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Comments
Driving this car is boring. The two times I have driven it to work, I have nearly fallen asleep. I even missed my exit to work today because the drive experience is so numb. The steering feels like it was designed for children it is so light. Forget cornering. I have trouble keeping up with old diesal Mercedes sedans.
Still like it in the city where I cannot go anywhere that fast anyway. Good thing my other car is an E55.
It's unfair to lump all Toyota dealers together based on behavior of some. I have had a very good experience with my local Toyota dealer so far. A sales rep responded immediately, via email, to my query about the Prius that I sent through Edmunds.com's service. In that email, he gave me lots of information about the car, pricing, packages, and availability. Without my asking, he has offered me $500 off MSRP. When I came in for a test drive with my family, he took time to explain the operations of the car to my DW, let us take the car for as long as we wanted, and used no pressure tactics on me afterwards. He gave me a detailed assessment of their backlog so I could estimate when I needed to place my order to ensure I get a car before the lease expires on my present car.
I should note that this dealership is one of those "no-haggle, our-best-price-all-the-time" dealerships that are becoming increasingly popular in my area. The sales reps are not on commission. That may have something to do with how they act. It may also explain why they are the #3 dealership, in volume, in the entire Midwest region, and why they are selling on average 1 Prius a day and already have a 5 month backlog.
P.S. I don't need financing incentives from Toyota when I can get a 2.5% effective rate on my home equity LOC. But I do need (want) a car like the Prius, and Toyota's the only one who has that kind of car right now (sorry, the Civic Hybrid doesn't cut it).
I've been to over 15 dealership here in SoCal hoping to find one. All were taking orders only. Most dealers were asking $2000 over MSRP. One dealer called me later to say they had one but was asking $7000 over MSRP when I came in to close the sale. Ran out the door right away. I think Toyota is making extra effort to deliver the ordered Priuses. A good dealer may be able to deliver in less time than what they promise and will sell it at MSRP at the most.
I also got the Toyota's extended warranty for $1460. It covered 7 yrs or 100k miles whichever comes first. Has anybody also pruchased extended warranty and how much did you pay?
????
Then what's plural?
To me, a Prius is a great vehicle. It will be our next car when the time is right.
So, if you like the Prius and you'd think you'd enjoy driving it, go for it! Just make sure that it will do the jobs you need done.
Having said this, it would be tough for me to select a optioned-up Prius for $24K vs. a $26K TSX. You'd really have to place a premium on the technology and fuel mileage. TSX's are very slick cars and while they don't match the Prius's gas mileage, they generally return 25+. A very compeling package. It's the one car I keep thinking about and wondering if I made the right decision as I wait to receive my small car (a Cooper S).
- Mark
- Hatch
- Bluetooth (love that feature)
- NAV
- CVT (love not having shift shock)
When I turn myBenz in, I doubt I'll be getting another car. I also have a Liberty but use that only for hauling stuff and lousy weather.
POWER TO THE PRIUS!!!
The is a bill that would make it a tax credit, but right now it is just an income adjustment. Some states do offer a tax credit, but the amount varies depending on the state.
Around here it is not uncommon to cruise at speeds of 80 and more. Yesterday it took 80 to just keep up, with the left lane speeds much higher.
I'm concerned that the Prius might run out of battery on long hills at these speeds. I also wonder what kind of mpg the car gives at sustained high speeds.
The Prius would be a replacement for an old Avalon that makes hills seem flat and still gives about 30 mpg at high freeway speeds.
Thanks,
Newbie Lookin'
And $200 off MSRP isn't bad for the Prius at launch, with waiting lists for orders backed up, if you order one now, I'd think that it'd be pretty optimistic to receive it in January or February.
Just one small comment - remember to agree to disagree and no personal attacks.
> check back on the posts on this thread several 2004 Prius
> owners have complained of poor handling.
VAGUE. I see no numerical details.
> The tires on the Prius are very high pressure
INCORRECT. The pressure is the same as most other vehicles, 35 PSI.
