Requesting advice for a prospective owner

I have been driving a Honda s2000 since 2005 and love the performance. In December 2009 we got a Gen 3 Prius for my wife. She is only aware that it is a hybrid because it is written on the car and because of the fuel economy. I was so impressed with the efficiency and technology in the Prius that I started to trade s time for time in the Prius. Four months ago we bought a second Gen 3 Prius for me. Like you, I kept my hot rod. I still enjoy an occasional adrenalin rush, although I have also discovered the pleasure of pushing the Prius technology to routinely achieve 50+ MPG. I still take the s out for a high octane ($5.39/gallon in California) spin, but my Prius is my everyday driver.

How is maintenance? My only experience in our two Prii is a couple of oil changes for each.

How does it drive? Driving my Prius V with the advanced technology package is like playing a video game that puts a smile on my face and money in my pocket.

A decade and a half from now, when your son or daughter asks to borrow your car, my bet is you'll hand over the keys to some kind of fuel efficient hybrid, rather than a 300 horsepower bullet.

 

Cmon now, performance of an S2000? It's a motorcycle engine with doors. You realize the Prius has more lbs. /torque than the S2k right?

 

"Since racing is my passion and (I can afford it), my wife is letting me keep the FD, and we're trading in her CRX for something a little more sensible. She's interested in a third-gen Prius. I think it's a little girly, but it will be primarily her car, so that's fine."

Instead of trading in the CRX, just buy the Prius. My guess is she will love it and you would have no problem selling either one later.

Problem solved.

 

I have to agree with JP here. This guy still has some major insecurity issues! (Hopefully, his wife is more mature.)

Hey, i came from a BMW M3 SMGII and Mercedes G-wagen...and with both, i did what the vehicles were made for (racing and true off-roading, respectively)...no babying! However, jobs and family change things...and i made the switch...happily. There was/is no fear that i might look less masculine in it. (I just point to the gas prices and laugh in their faces!) I am at a point in my life (36 y/o) that i know what is important to me and my family.

Now, later in life, i may get something for myself to play...likely an off-road vehicle...racing gets old for me too quickly.

 

You have to drive one to appreciate it! Performance is not just HP or Torque or even 0-60 times...it is the overall package that matters! :rockon:

 

Prius is an appliance and drives like one. Its maintenance costs are, however, very low, even after years.

 

Welcome to PriusChat.:welcome:

The Prius receives great safety ratings so with the baby securely snugged into a backseat carrier; no worries. Since this may become the family car, you'll still have lots of cargo capacity.

This car's technology is unlike most other cars and for that reason, it's worth the time to research and test drive (if you can find one).

I appreciate the low operating costs since it doesn't have belts and pullies. Since the hybrid system does the initial braking, traditional brake expense is not an issue. The hybrid battery system is long-term warranted so that's not a issue for me.

Rather than think of the Prius in terms of track performance, I prefer to appreciate the Prius in terms of technology, high MPGs and low-emissions, plus the added benefit of ride comfort and handling.

Best wishes on your car buying research. The fact that you kids take time to give value-added thought to the right car for your family tells me you'll be the best mom and dad ever!

 

If your wife is going to be the primary driver of the car and she is fine with how it drives, then I'd go for it. You have to understand that the main reason in getting the Prius is for city driving. It's not going to save you a lot of gas if her driving is mainly on open roads or freeways. And in that sense, a Hyundai Elantra (the new ones look nice) or a Mazda 3 would be a better choice if you are looking for a family car, because the cost difference between them and a Prius would pay for a lot of fuel.

My wife and I had two BMW 3 series. I got a fun car for the weekend and my 335i sat outside because we only have a 2-car garage. Well, I had been driving the 335i as economically as possible since 2008 when gas prices went up, and it just wasn't the daily driver I needed, especially since getting the weekend car. And to top it off, it was getting destroyed sitting outside, especially with Florida oak pollen and rainstorms. So I traded it in as a clean swap for a 2011 Prius. First time I went to pick up a car without a checkbook.

I drive the Prius in order to get the best fuel economy. I had already been a very tame driver for the past 3 years in the 335, and the Prius has probably 10-15% of the thrust that I was used to in the BMW, but I was prepared for that and I am happy now that I'm averaging over 52 mpg in the car. It sits outside, we throw everything in it... it's the beater. But it's a great car for the purpose. Probably the best out there if you do a lot of city driving.

 

"Prius is an appliance and drives like one. Its maintenance costs are, however, very low, even after years."

I don't really understand what "appliance" is meant to convey except be mildly derogatory and suggest homogeneity. As if some cars on the road do not come off a conveyer belt exactly the same as thousands if not millions of the same model.

MS Windows users used to say the same thing about Macintosh computers. They meant they missed screwing up the registry or buying a new computer when the old one was hobbled by viruses. The interesting footnote to the computer story was Steve Jobs has *always* strived to make computers "appliances," to make a perfect tool that extended the user and never got in the way or needed attention.

