Buying First Prius Soon - Any Input?

I'd go for the 2007 Touring Edition, primarily because it's eligible for the tax credit, and I've heard it has better suspension and better tires for a minimal increase in price. I'd say VSC is a must-have.

I got my Prius last April when my old car was totalled, and I was open to anything from a package 3 to a package 6 (side curtain air bags were a
must for me, and I didn't need a GPS for the $1000 - $2000 extra it would cost.)

I got a package 5, so I got the VSC and more. I'm not enough of an audiophile to have an opinion on the stereo, and I rarely use the CD player since most of my driving is short trips and I have a radio station I love. But here's my opion on what else I got:

- SKS - didn't even know what it was, but now I love it!
- Blue tooth phone - very useful.
- Auto dimming rear view mirror - handy, but I wouldn't pay extra for it, since I don't have a garage to take advantage of the Homelink garage door opener.
- Rear camera - a nice safety feature, especially since I live in a condo development and kids are always playing in the parking lot.

What I didn't get by getting a package 5:
- I added leather seats after-market because I like them.
- GPS isn't something I want or need.
- Fog lights, but I've read a lot of complaints about them on this forum.

Happy shopping!

 

I own a 2006 with the highest option package. If I were to buy a 2007 I would:

1) Skip the nav system and buy a tomtom.
2) Skip the factory leather/leatherette and get custom leather.
3) Get the touring suspension.

Features/Accessories I really like:

1) Bluetooth Phone connection
2) Smart key system
3) Side air bags
4) MP3 player/Aux input

Features/Accessories I don't like:

1) Voice command system
2) Uncomfortable seats

Concerning mileage. I commute 40 miles one way in Florida with theA/C always on. During the first five minutes (warmup) I get 25mph. After that I average 50mpg. Overall I get 47mph with 50% of my speed being between 70 and 80mph.

Happy holidays

 

Don't obsess about MPG.

 

Do get VSC, It is an enormous safety feature. Do get all-around air bags (as Tideland says, maybe all packages have them now).

I thought SKS was a silly idea, until I had the car, and now I love it.

I don't like leather. I think cloth is more comfortable by far (I wear shorts in summer) and the Prius cloth is very comfy and spills clean up amazingly well. Save the money, and get cloth seats unless you really want leather.

I do not have the built-in NAV. I have a Garmin 2720 StreetPilot instead. It sits up on the dash, right where I can see it while driving, and leaves the MFD free for other displays at the same time. I love it.

Your mileage will depend on many factors: Cold weather is bad for mileage. Short trips are bad for mileage. Driving very fast on the freeway is bad for mileage. But the only way you'd see 30 mpg would be taking extremely short trips in extremely cold weather. The air conditioning does consume power (as it must in any car!!!) but not all that much. A few amps is all. And it has a variable compressor motor, so only consumes what is needed under the circumstances. I don't know where Cornelius is, but I doubt any place in Oregon gets an awful lot of heat. Check out the mileages reported by folks in Texas and Florida on the mileage forum.

Browse this web site, look for thread titles that ask questions that interst you, and read the threads. You'll find lots of info, and probably specific mileage numbers from people who use the air conditioning. (I've never lived anywhere that I had to use it very much.)

Browse John's web pages.

 

Don't get the stereo upgrade unless you have to get it to get other things you want. Your money is probably better spent getting aftermarket speakers, etc. than getting the stereo upgrade. I've seen some posts here from folks who ended up replacing their "premium" speakers.

I agree with everything else stated. Definitely don't get a used one unless you don't want a tax credit. Besides, the last time I looked (July/Aug 2006) the used prices were about what the new cars cost!

I love the Smart Key and the backup camera. They came with the trim level I wanted for other reasons, thought I'd never use them.

I don't know if supply has caught up with demand yet. Don't be afraid to shop around. Some Toyota regions don't offer all the trim levels. If you can't get the trim level you want in your region, go to a dealer outside your region (online). Go to the buyatoyota.com website and try some different zip codes. FYI, The SE Region offers all trim levels.

Good luck!

 

When I started shopping casually a few months ago, it struck me that the prices of used cars (well used...60-80k miles or more) were absolutely ridiculous. Dealers were asking $18-20k for the used whereas MSRP on the new cars with lower packages were $23-24k. Factor in what's left of the tax credit and buying used gets kind of silly.

