Who are you? and why did you choose prius?

I'm a 28 year old attorney in D.C. Have always been a "tree-hugger" but was recently informed by my details-oriented significant other that my 2002 model Lexus gets a MPG of 3...or practically the equivalent thereof and thus, I am not a true tree-hugger. I've been waiting to see what else I could buy out there that would express my treehugger-ness, but that also had the looks - yes, superficiality does play its part here. I was going to wait for the Lexus hybrid SUV that comes out in November but the stats on that I found are 32 mpg which is great for an SUV, but nothing compared to the Prius. So, in order of what moved me to get on the waiting list now for a 2005 model:
1) These tie for first - Environmental impact; wanting to buy the latest and greatest smart technology; wanting to raise public awareness. Doing my part for blue skies while making a statement in the capitol of making statements here in D.C.
2) And a very close second - it looks totally cool. It's a space capsule - and I love all things smart, stylistic and sleek. It's a lean green hybrid machine.
3) Gas mileage is unreal!
4) The price is great for this technology!
5) Size - I don't want to have to parallel park a hulking goliath-mobile on the streets of Georgetown. Yet at the same time, it's a considerable improvement on space from the previous model, which I've rented in various airports. No compromise there.

Judging from the posts on this website, I am going to be very happy with my purchase!

 

I'm 52
I'm a R&D Chef I create for many different
restaurants and corporations.
When I decided to get a new car I was looking for
good gas mileage and a reliable Japanese Company.
I now own a Sentra,never had a problem with it. Except
for maitainance it has been my only costs in the six years I've had it.
I've had 5 American cars before that and all were not the best of
experiences.As gas prices went out of control I knew there had to be a better way. I found the Prius. I lurked in all the groups for information
and finally drove one. I ordered it in early March and now the wait
for my baby continues. In short it's good for the enviorment,good for my
pocket book, and may even help save a soldier.

 

Project Manager/Economic Development...52
Work related driving has dropped from 45k per year to under 15k..all in town. No longer need large car for my large frame to live in most of the day....plus I like gadgets.

Tom

former first ruck, Tumut Swans.

 

I am a 32 year-old science educator from eastern Massachusetts, US. I teach engineering and robotics to 9-16 year-olds for a non-profit organization. I ordered a Seaside Pearl pkg 5, 7 or 9 on Nov 5 and I am still waiting patiently for it.

As you might be able to guess by my career, the geeky toys of this car are really appealing to me. However, first and foremost, I was drawn in by the forward-thinking technologies that will save gas and reduce emissions.

I have been driving a 1997 Honda Civic and didn't want to lose the hatchback or the Japanese quality and reliablility. I've been holding out, waiting for a hybrid hatchback/wagon (but definitely not an SUV) and I was thrilled to see that the Prius was improved and hatched for 2004! I started thinking about buying a new car over a year ago, but wasn't willing to get lower mpg's than I've had with the Civic and I knew I didn't want a smaller car. The Prius is a perfect fit for me and when I first saw it online in August, I knew I'd be driving one eventually.

Finally, like others have said, I want to make a little bit of a statement while making a difference. I fully intend to use my car in the classes I teach so I can share my enthusiasm with the kids I teach and make conservation at least as cool as fast cars or monstrous cars.

 

My beautiful wife and I are 41 years old, have one son in 1st grade, and we live in Southern California. We are in a position to wait for a Prius because we do not depend on a vehicle for a commute. We are both self-employed professionals and work from our home.

I am a technical writer and have a degree in Human Ecology. My wife is an interior designer/architect and image is important in her profession and cars are part of one's image in Southern California.

If I were to make the decision by myself with an eye to total cost of ownership and planning for retirement, I would have chosen a Corolla or a Nissan Sentra. My beautiful wife was thinking Lexus, Volvo, Audi.. She could not bear to be seen in a cheap car like a Corolla or a Sentra. Those are cheap!

When we first got married, we were living in Maine and we had a Ford Escort and a Toyota Pickup. That was OK because we fit in with the socio-economic cross-section.

We've moved to Southern California. she got a loaded Suburu Legacy wagon. It turned out to be a lemon and at 100K mi it overheated and the engine block cracked. We're now driving my mother-in-law's Mercury Sable wagon and riding bicycles. She is ashamed to be seen in such a gas-guzzling piece of slugmobile.

I knew that if I didn't act, we'd end up with a very expensive and inefficient car. She knows how concerned about fuel-efficiency I am and she put a deposit down on the Lexus hybrid SUV that's due sometime in Q2 of 2005 for $56K and may only average 27 MPG city/hwy.

