Top Reason YOU drive a Prius

I voted other. For me, I love the Prius for its spacious interior, especially the rear leg room. The second reason is the MPG. I love driving farther without refueling than my tC =)

 

As per usual, I voted "other." I bought the Prius mainly because I could not buy a modern EV... and the Prius was the closest I could come. I chose the Prius over all other hybrids because of the (very limited!) EV mode.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 6 2006, 04:53 PM) [snapback]298765[/snapback]</div>

Boy oh boy darrreelldddd...you sure can 'OUT SMUG" all of the rest of us...

 

Don't like having to choose only one. I bought mine because I liked the mpg, the low emissions , really like the styling and have fun with the features. Guess that just leaves out Toyota reliability. This is the first Toyota I have owned- so I haven't experienced that personally yet. Honda reliability I have experienced. In fact, my daughter is still driving that '89 Civic. That baby has started every time the key was turned. I was seriously considering the Civic hybrid- but the Prius just looked so much better.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rufaro @ Aug 6 2006, 05:55 PM) [snapback]298787[/snapback]</div>

Some days it isn't easy. But I try... I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't at least try.

Have you read this?
http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_fun.htm

 

As other have indicated, my answer really is "all of the above", but since I had to pick one I chose "MPG". The simple reason is that I have a long commute, and this car is saving me $100/month in gas alone compared to my 5-speed Integra, which was no slouch in it's own right!

I look it at it as my way to hedge my bets for the future with respect to ridiculous gas prices, and doing my part for the environment at the same time!

My primary alternative was a Camry SE (before the HSD became available) and I figured that within 5 years both cars would have cost me the same amount when fuel cost was factored in, so why not buy the car I really wanted?

Kevin

 

Interestingly no one mentioned Safety?

I am a very tall and larger than I want to be guy and the spaciousness is great but the rear side airbags were very important.

Here's the thinking, Toyota Corolla gets close to the mileage I would get on the freeway, most of my driving, BUT it is not in the same class as the Prius. It also lacks the rear side air bags and I could care less about all the other crap if I have an accident with my son in the back. To try to live with the fact that I wanted to save money and get a car that is not the safest I could afford and have something tragic happen...

Toyota Camry - pretty much the same cost and is missing some of the features so why?

I dont think buying a car because it gets good gas mileage makes sense, sorry . If it was a piece of crud how did you benefit. This car is a real winner in many categories but until the 2007 Camry I dont know of a car, at least that had Toyota reliability, in its price class that had rear side airbags. Match that with the great mileage, gadgets (that are very functional I might add) and environmental friendly and you've got a great all around car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenFarmBoy @ Aug 6 2006, 10:20 PM) [snapback]298886[/snapback]</div>

Even if it was a piece of crud, you're still keeping tons (literally) of CO2 out of the air, you're making the air healthier to breath, you're keeping the water cleaner, you are saving electricity, you are saving tax dollars, you are increasing national security and you are helping your country become energy independent. My hope is that at least something on that list is important. You can buy a piece of crud that gets bad gas mileage too! Of course this is all off the point of buying a Prius, yet I wanted to answer your question.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 6 2006, 06:40 PM) [snapback]298803[/snapback]</div>

Hi Nate! :lol:

 

Other - I bought primarily to support the technology (i.e. vote with my dollars) but the efficiency and low impact on the environment are close second reasons.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 6 2006, 10:54 PM) [snapback]298900[/snapback]</div>

Well I might not become popular but I am not going to shell out a lot of money for a car that is not safe or one that is unreliable just because of one of the items above. I am self-employed and need reliability AND good gas mileage. I have had a car that was not and it cost me a fortune, happened to be gas guzzler. I agree buying the car was a great green move but frankly if it was a Yugo, I wouldn't have. Don't get me wrong I really like the green aspects but I am not independently wealthy, nor is most of America, to buy a car that is not reliable. So too me the key marketing item for the Prius is the mileage but once you get in one, wow!!! and what can beat Toyota reliability?

 

Other:
Financial reasons, mostly taxation here in the Netherlands.
About 42% of the sticker price of a car here is tax, half of that is VAT and the other half a luxury taxation that did not apply to the Prius. In my particular case (company car, can deduct VAT) I managed to pay almost no tax on the purchase.

How about another poll: what are the reasons for NOT buying a Prius that went around in your mind?
In my case: looks and handling. My heart wanted the new BMW MINI. But my mind and wallet voted Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenFarmBoy @ Aug 7 2006, 05:17 AM) [snapback]298959[/snapback]</div>

Well.... actually I think you just made my point stronger in some ways. I think we can all agree that an unreliable car is no bargain no matter how you slice it. I was only pointing out that there are at least *some* (very important) advantages to driving a crappy car just because it gets good mileage. And of course "crappy" has as many definitions as there are drivers. Crappy doesn't have to mean unreliable. To some folks, the Prius is a crappy car, for example. They would NEVER stoop to driving one just to get better mileage.

But anyway... back to the subject....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 7 2006, 07:20 AM) [snapback]298989[/snapback]</div>

Well I have to admit my previous car was a baseline Toyota Corolla and I mean base, no power anything. I drove it around 20k miles a year for my work and actually got to like it. People laughed but I told them it was very inexpensive and got at least 30mpg. So I understand your point also but man it is just too hard to beat Toyota reliability.

I know what you mean about some people not stooping to buy a Prius but I think now that the Alaskan pipeline is halving its production, YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think there is going to be a lot of stooping, HAHAHA...

 

I voted MPG as that was the reason for me buying a new car. Once I started looking at all the Hybrids, the Prius became the only choice. Honda makes good cars, but the CH is too short and was not as roomy as the Prius. I've always been told Toyota reliability cannot be beaten. The fit and finish, the amazing amount of technology even on my base model, the smell of a new car er oops that one slipped, and lots of other ++++'s are what helped me decide on the Prius. I love this car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ajprius @ Aug 5 2006, 01:17 PM) [snapback]298267[/snapback]</div>

uhhh ,mmmm,oh ok it was the mpg oh ok!