This is an email i just received from the ford dealer :)

My family has owned four lemons and 3 of 4 were Fords (yes, one was explorer). The 4th was 04 Bug (worse car EVER).
Now my family owns...toyotas, subarus, and hondas. I know American job market is suffering but I can't go back! I'm sorry!!
And there are American's working at the foreign car dealerships and auto repairs so I'm still supporting 'em.

I was contemplating the Ford Edge cause I love that sleek minii SUV look and it got good reviews and ratings. But I kept seeing "recalls" on reviews and that scares me. And MULTIPLE people were only getting 10 MPG!!! when it is rated at 18. I thought 26 was shockingly bad! Geesh! How can you compare that to prius?!

In fact, I recently did a comparison on my top 4 car choices. Ford Edge, Subaru Forester, Nissan Murano, and Prius. And PRIUS won HANDS DOWN. :cheer2: At least in my pro/con catergories. Subaru is great car and same as current prius base price, but nothing special inside (no tech gadgets at all!) and with 24 mpg...Love the company, love the AWD, but would also like the sunroof, hands-free talk, remote entry options.

Ford Edge has great inside space, awesome cargo room, a really really cool panoramic sunroof, installed rear DVD players, great crash rating and AWD. Sounds like a great car right? then I read about the recalls and 10 mpg and if gas was 2.50/gallon ($2 right now here), that would be an extra $108 per month for me! (and this calculated at the estimated 18 mpg, not the 10)!! That is on top of a $33k sticker price for the cool gismos I'd want. OUCH

Nissan Murrano LOVE the look. Every time I pass one I sigh in envy. And I love that it has CVT (heard only good about this). Also comes with most of the upgrades I want, but again the sticker and gas price HURT. $36+ (i couldn't decide on options) and same mileage as Edge.

And then there is the Prius. Contentment is mine. Maybe the body style doesn't make me sigh but I love the hatchback with extra cargo room, the inside roominess for such a compact car (I could actually fit into "compact" car parking spots in this one), and almost all the gismos I want come in Package II!!! I will get package III if not too outrageous (really want the sunroof!). In WA. state it is tax free (instantly save $2k over other choices), I save at least $80/month in gas vs others, AND I get to practice what I preach (be green!).

So, I know people might have different factors in their decision making but I am just so glad my "research" solidified my decision that Toyota Prius is MY future car.

Now hurry and get me that pricing so I know which package to order!!

 

Lauren I have driven fords since 1980 and have always been happy but gas mileage s@#ks at best. I am probably switching to Prius 2010. Getting rid of my minivan..

What I want to say is that even though Ford is U.S. Company not all of there cars are built in the States. The Fusion and Milan hybrids are built in Mexico.

Giving up the roomin my minivan will be hard but the mileage makes it all worth it and also knowing I am doing my part of making the U.S. energy independent someday I hope will take care of my missing the space and hauling stuff in my car. I drive about 38,000 miles per year. so the car is like my home.

I am looking forward to the interior design of the 2010 and the mileage increase from (lifetime on minivan 17.7 as of today[182,000 miles on car]) to 50 plus.

 

I don't see the joke?
The author of the email was most likely British, Aussie, Kiwi or a well educated yank.

 

Comparison is perfectly legitimate if they were the list of prefered cars.
My comparison at time of purchase was a new Corolla to a used Prius, the results are history. You made a great choice Lauren but I really don't see any beauty in the Nissan myself.

 

Thank you Pat. For seeing the comparison might be apples and oranges to some people but were the top 4 to win my heart! Like I said in my post, the options and deciding factors for me are probably ALOT different than most. I could care less what the wheels look like (which is HUGE issue in some of these threads). I wanted a car that costs me less than $600 total (payment+gas), with hatchback style (need cargo space), and lots of tech gizmos (hands-free built in, MP3, packaged stereo, remote entry, etc.).

Sorry you can't see the beauty I see in the Murano. (sigh) See! Just talking about it gets me going! It's just so sleek and sexy. However, I will tell you I have never driven one. Maybe the vision suffers due to "sleekness" and I would hate it. But I was so afraid I would love it and have to have it (premium gas and all) that I refused to get in one.