I kept trying to get her to look at the Prius... There are some parents at our son's school who have the older Prius and she equated it with a Corolla. I kept telling her that the '04 was different but it took a while for it to sink in. Interior specifications helped. Then she saw a Tideland Pearl Prius and was very impressed with the paint color--it really sold her on the car. Plus, the whole Hollywood buzz about it effected her and the price helped. Then she testdrove one and was sold. She still thinks it looks a little weird and it's not a luxury car, but she'll let me get it.

Essentially, she can be environmentally-responsible, save money, and not be ashamed of driving a relatively small and inexpensive Japanese car because it is unique and holds a certain celebrity status. She also recognizes that it is new technology, which holds a certain interest for her in and of itself.

That is, she is not personally interested in the engineering details, but she comes from the Southern Californian culture which has been caught up in the latest technologies for decades. For example, her parents had one of the first microwave ovens available to consumers. Cal Tech and JPL are nearby. Hi-tech is styling.

What I'm getting at here is that there is definitely a market for an efficient mid-sized car that has a little more luxury detailing than the Prius but less horsepower than a Lexus SUV hybrid. Leather upholstry in the Prius wont make the grade. It should be like a Volvo, Lexus, or an Audi inside and look like a sportscar. There are a lot of people who would like a luxury car who do not have lead feet. I don't know why there's not a more fuel-efficient car to suit their needs.

Cheers,

--Jared

 

I'm 17. High school student. Going to university next year.
I got a Prius because it's cool. The interior is like a luxury car with the navigation system and computer (and my 03 Prius has aftermarket leather seats). Stealth mode is awesome and the mileage is good too.

Although I think my next car (when I can afford to buy one without help from someone else), will be a "performance" hybrid. I can't wait until they start making cars like that. 8)

 

I guess I'm an image snob. To me a 60K car says "I charge you too much so I can drive this over priced car" Probably a good thing I moved out of So. Cal 25 years ago!

I think this will be the norm. I believe Toyota plans to put the hybrid tech in all their vehicles. As with everything, change is slow. Once people begin seeing a lot of different hybrids on the road and that they aren't silly little electric things that only go 35 mph and 100 miles between plug-ins, they will be accepted. The increasing price of gas should help the movement though the "I need a BIG SUV to be safe on the road with all the other BIG SUVs" or "I need 0-60 in 5 seconds" mentality won't be a quick conversion.

 

Certainly trading in a relatively new vechicle for a new one is never cost effective (barring lemons). However, when replacing an older or high milage vehicle that is starting to hit large repair/maintenance costs, the new one can be cheaper to own. At that point, buying a Prius vs another similarly appointed vehicle can be cost effect based on the price of gas.

 

48 y/o computer programmer. Currently drive a '95 Honda Odyssey "the most carlike of minivans" with 93K miles. LOVE the versatility, mpg-low 20s. I don't drive a lot of miles per year. Living in NW Vermont means salted roads in the winter and that means rust. For that reason, I tend to get a new car every 8-10 years. Minor rust repairs needed during that time, but not a major expense. Wait too long and a car payment starts to look cheap.
Reasons for considering a Prius -
- The mileage. Gas isn't getting any cheaper, there aren't any more dinos being compressed and we as a nation should try to cut back our out of proportion use of the earth's reasources. I won't make $ based on gas usage.
-Much less polluting. I laughed at the amount of emission savings based on 2 people sharing a regular car on the local 'join a carpool' site. You could fill those cars' seats and the 1 occupant Prius still doesn't put out anywhere near the pollutants/person. Since regular car-pooling doesn't mesh well with my work/life, me in a Prius is still doing way more good than me in a carpool of regular cars.
- The technology. Rented Civic Hybrid and 2003 Prius last summer in the initial "hmmm, about time to think about new cars". This was before I knew the 2004 Prius would be a major redesign. I like to research before I buy something that costs this much and I keep for many years. Don't need Blue-tooth and Nav is too expensive for my needs but the SS/SE is cool and useful. Engine shutoff when not needed is great - kept thinking about it last Sat when I was in a line of 30 cars idling into the landfill. What a waste and how UNNECESSARY (well, if I had a Prius)!!
-Performance. Loved the CVT, dandy milage, performace was fine for me. 2004 Prius has a 2 sec better 0-60 spec than my Odyssey (never tested, no need. The person in front of me generally moves off the line at the same speed I would and the signals don't resync just because you get there faster )
- Safety. I would choose a model with side airbags, all come with traction control, leaning toward VSC. I have done three 90 or 180 skids (no damage resulting) in the snow/ice over the last 25 years, including with ABS. I don't drive crazy, but ice is ice and if VSC can help, I want it.
- Hatchback (or at least folding rear seats). This was the ONE thing I didn't like about the 2003 models I rented. I wouldn't buy either for this reason. I need the versitility of opening the trunk into the cabin. Dislike on the 2004 - lack of headroom in the rear. Probably won't affect me since I don't sit in the back and my daughters aren't likely to be anywhere near my 6'2". Still, this IS a mid-size car and an extra 2 inches would do wonders.
- Price. $20K+ is not cheap like an Echo, but I think there is a LOT for the money compared to other vehicles. If you could put all the non-hybrid Prius base model features on an Echo, I suspect the price would be about the same and it would still be just a little car. My Odyssey was $23K 9 years ago and doesn't have several of the non-hybrid features of the Prius.
- The mileage again, because when the gov said "boost your fleet averages" the U.S. automakers said "It can't be done" and George Bush said "Nevermind". Bunch of whiny whimps. Toyota and Honda both proved 40%+ minimum increase is achievable in a vehicle that looks and drives like a 'regular car'. It can be done on a regular production line and not make the car unaffordable. Where is the "thumbing your nose" smily?

