Is anyone sorry they bought a Prius?

You can't expect to post like this and be exclusively stroked. So, here's our status. I'm hubby, she's wife. We added ourselves to the wait list for the new Jetta TDI wagen last night and I'm currently preparing to pull the plug on Prius deposits. Its her car. Her thoughts have some echo:

-seat height too low/not adjustable. I think part of this is a gut reaction to a front end you can't see.
-A-pillar (either side of windshield) blind spot larger than normal.
-I was excited someone cancelled on a Spectra Blue that could have been ours, she saw it and, I quote, "crayola" came out of her mouth.
-We have two 4 year olds and hatch space, with them in the car most of the time, can make even a trip to Costco a threat. A hitch or roof mount for trips would have been mandatory and I'm not big on screwing runners through sheet metal.

All the above are taken care of with the Jetta, whose mixed use driving should give up ~10mpgs to the Prius. That's about $2-3k in fuel over 4 years. Bearable, we felt, for the things we pick up. The Prius is the cats meow of technology (Seeing the battery recharge with engine braking was a hoot). I found the car comfortable and nimble. Toyota colors could be "earthed" down some more. Both can be an out of warranttee horror show, for those sticking with their dealer. The Toyota's gargantuan bills (MFD, Traction battery, now brake actuators?) being offset by its better overall reliability. The choice feels like its been a good balance of pragmatic and subjective input. I'm sure a good number in this thread won't be hauling kids around, so maybe you understand.

 

I admit there are times when even just a touch more space would come in handy... I'm sure you'll get a bit more with the Jetta (though I doubt much more). However... for me it's not even about other cars that good good mileage (though none as good as the Prius)... for me it's the fact that there are so many times while driving the Prius that you aren't using the ICE at all.... count the emissions.. ZERO. Closest thing we have to an affordable mass produced electric car.

Now.. having said that.. the moment a good looking, well optioned electric car is available with even an acceptable range for around 25k... I'm all over it! In the meantime, do I regret buying a Prius?? ABSOLUTELY NOT... do I regret letting the DH drive it.. you betcha!!! He never squeezes as many mpg's out of it as I do...

 

I've had my vehicle since last October and purchased it (08 pkg6) after renting a pkg 2 for the weekend so I thought that I knew what to expect. Everything thing was fine untill I took a 300 mi trip in one day in Fl. during the summer. I am 6' 1" and 200lbs and after 3 hrs in the car it is uncomfortable as hell. Any suggestions on some good back support. Also drive it on a hot day and either the AC cannot keep up or it is so noisy (AC fan) that it drives you mad. I've never had either of these problems with my 06 Sienna or any other car that I've owned. For trips less than 2hrs which is most of my driving its a great car for longer trips I'll use another vehicle.

 

To the OP - the Prius, so far, has been my Best. Decision. Ever. When DH and I indulge our fantasy of winning a huge lottery jackpot, he always says the very first thing he's gonna do is buy a new red Prius for himself.

Now, for the back support. I have always needed extra lumbar support since I severely damaged my back years ago. Last year, I found a back support cushion that has a dial on the side to adjust the amount of support needed (the amount of lumbar bulge on the cushion). I love the thing. I think we got it at Brookstone or Sharper Image.

 

Yes I am....
I thought when I purchased my Prius that the car could go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, it had a wet bar, sun roof, real corinthian leather, electric seats that massage my back when I drive, foot massagers for each pedal, pilot seats like the Starship Enterprise, a video monitor in the steering wheel, video games that illuminated in the windshield when I got bored driving 120 MPH swerving in and out of lanes....oh I could go on...yes I am sorry I bought my futurastic car....that gets almost 50 + MPG's in the middle of a gas crisis, ecology meltdown...oh yes....NOT!!!!

 

If I knew someone who wants my Intrigue and I can get a fair price I'd sell. If I lost my Prius today I'd start shopping for another tomorrow. Granted, some owners have experienced some problems. Nothing is perfect. I believe, overall, we are pickier because there is less to complain about.

Buy a GPS unit, a Scangauge II, and VentureShield or 3M film asap to maximize happiness.

