How high is unknown, but Toyota has stated that it will be larger, faster/more powerful, and have higher FE.
That's a question only you can answer. If you need/want a new vehicle now, and can find one, buy a '09. If you want the latest and greatest and can wait a year (or slightly more) for the first '10's to come out, then wait. Mike
I kind of debated the same thing, but the first of anything isn't as good as the last...the current gen prius is time tested and comes from Japan so I'd put money on it's reliability over a completely redesigned Prius made in the USA. Just my $0.02
Well I disagree with the whole wait thing, USA made, etc. I will likely buy the gen. III as soon as I find a good deal on one. As I refused to do on my '05, bought 1/05, I will not pay above MSRP. I think the Gen. III will be as good as the Gen. II if not better.
Just blows my mind that 08 doesn't have a stupid mechanical seat height adjuster. I can walk around a Toyota showroom, and every other blasted car has the simple mechanical handle to raise or lower the darn seat height or they have a power seat. Dumbutt oversight on Toyota's part. And forget the 'it would raise the price' bit. That mechanical handle couldn't cost squat.
Yeah. A salesman at Sunnyvale Toyota named John Gallo was seriously claiming the 2010 Prius will get the 1.8 L motor like the Corolla. That'll raise the price a good bit.
Announcement today is the US plant for the Prius will not come on line until 2011, so the 2010 will be made in Japan. No worries anyway. Corollas, Camry hybrids, apparently most Toyotas are made outside of Japan.
Getting a 2006 in 2006, I was a bit of an early adopter. Didn't even get the Gov't grants (2k$ Federal and Quebec gives 2k$ sales tax rebate). I rented four years...so it's either I buy my 2006 for 1/4 the original price - which I think is a great deal - or trade it in, getting lots of $$$ back and getting the 2010 model. I have until August 2010 to decide, by then it will be well reported.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. I do have this feeling that Japanese-made products are more reliable than, for example, products from China or the United States. Most appliances I have at home made from Japan are quite reliable, unlike ones made from elsewhere, which break down over the years. I read somewhere that the 2010 Prius being sold for the first year will be made in Japan and then after that, it will also be built in the US for the next year. Can someone confirm this? I am also, like many, waiting for the next generation Prius and will probably purchase when it is introduced. But, then again, I am always skeptical of buying a newly introduced product. We bought our Honda Odyssey when it was just redesigned (2005), and although an overall great car, there have been many rattles, etc. I doubt that this is because it is made in the US... but it could be. I'm not certain, but I remember seeing that after they introduced the Odyssey in the first year, they bumped down the horsepower for the following year. I'm not sure. But I guess that would be a benefit of buying a new refreshed model.
Getting back to the MPG question, Edmunds reports that the box specs on the Mark III will be over 50 MPG AND 160 HP under the hood. Imagine the 2010 Toyota Prius - Inside Line
I agree fully with the Made in Japan vs USA. I owned a body shop that did the local toyota dealers work. I remember the first us built toyota i ever saw in my lot. At 75 feet away the fit and finish caught my eye. I thought the car had fallen off the truck or train and some back yard shop had fixed it ,and I was to correct the aliments and give it a respray. I walked up to the car with the sales man, he showed me a small scratch that needed repair, and when I asked about the condition of the rest of the car he stated this Corolla FX was US made. I had the same reaction when i saw the first USA made Camary. I got burnt personally 5 years ago when we order a new CR_V. They were always shipped from Japan to all of the usa. My car was in the first shippment from the U, K. that now supplies the eastern usa. What a piece of crap. I wasn't going to except delivery, but it was for my wife and she said it would be OK with her.
