Prius-my opinion- My feelings after 4-5k miles (negative) sorry.

You don't go thru Sacramento to get to San Francisco from LA. You take I580 off of I5 and don't get within 75 miles of Sacramento. You navigate like you drive. (with half your brain).

 

SUGAR coating off - Sorry to see you are totally that disatisfied with your car, if you don't mind my asking... ? Why did you wait so long? Justaguy (OP) knew within 4~5k and another poster said he was able to test drive the car for two full days (dealership) but rental should have been possible if local dealers weren't accomodating?

Sorry High, I truly do feel badly that your not satisfied with your purchase but morbid curiosity is fueling this post, truly not a dig just wanting to understand is all...

 

This guy never gives up. What are the chances he works for Ford or GM?

 

Or malorn?

 

same as a corolla???? are you serious mate? you're off, way off! it is much larger than a corolla. my mother in law has a corolla. do you have any idea what it costs to make a hybrid system like this that gets 50-60 mpg? that's what you're paying for! you buy a prius for mpg! you don't get a bmw interior for $23,000. you need help mate, serious help. more than you can get here, and these people are pretty darned helpful.

 

Why do they have "to improve the interior, and the engineering and brakes of the prius" and why is this a "simple fact"? There are plenty of currently sold vehicles (cars and light trucks combined) that perform FAR more poorly in braking distance and have FAR worse reliability records. I could argue those are "poorly engineered".

The Prius was rated the highest in owner satisfaction by respondents ("Would you buy that car again?") to Consumer Reports 5 years in a row and the previous gens still do well in surveys (Used car owner satisfaction: Car owner, car satisfaction ratings).

The record finally got recently broken at Best and worst in new car owner satisfaction: Car owner, auto shopping. Looking at Best and worst in new car owner satisfaction, best and worst models (which you'll need a subscription to see), the Prius (with 88) is still under near the top w/the only vehicles scoring higher being the Dodge Challenger V8 (with 92), Ford Fusion Hybrid (91), Porsche Carrera 911 S (89), Chevy Corvette base (89) and Acura TL AWD (tie at 88). Bwilson4web also noted some other bests at http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/72221-best-worst-new-cars-2010-cr.html.

The worst performers got scores in the 40s and 30s like the Chevy Cobalt, Dodge Nitro, Chrysler Sebring, Pontiac G6, Chevy Equionox and Saturn Vue hybrid.

"Toyota was/is the biggest car company in the US" is not a true statement. GM sells more vehicles in the US than Toyota. Ford and Chrysler used to as well. One can look at current sales figures at By The Numbers - July 2010: How Soon We Forget Edition — Autoblog.

As for "braking problems/ recall millions of cars", what recent braking problems affected millions of cars? All auto manufacturers have recalls and sometimes they affect millions too. Sure, the Toyota "sticky accelerator pedal" and floor mat issues involved a huge # of vehicles, but they did GREAT when ranked at Toyota Ranks 17th for NHTSA Customer Complaints, Edmunds.com Analysis Shows - Auto Observer.

+1

 

Hi Just,

Don't put any more miles on the car, park it, detail it and get it cleaned up and ready for sale. Do this now before you have any more buyer's remorse. You already see some of the posts on this thread about another owner who put down too many miles before he made his decision. It's not too late for you, definately don't procrastinate...

For future reference, please don't feel pressured by the sales folk. It's their job to "entice" you to purchase the vehicle. Obviously they done their job!

Seriously, don't worry "too" much about this, it's only a car, think of this like a pair of jeans or a winter jacket, you don't like it, get rid of it (I know it's too late to return) but, you get the gist... Don't wait too long or you'll become bitter...

Alternatives:
VW - Golf
Subura Impreza
Mazda 3
Minicooper

Luxury
BMW 3
Mercedes C300 (bleah... didn't like)
Audi

Good Luck to you and High...

 

Not to sure I understand your complaint. They are different cars with different objectives.
I too like to drive nice cars that's why my other car is a Lexus GS400, FAST, COMFORTABLE, and lots of fun to drive but not to be driven all the time.
My 2005 Prius has made me smile more times than frowning and the reason for that is, when driving my Lexus the feel and power is wonderful, quiet, and oh so responsive while my Prius makes me feel calm and I love checking my display and see the things I am achieving and the gas I am saving, so much so I am going to drive it 1200 miles to Southern California rather than taking my Lexus. I am not sure this will work out for me but I will enjoy my trip in a different way and passing so many gas stations will keep me smiling all the way.
I wish you well with your cars but remember to enjoy them both in different ways as that is what they are intended for a different driving experiences and situation. NEWBIE.....

 

You have to be a subscriber to Consumer Reports to receive the survey. You think people are stuffing the ballot, esp. to the point it won 5 years in a row? Ballot stuffing can be done just as easily for any other vehicle.

 

Kinda like your opinion is valued here huh?

 

Just,

Seriously?!? You have been given some extremely sound advice and suggestions (not counting the "rude" ones, although to be fair, it's not exactly unwarranted, but I digress...)

you really have two options:

1. Sell/Trade in the car for a vehicle of choice
2. Cope with the Prius you own and loathe more each and everytime you get behind the wheel

(Choice is clear to me...)

The choice you don't have?!??
3. Beating this topic to death with additional posts about how you were wrong to get this car...

 

I'll bet all those people sent in bogus survey results just to mess with you.

 

Just buy a VAG product and rekindle your relationship with your service manager. 6 cumulative weeks in the service bay, over only 3 years of ownership of an 07 model, was the number 1 reason I sold mine. It drove great and felt like it was of high quality, but the simple fact is that the money that should have been spent on AC compressors that didn't have plastic shafts that sheared and contaminated the whole AC system was spent on soft touch dash materials. Mine creaked, rattled, and groaned something awful as well.

I think Toyota needs to improve their interior materials and make their cars feel a little more planted (i.e. the German suspension feel). I think they'll up their game on interior materials due to competition from the domestics and koreans, but I don't expect the German feeling suspension. I'm young, so I like the sporty feel, but my 52 year old father nearly got carsick every time he rode with me. I think that quick, precise response turns a large portion of drivers and passengers off. For volume cars, you need to make it comfortable for a majority of drivers, not just the niche that wants 6MT, RWD, sport wagons with sport suspensions.

 

Yet this is exactly the choice he is choosing right now.

He answered my post saying I turn his "personal opinion and review" into a personal attack, and he'll "take the high road and ignore you folks."

50 something posts later, he's still here. Purpose? trolling, fanning the fire, having fun at rejecting honest sincere members' suggestions.

The more reasonable advise you give him, the more silly arguements he'll post just to infuriate you.

Now this make my "personal attack" looking real good. Thank you Justagu...or is it JustAtroll?

 

I drove to my dad's 45 miles away the other day, highway driving, and of course, the 90 miles hwy home from the dealership, granted it's a 2009, but drove 67-79 mph, just to see - and honestly, my 2003 Ford Taurus would shake more over 75 mph. And, the Prius is quieter, I believe, I had more "road nose" in the Taurus. I do wish the seats were more comfortable, admittedly, I think they improved that in all the 2010s.

So far, I really like the car, and yet, if in 6 months I really hated it, I'd just convince my husband he should drive it. Ha! No, actually, I'd trade it in, as it seems to also retain value well.

 

Just think all the trees you are saving and not having to paid Big Oil the extra money!