Anyone drive a Prius?

[beckms]

We are planning to buy a new car in the next couple of weeks...we're choosing between Honda (Civic or Hybrid) and Toyota (Corolla or Prius). We already have a 2006 regular civic, which we love. But I covet the Prius...can anyone give me a reason not to spend a little more to get it?

thanks!

[muriel3002]

I bought an 06 Civic, but I am coveting the Prius, too. That will most likely be my next car - in about 3 years....

[hollysmom]

Dad is on his second Prius, having sold the first one to my big sister who lives in SF. He loves it and has had no complaints.

As far as I can tell, there is no reason not to get one...

SSM

[Sarah428]

We're starting to look into a Prius as well and just this morning I thought "I'll ask on the CLBB" so would love to hear more!

We would be putting 2 car seats in the back (possible?) but it would mostly be used for my 50 mile daily commute to work.

[beckms]

We're starting to look into a Prius as well and just this morning I thought "I'll ask on the CLBB" so would love to hear more!

We would be putting 2 car seats in the back (possible?) but it would mostly be used for my 50 mile daily commute to work.

Is there anything the BB doesn't know? :p

Mine will mostly be used for my ~20 mile one-way commute to work.

[mlynn]

If one of your reasons for purchasing a Prius is to take advantage of the tax credit, you may want to reconsider. Once a manufacturer has sold 60,000 hybrid vehicles, the tax credit begins to phase out. Because Toyota's hybrids are popular, they're now in the "phase out" period. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html


If you don't need the full credit, I would definitely get a Prius, then.

HTH,

mlynn

[beckms]

If one of your reasons for purchasing a Prius is to take advantage of the tax credit, you may want to reconsider. Once a manufacturer has sold 60,000 hybrid vehicles, the tax credit begins to phase out. Because Toyota's hybrids are popular, they're now in the "phase out" period. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html


If you don't need the full credit, I would definitely get a Prius, then.

HTH,

mlynn

I didn't know about the tax credit until I was already fixated on the car, so that was just an added bonus that won't really sway my decision. My main reason is the fuel economy.

Plus I just really really like it. :cool:

[Gilgamesh37]

DNB has a Civic Hybrid which he likes very much, but be forewarned that the mpg estimates are pretty inflated, and you will see a marked decrease in your mileage in the winter months (assuming your winter months are actually cold). His brother has a Prius and is exceptionally happy with it, gets consistently better mileage than the Civic--so I'd say go for the Prius.

[kim21]

We are also in the market for a new car. We have a Toyota Sienna van and just gave our 2000 Camry to our daughter (who routinely reminds us that she looks marvelous in her "new" car ;) ). We are also looking at the Prius and the hybrid Camry. Although our children are grown, we have three little dogs, and I like the hatch style of the Prius for carting crates and other doggie things. The hybrid Camry looks great, yet I like the more sporty look of the Prius...for zipping around town.

I'm looking forward to test driving these! Let us know what you choose beckms! Best wishes, Kim

[beckms]

We are also in the market for a new car. We have a Toyota Sienna van and just gave our 2000 Camry to our daughter (who routinely reminds us that she looks marvelous in her "new" car ;) ). We are also looking at the Prius and the hybrid Camry. Although our children are grown, we have three little dogs, and I like the hatch style of the Prius for carting crates and other doggie things. The hybrid Camry looks great, yet I like the more sporty look of the Prius...for zipping around town.

I'm looking forward to test driving these! Let us know what you choose beckms! Best wishes, Kim

Who am I kidding...I know I'm getting the Prius.:rolleyes: I guess I just want to make extra sure there's not some obscure detail that I'm overlooking...like it doesn't come standard with a floor or something...

[scout1222]

I have had my 2005 Prius for about a year and a half.

I've probably averaged 48mpg over the life of the car - my commute is about 10-15 miles one-way, and I live in Southern California. My particular neighborhood is kind of hilly, and driving uphill kills the MPG. Of course, downhill helps, but I suspect I'd get better overall MPG if I lived somewhere flat and did less 65 mph freeway driving.

If you do opt for a hybrid, know that the way you drive is just as important as the car you're driving. If you jackrabbit start from a red light (hit the gas hard) for example, that hurts your mileage. I used to be a fast lane freeway driver, but now I feel like an old **** toodling in the slow lane at 65-70. It uses less gas that way!

