I bought a 2016 Prius C in July With low mileage and it was the wrong choice for me. The car just takes too much effort on the highway and we go visit family where there are too many hills to make it enjoyable. I also have a toddler and worry that the tiny car may not be as safe as a bigger car (Though I am open to hearing why this may not be true) and more space would also be nice. I think I’ll lose at least $3,000 on selling it now but I don’t think I can hold onto it. I had bought the C because I live in Brooklyn and wanted a car that’s easy to park and because of environmental reasons. But we only use the car a few times a week around the city and then every other week we take a 90 mile drive upstate. So what I am wondering now is, do I look for a regular prius or other hybrid or is a hybrid not really worth it for how much we drive. My original thought was mpg was super important and now I find myself thinking a larger car that accelerates more easily would make more sense. Any thoughts are appreciated.
I think you'd enjoy a larger Prius, but fact you're limited in parking options and using the car infrequently means you shouldn't spend another penny on your car other than gas and oil changes and learn to live with it. The increase in safety will be very minor, especially if you aren't driving often. Just be patient, once your toddler is older you'll have a better sense of what kind of car you need next.
If your top concern is safety for your toddler, I would look at cars on the list here: 2020 TOP SAFETY PICKs Hybrid cars are the least efficient when only used occasionally and for short distances, so I wouldn’t buy a different one unless you’re driving more often or longer distances. For your lifestyle, a fair question to ask is do you need a car at all? There are a lot of public transportation options in New York, and you can rent a car or use a ride sharing service when you visit family upstate. It might be cheaper overall if you don’t drive much.
Yea... Finding other parents who may want to be partial owner in your vehicle would be a good way to boost income.
Thank you! This is the wise option - trying to get myself there. The thing is that when I do drive it on the weekends, I feel like I’m driving a lot but in reality it’s probably about 300 miles in a weekend and 20 miles in the week.
Thank you! Unfortunately rental cars near me cost over $100 a day and since we would need one about 6 days a month it might not be more economical. But I completely agree. I think someone wrote on here that the Prius c is the car for people who don’t love cars and that describes me. I do prefer life without one.
I think that you should buy a normal car because fuel economy between regular car and hybrid are not too much different if your commute are short distance and climbing the hill. And regular car will not depreciated too much like hybrid . And gas price are pretty cheap. If you don’t drive a lot buying hybrid are not save you anything.
Yes! Definitely! If you don't have to buy new the second and third gen Prius (2004-2009 and 2010-2015) are great machines. Don't know much about the current generation (2016- present). The Prius V (station wagon) is also a great choice! Doesn't have than tiny feeling the Prius C has. Test drove one once and didn't like the whining/whirling noice when you accelerated. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
90 + 90 + 20 = 200 a week when you go upstate every other week or 5200 miles a year The other weeks are only 20 x 26 or 520 So at around 6k miles a year does the MPG difference matter that much? All current Toyotas have a lot of safety features your c didn't have. I went from a v to a 200+ HP Rav4h for the cargo capacity. Think how you gonna get that bassinet home? Bike?
It meets the IIHS Top Safety Pick criteria for 2012, 2013, and 2015 (late production only). It would have fallen off the list the other years (and first portion of 2015) because the IIHS criteria keeps creeping ever higher every year. So while it is not the best available now, it was excellent for its era, so should not far behind on the curve now. This is something to watch for any used car. There is a higher Top Safety Pick Plus rating, which this model never reached.
Thank you! We have a 2016 and looks like it was a top pick that year. I more have some anxiety about the size/weight of the car with all the big SUVs running around. But I’ve actually been accepting my C and probably for the little I drive it - it probably doesn’t make sense to get something bigger.
Thank you!! I’ve since accepted the C for now since I wrote the post. I’ve actually decreased the amount we are even driving, so hybrid isn’t going to be a big difference but I don’t think we need any extra space. And if we do start driving more then I will look to sell the C for something larger like a rav4.
Thank you!! I like the idea of the new generation Prius but may hold off for now. Such a big loss to sell the car only a few months in.
