My Prius Exit Interview

I have been a member of this forum for over 3 years. I started out with a 2006 Series 8 with nav. (Yes, in 2006 there was a series 8). I kept it until July 2009. I traded it for a 2010 V AT. I have had that car for 1 1/4 years. During those years I have discussed some issues that ranged from unintended acceleration (my 2006) to simple technical questions. Some of the responses I got were reasoned, civil, and helpful. A few so-called oldtimers have their technology wrong and proclaim their errors to the world (specifically 64k colors believing that the brake issue with the 2010 is the 300ms lag between regen and friction. For the record, that's wrong. Ask Toyota).

On Saturday (Sept 5) I made a momentous move. I traded my Gen III for a 2010 370Z. That move makes my participation here moot. However, because so many people here have been kind and helpful to me, I decided to do an "exit interview" to explain my decision and to give you my view of the Gen III I have had for over a year.

Why did you decide to trade? It had to be expensive for you.

It was a very difficult decision. Over the last year I noticed that when my wife and I traveled together I wanted her to do the driving. We took her truck (2009 Tacoma) rather than me take her in the Prius. This is a radical change in my behavior. Over the years I always elected to use my car for joint travel of any kind.

This summer I realized that I have gradually lost the fun of driving. Taking my Prius was transportation. No joy behind the wheel for me. I never worried much about mileage. I got a consistent 40 - 45 mpg depending on time of year. That was fine with me. It was fun to spend under $20 for two weeks of driving. But it wasn't fun for me to drive.

I have mostly owned sports cars. I have had a Porsche C, a Triumph Spitfire, a 240Z and a MR2. I loved driving those cars. Before the first Prius, I had been driving a Camry XLE. The Camry didn't offer great road feel either. I bought the first Prius because I am a technology early adopter and fell in love with the amazing hybrid technology. I bought the second because I felt I needed to change for safety.

Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with how it feels to drive a Prius. It responds fairly well to driver actions. It's safe. It is moderately speedy. It performs like a well-bred family car.

So here I am getting older and more in touch with the idea that I will *have* to drive something like a Prius in not-too-many years. And I finally became conscious that driving had lost its zing for me.

I decided I want the fun of driving back. So, I took the plunge to a 20mpg sports car. I got it Saturday and have been loving driving again.

What did you like best about your Gen III AT

Oddly, I loved the adaptive cruise control. I also think that stability control aside, the car has great handling for a sedan. Controls are located intuitively and there is a very short learning curve to drive the car. The gas mileage was as advertised. The car never needed any kind of repair, and neither car showed any noticeable tire wear after three years for the '06 and one year for the '10.

Leg room front and back is fine. The back deck holds a lot of stuff. When the rear seats are folded down, there is as much cargo space as I ever needed. In the Gen III the hybrid system was flawless. It felt like I was driving a conventional sedan automatic transmission car. That is amazing considering that the Prius has computer controls and a hybrid system. It was a fine car to own and I would freely recommend it to anyone.

What didn't you like about the Prius?

There is little-to-no road "feel". Steering is loose and offers no feedback from the road. The turning radius was very good. I just couldn't feel the road the way I like. The acceleration is not very good (0 to 60 in around 11 seconds). It's fine around town, but passing on a two-lane road is a bit scary.

The biggest flaw with my Gen III AT was the cabin tech. For the world's most advanced car, the cabin technology was way behind. The navigation is no better than my 2004 Camry's. The DVD-based system didn't allow the nav to "learn" from my driving. The Z's navigation is hard drive based and learns lots of things. The voice commands were pretty limited and the ability to understand them is fair-to-poor. By contrast, the Z has a "learn" mode where you and up to three others can repeat commands and the car will learn to understand how you say words. Now that is twenty-first century!

The Prius seats (even in leather) don't really hug your body. Toyota could do a lot of work improving the bucket seat contours. By contrast, sitting in the Z feels like you are in the hand of a glove. I am not a small guy (6' 2", 280 lbs) and I fit easily into the Z cockpit.

Now that you made the change, was it a good decisions?

That's a hard question. I am sure I am going to miss the great gas mileage of my Prius. But now I want to drive. I can't wait to get into the car and go. It isn't just because it is new (well, partly it's because it is new), but mostly it is because I feel that I am driving this car.

It's silly to compare the speed and handling of a 370Z with a Prius. That's just unfair to the Prius. The Z owns the road. The Prius takes you for a ride. So, after only two days, I don't regret the change. Ask me again in a few months.

Any last words?

I loved owning a Prius. I love the technology and the incredible attention to engineering detail that Toyota put into it. I didn't love the fact that the Prius is engineered to be a tame, family sedan. That's not the car's fault. I didn't trade my Gen III in because it was a bad car that I regret buying. I made the change because I want one more chance to enjoy the pure joy of a sports car. If I could afford it, I would have kept the Prius and bought the Z too. There are going to be times that I will want my Prius back.

The best way I can put the difference between my Z and Prius is by anthropomorphizing the two cars. My Prius was more like my mom; it was sensible, didn't go too fast, made sure I was safe and the correct distance from other cars. My Z is like my girlfriend (I don't have one, I am happily married.). It wants to go fast, take chances, and is totally stylish inside and out.

It all comes down to personal choice. One car is not "better" than the other. Each has good points and flaws. I decided that I want to spend a few years in a cool sports car.

Who knows? I may be back in a plug-in Prius in two or three years. Until then, thanks for the great help Bob Wilson. Thank you to all the wonderful, friendly members here. I will stop by and see how badly I get flamed.

Bob

 

I meant that I wanted my wife to do the driving (with me in the car), not that we would take separate cars.

I will come back. I really enjoy this forum. I appreciate all the good wishes.

Thanks,
Bob