Any Toyota Prius owners here?

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dustin

dustin

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
707
Location
Jackson, MI
Does anyone here own a Toyota Prius? What are your opinions? I'm thinking of buying one, probably a 2004-2008, but I'm a little hesitant. I've never driven a hybrid of any kind, but I can't get past the gas mileage they are capable of (40-50 mpg+!) I'm currently driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan, which has it's share of problems but has never left me anywhere. My biggest complaint is the gas mileage, averaging 19 mpg (city+highway), and have only gotten a max of 24 out of it. I drive a lot, and even though gas is pretty cheap now, I still hate putting $30-40 in every time I fill up. I've been researching the Priuses, and it seems like an ideal option- I want great gas mileage, but not a tiny little cracker box of a car. What is it like to drive a hybrid? Can you feel the engine starting and stopping or is it pretty seamless? From what I've seen online, Priuses are pretty reliable and seem to last a long time (found a story of a guy that bought one new in 2009, and by 2012 had put 468,000 miles on it with the original engine, transmission, and hybrid battery) and I've seen several on craigslist with mileage in the high 200,000's. The 2004-2005 model's odometers stop at 299,999, and I did see one 2004 on craigslist that the odometer had stopped a couple years ago. Personally, I wouldn't want one with that high of mileage, but 175,000-225,000 really doesn't scare me. I mean really, they are Toyotas.. Known for lasting forever. If I do decide on one, I'm looking to stay in the $5000 range (which from searching Craigslist, looks entirely possible). Any input is appreciated...Thanks!
 
Ive driven all prius models over and over again for work. Old and new. Honestly do not like their performance, cheep interior feel (poor plastics, vinyls and cloth materials) Toyota really didn't do a great job with the quality aspect of the vehicles.

Also to achieve that mpg you really have to baby the car to death. You're more likely to attain 38mpg average. Generally their batteries dont always last as long either. Expensive to replace.


Id honestly try for a VW TDI vehicle. Much better quality and just as good of MPG.
 
I had a Prius C for a while and liked it but I traded it in on a Camry hybrid when my family outgrew the Prius C. I'd recommend one as long as you don't expect BMW performance or Cadillac luxury. Check out Priuschat for actual info from actual owners.
Nicholas

http://priuschat.com/forum/
 
The only hybrid I've ever driven is my mom's Buick Lacrosse. It's a nice car but engineered entirely differently from the Prius in that the it runs primarily on the gas engine and uses the electric motors for supplemental power so that it's little four-banger feels like a V6. But for all that technology, it doesn't get that much better gas mileage than my Impala with a 3500 V6.

While I understand the appeal of a hybrid, and fully agree with the idea of minimizing dependence on fossil fuels, the total cost of ownership equation just doesn't compute, especially considering the premium price they command. They have a shorter lifespan than a comparable four-cylinder gas engine car because the lithium ion batteries wear out at around 100,000 miles and typically cost close to what the car is worth at that point to replace. And we won't even go into the environmental issues related to recycling those batteries.
 
I went back to a hybrid car-2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum Limited.Really like this car!It has a separate motor for the rear wheels.The engine doesn't drive the rear wheels directly.Kinda like a RR locomotive-driven from the engine via generator or the battery.Most Toyota hybrid cars use Nickel-Metal Hydride battery packs.The plug in Prius uses Lithium.The batteries can last the life of the car.The charge-discharge management circuit in the cars controller circuit doesn't let the traction batteries get completly discharged or fully charged.The battery is operated in its ideal condition-thus long life.And when you brake-the traction motor-like on a locomotive sends power to the battery-in most locomotives,though the power from braking is turned to heat by the locomotives brake resistors-typically on the roof of the locomotive cooled by large fans.After a train has stopped you see the heat waves coming out.Some locomotives are "hybrid" like cars.So the brake energy recharges the batteries.The batteries supply extra power to the traction motors as the train is started-helping its engine.Thus like the car-less fuel used.
I took a test ride in the larger Prius SUV/sation wagon-it did pretty well-and the quality was better than any of the "Big Three" cars.Just didn't like its offset instrument panel and weird shifter lever.My Highlander has a conventional shift handle-much easier to use.Since the Prius is a light car-its acceleration was very good.
 
