Hmmm... What do you guys think of the Prius?

[aphex]

I've been considering cars like the Mazda 3 and Scion tC (basically, anything under $20)... However, i got to thinking this morning since i drive so damn much, what about the Prius?

They seem to be about 25-27k loaded with nav/bluetooth/keyless/HID/etc, however, being that i drive ~100mi/day (at a current cost of ~ $250/mo just in gas).

If i could cut that gas in half, i could easily afford something considerably higher priced. My current Passat gets on average 18-25mpg (combo of highway and city commute), while the Prius shows (51/60) but from what i've seen, real life averages around 44mpg.

Worth it?

 

[Rallispec]

keep in mind you're adding 3-4k to the price tag of the prius over comparable non-hybrid models.... you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

other than that, the prius is a nice car.

edit-- the mazda6 we just got gets around 33-35mpg on the highway - it was under 20k, and is extremely nice. Just thought i'd throw that in.

 

[laurenlex]

Hybrids sound like a good idea, but Rallispec has it right. It will take a loooooooooooooooooooooong time to recoup the additional expense of a new car.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
keep in mind you're adding 3-4k to the price tag of the prius over comparable non-hybrid models.... you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

other than that, the prius is a nice car.

edit-- the mazda6 we just got gets around 33-35mpg on the highway - it was under 20k, and is extremely nice. Just thought i'd throw that in.

While that's true for most hybrids, the Prius is definitely underpriced in that respect...which would explain the ridiculously long waiting lists to get one.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Rallispec
keep in mind you're adding 3-4k to the price tag of the prius over comparable non-hybrid models.... you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

other than that, the prius is a nice car.

edit-- the mazda6 we just got gets around 33-35mpg on the highway - it was under 20k, and is extremely nice. Just thought i'd throw that in.

While that's true for most hybrids, the Prius is definitely underpriced in that respect...which would explain the ridiculously long waiting lists to get one.

I agree that the prius is the best of the hybrids--- however you are still paying a prumium for it. And even if it is just a thousand dollars -- when your only saving a dollar a day.. it won't have paid for itself for 3 years. (and then you've got the possibility of dead batteries to deal with and replace)

It is a nice car though. Still dont think i'd choose it over the mazda6

 

[zixxer]

imo
they dont look bad either

 

[cavemanmoron]

we have one at work,the big boss drives it,

I have driven it,for about 6 miles one way,it drove "normal".

I would think the Echo might be a better deal.

Good on fuel also.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

If having no power doesn't bother you (a Prius does 0-60 in over 10 seconds), its probably the most cost-per-mile fuel efficent car out there. You'll have to refine your driving habits, i.e. avoiding any kind of rolling stop to take advantage of regenerative braking, etc.. And then there's the wait list, and the fact you probably won't be able to get any kind of dealer discount (many dealers are charging premiums for a Prius).

Other than that, I think it might be worth it if you REALLY pack the miles onto your car.

 

[Wag]

Echo, heh. By the time you add all the options it's the same price as all the other econoboxes and not nearly as nice.

Elantra is top of my list now.

 

[aphex]

you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

I am driving around 2,000 miles a month, and will be for at least the next 2.5 - 3 years.

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: aphex

you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

I am driving around 2,000 miles a month, and will be for at least the next 2.5 - 3 years.

Take you at least that long to get your investment back.

What's the milage like on the hybrid?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Wag

Originally posted by: aphex

you realize how many miles yo'ud have to drive before you saved 4 thousand dollars worth of gas?

I am driving around 2,000 miles a month, and will be for at least the next 2.5 - 3 years.

Take you at least that long to get your investment back.

What's the milage like on the hybrid?

On the highway, it can break 50 mpg.

For the sake of argument, let's say 45 mpg average, and assume he's getting an extra 15 mpg over another car he's considering. (My Mazda 3 gets about 30 mpg under split city and highway driving, and I'm a fairly conservative driver)

Now do the math on how much gas he's using per month, assuming 2,000 miles of travel.

Prius: 44.4 gallons
Other: 66.7 gallons

So he'd save 22.3 gallons a month. Being an engineer, I'm going to round that off to 22, because engineers are lazy and estimate whenever possible.

Now lets say gas prices suck wherever you are, and its $2 a gallon. So that would mean you saved $44 a month on gasoline.

Multiply by 12 months: $528, about $530.

Multiply by 3 years: $1590.

So you wouldn't make back the investment unless gas prices soared sometime in the next 3 years.

Get the Mazda 3.

 

[Double Trouble]

The Prius brings a nice MPG to the table, and it's certainly a nicely finished car, but I don't think it's worth the premium in price or the wait to actually get one. Further, it will take a long time before you actually recoup your money in terms of gas savings, not to mention the addional potential expense related to the batteries etc etc.

Personally, I'd rather take a good "normal" car......

 

[Juno]

If you want some power, go and buy used Maxima. Models 2000-2003 preferred.

My mom has 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE and it runs soooooooooooooo smooth... Screaming 222HP can go as far as 160mph. This summer, I'll try to go above 140mph in that car.