JOHN
Out of curiosity, those who have changed their tires, how much does this affect your gas mileage. I would be willing to bet that the low-rolling-resistance tires play a big part, especially on the highway.
Low-rolling-resistance has nothing to do with the tire pressure. It is a tire design.
FWIW, 35psi does seem high for a manufacturer's recommendation. It's 26psi for my Miata, 29psi for my Subaru, etc.
A $2000 tax deduction, for someone in a 40% tax bracket, amounts to $800. 28% tax bracket is $560, and so on. You might only see that a little after April 15th, of course.
In MD you don't pay sales tax, so that saves you 5% state sales tax up front. That's actually a bigger deal, $1000 or more right up front.
Plus you can ride in HOV lanes. That's cool. Think about it - pass a V10 Dodge Viper because he's stuck in traffic. Be sure to wave nicely.
fndlyfmrflyr: it's actually a gas engine, not diesel. It would be running on the gas engine alone at those speeds after a while, with any reserve saved up for bursts, maybe to pass.
-juice
Many of the Toyota web sites in the South East Toyota distribution region will show you not only whether a given dealer has any Priuses, but also what is generally available in or inbound in the territory.
The display shows 'availablility' date and how the cars are optioned out and the last 6 digits of the VIN number. It doesn't show you where they are located.
So I'd search the website for car color/options to see what you can find. Then call your local dealer and ask him if he can get the car for you. He'll have to find it, but if it's on the website, it's in SET at or on the way to a dealer.
The only caveat, is that the SET distribution organization is famous for putting pricey non-Toyota options on their cars, such as "Toyo Guard" fabric and paint protectors for $700. So make sure one of the ones you go after is sans balogna.
Good shopping.
The problem with making that blanket statement is that it makes the Prius sound like a dangerous car. Anyone who doesn't know much about this car might immediately cross it off their list after reading that. I've read most of the reviews that have come out about the car, and several of them comment that the handling (cornering) is pretty good for a small car. I think the most common complaint is that the steering is light, or "numb", but I've seen the same comment in car magazines/websites about many cars, including the Civic, Corolla, and Camry. Nothing in any review suggests the handling is dangerously bad. The acceleration is at least as good as a number of 4-cyl cars, including the Subaru Outback, which I drive and find a little pokey at certain speeds, but not slow enough to be dangerous. And the brakes of the Prius seem to be reasonably good, with a few complaints about the brake feel, but again, nothing that sounds dangerous (post 1163 is pure opinion, and post 1159 describes a sensation that doesn't sound like to me a dangerous flaw). I don't think I've read anything that justifies calling the handling OR braking OR acceleration "poor". I realize you've clarified your statement, and it's fair to say it's not the car for a driving enthusiast, but I think you have to be careful with generalizations.
99% of the time that's all you need, enough oomph to merge up to the speed of normal traffic (i.e. slow), and it does that well.
They could improve 0-60 but then it would get 40mpg instead of 60/50.
-juice
I can understand cross shopping with a Camry or another mid-sizer, and the Prius' hatchback being its main appeal. Plus most of those cars don't handle any better, perhaps with a couple of exceptions (6, Altima).
-juice
* early adoptors (of any trend or technology)
* techie geeks (bluetooth users)
* the "green" crowd (low emissions)
Note the test drive event I attended was co-sponsored by Whole Food Markets, a trendy market that tends to sell organic/natural foods.
TSX is a lot more performance oriented, plus it's a Toyota, not a Lexus.
-juice
Handling isn't my highest priority right now either...
Civic hybrid is the obvious target, and that model has a small trunk vs. a versatile hatch in the Prius.
Maybe you could stretch and compare to an Accord, but not an Acura.
Of course, it's your money, compare whatever you want, what do I know?
-juice
I see range as a bigger benefit, actually. My wife hates pumping gas, that would be a huge selling point if she only had to do it half as often.
