4th gen questions

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Buggs1a, May 12, 2025.

  1. Buggs1a

    Buggs1a Junior Member

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    questions on 4 th gen.

    How do you see current mpg like in the second gen? While driving not total.

    If you change the screen for my own you lose the car info but anything else? Is it not good to swap it for kenwood or something else? I’d want one with CarPlay.

    Can you disable the back up beep

    Where are the sound settings? For front and rear balance and treble and bass and so forth.

    How do you drive in ev only? I had a Ford cmax sel 2013 that could do 75-80 mph in ev only. Not for long tho of course.

    Is there a way to factory reset everything in the car? If I get a 4th gen Prius I’d want to reset everything so my info is from when I got it. I’m not talking the odo of course but everything else.

    Can anyone please help me find a trim level info page online? I want to know each 4th gen year what each trim has. So I know what is the cheapest trim for nav and prem sound and the other features. I have no idea. Kbb shows trims for each year separate. Like 2016. 2017. Etc. but it don’t list all features for each trim. I really need to know this if I’m going to pick the right one.


    does anyone know if I got my cousins car if I can buy a warranty? I get financing of course. Then Ned warranty. I don’t want a car without a warranty. I want to be covered for issues. Peace of mind.


    I liked the drive ok but I don’t know how to use it. Like the touchscreen. Cruise control. Adaptive cruise. Can’t see the buttons in the dark.


    it was a nice ride. But no idea when it’s in ev or not. I don’t fully understand the screen that shows pwr and eco and has a blue bar? With grey bar?


    it seems even if you just barely touch the gas it’s too much for ev. So this seems useless. My cmax did way better. I could press the gas

    more and still be in ev. But I know they’re different cars. I sold mine cus I wanted something else.


    4th gen Prius seems like a cool car.
     
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Your all over the place with all your questions and there are different options on different models of gen4s.
    Get a hold of the operations manual for your particular car or stop by a dealership and have one of their customer service people walk you through it.........
     
  3. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    I can send you a link to the 2016 Prius owner's manual. Just sent me a PM and I'll reply with the link.

    JeffD
     
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  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    There was changes in 2020-2021; the audio system and android auto come to mind. If you go to the Toyota website; you can pull up an e-copy of your specific year, make, model or punch in your VIN, manuals........
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Or, just google "Toyota Tech Info", you'll find everything in the "Manuals" section.
     
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  6. Buggs1a

    Buggs1a Junior Member

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    Ok. I can look at manuals for each year.
    I don’t have a Prius. I’m wanting to get a 4th gen for about $350 a month.

    I currently have a Bolt EV 2019 Premier I am desperately trying to get rid of. I live in apartment. Can’t charge. So I have to elsewhere. Plus I’m learning the dealer I bought it from misled me and lied to me and withheld actual car report stating it was a salvage. They told me but said they didn’t know what it meant and that it don’t mean it was in an accident. Nor did I know that no one wants these cars. No dealer I talked to. Except the one I got it from. So anyway. I’m trying to replace it and I’m interested in 4th gen for about $350 or less per month.
     
  7. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Well that explains some of the weird questions posted earlier. We're not mind readers and only know whatever you post. The more specific the question, the more accurate our answers are going to be. That being said; there are many variations in the gen4 Prius line-up. It seems your going to be limited to whatever is for sale in your area. See what's available and post links with your questions, but ask the dealership first. We'll do our best to answer, and call-out any lies or misinformation.

    FWIW: dealership salesmen LIE, in fact lots of salesmen lie - that's why you need to get everything that's important to you in writing! I don't believe for a second they didn't know what a Salvage Title was and if you didn't - you should've googled it. Lesson learned, move on.
     
  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    It is unlikely you can buy a good warranty on a used car. Almost all car warranties except Toyota's Certified used car warranties are worthless. Those certified cars are always far more money than you want to spend and will run out before your car is 1/3 paid off.

    I would suggest getting a more savvy friend to help you. Having a Bolt is fine but not if you can't charge it at home. I would love a Bolt for a good price as a second car. Not knowing what salvage title means says you need that car savvy friend.

    You will learn there is no real ev in a standard Toyota hybrid. If you are not driving 25,000 miles a year you should get a conventional car, especially when looking for a $350 payment with 12% or higher financing.

    A nice Corolla or Civic in your price range is my suggestion. A low cost hybrid will cost you thousands when something wears out. In many areas only a dealer works on them.

    You will get a better used conventional car for the money plus any local shop can fix them.
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wonder how much a decent camry goes for
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You’re saying only hybrids have complexity, non-hybrids are simple, old-school? :confused:
     
  11. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Well, for someone that isn't mechanically inclined and needs someone else to do basic maintenance - A non-hybrid would be a better choice, since all decent shops can fix them. Honda and Toyota non-hybrids are known to be good reliable cars that's cheap and easy to fix.
     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Yes. Especially low cost used cars. A low cost used hybrid will be a high mile disaster for anyone except advanced diy.

