How did you first find out about the Prius?

A co-worker introduced the Prius to me. He has driven one for years, and was very enthusiastic. Has had no problems whatsoever. Quite frankly, prior to January of this year, I was unaware of the existence of the Prius, and cannot recall ever having seen one. Lately, of course, I see them everywhere . . . . I now know three co-workers who own them, and on Fort Lee around the Army Logistics College, there are four in the parking lot that are there pretty much every day; one light blue, one winter grey, an two barcelona red. Pretty interesting ratio considering there are only about 200 filled parking spaces out there this past week.

 

Good thread...

My wife and I accidentally rented a G2 blue Prius when we went to California in August. Before that, I had briefly heard about it, and awhiles back my co-worker had enthusiastically taken me for a ride one day in his new gray G2. We enjoyed the incredible gas mileage and it was pretty fun to look at the big MPG screen while driving all over. When we returned it to the rental company, there was a couple there who had been waiting hours just so they could rent the car, which impressed my wife. We had been looking for a new car, and after that my wife suggested we consider a Prius, since she was in the clean tech business.

 

In July of 2007 is when I first started hearing about them, then I got to ride in one on October 11, 2007 and was hooked

 

I was researching a Venza originally and while navigating the Toyota website, I looked at the Prius also. At the time, I'd never thought I would consider a "compact" car. Then I walked past a Blizzard Pearl Gen 3 while vacationing in DC. Hooked ever since. Started researching and joined PC......but still haven't test driven one. The test drive would have to be a complete fail for me not to get one. My mind's made up.

 

Well you beat me. I doubt many here would have had knowledge of Prius back that far.

I must have missed this thread for some reason.

I remember reading about the Prius back in about 2001 when the Gen I made its way onto the streets here in Adelaide. They were not popular here at all, Australian are sceptical of anything new, especially a car that cost $40,000 back in 2001 and was smaller than a Corolla which was under half that price.

In about 2004 I had a ride in a Gen I Prius when our department hosted an environmental forum at my work location, I though it was pretty smooth but was not impressed with the look. The technology I found fascinating.

In 2005 I was on my way home from work and a Prius pulled up beside me at the lights, I thought huh, I'll easily get the front running before my lane runs out. Well I was shocked, the Prius shot out of the hole and had me in short order.

Mid 2006 I was shopping for a new Corolla hatch when I saw a used Prius for similar money but much better appointments, I was hooked.
A little secret, what really got me hooked was the tiny steering wheel, I love little steering wheels.

 

I was very close to buying a Yaris "S". In 2008 I test drove one and it really was very good. I decided to wait for the 2009 version.

In August 2009 we looked again at the Yaris. My wife mentioned the Prius, I new about the Prius but did not know about the 2010 model. We test drove one and a week later we put in a order; 2010 Prius V, with Navigation package, Blue Ribbon Metallic.
Took delivery on 10-31-2009 and has now about 4800 miles on it. Lifetime MPG = 43

 

I have been following the EV development since the early days of the GM hype. It became obvious early that with my daily 26 mile one way commute that it was going to be years before an EV would work for me. So, I began following the hybrid, which was basically the Prius at the time. I really wanted a US manufacturer to come close to matching the Prius but it never happened.

In 2007 I was going to replace my wife's car and paid a deposit on a Prius. The local dealer was having one of their Toyotathons and was more interested in selling me what they had on the lot or what they could swap for than what I really wanted. So, I got ticked and bought a 2007 Honda Accord. I looked seriously at the Civic Hybrid but did not like the IMA technology.

In 2009 when I was ready to replace my car, Toyota just happened to come out with the Gen III. I am really glad that I waited until 2010 to get my first Prius.

 

I rode in a coworkers Gen I in 2006 and a few months later when my Bonneville got totaled, I I got a Gen II 2006 because I like the environmental friendliness but more the MPG. Then I appreciated Toyota listening to all the little things that people would like to see changed in the Gen II, and incorporating so many of those in Gen III (heated seats, more comfortable seats, sunroof, etc.)that I bought one of those. Meanwhile GM was telling me "You need a big honkin 12 MPG SUV". I'll pass thanks.

 

I may have already said this, but here goes again...

In January 2001, my cube neighbor bought one, a light green Prius. I remember looking under the hood and thinking ... wow, that's different. Said she paid $20k for the car and waited about 4 months for it.

We piled 5 into it one day and headed out for lunch. It had nice pickup accerlerating up an overramp (sp?).

 

well...waaay back then, i was sitting around thinking about a car, was pretty much set on getting a Corolla, but then came across the Motertrend COTY article on the 2004 Prius. i read about it, found that i needed more info, then did a search, found John1701A's site and priuschat. that was Nov 2003. i spent a day reading this site (pretty anemic back then. i could read all the posts for a week in an afternoon!!) and John's. decided that i needed a test drive.

went to my local Toyota dealer the Saturday after Thanksgiving, found out there was no car to test drive, ordered one anyway... then waited, and waited, and waited. (during this time, i called around to a dozen dealerships, some more than 150 miles away and none of them had a test drive available either)

it was a few months later in Feb, i ran into a former co-worker who had one, and better yet, he allowed me to not only drive it, but drop him off at the airport and drive his car for a week!!...

i finally got my 2004 in near the end of june 2004 and now, 2 Pri's later, here i am

 

April 2000 the GM comes to me and says.

"There is going to be a new technology that Toyota is going to test here in the US. It will have a special ordering procedure via the internet.

Here's the book on this new concept vehicle called the Prius. Learn everything you can about it.

If someone might wish to order this crazy new idea they you place the order with Toyota directly. If someone hears about it in the press then you answer their questions."

A doctor called two months later. She had heard on some 'out there' greenie forum about a new vehicle from Toyota that was 50% less polluting than a traditional auto. What did we know about it.? She ordered hers in July 2000 and it arrived on January 13th 2001.