Does anyone prefer the 2G Prius to the 2010?

to the OP... unless you have driven both, its all an opinion based on nothing but perception...

i own both and the 2010 is a much better car so there is no real question as to the true and correct answer to the question which is a resounding no.

remember the question does not address financing... so a thread entitled "can anyone "afford" to get a 2010" is probably more what you are looking for

 

I can afford to buy a 2010. But being the not-wasteful guy that I try to be, I still see no reason to ditch my perfectly good Gen II.

 

so your reason is financially based or quality based? if its the latter, i think you need more education

 

Also missing from this discussion is the issue of tried and true vs unknown reliability questions. While our 2005 and 2007s have given us great service, I would and am concerned about moving into the Gen 3 until it has been throughly vetted (no pun intended) by lots of real world experience.
Ted

 

I have to agree with this, not because I believe the 2010 will have major problems, but because I expect mid course adjustments to fix smaller first model year problems by 2011 or 2012. Compare the 2004/5 to the 2006+.

Besides, I don't like the colors in the 2010 so I would be stuck waiting anyway. Interestingly, when I was filling with gas the other day a guy started quizzing me about my '08:
"What sort of mileage are you getting?"
"52 mpg on this tank @ 72 mph cruise, haven't had a tank below 50 in awhile."
"What are you getting in town?"
"About the same because it is hilly where I live and I have short commutes."
I groused about my recent problem (previous fill) with the bladder tank, then told him that thankfully the 2010 disposes of that albatross. I recommended the 2010 as supposedly being even better on the highway and surer footed, but he responded that he didn't like the color choices. He liked the pale green of the previous models, but there is no green now. I commiserated with him about that. I would like to see any decent green...or a better red...or a better blue.

Color is not usually a big deal as I typically find at least one that my wife and I agree upon. Not so for the 2010, neither of us likes the color...or more appropriately "lack of color" palette. Toyota needs to take note of this. They are turning away potential customers on something that should be falling-off-a-log simple to remedy. Toyota seems to have shot solidly for B-O-R-I-N-G when they selected colors.

He did like the Insight color choices. Since he doesn't have a family the Insight would work for him (wouldn't for me.)

 

This was my reason to buy a 2009 in March rather than wait (until June) and get a 2010. I can let all the teething problems be someone else's problem. (As an example, I hear a LOT of 2006 owners with HID headlight grief, but little 2007 to 2009 headlight issues)

 

I've been shopping for my new car for several months now. My experience was I LOVED the 2009 Generation 2 Prius. I still like it. 8 weeks ago, great deals on 2009's could be made, and I was very, very tempted. However I decided to wait for the 2010 for two, what for me, are very significant reasons.

I live in Oregon, which doesn't allow you to pump your own gas. I read threads right here about the hit and miss, sometimes tempestous nature of the Prius Rubber Gas Bladder. Seemed like most don't have a problem, but from time to time it does manifest with some people and can be problematic. Many of the answers for dealing with problems filling your gas bladder involved how you actually did it, which in Oregon is difficult because you are not allowed to pump it yourself. I thought waiting for the 2010 which does not have a gas bladder would remove me from this worry.

I was however willing to live with the gas bladder, I stopped and annoyingly asked a few local Prius drivers their experience with filling their tanks and all of them (3) said they had never had a problem. So I was willing to live with the gas bladder and the "guess" guauge. I figured, I'd hope fill up was never too much of a problem, and I'd just fill up at 1/2 empty of 2/3rds and not worry about the pip gas gauge.

The deal breaker for me was the seats and driving position. When I actually got behind the wheel of a 2009 I just could not get comfortable with seating position or view out the windshield. When I heard the 2010's had adjustable height and "hopefully" more comfortable seats, that cemented my decision to wait.

The 2010 has many other "reasons" one might want to consider upgrading. Beltless engine, New Heat Exhaust exchange system, as well as the extra's of available solar panel ventilation, sunroof and on the model 5, the high tech goodies. Supposed better stability and feel.

However, I fully, 100% understand peoples desire to keep their late model Generation 2 Prius. Honestly, I think I like the looks of the Generation 2 slightly better. I know I like it better head on, IMO the Generation 2 looks much better from the front end head on. If I had just felt more comfortable with the seats and the driving position I'd probably be in this forum as a generation 2 owner.

So take this as sitting on the fence, but I really understand both viewpoints. I'm waiting to get my 2010 which for me does have significant reasons to own as opposed to generation 2, but I also understand those that have the tried, true and tested 2nd generation and look at the overall picture and keep what they have.

 

That's no excuse, all one has to do is remount the 2009 driver's seat ......

Just kidding!!! It's not that easy to do.

To the OP, oh I'm sure some folks feel more at home in their Gen2 after test driving a 2010.

But, seriously claiming the Gen2 is a better car than the 3rd gen would be a sign of dementia.

 

Well, I don't know about that? (Where did I put my FOB? )

Seriously, I was in this exact quandary. My 3 year old Prius had racked up close to 50K, but I took good care of it, so I was getting good trade value quotes. (Man, gotta love the Prius resale value!)

So, what to do? Do I go for a 2010 with a middle of the road option package, or, for the same money, do I go for a 2009 Touring with all the toys?