     
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  13. Buggs1a

    Buggs1a Junior Member

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    Need mpg. No non hybrid. 40 plus mpg only prefer. Have specific leg room needs. Most cars suck for this. Prius 4th gen. Second gen. They work. My Bolt was good. Model s 2018!and earlier leg room ok mostly I think.

    anyway. I’m screwed. So whatever.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think you may be mistaken about your need for 40mpg. it's nice to have, but a non hybrid at 25-30mpg will save you money in the long run
     
  15. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    How many miles do you drive each year?
     
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  16. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    where you live and what your paying for gas makes a big difference in ROI.

    I talked my sister out of buying a hybrid, because she lives in Mississippi. One the states that has the lowest gas prices in the country. Her breakeven was 8+ years and I didn't even account for the higher insurance premiums and maintenance cost. She doesn't wrench either, but she can change oil and check fluids. While it's always nice to have a high mpg car, sometimes it doesn't make the financial sense to pay the extra bucks up front. Since your financing the car, your locked into full coverage insurance policy and possibility a full maintenance contract too; since you don't have any savings to fix the car; if it breaks and your ability to earn money seems to be tied to a reliable car.

    YMMV
     
  17. Buggs1a

    Buggs1a Junior Member

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    What I get now is my last car. I hope.
    Nevermind. Everyone tries to talk me out of stuff. That’s not what this is. This is a Prius forum. I came here asking about that. Not to be talked out of it.

    I have specific requirements.

    I may get something else. I don’t know. But I need what I need and want what I want. Same as anyone.

    I am asking things about the Prius. To learn etc.

    now I’ll get into my needs etc which can be for anything but maybe don’t fit here.
    My needs are good mpg. Doesn’t matter how much I drive. Gas is not cheap. I need as low monthly gas cost as possible.

    I need leg room. This is number one. If I don’t fit I don’t buy. Very few cars that I fit in. This sucks. Most cars have crappy consoles. Second gen and 4th gen Prius I fit.

    I need premium sound and touchscreen. Maybe upgrade later but it’s necessary.

    I will not settle. No one should. I won’t be happy. And I have some serious mental disorders. It is what it is. I’m very picky.

    I can get now 2nd gen 2009 touring. Prem sound nav. 101k mile. Less than $8k. But then have to put in a touchscreen with Bluetooth and CarPlay.

    4th gen. I’m seeing they’re way too much and always above kbb. Not right. Dealer rip off. But much much prefer 4th gen.

    I feel with second gen I may be settling. But maybe not. I like it mostly. I hate the back up beep. And the screen sucks compared to 4th gen. Both screens. No Bluetooth in second gen. So have to immediately put in a touchscreen. Far as I know.
    Test drove a 2006? I think. 171k mile. $6k basic model. It was kind of a fun drive. Was doing 35-40 mph on a straight long road that had tiny up and down. Screen said I was at 99.9 mph. How is that possible?

    4th gen. Much much better top screen and main touch one. Has BT. Sound was ok. Not bad for base. 2017 two I think. So in that I’d have to upgrade speakers and maybe put in a better touch screen but that loses the car info I think? I like the body way better in 4th gen.

    a warranty.
    Not sure how they work. What I know is when I got one for my Bolt it covered everything minus the ev part. I want a warranty for piece of mind. Don’t have money for costly repairs. Any car is costly. In my opinion. I have a friend who can help with stuff. DIY. Fixing. Etc. but for some stuff I’d need a dealer/pro I’m sure. Stuff only they can do I think.

    I feel if I got the second gen I mentioned I might be better off. Cus of price. Old yes. Miles yes. And only thing I’d have to do is put in a touchscreen. If I take good care of it maybe it be the better option. I don’t know. I still feel I’d be settling in a way.

    4th gen. Right now I’m seeing they’re too much. But I much prefer it. The screens. The body. Mpg. Etc etc. so I’d have to save. But I’m scared for years. To have a bigger down payment. I’d be happier with 4th gen I think.

    so there’s pros and cons.

    if not Prius I’m ok. But I have no clue what has the leg room I need and has good mpg etc.
     
    #17 Buggs1a, May 16, 2025
    Last edited: May 16, 2025
  18. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Sorry; Wasn't trying to talk you out of anything. Just suggesting that, if a Prius doesn't meet your requirements you should probably look at alternatives. No amount of forum search is going to fix that.
    It's your money and your life.............

    Go in Peace.....
     
  19. Buggs1a

    Buggs1a Junior Member

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    In my message I say the screen was showing 99 mph. I meant the screen was showing 99 mpg.

    the Prius is as of now the only car that I’ve found that does meet my needs. That’s what I have been saying.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Checked your age: 50. First thought: no way. Then: okay, guess I was around 59 when we got our 2010, in November of 2010. And by November of this year I'll be 74. So maybe it could be your last car. Especially if you're into fastidious DIY maintenance, and aren't piling on the miles.
     
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