In the end I was able to get a brand new '07 w/ package 2 for ~$700 over invoice about two weeks ago. That deal was possible because there were 25 Prius sitting on the lot that day and they wanted this one gone. The only caveat is that there was only 1 in Touring trim, and getting any kind of deal on it would have been impossible. I find the stock suspension to be adequate but it's far from 'sporty' And if I want nav I would rather buy a Garmin or TomTom for under $1000 than pay an extra $4000 for a package with Toyota's system. My brother just got a Garmin Nuvi that does everything, including link to his bluetooth cell phone.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kurtiosity @ Dec 25 2006, 01:23 AM) [snapback]366479[/snapback]</div>

Kurtiosity, don't worry about mileage with the AC on. I'm not a mileage expert and I typically get in the low 50s in the summer when it's between 90 and 100 degrees outside and I have my AC set to 78 degrees. This drops to a bit less than 50 on the freeway at 65 or 70 MPH. The worst mileage is in the winter (it has been cold in Eastern Oregon this month and mine is in the middle to low 40s) but there are ways to improve it discussed at length on this site. I can't even imagine getting mileage in the low 30s, I don't think I could do that bad if I tried.

Please be careful of dealers and salesmen when you buy your car. Don't let them sell you a bunch of junk you don't need, such as a maintenance plan. If you decide you want an extended warranty don't buy it from the dealer. You can get the Toyota extended warranty on this site for less than any dealer will sell it for. But you have 3 years to decide it you want it at all or not.

BTW there is a Prius Meetup group in Portland: http://prius.meetup.com/136/?gj=sj2 I show up there once in a while. If you can attend a meeting or two you may get some good Prius information.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kurtiosity @ Dec 25 2006, 03:11 AM) [snapback]366472[/snapback]</div>

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating Christmas!

I am not sure of the accessories that come with the 07 model. I got a package 4, 06. I felt the VSC was very important for handling in emergency situtations. I liked the backup camera, esp since my children and their friends can occasionally leave small bicycles, skate boards and the like behing the cars in the garage. The backup camera has saved a few toys and small people as well. For me the standard audio system was fine. I didn't need the bluetooth technology as I already have a bluetooth ear piece that works just fine with my Treo 650 PDA. For the traveling I do I didn't want a nav system. I went with the cloth seats, but upgraded to very sharp looking Wet Okole seat covers. They are less expensive than leather but I really like the feel that they give. Go to wetokole.com for info. The other add ons that I purchased after market are seen in my signature. I am happy with all of them, but these don't really come into play until AFTER you purchase your vehicle. I love mine and would highly rx the vehicle. Good luck and happy shopping.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kurtiosity @ Dec 25 2006, 03:11 AM) [snapback]366472[/snapback]</div>

Greetings!!!
I have a 2005 Prius, and I notice a decrease in m.p.g. of 2-3 with the A/C on. The lowest average mileage I've ever seen was 42 m.p.g. traveling at 80 m.p.h. with the A/C on, and a head-wind! The average is 45 m.p.g or better, and the best was 66.9 going 35 m.ph. along the beach, and A/C off. I took a pic. of the screen and sent it to some friends who couldn't believe it.
Good luck on shopping, and check all of the Dealers, here in Florida, they were selling for Thousand's over M.S.R.P., and I found a dealer who sold them for M.S.R.P., no mark-up. one dealer was charging $6000 for mud flaps, back-up sensors, and pinstripes!!! Talk about highway robbery!!!

Good luck.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Dec 25 2006, 09:44 AM) [snapback]366514[/snapback]</div>

Try 30 degrees below zero, a daily ten-minute commute, and a 5-minute warm-up to get some heat into the cabin before driving so your feet and hands don't get frost-bitten. 30 mpg is very realistic.

Even then, a longer commute will start getting better mileage. Temperatures above zero F. will make a big improvement also. Since moving to Spokane, those numbers are a thing of the past.

 

Rent one for a couple of days, if possible. A test drive is a must, but you also want to see how you feel after a long drive. Many people have problems with the seats. There are corrections, but it's good to know right away.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Dec 25 2006, 08:08 PM) [snapback]366569[/snapback]</div>

At least they're better than the HCH. No matter what I tried, the headrests in the Honda insisted in jutting my head forward, straining my neck on just a 5-min. test drive. It was definitely a deal-breaker. It seems like headrests these days have gotten much more agressive and are designed for people who like to lean the seat back and/or slouch forward. I prefer a more upright seating position which is probably my problem.

 

Go to www.carbuyingtips.com for a lot of useful general car buying information. Don't buy the accessories with the car as the Parts Dept. will give you a 15% discount after the sale. The plastic guard that fits over the top of the rear bumper looks useful. I've had my 2006 for 6 months and have been happy.

Good luck & enjoy.