-juice
I used to own a Civic and it's fun to drive but found the Corolla to have a semi-numb steering feel.
The CLASSIC did. The 2004 does NOT.
In fact, the tire type on the 2004 are the SAME as those on the Corolla. The recommended PSI is even the SAME too.
Owners who have increased the pressure to 42 PSI have reported an improvement in handling. I agree whole-heartedly, since I use 44 PSI (the maximum available for that tire).
Owners that report "poor" handling may have been running at pressure below the recommended PSI, especially since dropping temperature causes PSI reduction. That clearly would decrease handling.
By the way, increased PSI not only improves handling, it also increases MPG, tread life, and acceleration speed. In short, it's definitely worth trying if you own a Prius.
JOHN
I have filled up twice since purchase. The first time the last "box" on the fuel gauge came on with 3 gallons left. This time I waited for the blinking light- 3.5 gallons left. Any suggestions out there or do I start filling up using miles driven and mpg?
My Wants:
High MPG
Prestige
All-Weater Capability
Decent Cargo Hold
The List:
Acura TSX
Acura TL
Audi A4
Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Accord EX
Infiniti I35
Jaguar X-Type 2.5
Lexus ES330
Saab 9-3
Toyota Prius
Toyota Camry
Volvo S40
Volvo S60
In my opinion, Prius was not a great choice for a name since many people have trouble pronouncing it and even more can't pluralize it, including me, apparently.
This illustrates a minor hobby of mine: evaluating car names. I imagine that Toyota wanted a name that they could use in all of their markets. And the concept good, the name portrays the advanced and cutting edge technology. But I think they could have done better, perhaps by using a place name that one would associate with a pristine environment.
Okay, that's all. Back to the Prius versus entry level luxury discussion.
JOHN
My 1986 and 1992 Camrys had this feature and it saved many "run-down" batteries
The Auto manufacturer's pressure recommendations are often NOT the optimum for handling. Auto mfrs must choose a compromise among handling, ride comfort, fuel economy, tire wear, et al and handling is seldom optimized. A case-in-point, my Miata caries a recomended pressure of only 26lbs, at least 20% low, even though you would expect handling to be a high priority for that car. And the old Ford Explorer had an absurdly low recommendation, with disasterous consequences, presumably to reduce its rollover potential (i.e. to make the tires the limiting factor as opposed to the vehicle's overturning moment.)
jchan2: since cargo capacity matters to you, why not look at wagons? You did not mention the V50, V70, and Audi Avants. Just curious.
-juice
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the car, but. . .
1. Averaging more like 45 mpg. After 2,000 miles, I feel Toyota is greatly exaggerating the 60mpg claim. I haven't been close to that mark and I feel the city mpg is worse, not better, than highway mpg.
2. Has a 12 gallon gas tank, but indicator has me filling up after only 300 miles and 7.5 gallons. Someone in Japan leave his lunchbox in the tank?
3. I feel like I have to coax the electric engine to kick in. Only after I accelerate then lay off the pedal (going sub 40mph) will the electric motor run solo. Also, I read a claim that it will accelerate to 35 mph on electric only power. No way!
4. I can really feel the transition from electric to gas and gas to electric. It's not as subtle as I would like.
5. The check engine light came on after only a few miles. It soon went out, but I brought it in to be checked and found that Toyota was not really prepared to diagnose any problems yet. Heck the service valet couldn't even figure out how to drive it into the service bay.
TC
Gas tank size claim is 11.9. Filled it when I had one bar (dash) and it only took 7.4 gallons. I am thinking of testing to see how low I can get. Think they may have left some sushi in the tank??
You can definitely accelerate to 35-40 on electric but you have to REALLY coax it and have a good charge. I have been on level ground and set the cruise at 42 and it is electric only.
Transition is so subtle in my car I hardly notice it. I have to really concentrate.
No CEL yet, and I am hoping it doesn't happen. I definitely agree that this car is still foreign to Toyota service people. Makes me a little scared!!
-juice