet with $35,252 gross earnings and $2,603 in M&R, Fuel, and Insurance. I am still positive on the depreciation given the $20,100 Out the door price incl. TTL and Reg but she will go negative on that attribute in about 35k more miles.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE

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The glass is absolutely pristine and I mean I have never seen more uniform glass on any vehicle in my life. The Seating ergo is still barely acceptable but the drivetrain is an absolute joy. It does exactly what it is supposed to on every downhill with an ICE shutdown, every ascent just below PWR can be made up with the fee glide or regen on the way down the other side, and I run A/C albeit in San Diego, it is only absolutely necessary with people onboard or when traveling from 5-miles off the coast or further inland. Maybe 90 percent of the time it is running and the std. heat pump has paid for itself multiple times over.

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I was thinking about this the other day. Compared to my 2000 Honda Insight with an lmpg of 92.8 mpg after 36k miles, If I had to climb and descend the same terrain, carry as much product and persons, all the while running A/C, I doubt I would have hit 75 lmpg. The 2020 Prius Prime will reach 75 lmpg when not incl. the 10 charges before another 10k miles is up. All the while a much larger, more comfortable, and more reliable vehicle with working utility to spare.

Wayne