If my Odyssey were only 5 years old, I'd wait 3-5 years and see what other body styles come out. Maybe a 50 mpg minivan?

Sorry, this got way too long!

 

i'm here to skew some of the stats...
58 years old, techy, BSEE and about 30 years in the world of Marketing. write me if you'd like you ear bent on toyota, marketing, etc...
elsewhere here, i've listed my previous cars, everything from a 12mpg 7Liter corvette to a 60hp, 1.5L Isuzu Diesel. every car was either "interesting" or "useful" when i owned it.
now i'm retired. my pre-retirement "commute" was 3.4 miles, round trip.
now i drive even less, probably 5-7k miles a year.
but for the past three or four decades, i've been interested in fuel efficiency and the technologies to get there. i've given informal lectures on why Electric Vehicles (the kind you plug in) will NEVER succeed, and stood toe to toe with some diehard EV-ers. doesn't matter. pure EV won't succeed, probably in THIS century. sorry, lecturing again... you want marketing....
i am very right-brained and a nonlinear thinker, which makes me and my ilk usually outcasts at work and in today's (USA, anyway) society, but some thirty years ago, i drew the conclusion that gas/"something" HYBRID was "the way to go". eventually, the automakers and the marketplace would get there, and imho, toyota got there first.
i didn't like the pre-'04 Prii... "No Hood." no front to the car. looked dangerous for anything more than a 2mph "collision".
the '04 changed that enough with the bigger beak. nicer aero look, too.
i never liked hatchbacks, because of the implied lower security of "no trunk", but the sliding cover over the rear storage area was satisfactory to me.
i like pickup and handling, (remember the 7L corvette...), and two test drives of '04s showed me that the little car was fast enough for me.
i compared the honda civic, and HATED it for being just a civic with the extra electric motor. inside, it was a civic, outside it was a civic, and the trunk was way too small and the rear seats didn't even fold down. What Were They Thinking!?
but at 5k miles a year of regular driving, i'd probably have to run the Prius for 25 years to break even on savings of gas versus the other two cars i sold to help pay for the Prius. of course, the '69 corvette i hadn't driven in two years wasn't depreciating or costing me gas or maintenance, and insurance was less than $200US a year. the '87 Taurus had turned 7 years old, and was nearing 30k miles, but things were starting to break.
don't trust a lot of the "fixing an old car is more expensive than buying a new one", either.... back when i was driving a '67 pontiac tempest OHC6 (with 10.25:1 compression and a 4-bbl carb!), i figured that i could replace the entire power train, from the fan to the rear axle, for less than the first year's depreciation cost of any new cars in the price range i would have been considering.
but i do like the techy things, and the fancy door locking and opening without taking the "key" out of my pocket is cool, even if it means relearning reflexes that date back to 1954....
the low pollution is appealing, on a total OR per-mile basis...
i like the way they implemented the digital speedometer, even though i didn't like 'em on other cars... the fact that it's so close to your normal line of sight, just below the windshield-dashboard intersection, means you can see the numbers easier than looking down 20-30 degrees in any "normal" car.... easy to get used to, i found.
lots of storage nooks and crannies are appealing, too; most humorous is the "mystery box" in the console between the front seats that many owners don't stumble across for months...
i like the steering wheel size and placement. small and low.
i think the display is fun, but needs some more human engineering, particularly in the logic and "thought patterns" that go with making it do what i want. (not expecting a call from toyota any time soon... check the "right-brain" reference, above. designers fall in love with their designs and external inputs are really NOT welcomed. US mfgrs are just worse at that then most japanese ones.)
it's also about two feet shorter than my wife's '98 Camry. so it fits better in the garage than the camry, and we never even bothered trying to put the taurus in...
i was very impressed with the quality and performance (read: acceleration) of the camry, but wanted something that would break 35-40 mpg on average, so toyota+prius really added up to an attractive package for me.
with some money in my pocket from selling the taurus and the corvette in january, i ordered the prius, only to find that local dealers who could have sold me one on the spot back in november of '03 when i made the Prius decision, were now quoting 120 days.... we lucked out, and i got just what i wanted a month before the 120 days were up.
but i've barely burned half a tank of gas, as of this date.
and i feel fine about it. now, i don't even hesitate at the thought of getting in it and driving somewhere, for any reason. not concerned, as it gets over twice what the other "driver cars" we own/ed got around town, where most of our driving is done.
and i've already got my wife broken in to the idea of trading her camry against a hybrid camry when the '06s are orderable. just got to arrange for the money some how...

