Please Help Me Choose a New Car!

Have you thought of something like this?

At least it wouldn't need a noise maker.

 

Fun to own factor is so under-rated that not many talk about it.

Does Golf's smaller interior work for you?

 

Re: Prius Self Destructs at 120,000 Miles

James, I have a 2007 Prius with 156K on it this morning. Runs like a top. I'd keep it but I need the PHEV coming for the HOV stickers. If you maintain them well, and DRAIN/REPLACE/CHANGE OUT THE TRANNY FLUID at 60K, 90K, 120K etc, you have a better chance at a longer lasting car!

 

I don't have any stick time in the Golf, but I do with the Jetta TDI. No doubt about it, Das Volkswagens are much more fun to drive than a Prius (almost any car is) and the interior appointments are at least an order of magnitude better than the G3.
However (COMMA!) as much fun as they are to drive, they're not that much fun to own!!!
Two close friends have them. The dealer network SUX, the parts are Ferrari expensive, and you're going to be stuck with a five figure repair bill or wait for weeks for some 200 dollar repair part to come over from the mother country sometime during your ownership experience unless you're lucky or change out cars every few years.
Service?
Don't take my word for it.
Get a price quote for an oil change.


Good Luck!!!
Let us know what you decide!!!

 

How about a Honda Fit? Cheaper, the Sport version handles well and has received high ratings from the automotive press, more solid than the current Prius. 35 or so mpg is what I see on average: good, but not Prius-like.

I just gave a co-worker a ride in mine, he couldn't believe how there were no rattles and how substantial the interior was. Commented again when he closed the door, called his Prius "tinny."

But he was also getting 55mpg.

 

In regards to your commute, how many miles are highway? Of those Highway miles, how many are typically "slow and go" or "stop and go" vs free flowing? The TDI will do quite well MPG wise on the free flowing miles, but will start to suffer on the "slow and go" and "stop and go" phases (not to mention City miles).

The Prius does well on free flowing highway miles too. But it excels at "slow and go" and doesn't suffer badly on "stop and go"/city streets.

When you check Fuelly for average MPG's, try to find folks that have editted their account to show the highway % vs City %. That might give you a better feel for your expected MPGs. Of course, traffic patterns, speed driven, weather all play a part too.

There is an intangible about the Prius is that it will make you a calmer driver in traffic and where slow and go and stop and go might aggravate the bejeezus out of you now, when in a Prius, it is an opportunity to "boost your high score" on the MPG game.

A totally different way to look at driving.

 

CT200h is the best alternative to A3.

 

BTW, Jap is a racial slur. I'd imagine if you used the term Kraut in the presence of Germans, that might raise some eyebrows...

Sounds like you've almost totally made up your mind to get the Golf.

I've believe already stated my views about VW/Audi based on all the reliability data I've seen.

Since owning a Prius, I HATE driving non-hybrid cars now in city traffic or being stuck in traffic jams with them. It really bothers me to have the ICE uselessly running when stopped or running inefficiently at low speeds. It also irks me to know that when stopping all of my kinetic energy will be turned into useless heat and brake dust vs. some of it being recaptured. When I had still had my Z, all of this bothered me a lot.

 

I also read jap as a racial slur.

I have no experience with German makes, but I read recently that VW cheapened the interior quality in the most recent model revision to keep costs down. This was wrt to VW, sorry I cannot remember model specifics.

There is something discordant about worrying about the cost of fuel for another 150 miles a week, but accepting the cost of frequent car replacement because of worries over reliability.

If 'luxury' and cost are your two priorities then I also suggest looking at Lexus, with the idea in mind that you will keep the car considerably longer than 3 or 4 years.

 

The Jetta was the one that took a big step backwards recently, partly with the interior.

 

Your failure to capitalize Japanese isn't helping your case one bit.

 

Gen 3 Prius IV. It will give you great gas mileage and good interior volume. You also get leather interior. Although the V with the technology package has some cool stuff, it's expensive. Unless you are a real sunroof guy, skip the solar roof, it's also expensive and reports are that it works just OK.

 

150 miles a week extra is about 7500 miles a year extra. A 50 mpg car would cost (at $3.5/gallon) $525 dollars in fuel; a 25 mpg car double at $1025. So the savings is going to be at most $525 a year, and not $3k as you posted.

Then definitely do not add up how much you have spent to stay in warranty. That would have you shitting your pants from fright if the ~ $45 a month from extra fuel costs has you dithering.

 

I ask only from curiousity -- what are the 'goodies' ?

 

The best driving hybrid is the FFH. It's not a hatchback and it gets 10 mpg less than a Prius. It's got a lot of gadgets.