The car gets serviced every 5,000 miles, and they do recommend that you use synthetic oil, so figure that into your maintenance expenses. I just had my 15K service done, and I took it to the dealership. The 5 and 10K services I took to one of those quickie lube places, because those services are merely oil change and tire rotation - no need to go to the dealership for that one.

There's part of me that wishes I'd waited for the 2006 model year, because then the car would have had an aux input so I could listen to my iPod while I'm in the car. The 2005 model did not, and my particular car came with a stereo and CD, but no tape deck. I've heard terrible things about FM transmitters, so I just go without my iPod in the car. However, I got Sirius satellite radio a few months back, so I hardly miss it. :p

Do you have any specific questions?

[magdon]

love love love our prius. yes, you can fit 2 car seats in the back (we have a marathon & roundabout at the moment) but that is about it. And the trunk space isn't fabulous. but it is sooo great for living & parking in the city. and it is really quite zippy.

[bugzey]

We have a Camry Hybrid. We test drove the Prius and found it a little uncomfortable, especially my 6'4" DH.

[Puppylove]

I really wanted the Prius but went with the Matrix instead. We did the math and even with gas prices averaging $3.50 it would not have saved us money. There is suppose to be a drastic increase in hybrid availability by the end of
'08 and that should bring the prices down to a more reasonable number, so we are going to wait until then! I'm jealous though, I really enjoyed test driving the Prius. I liked it way more than the civic hybrid!

[erin elizabeth]

I own an 06 Prius and really like it. I averaged between 45 and 55 mpg in the winter and average 55-60 in the summer although I often drive w/o the air conditioner. Mileage is really finicky depending on weather, speed, etc., but I think the absolute lowest I got (winter and very, very cold here) was a dip to under 40, but that wasn't even my average for the whole tank. I do watch my monitor! :D The EPA estimates are enflated, but I am really happy because I get over 500 miles per tank of gas. I like the trunk space and my decision over the Civic Hybrid was because the Prius' rear seat folds down to accomodate larger items. The CH's trunk seemed small in comparison with that. I've had no problems with it, but I don't trust the dealer so much to service it--they don't seem like they know the car--I know more about it than they do! A friend recently told me that Toyota is now certifying Prius mechanics so I may look into that if I ever need something. I do get the oil change every 5,000, but have needed no other maintenence and I have almost 40,000 miles on my just over a year-old car. My dad (6'1") can easily ride in the front seat and will pretty happily ride in the back, too. Also, in my area, the dealers have at least one Prius on the lot, if not more, and Toyota is now offering incentives and cash back on them as well.

[jmarie]

Who am I kidding...I know I'm getting the Prius. I guess I just want to make extra sure there's not some obscure detail that I'm overlooking...like it doesn't come standard with a floor or something...

I am thinking that I read somewhere, where it doesn't come with a standard floor. Something about pedal pushers.

[Lrimerman]

DH needs a new car, so we are looking at the new Saturn hybrids. Not sure if it will work for us, but we really want a hybrid.

Dad is retired from GM, so we get a decent discount!!

Interesting to see these discussions. A friend of ours has had a Prius (I think he is on his 2nd or 3rd one) and LOVES it.

Lisa

[beckms]

I am thinking that I read somewhere, where it doesn't come with a standard floor. Something about pedal pushers.

Or was it hamsters?;)

[Jalapeno]

I've heard terrible things about FM transmitters, so I just go without my iPod in the car.

I got one at Bestbuy made by monster and I LOVE it...actually it was a christmas gift for my husband but I quickly stole it from him. :o

Anyhoo it was only about $80 and I never leave home without it! :D

[springsgourmet9]

Be careful about the Prius if you live in a snow area. My coworker's husband bought a Prius and could not get it out of the driveway in the last two snowstorms which were 6-8" storms. I bought a Honda instead. We live in PA.

[kim21]

No worries about snowstorms, for me...we just moved to Florida!

However, I'm surprised to hear about difficulties in the snow. I moved from Rochester, NY...and at times, we had...um...some SNOW...and I never heard friends or colleagues talk about any issues with their Prius (it is Priuses in plural :confused: ) for navigating in the snow.

