I just wrote a long thread and lost it. Anyway, I have a 2001 Civic that's having problems, and I'm thinking of getting a Prius. I'm hoping my current car doesn't force my hand too much, actually...I don't trust its condition. My needs are minimal (I never load anything more than groceries, and no one else is ever in it), and my driving barely justifies a hybrid, as my commute is about 10 miles a day on streets with no traffic and an occasional freeway drive. But I love good mpg all the same. So a few things...I gather it'll be normal to pay MSRP or close to it? And that supplies are low? I'm thinking of a V with the Nav package. I don't know how hard it'll be to find. I also wonder how different a Prius will be from a Civic (I've not test-driven yet)? Does it require a lot of thought and effort? I basically just want to get in and go. I can't see myself constantly messing with modes and doodads. I got the impression from a thread here that a wood trim is possible. I thought it was all plastic? Does the V have wood?
Output should be back to normal or close to normal by September. Wait until then and you should be able to get a better deal. But if you're looking at a Five what the hell do you care?
The brilliant thing about the Prius is that you can play with all the modes and doodads IF you want or you can "just drive it". The Gen 3 has been optimized quite well to get fantastic mileage just by driving it. Of course a short 10 mile commute may not get great fuel mileage in any car but you should be pulling close to 50mpg once the car breaks in and you're not in heavy traffic that will deplete the battery (I assume it gets pretty hot in Houston so the A/C will be running. It runs off the hybrid battery).
Yeah, but...no... Really, even if I pretty much never use my cargo space, I don't mind having it. So if I need a new TV or something else kind of big, I know I can do it. I also know a plug-in won't work for me (not that they're even coming out until next year) because I don't have an outlet. Well, I short of bringing it inside, but I don't think it'll fit up the stairs.
Dump the Civic before the exhaust manifold cracks and the radiator cracks. Both are very common problems with that model. The mpg for just about any vehicle may be much less than EPA ratings if only driven for short distances which do not allow the car to reach operating temperature. My point is, while the Prius may only get 40-45mpg on frequent very short trips, the Civic may only get 25-30mpg on those same trips. My girlfriend's daughter as a 2001 Civic and it's falling apart. The exhaust manifold replacement will run you approx. $620 if you can replace it yourself or it could cost you $1000+ if the dealer does it.
First things first, drive one. The longer the test drive the better. You will probably not see the full potential fuel economy since your drives are rather short. The Prius needs to warm up and during that period the FE is well not so good. Welcome by the way.
I have written a post on who should not buy a Prius, you may wish to make sure it is not you. http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/94450-considering-prius.html#post1334003
You might be better served by an Insight or CRZ. That said I love my Prius. Heck if you have the $$ a Volt or a Leaf might really be good for you with that short of a commute. The Prius doesn't require any extra effort. There are people who drive it that way, but you certainly don't have to.
For you, I recommend the 2011 Kia Soul, Base model at $13,300. 26/31 city/highway. You can't go wrong.
I don't know what to tell you. You define your demands as modest..almost stoic...and are going from a 2001 Civic but considering a top of the line Prius V? Get what you want. But if your demands or expectations are minimal and your desires closer to a 2001 Civic...you certainly could find valid replacements at far less cost and sacrifice than a Prius V. Also you sound "nervous" about the idea of owning a hybrid? If you are the type that doesn't like "modes and doodads" then I again wonder why you are considering not only a Prius but a Prius V? You certainly can just jump into a Prius and drive...but most Prius owners tend to be the type that like technology and the "doodads" attached... So I have a hard time determining what you want....you want simple and modest? There's a whole world of option...If you want a hybrid...Prius is IMO the best choice...
Thank y'all for the replies. I'd written a list of needs and wants in the original version of the post, which is now gone. I guess part of why I was going for what I was going for was because I wanted a couple of those features, even if I wasn't sure I'd get use out of everything else. Yes, A/C is crucial, life or death. No snow or gravel to drive on (Houston's not known for its winter blizzards)--the only road surface problem it'll have is water (just hopefully not too much, given our propensity for floods ). I wasn't aware of exhaust manifold issues on Civics. Mine's started making a noise (although I am not surprised). It's also deucedly banged up--I have knocked my mirror off for the second time now on the pole by my parking space (sigh). In fact, forget lane-drift sensors. I need "you're about to hit the mirror" sensors.
