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Why I'm going to ditch Prius for Subaru

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by violacgda, Sep 5, 2013.

  1. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    At the risk of getting this thread really off-topic, I'm providing an interesting plot (Jan., 2013 WSJ) showing brand loyalty and resale value of various brand vehicles. A caveat is that brands like Ford and Toyota have truck results combined with car results.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jimi1976

    Jimi1976 Active Member

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    We have both in our family!
    2005 outback
    2010 Prius III

    We drive the Prius mostly as a family (for obvious reasons), but we still love our Subie!

    When we get heavy snow, I enjoy driving the subie around for fun (I've never got her stuck....even in 2 feet of wet snow)


    iPhone ? - now Free
     
  3. teamsc10190

    teamsc10190 Stereo Prii (2011 and 2006)

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    Toyota owns 16% of Subaru. Subaru's Indiana assembly plant has built Camry's for years. Subaru builds Scion FR-S cars for Toyota. Guess where Subaru hybrid technology is coming from?
     
  4. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I'm not sure, since what from I have read the Subaru hybrid is an assist setup more similar to Honda's IMA than Toyota's HSD.
     
  5. teamsc10190

    teamsc10190 Stereo Prii (2011 and 2006)

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    You may want to also consider a Mazda CX-5 AWD that will be available with a 2.2l turbo diesel in April of 2014. Offering 173 hp at 4500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm, and Mazda's Skyactiv suite of technologies, the car will offer high MPG's, with high power, AWD, and fun to drive. If you go drive a gas-engine CrossTrek and a 2.5l gas CX-5 today, I'm confident you'll chose the Mazda.


    It is correct that Subaru's hybrid will be a light hybrid similar to Honda's. Toyota's current hardware doesn't work with a pancake engine. Technology sharing among Japanese manufacturers always leaves the gene pool muddied.

    I don't think I'd want to be an early adopter for Subaru's first foray with a hybrid, despite the fact that they build fine cars.
     
    #105 teamsc10190, Oct 26, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 31, 2014
  6. Salathe

    Salathe New Member

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    I totally agree with you. I would NEVER but another Prius, and probably not buy another Toyota. I might have been sold a lemon, but I'm in over $10,000 in actual and pending repairs - ALL of which are due to poor design: headlights (both stopped working after only a couple of years, $700 to replace), throttle cable, stereo volume knob stopped working (they want $900 to replace), replaced bearings at 80,000 miles, floor mats, dash (goes completely dark, want over $3,000 to fix), paint faded off the tail gate, and the brake actuator (part alone is $1,700!). Yes, I average ~50mpg, but the total cost equates to more like 15mpg. The dealer and Toyota direct (yes, I called their 800 number) would not help me with any of the repair costs except the floor mats. My 1978 Ford F-150 is more reliable and lower total cost.
     
  7. BrianPB

    BrianPB Member

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    Back in 2006 we moved to a tiny little town in Colorado. My mom had a beautiful '06 RX400h AWD that we loved, but it was a little too bougie for country living and with all the road salts and living on a dirt road, we didn't want to mess it up. We traded it in for a new 2007 Subaru Outback 3.0 H6 as much as we missed the RX hybrid and its mpg, the Subaru really was a better fit. My mom still has that car 7 years, and 75000 miles later. Mechanically it has been reliable. The only negatives to speak of would be that the interior quality is disappointing, the soft touch materials on the door panels have weird bumps and indentations. The same goes with the arm rest. Also, the Vinyl sections of the "leather" seats are pretty worn and torn. It gets about 17 mpg city driving but on the open highway at 70 it will get 27-30. Overall it has been a pretty good car and I would recommend them if you need something a little more rugged.
     
  8. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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  9. michinnom

    michinnom Member

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    Obviously it's because you can afford to not save money on gas now. Congrats on your promotion!
     
  10. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    2005 Prius
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    Three

    You need to find an independent hybrid repair shop to maintain your car. All those things would have probably cost less than half of the prices you listed.

    Avi
     
  11. VicVinegar

    VicVinegar Member

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    A good indie guy for any car is better, but finding one is easier said than done. It took me 5 years to find a decent shop for my old car after moving here. It isn't convenient to get to and unfortunately I wouldn't call his shop high tech, so I'm guessing he isn't equipped for a hybrid.

    Even in the DC area where there are a ton of hybrids running around, I think I've seen one or two hybrid specialist shops mentioned on here. Leave a major metro area and good luck.
     
  12. cosgrove

    cosgrove Junior Member

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    Try New Mexico - here if you have kids, dogs and a pickup, it's MANDATORY kids and dogs ride in back. Must be, 'cause we see it so much...
     
    Robert Holt likes this.
  13. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Low back support in the car is utter crap.

    I had a lot of use of a couple of Subarus a decade ago and their mileage was God-awful. I've seen in recent days that they appear to rust like absolute crazy. I've seen many in the 8 or so year old range with tons of rust around the wheel well, a problem you don't often see on a toyota or nissan, for example.
     
  14. DtEW

    DtEW Active Member

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    Hey single-post troll... you know that the Prius throttle is purely drive-by-wire and has no cable, right?


    It's probably a plain falsehood. There is no throttle cable in a Prius. It was designed from the ground-up as drive-by-wire.

    Easy proof (not that anybody would need it knowing anything about the Prius) without having to go into the service manual:

    Luscious Garage | Blog | Prius Gas/Accelerator Pedal: Replacement, How It Works

    Note that this is from a 2nd-gen, which is precisely what the troll claims to own from his profile.
     
    #114 DtEW, Nov 1, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 31, 2014
  15. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I wonder if a part time 4wd system would give better gas mileage? You don't need AWD all the time anyway
     
  16. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    Maybe something like Highlander and RX hybrids?
     
  17. violacgda

    violacgda Junior Member

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    I am the OP. I test drove the Crosstrek hybrid, and didn't think the comfort factor was an improvement. It did have ground clearance, a crucial element. It did have a hybrid engine, important for many reasons, including free parking in my home town. It did not have smart entry. I've gotten used to not having to find my keys, but just sailing into my car. Plus, it feels safer in the city to have quick entry.
    I took a test drive of a Lexus RX 450 h. I loved it. But it was very expensive. Yet whenever I saw one on the street I had a pang of longing. Two weeks later, my dear husband had an unexpected windfall. He bought me this lovely crossover. The mileage is not that of a Prius, although it is not shabby. But in every other respect, it addresses negatives I listed in my original post. I was tired of a jolting ride, scary blind spot, scraping my undercarriage every time I came in my driveway, and not being confident when it snows. And this car is just beautiful! Really seriously careful attention to detail. So call me a sellout---the mileage with the Prius was great, but if every other desirable aspect of driving a car---comfort, driving pleasure, and the ability to see the cars around you---was absent, it makes for too Spartan an experience.
     
  18. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    It sounds as though there is a lot to like and not much downside other than cost & mpg.
     
    Sporin and SageBrush like this.
  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I'll not call you a sell-out, but I see little value in painting things in black and white when the truth is grey and subjective.

    Prius is comfortable; you find the Subbie more comfortable.
    Prius is a pleasure; you derive more pleasure from the Subbie

    ... ... ...
     
    dorunron likes this.
  20. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    She bought a Lexus RX 450h, not a Subbie. Not only that, but she said comfort with the Subaru and Prius were comparable.