After nearly 8 years, we bid the Prius adieu

But, according to Steve's profile thing a ma bob, he's in MD which is the mid-atlantic not mid-west. In fact, MD is my neighbor but I don't know exactly where his city is located. If he's not in the mountains, this area really is "hit or miss" when it comes to snowfall, amounts, etc. The last two winters were pretty bad (one of epic proportions, ha!). Other than that, it probably had been easily 5+ years of no big snowfalls here.

As for needing an SUV for it? I question that, unless you live in the country area where it might take a week before a snowplow comes down your street. And if there's 2 feet of snow on the ground? Even an SUV might not go anywhere. Heck, my brother's Wrangler couldn't. The farmers down his way cleared their streets because it took DelDUH too long to get there. I took my Prius out in the first blizzard of the '09-'10 winter season. It handled just fine, and I passed 3 accidents along the short journey. 1 tractor trailer, 1 RWD car, 1 SUV.

 

It's not just toyota over the years with the quality or cheap issues you bring up. I am a long time Honda owner and feel the same. Without getting into detail honda areas are interior, suspension and transmission. They all have faults but i am finding it easy to live with my Prius faults and all.

 

If I were buying a new, high end car without caring car about reliability or maintenance I would get Audi.

 

People are certainly free to do whatever they can...and want.

But it sounds from SW03ES posts, that he has the luxury of being able to afford multiple vehicles and/or vehicle upgrades. I could be wrong but this doesn't sound like a person maintaining a single vehicle, with an aim of it being the most focused all-around vehicle.

I guess then, the only thing I'd say, is if it was me? I would of just kept The Prius. In my opinion a paid off Prius, in good condition, is probably the best 2nd, or 3rd automobile you could keep parked in your driveway.

Prius are in demand now, so trading one in, it is argueably a good time to get value...but if money were not an issue? And I could afford multiple vehicle ownership...I'd keep my Prius until it absolutely dropped...

8 years was a laudable run...but I owned a 16 year old Honda Accord that was still viable...although not without some significant investment into repair.

The Prius is such an economical, good, all-around vehicle, that I find it hard to swallow the statement that a new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, is a better choice for someones "lifestyle" than a paid off Prius?

If your lifestyle includes driving a lot, a desire to save resources...and the ability to occasionally fold down seats and haul things...then I'd of kept The Prius and simply bought the Cherokee separate.

 

Mine new high end vehicle would be BMW X5 but completely different type and cost compared to prius but if i win some serious cash.... Would have both PHV and beemer time to wake up now.

 

I have an '04 Dodge Durango Limited HEMI. It is the first and last American car I will ever buy. It has been an utter nightmare and at 108K miles, is just at about the end of it's life.

Contrast that with our '95 Lexus SC400 at 310K miles has *NEVER* had a single breakdown or repair and runs like the day it was new with no squeaks or rattles. Sure the Lexus cost more but from cost per mile standpoint was many times cheaper than the Durango.

So the Irony is that the Durango is on it's way out. I'm trying to sell it for cheap but just might have to donate it. The Lexus on the other hand will probably be given to my 7 year old daughter when she turns 16.

 

My experience with PriusChat has been so positive and educational that I am unlikely to bid all of you, especially Danny and Galaxee adieu. However, we turned in our 2004 Prius on a 2006, and now our 2006 on a '08 Avalon Limited Edition, so I looked back here to see if a comparable (or sister) site were accessible.

My only disappointments with Prius were: (1) stiff, uncomfortable ride when over 50 miles in length; (2) delay coming out with plug-in models, and (3) declining MPG here in California as greater proportions of corn are fueling all gasoline engines, by law. Yeah, I know that our Avalon suffers from (#3) also, but it took a lot of wind out of our sails after being used to 27 - 28 MPG in our '04, at first. Our typical 10 mile round trip driving for 90% of our use of private transportation would have sold us on PlugIns up until a year ago, or so, but we are quite happy with the dozens of conveniences that we've learned to use, especially after we had felt that we had the ultimate in current technology and convenience in Prii.
And our 84-year-old rumps couldn't continue to accomodate to the wooden benches of the Prii. Toyota reliability and customer service kept us in the Toyota family, and I'll surely check back in to read the knowledgeable and entertaining contributions of several Senior Members, if just simply because I love to find info I can't find anywhere else.
Keep up the good work, Danny.

 

I can absolutely understand how you plan to use the SUV. It'll also be easier on your family in WV to get into and out of than the Prius. Everyone has to make decisions on vehicle at some point, and I'm sure you weighed your pros/cons before you made the move. As long as you use the vehicle as intended, at the end you made a good decision and put the vehicle to its intended use. I'm worried that if we have another bad winter here, the budget cutbacks will result in roads not getting plowed as quickly or as well - not that I ever felt they did that good here anyway.

 

I rented a Jeep Wrangler 2-door for my week in Maui (no more Prii's available!).

Costs twice as much to fill up, goes through gas so much faster, and it's so weird driving it. I thought it would be "fun" to drive. Ugh.

On the "Road to Hana" the lady that does US mail deliveries drives a G2 Prius, and easily passed us. I was never able to keep up with her, the jeep was so unstable in turns.

 

just to chime in...Best of luck with your GC....I really like the 11's and 12's...Chrysler stepped up their game but only time will tell...Was never a fan of Chrysler products because of years of tranny issues but we have an 07 at work with over 100k w/o issues (and it never even had a tranny flush up until 100k)

For me, the prius isn't my DD...my 95 Legend is...and when winter hits, the 99 Subaru becomes the DD.....but its always nice to have multiple cars to fall back on, but some just aren't that lucky

Hope your GC treats you well!

 

Yep, a Subaru in the snow is an amazing creature. I'm loathe to give up our '96 for that reason alone.