Anyone driving a Toyota Rav4 Prime PHEV??

[cabmandone]

I started looking at the Maverick pickup but it's slowly losing my interest when it loses the hybrid due to AWD. I saw somewhere that the Rav4 Prime still qualifies for a plug in credit and it's rated at 2500 lbs towing which should cover my Ranger 900 on a small aluminum trailer. So I'm wondering if anyone here has one or has driven one and what your impressions of it are? I know the gas mileage ratings are really good.

[BRPORSCHE]

Good luck finding one. Then good luck finding one at MSRP.

I am intrigued by them but they are as rare as hens teeth.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Good luck finding one. Then good luck finding one at MSRP.

I am intrigued by them but they are as rare as hens teeth.

I've got nothing but time. I'm hoping to at least find a Rav4 to drive to make sure I fit well in one. I made the mistake of buying an older Rav and found out they didn't design them for people at or slightly above 6' tall.

I just talked to a dealer. They are above MSRP. People have to be unbelievably stupid to pay more than MSRP. And when I drive the Highlander I bought from another dealer into their service department for its final service under Toyotacare, I'll let them know that they can enjoy servicing another vehicle purchased at another dealer in the future as well.

[vash]

i spent way too much time looking for one, only to find they marked it up $5-$10k. no thanks.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by vash

i spent way too much time looking for one, only to find they marked it up $5-$10k. no thanks.

That's what the local dealer told me too. 5-10K. I said "thanks... I'm interested in a car but I'm not stupid"

That Toyota is allowing dealers to do this is slightly surprising.

I guess this explains why the used ones are about 2500-5000 above the MSRP of new.

[Steve Carlton]

It's supply and demand- not personal. A seller's market. You'll have to wait.

The only deals I've seen lately are the Nissan Frontier leases- there was a 99% residual for 18 months. And there was a smoking deal on the Jeep Wrangler 4Xe.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

It's supply and demand- not personal. A seller's market. You'll have to wait.

The only deals I've seen lately are the Nissan Frontier leases- there was a 99% residual for 18 months. And there was a smoking deal on the Jeep Wrangler 4Xe.

Believe me, I get it. And I'll wait... until the market drops off and I won't hesitate to kick the dealership square in the nuts on price. I'm patient.

Know why dealers can do this? Because Toyota isn't taking customer orders on these things from what three different dealers told me and they won't be for the rest of the year the way they made it sound.

I might have to reconsider my position on owning a Hyundai/Kia product if they aren't charging above MSRP. I'd buy a Ford but I absolutely HATE the look of the Escape.

[cabmandone]

I did some looking into what's up. Seems Toyota is only making the Rav4 Prime PHEV in Japan. Also, they don't work like Ford or GM where I can go to a dealer and place a customer order for a new vehicle. Toyota gives a dealer an allotment (touched on by the dealer I purchased my Highlander from). Not sure how the allotment works exactly but as I understand it, when your dealership is in line, you get a serial number when your vehicle is up and then the vehicle gets optioned and built.

Part of why they can charge more than MSRP is, these vehicles qualify for the plug in tax credit up to 7K (why I'm interested) so they're effectively asking for half of your tax credit or in some cases 3K over the max you can get for a tax credit.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I might have to reconsider my position on owning a Hyundai/Kia product if they aren't charging above MSRP. I'd buy a Ford but I absolutely HATE the look of the Escape.

Inquired about a Kia Teluride a few months ago. $7k above MSRP. No thanks. I don’t think the Koreans will solve your dilemma.

Ended up buying a new Tacoma OR at MSRP...turned out to be a good move. Really like that truck.

[cabmandone]

I thought about a Taco but the gas mileage is atrocious for a truck that size. I have the same problem with the Ranger. They're too close in fuel economy to a F150 and I get a significantly higher tow rating with the jump in size.

At some point I think the practice of charging more than MSRP is going to come back to haunt dealers. The sales manager at the local dealership basically told me to go elsewhere if I'm not willing to pay over MSRP for the vehicle I want. I'll remind him of that if I end up waiting to buy a Rav Prime because it will not come from that dealership but I'll be certain to let them do the service that is included with Toyotacare. Maybe service is enough for them?? Congrats! You get two years of service that I don't have to pay for and then you'll never see me again! Big win!!

[Chocaholic]

Yep...I get about 21 mpg driving conservatively. It drops to 14 pulling a small trailer. But...I can drive it for 2 or 3 years, then sell it for almost as much as I paid. I’ve not found another vehicle with the resale value of the Tacoma. Be sure to calculate that into your formula.

[cabmandone]

I follow you with resale but I want something that gets better mileage. If I'm deducting for business miles, it only makes sense to get something that gets the best possible fuel economy.

I 179'd my F250 because I would still get to deduct actual expenses (gas, maintenance etc) and at 10mpg pulling (or less) I knew the gas bill would add up quickly!

BTW, I think the MSRP+ is a dealer by dealer thing. I've read comments by people who purchased the R4P at MSRP and they named the dealership that sold it to them that way. Even today, not all are out for the almighty dollar. Some understand the repercussions of their actions and how it can effect them in the long run.

[aschen]

Is the regular rav4 hybrid capable of 2500lbs towing as well, they get a real world over 35mpg which is amazing.

Prius prime and rav4 prime are fantastic pieces of appliance engineering, they have 99% of the upside of full EV and for most commuters only a fraction of emissions of a IC car.

[cabmandone]

I haven't really looked at the hybrid. Part of my interest in the Prime is its range on electric. It would be perfect for my wife when she's working as it's a 20 mile round trip.

[911boost]

They have a pretty short wheelbase, I am not sure I would want to do a lot of towing.

I just placed an "order" for a new Corolla hatchback with a 6-speed, like you mentioned I may have it by August or September.

[cabmandone]

I won't be towing often with it if I do this. It's mostly for gas mileage. In the fall/winter I go to my hunting property about 40 miles away and it would be nice to use it to pull my Ranger 900XP but it wouldn't happen often.

[dad911]

We have a rav4 hybrid, just over 2 years old. Not quite the same, but for what it's worth I really like it and find it comfortable (I'm a big guy)

[911boost]

Good to hear Nick, I have an XP1000 and while it is normally in my toy hauler I do have a trailer to tow it with as well and it is fairly good sized.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 911boost

Good to hear Nick, I have an XP1000 and while it is normally in my toy hauler I do have a trailer to tow it with as well and it is fairly good sized.

My plan is to buy an aluminum trailer to cut down on the overall weight.

[cabmandone]

Finding a dealer that isn't charging above MSRP is more difficult than find a R4P! I did find one in Pittsburgh that said they are not and will not charge above MSRP! Problem? I'm out of state and they're only adding people to their call list from in state. I asked if being a lifelong Steelers fan helped which made the salesman chuckle a bit.

I've contacted virtually every dealer in my state and all that I've talked to are charging $3000 or more above MSRP. A few salesmen asked why I wanted to know this after telling me they did charge above MSRP. I told them "because the dealership never get my business if they're charging more than MSRP" I don't care if I have to fly to another state to buy one, I will not reward dealers who are charging more than MSRP.