Hi guys - I'm leaving. It's been great sharing with you all for almost 7 years. Thanks for the company and advice. I might return - I'm sure a HYBRID will be part of my life again sometime. BUT - I've just gone to the DARK SIDE. Bought a SUZUKI Swift Sport MANUAL 2022. No Hybrid in sight, but a turbo.. This photo is the car, though I'll change the REGO to my Personal Plates. She's not got a name yet - I get her in a couple of days. I had been hoping to move to a Gen 5 PRIUS - but it may never come here, though TOYOTA haven't ruled it out apparently. A couple of weeks ago, I put an order for a COROLLA mid-spec Hybrid SEDAN. But - I've been told 9+ months, and to expect probably $4500 price increases between now and then - cancelled. Most of my 22 cars have been Manuals - and ½ have been quite small cars like the SWIFT. I got in to test-drive it, and after the 2nd gearshift, it all came back. Funnily, driving home in the PRIUS, I kept going for the gearshift and clutch. I'm 69 now - in some ways, I'm missing the sportiness of my last 2 cars (FORD FIESTA and FOCUS) - so, jumped ship, back to an "almost" hot hatch for a few years before I'm too old to care. AND - I've had every other colour of car - except BLUE. cheers Alan
Did you trade your Gen4? Congrats! Very pretty color. Suzuki is one of the brands I have never driven. My coworker owned one some years ago before they decided to pull out of the US market, but I think she switched to Subaru now.
Yes, sort-of a trade. I bought through a broker - who arranged the sale separately of the PRIUS. Suzuki have a good reputation here for longevity. Funny story - my daughter, 18 yrs ago, age about 17 bought a well-used Blue one (with Holden badges) - looked like this, but a bit better paint. Almost 300,000kms and running fine. It got extremely good economy - I had her filling in a log-book - 35-45 UK MPG. Till she went away with some friends for the weekend and averaged 19mpg over 2 fills. Huh?? Oh - probably because boyfriend took the boat too. The TOWING-CAPACITY was "NIL" - but it just happened to have come with a tow-bar. So they thought they'd use it. Never happened again.
Yep - I think I'm young enough <STOP LAUGHING> to still enjoy a good 6sp Manual in a semi-hot/warm hatch. And in a few years - back to something sensible - or something even more outlandish.
You know, plenty of us here have passed over the Prius for one reason or another. Don't be a stranger! .
it's been a pleasure alan, a voice of reason in an internet of discord. no wonder you have more likes than posts. hope to see you back again, sometime down the road, all the best!
No - I'll be back. But I'll still <SNOOP>. I'm still on the "BRICKBOARD" from being owned by 3 VOLVOs - and occasionally check in. I love the idea of (full, not mild) Hybrid - and SUZUKI have one in the wings - but I think only on Vitara for a start. Who knows what'll be next - maybe Gen 5 PRIUS if it comes.
Congrats! Looks like a fun car! (Well at least when I take it on the track in Gran Turismo lol). Go have some fun. Stop by any time!
My only concern - Suzuki car/suv engines and/or transmissions sucked here in the USA. Their motorcycle engines have been fine, but in the car world they were considered to be bottom-of-the-rung along with modern Mini-coopers, Mitsubishis, Nissans.
They're not bad - as long as they're serviced properly. Change the oil on anything with a turbo or direct injection - and should be fine. Got a friend with a newish Swift over 200,000kms, daughter had an old one with 260,000km when she sold it - her hubby had 2 or 3 Suzukis. The old 3 cylinder Swifts were unkillable - used extensively as delivery vehicles - very basic, but did the job. 5 yr warranty unlimited - and I'll sell it then. If it wasn't for COVID and new-car supply - I'd have sold the PRIUS 18 months ago.
