Introducing myself and my doubts

I have done a 1900 km trip in a day with the car fully loaded and had no problems
And I probably drove over 1600 km and a felt fine next day

 

I'm happy with my car and would happily buy another one. If you're unsure I'd recommend hiring a Prius or see about a long term loan form the dealers for a weekend. If you're going to keep a car for 10 years you want to make sure it's the right one for you.

There are pro's and con's to the Prius, but most people on here love them. You shouldn't have any problems with it - other than making sure the dealer used the correct oil (0w20 for the gen3 Prius) and being Japanese it'll go for a long time.

 

Dear Jlanrod,

Bienvenido to Priuschat.

From what I read I understand that you are the average man with a family of 4 (there is nothing wrong to be the average guy! http://cdn.priuschat.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Please read my first thread here: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/81339-my-experience-my-brand-new-prius-2010-a.html.
So far I have nothing significant to change. After 9 months of ownership and 12.500 kilometres in the odometer I have no buyer's remorse. The consumption remains good all these months, ranging between 4,5-4,7 l/100 klm, with exception of the last trip. The very low temperature with combination of a very heavy traffic jam a couple of days ago (1,5 hour to cover just 1 kilometre distance) increased the average consumption to 5,2 l/100 klm for the current trip of 170 kilometres. I am sure that this will be fixed until the next fill-up.
In the past I used to be a “heavy footerâ€, especially when I was traveling alone. However, I was moderate when there were passengers on board and even more cautious when these were kids. Recently I became a “light footerâ€. Either the age or the large number of speed cameras here or the Prius changed this! I hope that you, with your kids on board, will be equally or more careful.
There is more than enough space for 2 kids in the back seat, unless your children hate each other! In such a case there will be no space enough to separate them http://cdn.priuschat.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
I have few concerns for the luggage room, but only if you are carrying a full house (!!) with you during your travels/vacation.
Do not listen to those saying that this car is not fun to drive, unless you are looking for a purely sportive car, like BMW or Audi. The car has more than enough power. The ability to increase her velocity when you are going already at high speed is impressive. The E-CVT and the electric rotor take good care of this.
Also there NO security issues!! This car is high ranked.
Some people in Priuschat complain that it is noisy. I fully disagree.
I have no experience of expensive cars and I cannot say if the Prius is better or worst that any of them. Nevertheless the car is better than many in the market. My only concern is her durability in the years to come, something we must wait and see. I intend to keep her for the next 10 years, just like you, and I hope that I made a good choice.
Spain and Greece are quite the same in terrain, temperate climate with almost no snow, etc. I believe that the Prius will be one of the best choices for your needs.
Concluding I wish to repeat myself in one point: We are talking about a completely different/avant-garde car. She does not suit to certain people. They actually need something else. Some will never learn her/get never used to her particularity. One should not buy a car because it is a trend.
If you decide to buy the Prius ask from the dealer to give you the full manual, which you must study well and carefully.

Best regards.

 

I want to have the car for at least ten years or even more, that´s why I want to be sure, very sure about my dude next years...

Suggest renting one for a weekend trip if that is possible. Everyone has their own prejudices, with a long drive, the cars strengths and weaknesses will soon be clear.

Another thought, buying used so less of an investment, and selling it/ trading it before it dies, so you only own the car a few years , when you then buy a newer one.

 

One of the beauties of Wiki's is you can follow the links. The 'group' complaining about the Prius EMF exists for no other reason. No address, no members, no other examples, no other agenda.

 

It's quite fun to push the power button and burn off the boy racers from the lights.:eyebrows:
The Prius has quite a good launch from standstill when you put the pedal to the metal.
The handling is not that bad either, somewhat better than most euroboxes, probably only beaten by the small Fords in standard form.

 

Well, watching to your list of "all on the table"...I must say one "wise" thing I have learnt since becoming close to Prius. If you want a car for 10 years, you'll never regret owning one. No other car gives you lower maintenance costs! And reliability, which is much of what you missed in the Renault ownership. That makes huge difference. Also when you compare Prius to a diesel car whith anti-pollution-devices, and the complelixity of a conventional gearbox, turbo, clutch, etcetera...and what I have heard about tyre wear, and testemony over brake wear (discs/pads), not to mention the horrible sound a vibration you get from a diesel, and how it becomes difficult to live with over the time...

I have always loved automobile sports, motorcycles, and had much fun driving RWD in the past! But when deciding for a family car, those moments are not to experience much often. My wife surely got convinced by me when going for a Prius, when walking into one in a stand, after a Verso Valvematic.

 

His refrigerator can drive? I have no idea how the driving experience of a fridge. I don't get how you can compare Prius to a fridge, other than the intend to bash.

 

They are both cool!

 

Your buddy doesn't know much about cars OR refrigerators. I had a 95 Volvo 940, now that was like a refrigerator.

 

I own the vehicle...I'm not bashing it. I think the Prius is a great car for what it is, especially the Gen III Prius, but pretending its the best car in every way is meaningless. The statement I referenced is also one from a happy Prius owner...

