Save With Toyota's Prius? Buy Two Aveos

Last summer, when I started looking at 4 door hatchbacks, I went to the Hertz Used Car dealership. Not because I wanted to buy a rental, but because they have a variety of cars, so I could sit in several to see if they had enough headroom for me to fit (many smaller cars don't).

We tried out several, but I stayed away from the Aveo, because I'm prejudiced against GM products. My GF said "You haven't tried that one yet" and pointed towards the Aveos. The salesman said "I don't want to show you one of those" and started to explain how they had a lot of problems with the Aveo, especially the window regulators which seemed to break frequently. He said they would probably end up wholesaling the Aveos, even though they were the same age and had the same mileage as the other cars on the lot.

The Prius is in a different class with respect to quality than most of the other small cars I looked at. I don't think any of the domestic small cars are close.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jkash @ Mar 19 2007, 07:13 AM) [snapback]408308[/snapback]</div>

OK ... well, currently in Sacramento, regular unleaded is going for about $3.15 ... and does anyone think that prices will drop with 15 British soldiers hanging out in Iran right now awaiting release?

The days of $2.55 a gallon gasoline are gone, I am afraid.

 

i have a co-worker who has one and after a period of time (not sure how long she has had the car...maybe 3-4 years) the window seals are leaking and in the Pacific Northwest, that means the car is starting to have a mildew problem and the windows rattle a bit. other than that, no other problems but i have had many many many conversations about gas money and granted she lives about 25 miles away and i live 5½ miles away, but her fuel costs are more than 5 times my cost and she does not drive her car on her days off, she rides with hubby while my car is all i drive when im together with my SO

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 26 2007, 06:46 PM) [snapback]412632[/snapback]</div>

Does that include the Canadian to USD exchange rate? $3.15 USD is about $3.67 CAD.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 26 2007, 11:27 PM) [snapback]412764[/snapback]</div>

Using those numbers, your $1.14/litre = $3.70 USD per US gallon. You are still higher than us, but we're closing the gap. Last time I bought fuel in BC, it was back in the 80's. I don't remember how much it was, but I remember that it was substantially more than the US gas prices at that time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 26 2007, 06:46 PM) [snapback]412632[/snapback]</div>

You just proved my point, my friend.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(micheal @ Mar 19 2007, 11:06 PM) [snapback]408796[/snapback]</div>

Besides that, it also (as other have pointed out) has poor reliability and made the least reliable column at http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023544. I'd post a screenshot of the comparison of reliability ratings of the Prius vs. Aveo but I can't seem to add attachments now. :huh:

 

Good point, I am sure there is a correlation between the low reliability and the low satisfaction rating.

At any rate, the tribe has spoken. A relatively small percentage of Aveo owners are satisfied with their purchase. The author may call me crazy, but I would rather buy one well-built, satisfying vehicle, then two crappy, disappointing vehicles.