Bugzey-will you share a little more about your hybrid Camry? This discussion has renewed my interest in test driving! We're still in the midst of unpacking, with many things on the priority list...however, I'm eager for a new car.

jmarie and beckms, now I have visions of myself like Wilma Flintstone with my little legs powering the prius :p :D

Be well, Kim

[slknight]

However, I'm surprised to hear about difficulties in the snow. I moved from Rochester, NY...and at times, we had...um...some SNOW...and I never heard friends or colleagues talk about any issues with their Prius (it is Priuses in plural :confused: ) for navigating in the snow.



I was just speaking to a Prius owner at the gas station a few weeks ago. He said that if you get it stuck in the snow, you can't "rock it out" the way you would a regular car. I don't know why this would be though. Has anyone heard of this?

Also, I heard the visibility in the back is bad (huge blind spot). Comments?

[pilgrim719]

(it is Priuses in plural :confused: )

I try to use "Prii" as the plural form of Prius as often as possible, but it doesn't seem to have caught on yet. :p

As for rear visibility, yeah there's a big blind, for me anyway, bring 5'4". The horizontal bar that divides the two rear windows is directly at my eye level in the rear view mirror, but it's just one of those things you get used to and I wouldn't say it's really hindered my driving abilities at all. There's a backup camera so you can still see everything directly behind the car when you have it in reverse.

Snow...I had a Jeep Liberty before the Prius, and I've only driven it one winter so far. But I did have some trouble in the snow. Nothing to where I got stuck or went off the road because I know how to drive a car in the snow. But the thing about the Prius is it sits so low to the ground that if there are some ridges of snow on the road that you need to drive over, you can't always clear them and the car will sometimes fishtail or slide a bit. You've got to have some momentum to get through ridges like that, and it would be harder if you tried to do it from a stopped position, so I can see what the one person meant about not being able to rock the car out if it gets stuck.

Overall I like the Prius a lot, although after driving mini SUVs for the last 7 years was quite a change. It took a bit to get used to sitting so low when I drive. But the Prius handles great, is fun to drive, and is surprisingly roomy. And I think it's cute! (Mine is black.)

Kari

[kim21]

I like "Prii;" it sounds very scientific and I'll start using it too, so it catches on!

I can see how a Prius might have difficulties with navigating ridges or drifts of snow. I'll just have to see how it does in tropical storms :eek: .

I'm glad to hear about the roominess, as well and the folding rear seats. I am certainly seeing more and more "Prii" around town. Best wishes, Kim

[scout1222]

I have a friend in West Palm Beach who owns a Prius. She loves hers to death, and I've never had her say anything about dealing with it in weather. :)

[beckms]

Ugh, I've been gettig the runaround from dealerships here in Phoenix. The Prius is one hot item right now and it seems that the ball is in their court when negotiating. I'm having trouble getting anyone to sell for much under MSRP. But we need a second car, and I've had my eye on this for a while now.

Thanks for the warning about the blind spot. I'll look out for it when I test drive. My only complaint about our Civic is that the frame comes down right smack in the middle of my field of vision at the left aspect of the front windshied, and I've had a couple scary moments when a pedestrian is walking directly in front of that spot.

Kim21, I grew up in Rochester, so I've seen me some snow! My family has always driven Subarus, which can't be beat in Rochester snowstorms. I definitely noticed a difference when I started driving our little 06 Honda Civic in Boston winters last year. But hopefully that won't be an issue here in the desert!

Speaking of desert, I keep seeing dealerships offer "desert packages"...I wonder if this is something I need??

[AzAnne]

Ugh, I've been gettig the runaround from dealerships here in Phoenix. The Prius is one hot item right now and it seems that the ball is in their court when negotiating. I'm having trouble getting anyone to sell for much under MSRP. But we need a second car, and I've had my eye on this for a while now.

Speaking of desert, I keep seeing dealerships offer "desert packages"...I wonder if this is something I need??