 

http://www.fivead.net/

don't underestimate the power of mods

 

To be honest, if i am going to put body kits and lowered springs etc on a car, then i won't be buying a Prius! There are much better platforms out there to mod...these mods will likely hurt fuel economy with not much gain in handling or performance.

 

What's your priority? Or your wifes priorities? If you want a family capable vehicle, with low fuel costs...and a great reputation for low maintenance issues...then The Prius is a great choice.

But you still sound like you are afraid to swing shut the gates of youthful pleasure driving. You're keeping 1 car (good idea) for those reasons.

Only you and your wife can drive a Prius and determine if you can live and enjoy it's driving characteristics. However IMO, honestly the driving enjoyment of a Prius is primarily born out of enjoying it's HSD capabilities. It's maximizing gas mileage, NOT maximizing acceleration or G-force in a turn, or agressive shifting...

If these are not characteristics you are ready to really embrace? My guess would be that your time with The Prius would be short.

 

If you're not real tall, like over 6 ft. and can swing low $30ks, I'd suggest the all-new Lexus CT200h. It has an air of sportiness, even though it has the same drive train as Prius. It is not a sports car though.

Prius is uber-practical and one can appreciate it for its amazing full hybrid drive train and what it can do. Don't worry about looks too much, they will grow on you in the Prius. You could swap out the rims for something flashy and be good to go.

 

Try driving a Boxter to get a better real roadster driving experience.

 

I wholeheartedly disagree with your first sentence.

I often get poorer mileage in the city relative to the "open road" because of having to stop (lights/signs).

On the highway, I can maintain speed and momentum. If I come across some slow and go traffic, (and I often hit 2 - 3 miles of it each way in my commute), it is a great opportunity to pulse and glide and push up the tank mileage further.

However, Stop and Go traffic is lousy for MPG's. I tend to think of City driving = Stop and Go traffic.

I agree the cost difference is less if you do a lot of highway driving compared to a "conventional" car, but it is still much less expensive.

To the OP, don't worry about the battery, it is a scare tactic that non hybrid producing automakers perpetuate, media plays on fear to sell advertising space, and people repeat what they hear because it makes the feel better that they don't have one of these awful cars that will have a sour $5,000 battery replacement every 3 years.

Nearly 23,000 miles in my first year of ownership (mostly highway miles), averaging over 58 miles per gallon, and capable of seating 4 adults comfortably.

My brother bought a Mazda 3 sportspeed just before Xmas. He loved the car (initially), but is growing to hate the 6 speed manual and his inability to get the darn thing to shift smoothly (he has driven a clutch for years, the Mazda clutch is viewed as an "on/off" clutch, not much gray area for smooth shifting).

In the end, it is a car. This car is reliable, and inexpensive to own/maintain. You won't get any Freudian orgasms driving the damn thing, but then again, how many people do when they are driving to the grocery store or to work?

 

You can mod an RX7 to accelerate twice as fast from mid 5's to mid 2's 0-60 but can you mod it to double its mileage from 15 city to 30 city? You can mod the Prius to double its mileage from 50mpg to 100mpg but can you mod it to accelerate twice as fast 0-60 from 10 sec to 5 sec? The Prius is by no means a sports car or considered sporty. The CT might handle and corner better than a Prius Five but it's slower. Driving it aggressively and the mileage will sink lower than an M3 according to TopGear. Since you're coming from a sports car family, you will probably not be happy in a Prius. You have to give up driving aggressively and feather your accelerator. But then you can take the frustration out on the RX7. The Prius is one of the most technologically advance car on the market. The Five/Advanced Tech Pack is the cheapest intelligent cars out on the market. You have to own one to appreciate it.

 

By city driving I mean more low-speed areas when compared to being on the highway at 55-65 mph. Stop and go traffic, as well as traffic through streets that have closely-spaced traffic lights, will kill the hybrid battery charge and therefore kill the fuel economy. Luckily, most cities are built with more hybrid-friendly traffic patterns.

I have two offices to which I commute. One is 8 miles away on the surface roads, while the other is 20 miles away on the highway. I'm in Florida so the speed limit is 70 mph which means it's actually dangerous to be driving slower than 65 mph. My fuel economy shoots up on the days I drive the surface roads to the closer office, between 58-60 mpg. This includes at least 15-20 stoplights. On the other drive, I'm lucky to get to 52 mpg, even with my recent discovery of super highway mode.

In the end, since this car is for his wife, I think it should be her decision... especially since he's keeping the RX-7. That will definitely be there for the fun runs. In my weekend car, I'm lucky to get 14 mpg, but that's entirely due to driver control as well

 

Ouch... Jeeze, like it has a flower vase on the dash or something???

I like to think I'm driving the latest technology, not an "old school" racer.

Sorry, I had to say it.

 

Say what? Does a CRX get 50+ MPG highway as does a Prius?

 

Ok...and anything less is not a sports car??!!