 

[ElFenix]

diesel jetta

hurry before they get uglified next year!


edit: you did see the top gear where they ripped the prius, right?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
diesel jetta

hurry before they get uglified next year!

But then he has to pay for diesel.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: ElFenix
diesel jetta

hurry before they get uglified next year!

But then he has to pay for diesel.

what else would you put in a diesel

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
edit: you did see the top gear where they ripped the prius, right?

I watched that... as hilarious as it was to listen to them ripping on it, they didn't give that car a chance at all. Complaining about the LCD display taking your eyes off the road? You mean exactly like the LCD displays in the M5, DB9, etc. do?

Meanwhile, let's praise the Volkswagon Golf for being "everything a man could want in a car."

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: ElFenix
diesel jetta

hurry before they get uglified next year!

But then he has to pay for diesel.

what else would you put in a diesel

Just commenting that the extra gas mileage is offset by paying another 50 cents a gallon.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Buy a Civic Hybrid. Cheaper than a Prius, no waiting lists, doesn't look like a jellybean on Tinkertoy wheels, and gets about the same mileage under real-world driving.

Plus, it's a Honda.

- M4H

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: ElFenix
edit: you did see the top gear where they ripped the prius, right?

I watched that... as hilarious as it was to listen to them ripping on it, they didn't give that car a chance at all. Complaining about the LCD display taking your eyes off the road? You mean exactly like the LCD displays in the M5, DB9, etc. do?

Meanwhile, let's praise the Volkswagon Golf for being "everything a man could want in a car."

well... they did rip on its materials and workmanship, too. plus the fact that europe has plenty of high mileage cars that cost less. i guess here there aren't so many.

what else would you put in a diesel

Just commenting that the extra gas mileage is offset by paying another 50 cents a gallon.

it costs $0.50 more a gallon where you are ?!?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
well... they did rip on its materials and workmanship, too. plus the fact that europe has plenty of high mileage cars that cost less. i guess here there aren't so many.

I'm not saying the car is perfect (far from it), but they were waaaaay too harsh on it IMHO.

it costs $0.50 more a gallon where you are ?!?

Something like that. About $1.80 a gallon for 87 octane and anywhere from $2.10 to $2.30 for diesel.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: ElFenix
well... they did rip on its materials and workmanship, too. plus the fact that europe has plenty of high mileage cars that cost less. i guess here there aren't so many.

I'm not saying the car is perfect (far from it), but they were waaaaay too harsh on it IMHO.

it costs $0.50 more a gallon where you are ?!?

Something like that. About $1.80 a gallon for 87 octane and anywhere from $2.10 to $2.30 for diesel.

Wow. Around here I can find diesel (my dad used to own an 85 mercerdes 300D) for about the same as regular gas (little more than 2.10)/

 

[freebee]

My comment on the Prius thus far: Its been very cool for the first week. All the electronic gizmos, power touch screen for your audio/climate/info etc. You get to watch the power delivery and the switching between electric and gas engines. Its very quiet at city speeds and not too bad at cruising given its low Cd and narrow tires.

Postives:

-It has smart key just like the new benzes, so it will start and and unlock doors with the key in your pocket. I've been using the metal buttocks thus far..i think they deactiveted it when i first got mine. There is also a hidden key in the fob to unlock the door.
-Cool shifter, seperate park button and regen mode (B) for downhill stretches, very nifty.
-Its well styled, roomy, good interior materials. The dash is holographic, so the speed and fuel (digital displays) hover in front of you. Low dash gives great visibility.
-Ride quality is good, on par with most small sedans. Acceleration is quite snappy at city speeds given the torque characteristics of its electric motor, but at higher speeds its does lag behind its rivals.
-Fuel economy thus far I've ended with close to 40mpg, mix of city and highway.
-The trunk is see-thru tinted glass. Easy to park.
-Women like it. And people that drive it.

Negatives

-Cost. Compared to its competition in this market segment, its priced way too high. Plus with the premiums the dealers are charging, its just not worth it when a comparable Honda Civic is just as good and much cheaper.
-I've never got close to averaging 60mpg in the city like the EPA says. The motor always turns on at anything more than the most gentle of starts.
-Here in NYC, with the engine off and on, the heater never fully warms up for a long time. Not such a good winter car.
-Parts and labor is expensive. Not a car you would want to keep long term, despite the generous warranty for the electric powertrain components. Should be 80k miles, cali warranty is longer.

 

[aphex]

Well i just got back from a local dealer...

First up, WTF is up with that $3995 market adjustment. As if the car wasn't expensive enough, they tack on another 4 grand. Luckily, i found some dealers up in orlando and tampa that will sell for MSRP.

Anyway, to start, this is one cool little car. Keyless entry and start, voice activated nav, bluetooth, tons of steering wheel controls (even A/C is on the steering wheel). The ride was nice, smooth and good turning. Definately not a speed demon, but fine for most purposes...

Overall i really enjoyed driving it and definately could find it comfortable for my long commute (especially with all those gadgets )

It felt much bigger than the Mazda 3 and tons bigger than the tC.

 

[Martin]

VW Lupo - gets 84MPG

http://www.usatoday.com/money/.../mareview/mauto497.htm