I currently have a Gen 3 Package IV. I did not have to take a nav option to get it (yeah), it has the leather seats and lumbar support. Lumbar support is my holy grail feature and it only is available on package 4 and up. I don't even care about the leather that much. I never want the integrated Nav system or rather, I don't want to pay for it. I want lumbar support and no nav system. I don't care about other entertainment system stuff either. WHY can't Prius have the ability to upgrade the Package 2 or 3 driver's seat so it has the lumbar support? Why Toyota, why?
Travel Accessories For Less | Overstock.com There's always this alternative, had one in my gen2, when cold it takes a moment to warm up, still not a deal breaker.
Years ago you could buy a car a la carte, there was a list of individual options you could add to any car. You actually ordered the car you wanted and some were put on at the dealership. Then they started the package thing and that changed things so in order to get the options you wanted you had to pay more and go up to a higher package than what you wanted just to get that power seat with lumbar support. There are a lot of dealer installed items but they are mostly cosmetic items that the dealer makes mucho money installing at the dealership.
Thank you for the info. I had a separate cushion for my lumbar when I have a 1994 Civic hatchback, but it was a PIA because I always had to reposition it after getting into the car. What I want is an integrated lumbar cushion, inside the seat, where I can increase or decrease the amount of air to the cushion. Why is that so "premium" for Toyota? Everyone wants to ride comfortably and back support for the driver (and to a lesser extent, front passenger) is a primary issue.
What this type of package policy is doing is driving (pun intended) me away from the Prius altogether and maybe away from Toyota altogether. I'm simply not going to buy a car that has a bunch of high end features I neither want nor need. A $2K Nav/audio package? no, just no. I have a Garmin GPS and my smartphone. I don't need the Nav, and I certainly would never pay the premium price to have a substandard Nav anyway. But lumbar support integrated into a seat...that should not be premium. The power lumbar option is what should be premium, not having an adjustable lumbar cushion integrated (with a manual knob to change the amount of support). It's just so ridiculous to me.
Well when I had my Prius c, with no lumbar support, what I did was I picked up a $6 faux leatherette seat cover from Walmart, strapped it around the seat, then I wedged a throw pillow between the leatherette and the actual seat so that I could position the pillow wherever I wanted the support.
Are you referring to Gen 4? (or Gen 3?) If it's Gen 4, Lumbar support is on the driver's seat of ALL Prius Gen 4 here - but, to be honest, the seats aren't particularly good, and the Lumbar support adjustment is barely any improvement..
I understand how the packages can be annoying - but I'm pretty sure the only manufacturer to do the ala carte options was Scion and well....
and MINI and smart. US and German manufacturers do have a la carte options as well but the list is getting shorter with each vehicle generation. Packaging allows for a lower overall cost of the vehicle (both for the manufacturer and for the consumer). It sucks if you don't want those features but it's a bonus for those who do.
Back in the '60s it was common - I remember you'd be able to tick the heater Auto Power Steer Disc brakes bucket seats leather radio alloy rims ... etc Now it's packaged into what the marketing guys think people will want - inflexibly. Some cases it's crazy. I was checking out FORD FOCUS having had 2 good FORDs before, wanted top model - yes, and it was even available with a proper 6 sp Manual. When I test drove it, it rode as ROUGH as GUTS - came with low profile rims/tyres (had driven base model which rode very well). Can I buy this car with the tyres from the base model - NOPE. LEXUS CT-200h was the same - to get RADAR Cruise and a few other goodies, had to go to the top model which had Low Profile Rims/tyres too (even rougher than FORD).
Maybe, the marketing guys should ask more people about what they do want, instead of making SWAGs about what they think people want.
