A few days ago I had an Inferno Red 2006 Dodge Ram 3/4 Ton Crew Cab 4X4 Pickup with a Diesel engine, 6" Lift and 36" Tires...(insert Tim "the tool guy" Taylor manly grunting noises here) Today I have a Classic Silver 2011 Prius IV I'm still a bit shell shocked I think But long story short, due to having to drive extremely long distances (roughly 200 miles a day) and no longer having a good reason to have the truck, I reluctantly traded in my baby for a 2011 Prius saving me an estimated $500 a month. The testosterone laden redneck in me really, really, really didnt want to give up my baby, but so far I have to say I'm pleasantly suprised. average 51.2 mpg so far... custom "ROFLMAO" vanity plate in the mail...let the journey begin.
The boys down Texas way will probably give you an earful about your Prius decision, but I'm here to tell you that you've just made a sweet car decision. Enjoy the MPGs, technology and more. Congrats on your new Prius; welcome to PriusChat. Wave to the boys as drive by the gas pumps. Eventually, they'll be buying a Prius, too!
$500/month in gas, eff that. Too bad you couldn't keep the truck but something like that has no business being a commuter vehicle.
I feel your pain, brother. When I got rid of my Sport Trac in January, I felt as though I had forfeited my man card. Yes, you WILL receive a healthy amount of teasing...I know I did (and do). But, the teasing comes from people who've never set foot in a Prius...much less driven one. Yes, they're somewhat unattractive (hence, the "guacamole" in my Blue Guacamole moniker), but they are great cars. I've really enjoyed mine so far, and as the weather has been warming up (slowly), my mileage is slowly getting better and better...just in time to watch the gas prices skyrocket. Trust me, between you and all of your redneck, pickup truck driving buddies, YOU'LL get the last laugh when you can still afford to fill up your car with gas. Hang in there, you did the right thing. It gets better! Chin up!
Well about $350 a month in fuel, the rest is the difference in monthly payment. Heavy Duty trucks have fat sticker prices. Of course that doesn't even consider all of the other differences associated with large trucks, like the $1400 set of tires that are only good for 40,000 miles, or the 4 GALLONS of heavy service oil in the engine.
Lol, I gave up the hat and tight pants years ago when my new wife said "your not a country singer...accept it....move on"
You're kidding, right? LOL While there have been uglier cars, I don't consider the Prius to be a "looker". To me, they sort of look like the result of what would happen if a Pontiac Aztec made love to a Honda CRX. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and all that stuff. I guess the Prius could fall into the same category as the Scion Xb, Kia Soul, or Nissan Cube in the quirky looks department. Some people love them, others hate them. As long as my Prius can get me from point a to point b for as little $$$ possible, and remain reliable...I don't know that I necessarily care what it looks like...I mean, I don't want to wrap it in a Kotex advertisement or anything...I do have my limits. But, aside from that..I think I'm good to go.
:welcome: You can make all the "Tim Taylor" grunting noises you want, while discussing 50+ miles per gallon with your friends. Learn to use the word "torque" a lot, too, as the Prius has AMAZING torque! "Torque" is a real "manly" word, after all.
"They knew the car would have to be aerodynamic, but not too much so. The ideal shape - a jellybean with a fishlike tail - would be difficult to market." -2003 SuperCar report I've always like the looks of them, even before I knew anything about the car (like what it was called...). Plus how can one be anti-jellybean? Everyone loves a jelly bean, with the exception of diabetics, who are possibly the one demographic with a legitimate claim against the Prius. Congrats on the new car!
My philosophy - buy and drive what you want! What you get around in does not define your masculinity or femininity, but will probably reflect your intelligence. The courage of your convictions defines you as a person.
it can't be easy meeting up with your friends. all those trucks parked there and your prius. i'm proud of ya partner!
To the OP> Don't feel too bad. I sold my 2006 F250 crew cab 4x4 King Ranch diesel to buy a prius. The only thing, I bought a used 2005. I only drive about 300 miles a week, but my car is FREE in 2.5 years on fuel savings. I do still need a truck, so I bought a used 2001 Chev crew 4x4 with the 8.1 liter (got it cheap). Nice truck, but this thing only gets about 6.5 miles to the gallon. The good news is, it sits until I need to pull my trailer which is only short trips, and only a couple of times a month. My situation is different than most, the extra vehicle doesn't cost me more insurance and I do not have to spend money on registering it. So it can sit, and I spend nothing until I use it.
LOL! My last car was a Kia Soul (totaled by T-Bone at only six months of age courtesy of a speeding Ford F-250) and I am the one guy that loved the Aztek!
I agree and not only is it a fine looking car, but the internal dimensions feel strangely larger than it looks from the outside. Like looking into a Harry Potter camping tent and finding a large multi-room living area. Well not quite but you get the picture. :welcome: and congrats!