We recently bought the 2007 Camry Hybrid, LOVE IT btw.. the prius was too small for our needs.
As far as dealerships.. Members of Desert Schools Credit Union have special discount pricing with toyota dealerships in phoenix. Our camry was only 750 over dealer invoice. Also I stated our with camelback toyota, but didn't feel very confident in their abilities, so I went to Right Toyota. They were wonderful, very helpful, no high pressure. Also check with AAA they have preferred pricing also. Not sure what a desert package is, hopefully it's not their way of saying air-conditioning :p

Im getting an average of 43 mpg in the city, with my best tank at 46 mpg :D

[Gumbeaux]

If you don't need a Prius right away, I would wait until the third generation comes out in a couple of years or less. It is rumored that 3rd gen Prius will be a lot better than the ones on the road now and get close to 100 MPG.

[ErinM]

If that's true, then I can't wait!

My 10 year old Mazda has to last me for at least three more years until I can be done with school.

So, by then, they should be out! Whoo hoo!

[aggie94]

Rebecca,

If I'm not mistaken, a "desert package" is just a fancy name for a paint protection add-on that you don't need. If you park your car in a garage, it will be fine without the added protection. If you don't, no amount of extra wax or clearcoat is going to save your paint or leather from fading and cracking in 120° temperatures anyway. :rolleyes:

[LiaHuber]

We just bought a Toyota Highlander Hybrid to replace our Ford Explorer and absolutely love it. Our next car (to step in for our Volkswagon Passat) will be a Prius. We've been waiting a long time to go the hybrid route, and I just trust Toyota with the technology more than anyone else.

FYI, our tank holds 15 gallons, and we've been filling up about every 400 miles, which means we're getting nearly 27 miles per gallon--for a mid-sized SUV! And I've read that the Prius is in the 50s.

Good luck!

[tennisashoe]

There is a really good article from Kiplinger on the real cost of hybrids:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/03/hybridintro.html
It's a year old now, but the points made are worth noting.

And this site has lots of good info:
http://www.hybridcars.com/

I have had a Honda Insight for almost 6 years and have saved over $7000 on fuel (60 mpg vs 25 mpg). It was definitely worth the additional $3000 over the Civic (in 2001). Wish they still made that model. I love it.

Looking forward though, there will be more competition for hybrids/hydrogen etc. and who knows what gas prices will be like. Be careful spending the extra bucks for a hybrid when a good "green car" will do if it's your intention to be environmentally friendly. http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/

Good luck finding the perfect ride!

[jmarie]

I can't believe it. I had never heard of a PRIUS until this thread. I met daughter for dinner tonight and what does she tell me her next car is going to be?????

You got it, a Prius. What a timely thread, as I, at least, knew what she was talking about!:D

[erin elizabeth]

Living in NE OH--my parents live just outside the snowbelt--I had to deal with snow. Had no problems to speak of. I did shovel my drive before I tried to go out and when at my parents' we drive the 4x4 truck up and down the drive before we attempt to leave :D My main safety concern this past year was wind. Going over those bridges into or out of Cleveland was a little scary if there were high winds. And I don't remember fishtailing or anything out of the ordinary this winter. The car is light so I suppose those are valid points.

At about 5'3", the bar in the rear window is definitely something to get used to, esp. since my first car was a Pontiac Sunfire and it had a huge back windshield. However, I don't really feel like it causes a blind spot (nothing can really hide in the horizontal bar), but I also have the package with the backup camera so maybe that contributes, too.

I ended up paying sticker out the door (with all taxes, fees, etc. included in that price. It just ended up being equal to the sticker price). I also had a trade-in and a down payment. Still, I felt like I got an OK deal. And I had to wait for mine. It's funny, but I cannot recall how long! 6 weeks? 8 weeks?

[SDMomChef]

We need to replace our minivan - and I have been holding off for at least the last two years because we really, really, really want a hybrid mini-van and I don't think that they make those.

In about 2 years, I want to replace our other vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, with a Prius.

I would love to have an electric car, but that is too far into the future for us to wait for it.

[TKay]

There is a really good article from Kiplinger on the real cost of hybrids:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/03/hybridintro.html
It's a year old now, but the points made are worth noting.

And this site has lots of good info:
http://www.hybridcars.com/

Thanks for the links. Really interesting.

I also found this thread timely. Dh and I just went and looked at Saturns because I really want to get a green car. We are not in a position to buy at this point, but we're doing some initial research. So the info is really helpful. (Btw, one of the main reasons I wanted a Saturn is for the non-door-ding doors. They're not going to make them anymore.)