Do I love my Prius, or do I hate it?

What perplexes me is that people like the OP can be fussed about "handling" when their commute is on a freeway. How much "handling" is involved in driving in the HOV lane, or for that matter on the main roadway?? Maybe they're lanehoppers and want "handling" to cut in and out?

Having done lots of as-fast-as-I-can-go runs on Highway 1, Angeles Crest and Forest Highway, canyon roads around LA, etc in various sports cars in my foolish youth, I can certainly appreciate how handling could be useful on roads like those, but for a daily plod on the freeway???

I'd rather have a mpg car for commuting and something sporty for other use. Or a motorcycle. Oh wait, that's too dangerous. But driving so fast that "handling" is essential is safe?

 

a 3 series starts well in the mid $30's....a 335xi could run into the $40's.....not impressive but we're not talking civic or even accord pricing here....

 

Yes, but they lose value fast. You would be better off just burning $20 bills everytime you get in the Prius vs. buying one of them. So what happens is people buy one for $30k/$40k and in a couple years they are worthless so the others snap them up for pennies and makes it look like they have money.

You can buy a used 2008 3 series for $15K to $18K right now. That's the same as what 2006 Prii are going for in some places.

 

Yup! Exactly. Check your classified ads.

 

the bimmers lose value because NO ONE wants to maintain them PROPERLY! An oil change in a bimmer is like 10-15 quarts (bimmer engines drown themselves in oil)....tires are usually staggered (esp on sport models)- those get expensive quick....and forget about the sensor issues

So buying any expensive luxury car is going to involve spending a boatload on bs when you get it (because the previous owner probably didn't do a damn thing to the car)...A $15k bmw is going to need at least $5k of service (done properly)

A prius wouldn't need a thing plus because gas prices are still over $4/gallon, the prius is still going to hold a ton of value

Say what you want, there is still status in a bimmer 3 series....Tell me an 04 M3 with 19's doesn't make you wanna drool?

 

There is no status in BMW's over 1-2 years old. And no a crappy 04 bimmer is not drool worthy. Whenever I see one, I think "what I chav".

If you want a luxury car, then buy a luxury car. If you want a classy car, then buy a classy car. If you buy a new BWM, you get both. If you buy one more than 1-2 years out, you only get a "look-a-like" that people can easily see around the deception.

We had a GS450h which is luxury and classy car. We sold it a couple years later because we wanted something newer for about $8k less than we paid which on a $60k car, is not a bad deal. You buy a $40k BMW and sell it for $20K if you are lucky in that amount of time. Only financial fools buy a 7 series.

The Lexus is easier to maintain, rides and performs just as well, and holds it value. All the creature comforts of an easy car with the added bonus of being plush.

To give you an example, my second car at age 17 was a BMW 525xi. No I wasn't rolling in the dough, but it was cheap as dirt by the time I bought it. When I was done with it, it was junked for $125. woohoo...

Having said all that, if you are a car person, buying cars is not always (or usually) a financially sound deal. Worst investment you can make usually. But when you are trying to show status, a car that can be had under $20K just doesn't do it. And that includes all BMWs over a couple years old.If you have money and want to flaunt it, you know how to and you don't do it with a bimmer.

 

I'm trying very hard to understand your post....I am not sure how old you are currently but u said when you were 17 u had a 525xi that was junked for $125.

Last time I checked, (I am a bmw guy even though I don't "own" one, but I do have a few as company cars) a 525xi (all wheel drive model) only came out in 2006. A 2006 BMW 525xi with over 200k (which it would have to have if it was "junked") would still command way over $8k in value (probably more but we'll leave it at that)

you also go on to comment about the lexus GS450h, again which you make it sound like is a 10 yr old model when in reality those only came out in 2008.

And now, you own a used prius..yet you think 04 M3's are a dime a dozen.....Hey Pot, meet Kettle!

 

Fat finger typo. It was a "325ix" actually. Little red coupe with no windshield washer reservoir...

Currently 23 years young.

Yes they came out in 08, and we bought one. We traded it in end of last year for a RX450h.

They are... But I don't drive the Prius for status. If I want status I will drive one of the Lexi or my DMC. If I want fuel economy I will drive the Prius, the hybrid civic, or the normal manual tranny civic. If I want to be laughed at I will drive the beatup Rav4 missing trim panels and such

 

^oo young guy like me. I thought you were old for some reason. HI!

 

OP: you sound like I did. Well I'm probably younger than you are, not really in the working world yet. I am also in california, SD to be exact. anyhow, I had an 04 prius which, like you said, was for the most part mechanically sound (except once it hit 100k+ realized there were some things needing to be replaced).

It was time to go after that, the prius served its purpose. I wanted something sportier, faster, better handling, with good MPG at the same time. I had always had a thing for MINIs, and not really anything else, so that was it for me.

After 2 years and 10 months of ownership I became tired of the car, and the carpool stickers (at the time) were soon to expire. Ditched the prius and got a 2006 MINI Cooper S, wow....finally a car I look forward to getting into. Enough said. Also have gotten 37 MPG highway from orange county to san diego going ~65. Amazing car, 9 months later still loving it and the addicting whine the supercharger throws out.

We still have an 04 prius and use it on longer rides. One downside of the MINI is that it is not too comfortable on long road trips

My opinion: get the car you want. ***cough 335i cough*** that is my post-college dream car. You tried the prius, seem like you are 'eh' about it.

EDIT: actually read a few pages back and saw you are getting the BMW. >>> congrats