Prius versus Porsche

The Gen 1 Prius, remember, was quite a different car.

It doesn't look sporty, it's a bit bigger, and it performs more like a typical sedan.

The newer Priuses seem to be going after the younger/hipper crowd, with the sedans moving over to the Camry and Lexus brands.

I'd like to see a comparison between your Porsche and the classic Prius. My parents had a Cadillac in the mid-80's, and it is no exaggeration at all when I say that the classic Prius drives exactly as that car did, and is just as comfortable.

 

From a Prius shill with Porsche envy.

 

I had an older Porsche 911 a few cars prior to my black 2005 Prius. No comparison in "feeling". I love my Prius. The look of my 911 was classic but I definitely feel better about my Prius. Besides carrying about how people will live in today and tomorrow's environment, I'm a gadget guy...and my Prius definitely keeps me entertained!

 

I owned a Audi A8 before my Prius. If you haven't seen one, the A8 is Audi's "flagship" sedan -- it cost nearly $80,000 when new in 2000. It is an all-aluminum sedan with a 40-valve V8 engine and all-wheel drive. The Audi is a fine driving car, better than the Prius in many ways. Yet I feel my Prius is more advanced technologically and is more "fun" to drive. It appeals to my inner engineer.

I still have my Audi, and I feel sad that it spends so much time in the garage new. I should find it a new home with someone who can appreciate it, because I don't see driving it much in the future.

I guess I could be called a Prius "shill" but not an A8-wannabe, since I still own both.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Apr 8 2006, 12:46 PM) [snapback]236825[/snapback]</div>

My wife loves her 350Z, but it gets crap mpg(19-25 with premium). Her commute one way is 25miles. She also loves the environment so she's been really guilt ridden the last 3 years due to all the excess carbon emisions. Our solution was to get a prius for the weekdays and keep the Z for the weekends.

 

What a cool testimonial to the Prius. I couldn't agree more. I love my Prius. As much as I think that a Porsche would be fun to drive on occassion, I enjoy driving my Prius everyday.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brasche @ Apr 8 2006, 09:49 AM) [snapback]236791[/snapback]</div>

 

Having a Prius for daily commuting (which is nearly 95% of my driving) is great, but I still want a Boxster for that other 5%. There's nothing like wringing out a flat-6 right behind your head.

 

Comparison? There is no comparison. They are two differenty cars, built by two diffferent manufacturers, in two different countries, for two different purposes. I've owed a 2005 package 4 Prius for one year, and a 1991 911 C2 targa for 10 years. The Prius is a great--perhaps the greatest--general purpose car yet. The 911 is a great--perhaps the greatest--purpose built car yet. I would not exchange the daily driving experience of my Prius for any other car on the market today. Similarly, I would not exchange the top off cruising and occassional track day with my Porsche for any other car, period. And when I'm driving my second (or third, etc.) new Prius, I'll probably still be cruising my old Porsche.

 

Prius vs Porsche?? Holy cow, we have to make such a decision?? I say, why not have both :lol:

I would never give-up my Aprilia RSV Mille, even though it only gets 40mpg and hurts my backside after 6 hours of corner straffing. Or my S2000, which is noisy and is giving me skin cancer (top down) and only gets 26-45mpg (depending on how it is driven).

The Prius is my status car!! I drive it with my nose w-a-y up in the air, especially when I see a POS GM SUV coming down the road. It's my going-out-to-a-nice-dinner car. NeeNer Neener Neener!!

Hey, this is my Rolls Royce!! Technically advanced, hard to get, and can only be afforded by the truly (intellectually) elite. At least, that's what I tell myself when I can borrow the car from my wife. Honey, can I please borrow the Prius again

 

Each has its place in the scheme of technical evolution. I doubt that any Prius (with or without leather) is the minimal impact vehicle that our global ecology would applaud…


As someone who tinkers with p-cars (Porsches’ in particular) I was rather impressed with how well our 2005 Prius performed when we drove (1100 miles in one day) to Ohio and back to adapt another divine Labrador Retriever (Melody by name). On the way back to Pennsylvania, we got clobbered by hail, drenched by pouring rain and challenged by a short-lived snow storm. I drove this remarkable p-car (Prius) in harmony with its mechanical form and function and drive my other p-cars similarly (but much faster with equal ease)

The p-cars by any other name are simply different and magnificent engineering expressions.

