Look at a 2007 Touring

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 17 2007, 08:11 PM) [snapback]392209[/snapback]</div>

I would go for the Prius definately, I just don't know what to tell you about the 08 besides that I think its an 09 being released in 08. I would wait for the third gen prius if it was coming out this year, but I decided to get this 07 Touring then in 2 years when the New one comes out, 'add' it to my collection.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 17 2007, 10:11 PM) [snapback]392209[/snapback]</div>

Should you wait? It depends. How's the shape of your existing car, is it going to bug you being on the old style when a new one is out etc. etc. Right now there seems to be a good supply of inventory, so you might get a better deal on an '07 than you could on the new '08.

VSC is a system to help keep the car stable and on the road when something bad happens. It was one of the features I wanted in a car. Some more details:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/ar...92/article.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/electronic-stability-control

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 18 2007, 04:17 PM) [snapback]392489[/snapback]</div>

I got 45 MPG on my last tank. I calculated by miles driven divided by gas filled. It is not the most accurate way to measure as the bladder tank changes size according to the temp. But overall, my average dipped to 49.5 MPG.

Since we got snow last week, Prius was on with the defrosters going while removing snow for a couple minutes. On this tank, I also spent about 30 minutes watching a video (on Archos 604 wifi) with my gf in the car with heat while waiting for friends. I also went to New Jersey through Holland Tunnel and back with a horrible traffic jam. I made a video to document my first winter in Prius.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=80...24369&hl=en

Normally, I average 52 mpg in warm weather.

Dennis

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 18 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]392489[/snapback]</div>

Something to keep in mind. Prius' and ALL cars gets worse gas mileage during the winter. So this is the worst gas mileage that you will see for the year.

I'm sure the EPA doesn't do their mileage estimates during the winter.

 

One option you really ought to try to get, D1CK1E, is side curtain airbags. I don't know what comes with a package 2 on the 2007. All Prius have a super-strength steel safety cage around the passenger compartment. VSC will help keep you going in the direction you want to go. ABS will help you stop in the direction you want to stop. Side curtain airbags will keep you from punching out your side window with your skull if some fool T-bones you.

Toyota MUST advertise 60/55 mpg, it's the law. When the EPA changes how they measure fuel efficiency, Toyota, and all other car manufacturers, will have to advertise those numbers. 44-45 MPG is easy to attain, without much effort. Better than EPA is possible if you try (look for a thread called I Beat The EPA). The Prius has better fuel efficiency that most other cars, and lower emissions. If you look at the carrying capacity, it pretty much can't be beat. Unless it doesn't fit you.

 

Check around via the internet. If you are willing to travel a bit, you can get exactly what you want at a good price. You can get the MSRP and model availability off the Toyota web site. Look up different city zip codes and enter them to see what's available elsewhere. Use the "Price your Toyota" feature on the website to see the MSRP.

Note also, that you can get the "extended warranty" for much less than most dealers offer from a dealer who you can contact from this site.

 

The side-curtain airbags are standard on 2007's, so you don't need to worry about those. Also, if you purchase before March 31 you should still qualify for the $1575 tax credit that you can deduct from your 2007 taxes (unless you earn something >100k a year and have to pay Alternative Minimum Tax). After March 31 the tax credit drops to $787.

You ought to be able to get good financing offers, possibly from Toyota right now, as they've been offering incentives to increase sales.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 19 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]393024[/snapback]</div>

If you have a good dealer, such as Haley in Richmond, they can search for the Prius Touring equiped the way you want. They will transport it to the dealer. WE have two 2007 Tourings that were ordered in such a manner, both with Pkg.2. Unless you are a technophile or must have navigation system, Pkg.2 is all you need. BTW, make sure you see the new gun metal grey alloys on the Touring--sharp! B)

 

Car lot in Denver has:

24, brand new Prii on the lot of which 7 were Touring optioned cars. 1 red, 1, blue, 2 white, and the rest were black, gray, and silver.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 19 2007, 11:56 AM) [snapback]392803[/snapback]</div>

As far as Corolla vs. Prius....
I just traded in my 2005 Corolla CE Manual for a Prius Package 2 Yesterday.
I was considering getting a 2007 Corolla LE automatic with VSC, which runs about $4000 below Prius. Quite a big chunk of change, and the main way I was able to justify the price difference was the feel of the Prius (smoothness, shifting), gas mileage, and cargo capacity. Also, Corolla is having a new model come out this summer/fall, so I would definately wait for that to happen, but the price may be higher on the new model.
If you like stick shift, I would recommend the Corolla manual (I was getting 37 MPG overall).
Also, I researched on Consumer Reports (I have an online membership-definatley worth it for car research). It compares the 2006 Prius & Corolla LE automatic over a 5 year span.
Here's the break-down of what they said:
<div align="center">

• Prius(44mpg) / Corolla(29mpg) / Price Difference
• Purchase price $22,305 / $16,510 / +$5,795
• Sales tax 1,732 / 1,282 / +450
• Tax credit 1,575 / - / -1575
• Fuel cost (75k mi) 6,238 / 9,465 / -3,227
• Maintenance & repair 2,971 / 2,638 / +333
• (Financing 3,286 / 2,432 / +854)*
• (Calculated financing) 2,895 / 3,290 / -395)**
• Five-year depreciation 56.9% / 55.1% / -1.8%
  rate as a percent of
  purchase price
• Projected resale price 9,613 / 7,413 / -2,200
  (purchase price
  minus depreciation)
• Total (financing aside) -424***

</div>

Therefore, after 5 years the Prius ends up saving $424 when compared to the Corolla.
Keep in mind that after March 31 the $1575 Tax credit is going down to $787, and then after September it is going away all together.

*This is CR's data, but it is not current with today's Prius financing specials (4.9% for 60 months), or with the "Excellent" credit rating's APR of 7.4% for the Corolla.
**The Calculated Financing is based on above rates (as calculated on Toyota Financial's Payment Estimator). ***For the overall, I did not include the financing, because not everyone finances, and the discrepency in the calculations.

 

I just got an '07 Touring package #2 in November. It took me 3 months to track down touring package 2 as every dealer seemed to have higher packages for touring. I wanted pearl or black but got metallic silver and love it. It's great riding around DC area where there are a ton of prii and never seeing one with 16"s! Good luck.

 

Congratulations! you will love it. I was the first in my town to own a 07 quite by good fortune. A week before the full tax credit expired (9/30/06), my dealer called wanting to know if I wanted a Touring! Duh! I had a deposit on an 06 the right color and the right package I wanted since Aug 1. Don't even think twice about the Corolla, I had one new in '76 and loved it but despite the advances it is still old school automotive.

Lee