Test Drove the 2015 Prius Four / Thinking of upgrading from 2006 Prius

i would wait, then you can decide between buying a gen IV at list price, or getting a great deal on a gen III. but i understand how you feel and you can probably get a great deal right now with $2. gas. all the best with your decision!

 

I must agree with this statement, and it gives you some time toe save up some money for the new car. Once the next generation first appears on the auto show circuit, if you are not thrilled with it, go for a 15 right away, should save money...

 

The car is much quieter, less road noise is noticed. The engine runs smoother and is barely audible. The steering was much tighter and smoother. The arm rest in the center was actually comfortable, vs having to put a pillow on my current one.

1. You can invest into a set of nice 17" wheels with nice quiet Michelin tires. That will give you a quieter ride and your steering feel would be tighter and smoother. Although you'll lose a couple mpg, but waaaayyyyy cheaper than buying a new car that depreciates $1000 every 10,000 miles you drive.
2. Engine noise can be reduced simply by turning up the volume in your music
3. Center console can be repadded and fitted with new fabric/leather. Should be waaaaayyyyyy cheaper than buying a new car........you get the idea.
4. Oh, there's no number 4. That's all you listed....about 3 improvements from your current car that doesn't nearly depreciate as much as a new car.

A Prius is a Prius, no matter how you look at it. It's really not worth while to buy something nearly identical and spend thousands more of your hard earned money to get the same thing. A car is still a means to go from point A to point B, the cheaper you can do it, the more money you'll have in your pocket for the other things you want in life. The feeling you have now about wanting a new car will all go away in about a week or two and then you'll thank yourself for not getting yourself in debt at such an early age.

 

I have to disagree with most of the above. If you like the Gen. 3 that much better than your Gen. 2 why not buy a used Gen. 3? We bought a 2010 Gen. 3 in March 2013 and have been very happy with it. Got the Protection Plan for peace of mind. With Prius sales down so much right now you should be able to get a pretty good deal on a used Gen. 3.

 

Another thought--- the 2015 SHOULD have all the ''bugs'' taken care of and be a super reliable auto as the 3rd Gen has been around since 2010.

 

I would wait to see what the gen IV looks like if you aren't in rush. There is speculation that the new prius is delayed because it will have a sportier design.

2016 Toyota Prius Was Delayed Due To Redesign For Sportier Style - Yahoo Autos

 

I totally agree. I looked at a new Prius several times. But I just couldn't bring myself to spend 30k to get the one I wanted. I kept noticing a 2010 that was sitting in the used lot for a few months unloved. I mentioned that I might want to look at it and they were so anxious to sell it, they let me borrow it for a few days to see if I liked it! Great car and after the first owner took all of the depreciation hit, I got it for less than half the cost of a new one. This next part is mostly opinion, but Toyota owners in general and Prius owners in particular take good care of their cars. So buying used with a little due diligence is not a bad idea.

 

The temptation to upgrade always lurks.

But upgrading (better paying job or not) can be expensive.

I traded in a perfectly good 2010 Honda Fit..to upgrade to Prius...so who am I to throw stones?

But I think the advice given thus far, is valid.

In your second sentence of the post you say "I Love The Car". That's your current vehicle.

Well, quit tempting yourself by walking on to lots and test driving other vehicles.

Wait to see how things work out with your new job, and in the meantime Toyota will release the 4th Gen...and you can ALWAYS at any time, make a move. Used Gen 3....New Gen 4...the possibilities won't vanish.

If you don't HAVE to make a change...and still "love" the vehicle you have...I'd wait.
What happens if you invest into a Gen 3...then in a year or so, find yourself tempted by the new Gen 4?

That being said....I'm being a hypocrite. As I myself have made vehicle changes way before the useful life of my current vehicle had ended, simply because I got the "itch" to do so.

Whatever you decide....be happy with what you have or get.

PS.

Over the years, I have found that if I was feeling dissatisfied with my vehicle....or tempted. If I spent a weekend cleaning and detailing my current ride...getting it looking clean and sharp. Often when I was done making my vehicle look as new as possible? The temptation to trade it in became a whole lot less.

I think a lot of people end up "upgrading" just because new vehicles smell nice and are clean. When perhaps they might keep the vehicle they have....if they only cleaned them and made them smell nice. Sometimes buying a "neat" vehicle accessory helps.