I like CarTalk but that article is over 4 years old! Again the Prius is a good buy for someone who understands the strengths and weaknesses of a hybrid. I myself would not buy a conventional car ever again if I can help it. I can't understand why so many people spread fear of hybrids?
Nicholas
 
My 2014 Prius C

 


I've been leasing for 2  years now, with a year left.  I'm paying about $300 a month and it is a 40,000 mile lease.  It cost me $200 to get started with the lease.  


 


My MPG is anywhere from 45 to 75.  I've had months where I only had to fill the 9 gallon tank once.


 


I've never had any problems with it.  I'm thrilled to be part of the Hybrid movement. 


 


When the lease is up, I will probably go to a plug-in hybrid that can get over 100 MPG .  And one can recharge their car from home where one may well have their own solar electric generation going. 


 


I hate, with a passion, the petroleum based society that the U.S. (and other countries) have become, including all the noise, air and ground pollution, and destruction of historical sites that has gone along with it.   What ever I can do to put an axe in the back of oil investors and all they have done to corrupt American society in the last 80 years, I'm all for it.  


We can't have a total depleted oil supply fast enough, as far as those tunnel vision simpletons are concerned.


 


Peak oil was estimated to be around 2006.  Investors have done everything they can to keep the U.S. strung out and ignorant to protect their profits.  That is corruption.  


 


 



http://https//youtu.be/Ulxe1ie-vEY
delaneymeegan-2016040503075600435_1.png

delaneymeegan-2016040503075600435_2.png
 
Well, I test drove one yesterday, and I *will* own a Prius. Loved it. I drove a 2004 with 174k miles on it, and to be completely honest it drove like a brand new car. Will definitely take some getting used to, but in a good way. It was a little unnerving the first time I came to a stop light and it quit, and my first instinct was to push on the gas to get it to start back up... Until I realized I wasn't driving a regular car... I even commented to the salesman that any other car I've owned that quit at a stop light meant it was broken! If you haven't driven a hybrid, you just don't know what to expect.. I thought the cvt transmission was cool.. It just revs up as you give it gas, and slows as the car picks up speed. I didn't buy the car on the spot, although I wanted to, but my van is for sale already!
 
Aaaannnnddd..... It's mine! Bought it thursday. Love it so far, and the average mpg is already up to 42.9. Only took $14 to fill the tank! Even though it's a hybrid and has a small engine, this car is quick!
 
I would say I'm pretty qualified to answer this. My dad had Toyota dealerships for 5 years up to 2013, he was in the motor trade for 50 some years.

They are pretty pointless cars and most people who drive them don't know other cars exist which are nice to drive, better built, more refined, quicker, more practice and cheaper. Some buy them for snob appeal just because they think they are doing good for the environment.

Fun fact; in the UK, insurance companies recognise the fact praises have batteries, meaning you will often pay more to insure a Prius, as if you get into a serious accident in one, environmental authorise have to come and clean up the mess made by the batteries. That goes for I think any car with a battery pack.

If you want an economical car which genuinely achieves brilliant MPG, is powerful, fun to drive, reliable and refined, get a Volkswagen TDI. I a, of course biased my dad had VW's and Audi dealerships right up until he passed away as well as working for just about every car manufacturer meanwhile.

I have got up to 85 UK MPG, I get 550 miles to a tank. It goes like a train, beautifully built, amazingly refined and despite the so called diesel scandal, Volkswagen are still selling diesels faster than they can make them.

The media are disappointed because the scandal didn't affect sales nor Volkswagen shares as much as they thought.

Anyone concerned about reliability of VW's , remember Volkswagen have the most amount of cars on the road in Europe and North American with over 100,000 miles.

oliveoiltinfoil-2016040918173206942_1.jpg
 
The Prius Antithesis...

The 1975 Cadillac Sedan De Ville.

The specs
~500 cubic inch/8.2 liter V8
~190 horsepower
~130" wheelbase
~19 feet overall length
~5300 lbs curb weight
~11mpg city/16mpg hwy as per the 1975 EPA sheet

If I'm involved in an accident with a Prius, let's say that there won't be much left of it...

speedqueen++4-10-2016-09-47-16.jpg
 

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