 

LOL!!! This is a classic "first post!"

"I traded in my $150,000 911 Turbo for a Prius..."

Yeah, RIGHT!

Hey! Some guy on his deathbed in Nigeria is sending me $20,000,000 and all I need to do is give him my bank accounts and social security number. Oh... and a $500 good faith wire transfer to him to prove I really have the bank account.

Dang! Rich guy like that and he doesn't trust people. What's the world coming to?

 

Once you've been on nearly any decent motorcycle and experienced the thrill of real acceleration and sportiness, it makes every expensive sports car take a back seat.

That leaves the Prius in a class by itself.

Dump the Porshe, get a BMW RT1150, or nearly any other decent bike to go with your Prius. You'll have the best of both worlds.

 

I loved this comment: "Considering Toyota spent a billion dollars on it, it's not far off the mark. Bavaria doesn't spend that redesigning a Porsche. Why the Prius can be bought for 20-35k and gas guzzling luxury cars for multiples of that amount is the biggest joke the auto industry ever pulled"
It just shows you where our values are and how they need to shift!!! Thanks for the input.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cdavid @ Apr 8 2006, 10:05 PM) [snapback]237008[/snapback]</div>

This was true for me.

Until I learned how to fly. <_<

Then the motorcycle became an amusing way of getting to the airport where the real fun began. B)

and I'm sure someone will try to top flying... 'cause there's always a bigger fish.

 

That may sound like a downgrade, but it's not that bad.

I traded my Gulfstream V SP for my Prius. There were two big problems with the trade. Getting the GVSP into a parking space at the dealer, then the prius tech's were having a terrible time getting all the cash I got back from the trade stuffed into the Prius. Even with all the seats except the driver side folded down, you can only get so many million into a prius. Then, visibility was 0 with all the cash in the way, MPG on the way home was horrible with the added weight. I'd seriously think about keeping the gulfstream if anyone else is in the same situation.

I miss the GS, but it was a gas hog.

 

Have owned 06 Prius Pkg 5 Blue/Gray for about three weeks. Also own 2000 Porsche Boxster S. The SUV went when we got the Prius, NOT the Boxster!

The Prius has been an amazing experience. I'm still in the learning phase with it especially figuring out how to drive it to mazimize the mileage. This car is so advanced its scary.

I figure now when I add up the Prius driving speed and the Boxster driving speed together, I finally average the speed limit.

Both way different and my choice of which to drive, when I have that choice (two kids to school is tough in a Boxster), is largely if it's a great convertible top down day or not.

 

QUOTE(cdavid @ Apr 8 2006, 10:05 PM)
Once you've been on nearly any decent motorcycle and experienced the thrill of real acceleration and sportiness, it makes every expensive sports car take a back seat.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusham @ Apr 8 2006, 09:45 PM) [snapback]237052[/snapback]</div>

I am probably going to make the Prius Purists (aka PP) cringe and hate me but here is what I have to say...

Ahhaaa, cdavid, not exactly true. As fun as bikes are, there are some cars that give you a similar thrill. Say an 850hp supercharged Viper. I take both bikes and cars on the track, the Viper still tops the cake for me.






And as far as flying goes priusham, you are probably right, but the thrill of twin 502s on the water is still quite the ride. I wont even tell you how much gas this thing burns.




As for Porsche 911 compared to Prius, don't compare them. They are two different cars which both have a place in history.

As for the Prius, its my daily driver and I wouldn't trade it for the world. What a fun car to drive, even if it is Silver Pine Mica and the usual comment I get is... "Why green?"