Anyway, my point was, FOR ME and my everyday driving, I will be super duper happy when my 2010 Prius Package III with sunroof (all for $26k) arrives.

 

Johnny,
If there is an EDGE or Murano or Forester hybrid for me to compare to...I would have!! Of course, since those (my favorite cars) are already same price as prius, they would be WAYYYYYY out of my price league if they went hybrid. $40-50k? And they would probably still only get 25 MPG. Those are pretty much my 2 biggest factors in making my new car decision. Monthly payment and monthly gas cost.
My current car is 95 Honda Civic. I get 38-40 mpg and it's been paid off for 3 years. The idea of over $600 extra in costs (car payment and increase gas) every month makes me want to gag. But my car needs ALOT of work so my husband is going to use it for his daily driver and live with things annoying me (peeling window tint, broken window motor, after-market AC that randomly works, etc.) so my 2 yr old son and I have a nice new ride.

 

FWIW - Forester does have a NAV option, panorama moonroof option and remote engine start option.

 

SERIOUSLY?!! Man, guess their website is not very good since I couldn't get any of those options to pop up when I was "build your own" playing. That's great! But still not enough MPG for me.

When my husband got his Subaru STI in 04?? it didn't even come with a stereo!!!!! I'd rather have a turtle that putts off the line with hands-free talk, 9 speakers, and MP3 hook-up (and 50 mpg) than a race car with no music! His NASIOC friends would die if they read this.

 

Pat, YES! Doesn't it suck that no one has a minivan hybrid yet?! What a market!!! Is it because of aerodynamics? Or what?! I know SO MANY PEOPLE that would love to drive a hybrid but can't afford one big enough to fit their 4 kids. Even a van that gets 35 MPG would be impressive and a serious consideration for me (in another couple years).

Anyone know of a company attempting minivan hybrid???

 

Yeah, you have to pick the top of the line model to get those options. They did make a lot of improvements to the 2009 Forester (size, nav, comfort, vsc, etc.). My sister bought one and is very happy with it, except for the not great MPG. She would have gotten a hybrid, but the Highlander is too pricey and the Escape had drawbacks, including being somewhat trucky and also difficult for my elderly aunt to get in and out of.

 

Yep, Toyota's had the Estima Hybrid in Japan since 2001. They've been hinting at a Hybrid Sienna since 2004. HURRY UP ALREADY, WE WANT ONE TOO!!!

 

Yes, I looked at the escape but it was exactly that! Trucky and seemed like very bad use of space inside.
And highlander was like $39k? right? I know! too rich for my blood.

In a world where I care nothing about MPG and practicing what I preach, I would have bought a Subaru Legacy. (sigh) beautiful car and that baby fully loaded....a dream! But Subaru needs to get in gear and join the hybrid craze!! I think Subaru owners might compete with these Toyota guys for love of their vehicles. These car companies sure do make some great, reliable, customer-satisfying rides.

 

$39k for a Highlander Hybrid? I wish, a loaded Highlander Hybrid Limited costs a staggering $47,000.

I bet a hybrid Sienna wouldn't be too far behind. A loaded Sienna Limited can cost $40k.

 

Thats what I said. We almost had a deal to trade the Prius in for a HiHy Limited but at $47,000 it cost more than my Lexus... I'd almost just rather fork out the $7k more and get the RX450h when it comes out...

 

Why you gotta taunt me with your Lexus talk?! I said I loved nissan muranos but my ultimate love is the Lexus RX. :Cry: so beautiful but I can't even afford to touch the one in the parking space next to me!!

I'm hoping when I come sliding in with my new 2010 sleek, sexy Prius in magnetic blue, the other driver might look over at me (for first time without a smirk on his face) and want to swap cars for a day.

 

NNNNOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Now do I have to wait to see if this is true and hold out for this one/!?! LOL
I can't. And besides, with just the one rugrat and medium-size dog, I don't have to get a wagon or van just yet.....