 

So who got the new one?

I am guessing the her Prius is black?

hehe

 

We now have two Prii. I am only sorry we didnt do it in 05 or sooner. I wasted a lot of money and gas on that SUV and the wife's jeep. 14mpg at best vs 57.something is a o brainer!

Also the car is coolness in-car-nate!

 

The seats are a bit uncomfortable, does have a strange futuristic look, could be a night-mare when warranty (extended) and a few of the istruments could have been built into the dash!

Wife wouldn't have it last year! What do I know, I am male! Well guess who found the one we drive now? And she had a problem with identity theft when it came to giving up her van! (which now sits in the garage)

Would trade it for a new Prius if it wouldn't be an up side down deal, now that 20 - 25mpg is gas guzzler! Love that 99.9mpg for first 11 miles in town yesterday when I went to the VA!!!!!

 

Hi - I got my Prius April 2006, it has just turned in 54,000 miles and not a single thing has gone wrong. Only the front tyres replaced @ 35,000 miles and the wiper blades.
In real life, this is used as an everday car it gets 55.8 Miles per Imperial Gallon (46.5 Miles per US Gallon).
Am I please with it - you bet - no regrets.

 

I have no regrets at all. It's a fun car to drive, and very easy on your pocket book when you stop to add fuel. I've had mine just 5 weeks and am totally pleased!

 

Nope, no regrets. It's fun to drive; which is good because generally I'm the one driving due to the cost of gas.

 

I am despising the fact that I bought our 2002 Prius recently. What a bad decision that was. I regret doing it, and I hope never to do it again.

Next time, I will buy TWO Prius'. The darn things have gone up so much in price since I bought the first one, I can't afford to get a second one now!

 

I do wish I had a newer Prius. Mine's a '05 and our finances don't really allow us to buy a new one.

No regrets at all.

 

Well, I'M sorry for the -poor- oil companies! I cut my fuel use to 1/3 what it was, and the vehicle I had was "fuel efficient" for its' type.

The poor rip-off artists!

 

you probably already have your answer, but the ultimate question is

if you had the choice to go back and purchase any other car you wanted? what would you buy?

well, i bought my 2004. it was totaled. they paid me more than what i paid for it (paid cash so had no loans to pay off)...i did have on regret though...

2004 was pkg 1. decided had to have smart key... so took money insurance company paid me, added $1100 to it and bought a 2006 pkg 6...

there was never any other car in contention, and if i had to do it again today, there is still no other car in consideration. now next year when the spate of plug ins, EV's etc. are expected to be available, the Prius wont be top of the list as "2nd" car... however, nothing announced so far will take over as first choice for primary car

 

I just traded it in after 2 months. The car just wasn't stable enough. When I went from the Prius to a test drive of a VW GTI it was like stepping into another world. It'll cost me about $75 a month more in gas but I got a great dela on the VW, $60 a month less than the Prius, and the difference is amazing. Plus I get a sun roof and great seats.

I'll consider a Prius or other hybrid in a few years when the technology improves.

 

There will always be nay-sayers. But not too many.
I'm sure I will have problems or things I wish were different, but that happens with every vehicle I've owned (and I've owned more than a few). I haven't found any yet (6 weeks going on 7!). Pretty much the right balance. And it's great to know that it's great with gas at $3.75 a gallon (and people believe that a bargain!), but it won't be too bad at $5 or even $7. Gas rationing (it almost happened when I was 18)? I can manage quite nicely on 10 gallons a week even if I live 16 miles from work (without any mass transit available).
It's not a sports car. It's like my Blazer's visor message says- it doesn't go around corners like a sports car, but it can go places a sports car can't. With the Prius at least you can afford to go driving for fun.

 

I live 21 miles from work but there are 4 other people very close by that I could car pool with if there were rationing but there won't be, Carter is long gone.

 

I bought mine last April and love it.
At 61 years of age I have owned MANY cars.

Can you tell me what you find that isn't "stable"?

I for one am glad we all do not have the same taste,if you like the VW than you did the correct thing,congrats.