***Not a commentary on the OP's maintenance or cleaning habits..just an observation as a whole.

So I might recommend getting re-acquainted with the vehicle you have, by spending some quality "detailing time" with it.

Worst case scenario it doesn't help...but then the vehicle is in good shape for a possible trade in evaluation or sale.

Best case...you step back and say to yourself..." I Like This Prius!".

 

The 2015 Prius Four is exactly the same as the 2012 Prius Four. There should be 3 year leases coming back in. Buy certified used and save $$

 

What a bunch of SINCERE prius owners we have here on the forum.
We exhibit such down to earth advice from our soul to others!
Quite remarkable.

Here's another angle not posted.

1. Life is short.
2. If one desires something, as long as it's affordable and within one's budget constraints, one should pull the trigger.
3. True, if you like the Gen 3, wait if you can to see what the Gen 4 is about, but, the bugs have been worked out on the Gen 3 and new bugs will surely be present in the Gen 4, albeit, possibly minimal since it's a Toyota.
4. Gen 3 prices can be more attractive when the Gen 4 comes out.
5. If you still want to get a Gen 3, then do it.
6. By acquiring what you want, you'll be satisfying your desires.
7. You'll be motivated in your job to do better.
8. Money is used as a means to an end, if you enjoy looking at your bank account growing more than driving the Gen 3 then don't buy.
9. We ALL save here to spend there, so as long as you are willing to give up to get, and you know the name of the game, then GAME ON!!

 

I'd say go for the 2015, subject to the caveats above about the costs of new vehicle depreciation and assuming it's well within your budget.

It's not just for the new car smell. Everything about a new car is in tip-top shape, while older cars have many many aging parts. The steering on your 2006 could probably be greatly improved by putting in new shocks and replacing all the old suspension bushings. How about the struts that hold up the liftgate? Are they starting to sag in colder weather? Have rodents been in your car and converting sound deadening material into nesting material? How pitted and scratched is your windshield? The point is that your 2006 probably steered and drove a lot better back in 2006, which is why the 2015 model seems so much better now by comparison.

Not to say an old car is unreliable or unsafe, only that it's got a lot of things that are no longer "like new".

I've also found that I dislike buying used cars. At best, you end up 5 years later with an 8 year old car, and realize that somebody else enjoyed the 3 years of near perfection with a bumper-to-bumper warranty. At worst, you end up with somebody else's problems and get to be one of you're mechanic's favorite customers (translation: I'll never buy a used Taurus wagon ever again!)

 

Re: your translation, I had a new Taurus, no better than a used one, Ford is now dead to me.

 

I'm of the "wait to see Gen 4 before buying" camp. Though it's been delayed, it should be coming out soon, so if your current prius is holding up well, might as well get some more miles out of it first. Like The Electric Me said, you'd probably hate it if you bought a new Gen 3, only to find out that the Gen 4 is even more desirable.

Worst case scenario for waiting, if you don't like the Gen 4's offerings, you can snag a great deal on a Gen 3, particularly one that's been sitting on a dealer's lot for months.

If money is no object though, then by all means, splurge and get what makes you happy.

 

I test drove 2015 prius 4 recently too. And thought not only its GPS is tiny but also its seats seemed smaller/narrower than my 2010 prius V. But I didn't believe myself to feel that way because I thought 2015 prius would be much more improved than 2010 but so far it doesn't look that way. Plus the display options' buttons are better laid out on 2010 prius, I think. So I've decided to keep my 2010 prius V with 100k miles until Gen 4 rolls in because it still drives like a new car according to a used car manager of a local dealer!

 

Just because you make more money doesn't mean you should purchase a new car. Likewise, just because someone works hard doesn't mean they deserve a new car, new phone, or a vacation. Purchase a new car because you need it and can afford it. Sure life's short. It can also get unbearable if you struggle to afford to put gas in your new ride.

Assuming you can afford a new car, I'd wait until Gen 4 comes out. See if you like it. If not snag a great deal on a leftover 2015.

 

If you can afford to buy the car with 36 month (or less) financing or pay cash for it, go for it, otherwise drive what you got and save up for a new one.

 

I just bought a 15 model 2. Paid 19500 before tax tax etc. I say sell and buy new. Can't beat the deals going on right now on the Prius


iPad ?

 

Why is 36 the magic number?


iPad ?