This particular buddy has owned some great cars, the last car prior to the Prius being a E class Mercedes. He knows cars, as I do.

The car is not a sports car...nor is it sporty in any way...nor did they look to handling prowess as being anywhere high on the priority list when designing the suspension or powertrain of the car. The car is designed to be relatively quiet and smooth, handle in a competent and safe way, and deliver excellent fuel economy and high tech features in a unique and futuristic looking vehicle with family friendly 4 doors and hatch. Thats the entire selling proposition of the car.

There are MANY, MANY similarly sized and priced vehicles that will outhandle a Prius any day of the week. If handling and driving "fun" is more important to you than space and economy...I wouldn't reccomend a Prius.

The OP asked us if the car is fun to drive, depends on your definition of "fun". Its fun to play with the gadgets, ride around in something that makes a statement, try and get the best fuel mileage. Is the Prius an engaging "driver's car" like a BMW or Audi? Absolutely not.

For instance I love my Lexus, but it is also not an engaging drivers car, and someone interested in such would be disappointed with it...as they would be with a Prius.

 

No idea why people bang on about the "boring", the "uninspiring" drives they have in Prius...

All comes down to how you drive it... I feel the Prius has nicely tuned stability control, that once you know the vehicle enough to trust the built in systems, it is great fun to flog around... Though in saying that I average 6.2L/100klms in my former Gen III prius... lol

I drive all around both suburban, metro and rural australia (QLD and Northern NSW) often 2-3000klms per week, some dirt roads, over cattle grids and corrugated roads when needed, overtaking road trains at 140kph (shhh!) and never have a problem...

One thing that is a worry is kangaroos in QLD, but other than that, it feel fine for long distance, high speed driving.

for all those who want a car with more "personality" go drive a holden Commodore... It's nerve wracking wondering when the next gearbox will fail, or if the tailshaft will fall out, and if you drop a skid, whether a wheel will come off... blegh... driving is a function.... it is for a purpose...

ie: Most people have a computer at work for WORK and then go home to the PERSONAL computer that might be pretty, have better graphics card, big speakers and equipped for games etc....

Same with cars, if you are an ENTHUSIAST, have a Prius for your daily communte, and a fun, albeit probably unreliable V8 type thing for the "fun" driving...

I see enough of those sort of comments on drive.com.au and motortrend, I came here for less Toyota bashing... lol

(no offence intended, just venting )

 

Prius is not the best car. I think it is almost perfectly balanced with almost everything taken into consideration.

How can you be a happy owner if you think it drives like a fridge. Come on, fridge only has a knot to set the temperature. Do you really think Prius is that boring and not exciting to operate/drive?

 

I have a ball driving mine on so many levels.

 

If you need a horse get a horse, they come tall, short, fast, slow and in various colors.
If you need a car get a car, they come big, small, fast, slow and in various colors.
All it's got to do is get you from point A to point B, if you want to use the least amount of gas... Prius is your horse
If you want to go as fast as the V12's get a V12.
Toyota makes great products, So do BMW and Audi, but in 5 years when gas has doubled in price your Prius will still be getting 50+mpg.
BTW the journey is the destination.

 

I think the Prius is completely boring to drive. To be honest, I really don't care for our Prius at all, I do however like the Gen III, I think its a huge improvement over the Gen II. The issue is one of driver comfort to me, not really the ride and drive of the car. If I could get the seating and steering adjusted to where I was comfortable I'd like our Prius just fine. Comfort is very attainable in the Gen III for me...

However, having a "fun to drive" car is obviously not very high on my priority list. Like I said, I love my Lexus but its about as fun to drive as...well a Prius. Its smooth, quiet, well built, and comfortable. Elegant without being ostentatious, thats what I like in a car.

Just because you personally like something doesn't mean you can't be objective when you talk about its strength and weaknesses. The Prius has a lot of strengths, but being "fun to drive" in the way that car enthusiasts think of being "fun to drive", handling well and being well balanced and rewarding to drive on twisty and hilly backroads is its weakness. Prius, Corolla, Camry, Fusion, Sonata...minivans...none of these cars are really "fun to drive". They are more like driving appliances.

Just like my Lexus...which I *love*...its like a library at 80MPH, commands respect at the country club...but it has the same weakness as the Prius in that its not "fun to drive" in the traditional sense, but its not supposed to be.

 

The real issue with the gen2 Prius to you is the comfort then?

According to you, your Lexus also drives like a fridge and you LOVE it.

I am just trying to understand and making sure you are not just unconsciously repeating propaganda you read on the internet.

 

It sounds well suited. I find it competent at high speed and the bulk of your driving is a lot speed in heavy traffic by the sounds of it, it will excel in this area.

Compared to other cars it's really too slow to be terribly fun to drive. You don't buy it for that and shouldn't expect it. In a sense any car can be made fun by going to its limits, though.