Contemplating a Prius - opinions?

[adamd]

I'm gonna just go ahead with this one - I have been thinking of changing the Daihatsu for something better suited to commuting the larger mileage I now do a week, and after much looking around, I've almost made my mind up to go for a Mk2 Prius. I never set out for one, but after having a look around one I was impressed, very comfortable, very quiet, and very high spec. Obviously running costs are quite good too, with tax being very cheap in the UK, and as most people will know I'm a massive Toyota fanboy.

I'm not going all tree-hugger suddenly, I still think it can be an enthusiast's car, and I like all the gadgets. Really, I just want to know people's opinions.

[Junny]

What is large mileage and how much of it is stable speed cruising? If i were doing longer stints along a highway at 100kph a large sedan would be pretty comfy and still return good milage from just cruising along at 2000rpm. If it is stop start traffic perhaps a prius or anything small with a start/stop engine could do.

[adamd]

It's about 65% city traffic I'd say, and at a rough guess about 14k miles a year.

[Jakgoe]

I'd take a Ford Fiesta/Focus. They get good mileage, as well as being comfortable and fun. And partly because i wouldn't want to be seen in a Prius.

[WizzyThaMan]

But of course you arent Adam. I think Adam is really into that car and I think it actually might suit him. There is a reason he likes Priusses. No single car does well in city trafic, braking and accelerating... Not even my 1.1i Saxo gets a good mileage to that, even with economical driving and not accelerating too fast.

I think the Prisu would be a fine option.

[Junny]

I would double check the service requirements and replacement costs of any of the hybrid equipment before deciding on one. Here is my part of the world (Aus) a prius is lower spec than comparably priced cars but depreciate well below its competitors. Wether this is because we care less about fuel economy or perhaps there are nasty bills for out of warranty hybrids? Worth researching for your own sake as the average car here is a 1800kg 4litre 6 cylinder gas guzzler therefore our market dictates greatly different prices to your more conservative market.

[gt1cooper]

A couple things though. The basic prii near me from 2007 bottom out at $10,000, where as I could get a loaded 2010 honda insight for that cost. Food for thought. And more food for thought, while I'm not sure what the equivalent is from where you are, I could get a Lexus HS250h for about 1000 pounds more, a significant step up (basically a prius with 3 less real world mpg, but a much more powerful engine and heated seats, navigation and the like)

[NormanVauxhall]

I understand you Adam and I'm thinking myself too about a CVT hybrid cause of my new work that force me to drive in city's traffic for 7 km. My poor Miata it's not built to make 1st-2nd-stop-1st-stop-1st-2nd-stop and so on... sigh...
I think you are doing the best to have a more confy ride to work and home.

[pyrlix]

The Prius (hell all hybrids or electrics) are way better in city traffic. My Alfa and Opel Vivaro are terrible for city traffic - no matter how hard I try... The economy sucks.

Let people say what they want - yes people say that Prius-drivers are treehuggers, that Alfas are terrible or that MX-5s are woman cars... You drive it and you have to be happy with it. I think the Prius will be a good choice for you, city traffic and its Toyota

[Jakgoe]

Alfas are terrible or that MX-5s are woman cars.

LIES!!!

But after watching this, I really can't imagine having a Prius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBV486ignTk

However, I will still respect your decision to buy one.

[RoninGT21]

What I am about to say is my opinion, which is based on my experience with a particular mk3 Prius that I drove for a total of 2 hours..
I hated that miserable, slow, unresponsive, ridiculous, annoying piece of junk.
The brake pedal had about an inch of movement, vague steering, you could not figure out whether it was on or off, the rear-view was terrible, and there was only one thing that I liked about it - it had good A/C.

[adamd]

Thanks guys, should probably get down to responding a bit.

I would double check the service requirements and replacement costs of any of the hybrid equipment before deciding on one. Here is my part of the world (Aus) a prius is lower spec than comparably priced cars but depreciate well below its competitors. Wether this is because we care less about fuel economy or perhaps there are nasty bills for out of warranty hybrids? Worth researching for your own sake as the average car here is a 1800kg 4litre 6 cylinder gas guzzler therefore our market dictates greatly different prices to your more conservative market.

As you say, it's probably more down to the market. Priuses hold their value very well here, and are a great spec relative to competitors. Service requirements and costs (at Toyota) are the same as a Yaris or Corolla, so not too bad. Batteries can be replaced DIY for around £500, but the specific car I'm looking at still has 4 years of battery warranty remaining. Running costs should work out cheaper than my Charade. (Also, I wish the average car here was a 4 litre gas guzzler ).

A couple things though. The basic prii near me from 2007 bottom out at $10,000, where as I could get a loaded 2010 honda insight for that cost. Food for thought. And more food for thought, while I'm not sure what the equivalent is from where you are, I could get a Lexus HS250h for about 1000 pounds more, a significant step up (basically a prius with 3 less real world mpg, but a much more powerful engine and heated seats, navigation and the like)

I have looked at an Insight, and while they do seem better value (3 years newer for the same cost, as you say) they aren't as good. In our market, spec is not as good, tax band is slightly higher, and it doesn't go as well as a Prius. I also looked at a CR-Z just for comparison, but I don't fit properly. The HS250h is what we call the Avensis, except we don't get a hybrid version, and haven't even had the 2.4 for a few years. Closest here I guess is the CT200h, which is like a posher Auris/Corolla hybrid for a bit more money. I'd love a hybrid Avensis if it did sell here though.

I understand you Adam and I'm thinking myself too about a CVT hybrid cause of my new work that force me to drive in city's traffic for 7 km. My poor Miata it's not built to make 1st-2nd-stop-1st-stop-1st-2nd-stop and so on... sigh...
I think you are doing the best to have a more confy ride to work and home.

This is one of the main reasons I was considering it, I spend a lot of time in traffic jams The Charade can also be pretty noisy and unstable feeling when you do get moving.

The Prius (hell all hybrids or electrics) are way better in city traffic. My Alfa and Opel Vivaro are terrible for city traffic - no matter how hard I try... The economy sucks.

Let people say what they want - yes people say that Prius-drivers are treehuggers, that Alfas are terrible or that MX-5s are woman cars... You drive it and you have to be happy with it. I think the Prius will be a good choice for you, city traffic and its Toyota

Yeah, probably going to end up stereotyped with any car, although a Charade with a Mickey Mouse sticker in the back window? I'm not sure what stereotype that gives off.

But after watching this, I really can't imagine having a Prius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBV486ignTk

However, I will still respect your decision to buy one.

I've seen this video before and I have no idea how these people stayed so calm. You get the feeling though that she would respond like that no matter what she was driving, it's not the car's fault. Completely get where you're coming from though.

What I am about to say is my opinion, which is based on my experience with a particular mk3 Prius that I drove for a total of 2 hours..
I hated that miserable, slow, unresponsive, ridiculous, annoying piece of junk.
The brake pedal had about an inch of movement, vague steering, you could not figure out whether it was on or off, the rear-view was terrible, and there was only one thing that I liked about it - it had good A/C.

I have only experienced a Mk2, so I can't comment too much, but the Mk2 was pretty pleasant, and went quite well, especially from a standstill. I also did find the brake pedal a bit strange, it was pretty agressive, the steering just had the usual Toyota lightness. Rear visibility seemed pretty good with the lower window, and I agree, A/C is excellent. But as you say, if it's not your thing then it just isn't.

Again, thanks guys.

[adamd]

Further to this, I have now bought a Prius. Details when I get home from work.

[WizzyThaMan]

NICE

[NormanVauxhall]

Great choice!