Requesting advice for a prospective owner

The Prius has a CVT automatic, so there will be no shifting, slick or otherwise. The Prius is pretty much a comfortable mid-size sedan, so you shouldn't have any illusions of sportiness. The battery replacement cost is a non-issue. I have not heard of anyone needing a replacement, and a recent test showed a 2002 model's battery performing at near optimum. Now the Honda Insight is going to have battery replacement problems, but Honda is reprogramming them to fail outside of warranty.

As far as maintenance, since there is an electric motor helping the ICE, and regenerative braking helping the brake pads, replacement and service intervals are very far apart. Most folks go over 100K before doing brake work. I have owned 2 hybrids and maintenance costs are typically very low (2007 Camry and 2010 Prius IV).

You may want to look at the Lexus CT200h, which has some pretense of sportiness, or wait for the new Prii coming out in the next model year, or later this year, specifically the C, or the V if you want something more family friendly. Lastly you could check out the plug-in coming out next model year. Lots of choices.

Let us know what you decide on and how your test drives go.

 

It is sad that cars for adults are by definition not guy cars. And no, that is not a problem with the car.

For the first 100,000 miles, the HV battery is under 100% warranty. After that, buy used. (I give it 50/50 odds by 200,000 miles)
prius battery -inverter -harness | eBay

It is not sporty in any sense. It is an appliance, not a toy.

 

get an accord or civic.

 

Now you're asking for maintenance costs.

 

You might be amazed at the stuff I have heard. Why, did you know that JFK was a martian ? No, REALLY. I read it on the internet, AND a guy at work told me the same thing.

OK, got *that* off my chest. Now, why does wife want a Prius ?

 

really? i've never owned one.

 

Hey K Series, check this out, a Vancouver taxi company uses Prii. They have one with a million kilometers. One of their batteries did fail...but at 435,000 miles.

CTV British Columbia - Hybrids prove very reliable - CTV News

Check out user sagebrush's monthly costs:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-2004-prius-my-ongoing-maintenance-costs.html

Generally speaking the fear of hybrid battery failure is in the imagination of the consumer. Even if it happens you're talking under $1000 to buy one on ebay. Personally I'm saving over that amount in gas in under a year. I bet if you think back as to where you first heard that, if you even could, it would be some news anchor asking a provocative question, like "Can hybrid batteries really last?" Answer: yup!

If you have the money it sounds like a third gen Prius V would be good for you guys.

 

you could also get a prius II or III then add springs, rims, tires, ground effects, leather, fog lights, a rear sway bar, chassis bracing, and other do-dads.

go look in this section of priuschat

Gen III 2010 Prius Accessories and Modifications - PriusChat Forums

 

You definitely are not going to want the Prius. However if your wife is interested and you get to drive your car, the prius might be acceptable to you. Mario might want to tone it down since you will have a BABY on board... Just saying... The Gen 3 offers an option for power which gives more response (not going to be able to drive like it sounds like you are used to).

 

Don't buy a Prius.

 

I'm thinking Mazda 3 hatchback or 2012 Focus hatchback. But let her give the Prius a test drive and see what she thinks.

 

True, it is all an adult ever needs, but not all a boy ever wants.

Yes and it is just as effective as lipstick on your great grandmother.

Toyota Prius 2010 ZVW30 Performance, Handling & Electronic Accessories :: Sigma Automotive

But it won't help.

 

I find it interesting that everyone so far is trying to talk you *out* of buying a Prius. What kind of advocacy is that, people?

I won't necessarily try to talk you *in* to one; that's a decision you'll have to make after weighing your options and deciding what's most important to you. I hunch most of us have found by experience that our priorities tend to change when we have families. There are those among us who've moved on from fire-breathing monsters (vehicles, I mean, not family members) and are quite happy. You are going to be amazed at the amount of baby stuff required. No, a Prius is not going to have you aiming for apexes with tire-squealing abandon. But, compared to what you're used to, it's a safe, quiet, comfortable, roomy, reliable car. If you get to keep the sports car, then what have you lost?

 

One can get idea of maintenance and repairs via Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles. They've taken their 2nd gens and at least one 1st gen to 160K miles.

The weight difference between your RX-7 and the 3rd gen Prius is on the order of 600 lbs, not 1000 lbs.

Yes, I hate the dumb myth about hybrid car batteries too. It's just one of many stupid myths.

Agreed.

As for how it drives, from your sig (and me owning a weaker sports car than yours), you will definitely NOT like how it handles or accelerates. The Prius isn't a sports car. Its acceleration is adequate and the power mode makes the go pedal more responsive.

That said, I don't mind driving my Prius. It's much more relaxing to drive than my Z which has very heavy steering, high noise levels, and a very rough and bouncy ride but w/FAR better acceleration, brakes, handling and much more driver involvement

I HATE driving my Z and non-hybrids in city/stop and go traffic. The whole idea of all my kinetic energy being wasted as heat and brake dust when stopping and the useless burning up of gas of idling irks me.

It's too bad the Altima Hybrid isn't available in your state since it's not a CARB state. Its acceleration would be more likable to you. Nissan moved their HQ to TN and they've had a plant on Smyrna, TN for a long time. It might be available thru some dealers. But, its price might deter you. You might not be eligible for some of the huge incentives available on it (http://local.nissanusa.com/san-francisco-oakland-san-jose-area/altima-hybrid.html currently shows $4K cash back. It's sometimes $4.5K or $5K.)

Per Consumer Reports - Fuel economy vs. performance, it is MUCH faster than the Prius, HyCam and FFH. Only problem is that its trunk is TINY. When I was living back in CA and drove my mom's NAH a bunch, it felt almost like a rocket ship on the highway compared to my 2nd gen Prius.

Tideland mention the CT. Only problem is, it's even slower than the Prius in acceleration.

 

He will be insecure and unhappy in a Prius. Why put him through that, he needs a car with four doors and a rear seat to hold all the car seats.

Dodge - 2011 Charger - Design - Charger R/T Road & Track

There is no need to have an unhappy Prius owner.

 

With the way the OP comes across and the insulting jabs he makes, you'd think he drives a Ferrari.

 

If the Prius turns out to be unacceptable but fuel economy is still important, one can look at these other possible choices.

Most fuel-efficient cars
Best & worst cars review, best city/highway mpg
Best & worst cars review, fuel-efficient vehicles

Do keep in mind that 2nd and 3rd gen Priuses are midsized cars per http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm and not compacts.