back to more marketing, for you...
i've seen reports that toyota is no longer selling the prius as a "loss leader", but is actually making positive money on 'em. i say, GREAT!. i've dealt with lots of moronic marketing people who just don't understand that if you Want To Own The Market in The Future, you've got to sell below cost for a few years to get there. toyota, i believe, made that conscious decision probably ten years ago. they're harvesting the fruit now.
my expectation/belief/forecast is that toyota will roll most of their product families to hybrid over the next 5-7 years, driving their manufacturing costs down and amortizing their engineering over, eventually, millions of units per year.
they're going to be collecting royalties from ford next year, as the highlander goes against ford's copy with a virtually identical power train. see ford.com for more on that.
i believe toyota has positioned the prius at the high end of the low end, with the original "under $20kUS" pricing, but has screwed up in one big way:
for decades, toyota and most other japanese manufacturers have "sold whatever they've made." ie, build, ship to dealer, dealer sells it.
with the Prius, they got tons of orders, and had NO way to leverage the fact that, with ORDERS IN HAND, they could tell the manufacturing guys EXACTLY WHAT TO BUILD, and they Could Build It, and actually "build to order" and tell customers exactly when their orders would be delivered.
the fact that there's so much pain among everyone waiting in the dark for their delivery, just as i was, is not so mute testimony to this conclusion.
toyota should take advantage of this demand-driven hybrid environment and start building to order, not building to manufacturing plan, and use this to forecast and get better deals from their suppliers in the future.
that's marketing working WITH manufacturing, not just being a victim of them.

enough (or more than enough) for now.
available for further lecture, or even discussion, any time....

and looking forward to seeing your paper here!
all the best!

 

Geez Jared - I feel like your wife was reincarnated in me! i'm working in D.C. but was raised in Southern California my whole life, a very nice part of Southern California, and I know what you mean by image mattering over there. In fact, everyone says that since i've moved to D.C. (which will be coming up on 5 years now since law school), I've become much more "well-rounded." uhhh...whatever that means! Anyway, I'm still very much a California girl at heart and was just back home about two weeks ago - the point being that I completely understand your wife's sentiment! I almost put down the $500 deposit for the Lexus hybrid SUV too (I have a Lexus now) - until my sister, who's at UCLA, shook me out of it saying, how can you even think about getting an SUV? It's still an SUV!!! Substance won out, but I must say, I'm very satisfied with the style as well. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have bought the car. That said, Six more months and counting!

 

I'm a family owned 'puter geek(46 and counting)... with green tendancies living in the cereal bowl state, where we seem to delight in making ourselves pay more for gas through silly means than any other state in the union....

So Hybrid idea had appeal. I'm cheap ^h^h^h^h^h frugal too :mrgreen:

My 'puter geekness is in support area, so i tend towards a ruthless pragmatism. If it don't pass the works test... it's toast. So I rented an '02
last summer on a trip and found it passed the works test. Displays were
odd. Shift lever that looked like it was an organ donaton from a slot machine was really weird.... But it drove like a car. It got me on the highway in San Diego and LA without feeling unsafe... Held the family and luggage. As I say... passed the works test.

One oddity that shook me the first 2 times it happened, but I fell in love with, the silly car turned off its engine at stop lights. Finally... no burning gas on a red light!

STarted to order an '03 very late in the model year and learned the '04s would have fold down rear seats.... waited to see one.... (wife is even more ruthless than I am) and did a test drive on an '04....

No one armed bandit shift lever.
Less road noise.
Engine didn't rev and stop as wildly as the old rental car did.
Car had BETTER acceleration and handling
I was completely hooked.

So I ordered and waited....

Now have my driftwood #7 (not my color choice but it's not bad) and
I like this car a lot. I've had it a month and I still get a rush when the ICE turns off and I ghost the last 3 blocks to my driveway on battery alone.

cas #7 driftwood first tank MPG of 38.6 (calculated)

 

Personals: 51, database geek, windsurfer in FL
Daily commute: 80 miles roundtrip
Previous vehicle: 93 Dodge Dakota v8, 17 mpg, 191,000 miles, A/C non-functional for 5 years
2004 Prius: PRICELESS

Any more questions?