Macphile, if you suspect the noise is the manifold, look for cracks on the top of the unit near where the separate tubes come together. If it is cracked the noise sounds like a typical exhaust leak. It's worse under acceleration. I found many complaints on the Civic forums. They even extended the warranty for this items because of the problem.
It is also quiets down after a few min warm up. Oach, they are pricey.. 300$ at Rockauto. 340$ at amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-674-608-Solutions-Exhaust-Manifold/dp/B001DRM8FY
If you have to replace it you are lucky you don't have to buy the California smog legal version. That one is $600. lol
I think it's less serious than the manifold, actually (not that I'm a mechanic). But even if it were patched up, I'd still be in "new car" mode. She may not have many miles on her, but she's 10 years old now. I'm making two-three times what I was when I got her and would like a new shiny. Plus, it seems like the rest of my family's doing the same right now, so we can make a "thing" of it. Funny thing, I thought the other day, "I never see any Prii around in this city." Of course, we have lots of trucks and SUVs, but I still figured there had to be some. And once I learned what they actually looked like from looking at pictures online, I started seeing them. I guess I was the only person who couldn't identify one by sight. And I clearly never drive behind them, ever, where I'd see the name. They're still nowhere near as common as I guess they are in California and maybe the northeast. Those few that have passed me this week since I learned, though? Quiet! A sedan would pass, an SUV...and then a Prius would go by, and there was a real difference. Not that I'd ever hear the engine, anyway, over my insane music.
It's the opposite out here. There are Prii everywhere. I easily lose count of the number on the freeway during my evening commute. If I were to drive around the greater Sacramento area all day I would easily count hundreds. It gets even crazier in the Bay Area, especially around Marin County. Or just go into the Google parking garage and you'll get 100+ in a single spot.
Just went out and test-drove a Prius, finally. No surprise, supplies are limited, but he let me drive one that's on hold for someone--a sandy beach-color III with leather. I was surprised that the oddities I thought there'd be weren't there while others were, which is usually how that goes. The brakes were super tight. Of course, maybe my Civic's are loose, LOL, but the brakes would definitely be something I'd have to get used to. But it got comical as I drove it and kept jerking to a near stop when I'd intended to just slow down. I'm used to a straight-line set of gears--move it to drive, the end. So I was having difficulty with the gears and how to get it where it should be. And park is a button, so that requires a change in mindset. And a button to start it. One thing not very clear in pictures is the space under the gears console. Weird but perhaps a good idea, as it frees up room that'd usually be a bunch of plastic but I guess is where the normal drivetrain would be? So I guess if they don't need that area, they can use it as extra storage. And better to put the space under than put everything down low. Anyway, the seat was comfortable--I like the leather. Visibility was fine. It accelerated quite well--obviously, it's not a Porsche or something, but I think it was fine for anything I'd do. And when I got in, I got a phone call from a dealership I'd e-mailed the other day. Edit: Oh, the reverse beeps. Can that be turned off? LOL. (Oh, I see there's a thread on it.)
Note that the III doesn't come from the factory with leather so it might be port-installed leather (which may or may not be Prius leather depending on what the Gulf Toyota region lets the dealer do to their cars).
Noted. I didn't think it did. Anyway, one side benefit to a low stock of Prii might be a bit less sales pressure--what would they sell me if I said I was buying? Things are a little different when they have two dozen unsold pieces of crap to offload. He looked so sad when I said I wanted to see a Prius, too...he must hate his life sometimes. He initially said he had none and then found they had a few around, including this one on hold (some story I didn't need about the guy putting down a deposit and then hurting his leg or something). So I guess if I'm doing this, the next thing is to see if anyone has mine and decide if I can live with the "wrong" color and such. Blah.
