Primary reason for buying a Prius

I voted Technology. I'm in love with the stuff. I rented a 2005 just for fun, not knowing that my mode of transportation was about to change. I was stunned by the amount of technology in the car. I did not know it was a technology showcase for Toyota, but I soon found out. I really loved the way the gas engine was assisted by the electric motor. Ingenius. Driving on electricity only, wow! The engine shuts down when stopped at the traffic light - brilliant! Navigation System, Keyless Entry, and Xenon headlights! I love this car! I have an electromagnetic attraction to the car!! :lol:

Technology is the enabler for the superior environmentally-friendly aspects of the car. Without the technology this car wouldn't be as green as it is. I salute the concept to create a low-emissions vehicle that gets oustanding gas mileage, and I salute the decision to develop advanced technology to enable it. I just love how this car achieves its stated goals. This is such a cool car.

So the technology solidified the deal for me, and I ordered a 2006 to replace my 18 MPG SUV. But now that I think about it, the environment and economy were already at the top of my list, perhaps subconciously. Let's see, I already have a battery-powered lawn mower, leaf blower, and weed trimmer. I use rechargable batteries in all of my consumer electronics devices. I recycle waste products. I want to power my house with solar panels and a wind-driven generator some day. So the Prius is a natural fit for me, a technology-loving eco-geek. I'm a down-to-earth kind of person who cares about our blue sphere and loves how technology enables us to care for it even more.

 

My favorite lapel pin was: "BE REALISTIC. DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE." I quit wearing lapel pins, though, because eventually they leave big holes in all my shirts. Call me quixotic, but I'll always demand the impossible. It's the only thing worth striving for.

 

I have to go with the technology and gizmos which make the Prius a fun car to drive. However, my wife is the primary driver and she is all about the fuel economy, reliability, and incentives.....one for the geeks and one for the green (money that is)

 

aiming high is the only way to live life. the Prius makes me realize that i was previously aiming way too low. we have the technology to do it. what we lack is the political know-how and the proper financial incentives needed for big business to get on board.

its pretty obvious that even the oil companies know that alternative fuels must be investigated and they have slowly bought many alternative energy operations in part to be in position to reap the profits when they finally become mainstream but mostly to insure that they dont go mainstream before the oil cow is depleted.

 

I agree 100%

 

With my engineer's hat on, it was respect for the design of the HSD. With my practical hat on, it's the fact it was automatic - the only other hybrid alternatives available (the Civic and the Insight) were only available with manual transmissions.

 

1. doing my part to reduce the dependancy on foreign oil
2. clean air

 

My one and only reason (just ordered 06 Barcelona Red, with #8) - driving solo in the carpool lane

 

You really should have combined choices #1 and #2.

 

If that is your only reason, you may be setting yourself up for a huge disappointment.

 

SPOT ON!!! I could not have said it better myself! And on top of the THS/HSD, there are all the nice gizmos that comes with the Prius - that makes the ICEing of the cake!

 

Why is that? I am aware that the carpool privilege might not be renewed after 2007, but it will make my life so much easier for about 2 years...

 

While designing the car to be on the cutting edge of technology, eco friendliness and fuel efficiency, Toyota made a lot of compromises in other areas, such as road manners, sound insulation and seating comfort.

Depending on what you are used to driving, you may be disappointed.

The true believers amongst us find that the environmental friendliness, elegant engineering and sophisticated gadgetry make up for the shortcomings. I am not sure that access to the HOV lanes in and by itself (here they often get congested almost as often the the rest of the freeway lanes), is sufficient to overcome the inadequacies.

 

Well, to be honest, I am a little worried about everything you mentioned (and some things you didn't), but being a gadget geek(ess) I am hoping to enjoy the gadgets and the carpool drive enough to be happy with the car.

I had an Infinity I40 which was beautiful, prestigious and very quiet but a little staid for my taste. Then I bought the non-prestigious Huyndai Santa Fe SUV with all the toys available at the time (about 4 y. ago) and I absolutely LOVE it, a couple of drawbacks being the relatively high gas use and a noisier ride.

Where I drive, a solo HOV ride will make a significant difference in my life.
Besides, I am keeping my Santa Fe for now, just in case.

 

I thought the HCH was always available with a CVT. I know it was, at least at one time. One of the reasons I rejected the HCH was that CVT. I loved my old Civic, and Honda has much better customer relations than Toyota, and the Toyota dealer in Fargo has a less than stellar reputation. I wanted to stay with Honda. But that CVT in the HCH impressed me as a singularly bad design, while the Prius has no transmission at all. (The PSD may be called a CVT by some, but I assert that it is too radically different to be called that. And it is elegant and inherently reliable.)

As a company I like Honda much better than Toyota. But it was Toyota that decided to design a whole new car from the ground up to take maximum advantage of both public and proprietary technology, while Honda just slapped a makeshift electric assist onto an existing car. And it was by doing this that Toyota achieved all the things we are talking about here as reasons for buying it.

 

I'm not a greenie or a geek or a true cheapie. Bought the car because I thought it was a hoot!! :lol: Love the nav system and the hatchback, love the stealth mode, love Toyota products, thought the gas and more importantly the gas tax savings were a real plus. I like driving again thanks to Pria.

 

Environment - I want to model what I teach. PZEV and good fuel economy are the definite reason.

I would prefer a plug-in PHEV, but settled for the Prius in the interim. Our 1991 4 Runner was doing well, but only earning 23 mpg at best. I tried to purchase a RAV4 EV, but Toyota canceled the program in midstream citing "lack of demand." I'm looking forward to purchasing a Prius or Highlander EV!

 

My vote went to environment because we were ONLY looking at the '06 Prius or '06 HCH as a replacement vehicle for my '95 Corolla.

The Prius won over HCH for two reasons, though: 1) Utility and 2) Technology.

 

The functionality is great but the bottom line is that now I am part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.
Go Irish!