Oh my Gawd! That may very well be the best magazine cover ever dreamed up. I've long loved it - as much as I love my dogs...
Don't listen to me. Sell whatever you have and buy the 2010. It is a great car and I love it (so you should, too). Don't listen to me. I sold my beautiful, perfectly good 2007 Prius (only 30K miles) and bought a 2010. I really had a hard time letting go of the 2007 -- I absolutely loved that car. Don't listen to me. I wouldn't go back to the 2007 now. It was a truly great car, but the 2010 fits my usage even better. I already have 5,500 miles on the car (less than 10 weeks of ownership), and I use the ATP regularly. The new car is safer, larger, quieter, more stable on the highway AND it looks even better than the 2007. The ONLY problem is that it didn't come in green. Don't listen to me. Sure, I had depreciation on the 2007, but I was able to participate in the Prius Preferred Program, and I just couldn't say NO! Don't listen to me. Listen: This is a great car. Even with the 17" wheels I'm getting 57MPG (only a little over 54 according to the purchase calculation, though). What a car! Don't listen to me. And don't listen to yourself either. If you have to spend so much time rationalizing the purchase that you are racked with fear or guilt, then just be happy for all of us who (rightly or wrongly) purchased such a great car. If you can afford it without causing damage to those around you (particularly any folks you are responsible to/for), then keep considering the purchase. Ahh . . . but don't listen to me!
KK6PD, the poster's brilliant. a priori, thank you for making me feel like I'm not a complete lunatic for considering this. Or maybe I am, but at least I'm not the only one.
Keep an open mind and always consider the options no matter how crazy they may seem. What really counts is your analysis of the situation, and your final decision... I don't have new 2010 Prius yet either. My wife thinks that I have the world's worst case of Prius Envy. Emotionally, I want it! From a cold blooded logical perspective (and financial perspective), my instinct tells me to wait a while. Hang in there.... Keith
What a co-incidence! I just traded in my silver 04 CR-V (which I also loved!!) for a winter gray 2010 Prius with NAV. :car: Regrets? Absolutely none.
I had (OK still do, but am trying to sell) a 2002 CRV. After seeing how much can fit in the back of the Prius, I had no problem deciding that more than doubling my MPG was worth the minimal (in my opinion) sacrifice of cargo space.
I'm in the same boat. My parents drive matching Priuses, and I've envied their mpg and gadgets for years. I've decided to give it another year. At least, that's my position at the moment. The dealer called and said they're getting the exact car I want in a couple of weeks. I told him I wanted to wait, but I have no doubt he'll call me anyway if it isn't snapped up right away. We'll see how strong my resolve is then. My father just told me he hauled a recliner home in his Prius. That's enough to satisfy me. I can't imagine I'll need to haul anything bigger than a recliner any time soon.
I bought a Prius via the Clunkers program and sold privately my 2003 VW Jetta TDI. So far it is a nice car, but I have to admit the Jetta was more fun to drive and it got gas mileage almost equal to the Prius without any sluggishness off the line or up mountain roads. You might be better off waiting until the next series of cars come out in 2011-2012 which should include many more options for electric and hybrid vehicles, possibly some serious diesel cars as well. Absent the Clunker deal for a vehicle that was pretty much worthless, I'd still be waiting for that generation of cars to come as well and enjoying my Jetta still. Oh, and I have owned a CRV also. They are very nice vehicles. I would put it between the Jetta and Prius as fun to drive.
OK, you've convinced me. You want it, so buy it. You don't have to justify this economically unless money is a real issue. It's not always about making sense. Some one can use a good used Honda and you can enjoy a new Toyota.