In the end, my brother, as it turned out, totaled his 2005 Ford 500, and bought a 2009 Prius Touring. So, that cut it for me. I went with the 2009 Touring with package #6, and have not looked back. Between the price reduction and the cheap financing, how could one go wrong? The hardest part was finding the car. Believe it or not, getting a 2009 Touring Prius with package #6 was not easy (I had to wait a couple of weeks, but hey, it was worth it).

My buddy at work just got the 2010 Prius with the entry level package for about 3K less than what i paid for the 09 Touring. He loves his car, and I am impressed with the new Prius.

However, I actually prefer the 09 interior layout to the 2010, and i'm not a fan of the 2010 front end styling. I do like the side profile of the 2010, and the 1.8 engine is cool.

When you add all the toys that comes with the 09 (Touring suspension, HID lights, leather, NAV, Bluetooth, JBL audio), I went for the glitz and the toys. I am VERY HAPPY with the 09 Touring.

Thanks to Troy Dietrich, I also got the 7 year, 100,00 mile warranty for a good price. (Thanks, Troy! ).

I told my buddy about Troy, and he is going that way as well.

The bottom line:

Whatever Prius one buys, one cannot go wrong.

 

Well Toyota, this is my 4th Prius, and I have also convinced 2 others to purchase one. Want to give me a priority discount?!

 

+1
If only for the higher mpg, one must choose the Gen III over the II. Then take in the extra safety features, there really isn't a contest. Just like the side curtain air bags, the lane assist / collision avoidance will likely become standard, down the road.

.

 

Why would one separate the financial from the quality? I can absolutely afford a new 2010, but it simply does not make financial sense because it is still, after all, a Prius either way.

This is my first post on the Gen 2 part of the board. I've been drooling over the Gen 3s for the past year, and started to think we would get one, but the 2010 has some quirks that are making me entirely too nervous - $400 for an extra key fob and an oil change procedure that I would only have done at a dealer (plus it is supposed to be changed every 5,000 miles AND synthetic oil - overkill). I'm starting to see some reasonably priced, low mileage Gen 2s, and who knows - maybe there will still be a bargain on a new 2009 when we are ready to buy next month.

So for me - yes - I could get a 2010, but unless something drastic changes in the next month, we'll be driving a Gen 2. :cheer2:

 

I think I may disagree on this one, but only because each of us has a slightly different tolerance for "surprises" in cars.

I loved my '07 -- absolutely LOVED that car. It was very difficult for me to let go of that car. But it did it in exchange for the 2010.

I have enough of a comfort level with Toyota (and confidence not just in Toyota engineers but also in PriusChat members) that I was ready to go for the first car off of the assembly line. I'm certain we'll see issues come up due to the changed model. The first one was the cargo net, but I think that will be resolved (thanks, Rick!). More will come.

For me, the fun in finding out what makes the 2010 tick would be value enough. The great bonus of better mileage, better ride, greater stability, etc. is just added value. (I do have to say, though, that the quieter ride and better stereo have returned me to my younger days of listening to music more than talk radio!!)

I don't think you can go wrong when choosing a Prius. I do think, though, that some people will be better served going with the 2009 that is tried and true, while others will be displeased to purchase the 2009 and later find out the new, better features available in the 2010.

 

I have to disagree here (but only slightly)

My buddy at work just bought a 2010 Prius, and I just bought the 2009 Touring model. So, we compared cars, and while the 2010 has some advantages, against the 09 Touring model, it's not all that clear cut.

The 09 Touring handles MUCH better than the standard Gen II, so comparing the standard Gen II to Gen III, I agree.

Comparing the Gen III to the Touring Gen II, I'll take the Touring model for handling.

As always, YMMV.

 

So you've driven the 2010 and prefer the handling and feel of your 2009 Touring to the 2010?

Have you driven a 2010 Prius V?

 

No. (That may well be a different story)

 

well once again, we need to look at the real question.

one thing, there is no valid financial reason to upgrade a fairly new car especially when there will be a hit on it. in my case, if i had traded my SPM in, the difference would have been better than $14,000. granted the 2010 has more features, etc but no where near that much in value.

but the question is what would i prefer and having driven both, there is no question the 2010 has a laundry list of features that make it a better car and part of that is simply the upgrade options. if i could have gotten something similar in features to the SPM, i still felt the 2010 is better.

now, one thing to qualify here. if i were in a position that i had to trade in the SPM, i never would have done it. the SPM has been 100% error free and is just under 40,000 miles and should last another decade no problem and the 2010 is not a compelling difference. but was able to keep both so, why not?

but if all things were equal and i was given a preference, the 2010 is cooler, more efficient, more options, more information to the driver, more adjustments to the driver positions, etc. it just has more of everything.

and if i can get my mileage situation straightened out that will further illustrate just how much more the 2010 is a more efficient Prius

 

The thing that is clear cut is the resale value. Even if you got 2000.00 off a 09. In one year you will lose it in the value of the car compared to a 2010

 

Well, maybe not so much in this case. I obtained a Touring with package #6, while his was package #1 2010.

I was able to get 2 K knocked off the list, while the 2010's are sold at list (or higher) and after two years, I think the 09 Touring would stll have a higher resale value, all other things being equal.