What did you drive before

B Rad · 05-19-2006, 12:38 PM

OK, I'm a new guy thats very close to buying a PRIUS and have a couple of ??'s for those who care to respond. I now drive a 2000 Jetta VR-6 and have always been what's known as a "car guy" driving to me is one of lifes pleasures and while I am no hot rodder I like a car with nice handlling even at slow speeds. I also want a car that can enter a freeway and pass when needed without problems. It seems to be pretty impossible to take a test drive, hence my question. What did you drive before and how does that compare to your Prius ?

aaf709 · 05-19-2006, 12:43 PM

My last car was a 1990 Ford Probe LX, bought new. It had the V-6 engine and was lower to the ground than the Prius. It was fun to drive, but was much smaller inside. It also had about 193K miles on the clock and failed smog for the first time in 2004. I've had no problems driving the Prius either on the highway or off. It's easy to maintain a good speed and is pretty quick off the light, if necessary.

NoVaSnow · 05-19-2006, 01:05 PM

Six days ago, I handed over my '96 Jetta GL to my 16-year-old daughter. 10 years, 102K on the ODO, just changed the original spark plugs and timing belt this week. It is a great car, and I'm glad to still have it in the family.

My daughter is just as thrilled to have her Jetta as I am to have my Prius.

benighted · 05-19-2006, 01:14 PM

The Prius has plenty of power for passing and entering the freeways. Though if you are used to performance handling cars you might be disapointed with the Prius at first as it has quite a bit of body roll and understeer in corners.

But you can always add things like low profile tires, suspension kits and stiffening braces until you get it the way you like. Or you might even like the way it handles stock. A lot of us have gotten out of performance handling cars and got in the Prius without having a problem with it because it sort of changes the way you think about driving, it is a very "relaxed" sort of ride see this thread.

p626808 · 05-19-2006, 01:17 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ May 19 2006, 12:38 PM) [snapback]258093[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

OK, I'm a new guy thats very close to buying a PRIUS and have a couple of ??'s for those who care to respond. I now drive a 2000 Jetta VR-6 and have always been what's known as a "car guy" driving to me is one of lifes pleasures and while I am no hot rodder I like a car with nice handlling even at slow speeds. I also want a car that can enter a freeway and pass when needed without problems. It seems to be pretty impossible to take a test drive, hence my question. What did you drive before and how does that compare to your Prius ?
[/b]

Had a 98 Malibu.. not the greatest car in the world.. but got you from point a to point b

Rancid13 · 05-19-2006, 01:56 PM

I had a 1996 Saturn SC2. A compact coupe that's meant to seat 4, but only if the rear 2 passengers are child-sized otherwise there's not much room for adults in the back of that tiny thing. The Prius is much more multi-passenger friendly (4 doors, seats 4-5), and easier to get in and out of because it's not as low to the ground as the Saturn was.

It was just getting to be an old car, my first car really, and I managed to put almost 180K miles on in the 9+ years I had it. It was a good car, served its purpose, then I moved on and up to better things.

wrprice · 05-19-2006, 02:11 PM

'94 Dodge Intrepid ES, 3.3L V6... 11 years old, ~130K miles, and my last MPG estimate before getting the Prius put it at ~13MPG on my stop-and-go commute to work.

And compared to the Prius, that car felt like a yacht.

mike_m · 05-19-2006, 02:11 PM

I really admire those that have answered so far. It really takes discipline to keep a car that long. I haven't been able to do it so far. My Mag Grey should be here this week. I am trading in my Cadillac CTS with 40K miles. My wife thinks I'm "Nucking Futs". She said she can't picture me not driving something sporty. I rented a Prius for a week and really loved the car. I hope this car grows on me, and I don't get bored with it. BTW, as somebody suggested, I added the EFPC wheels, and the 17" tires to "tighten" it up a little bit. I could care less if I lose 5 MPG, cause I'm going from 18MPG. IF I get 40, I'm a happy chappy! Dude, go rent one. I didn't want to do the test drive. I wanted real life comparison without a salesperson next to me.

Jonnycat26 · 05-19-2006, 02:15 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ May 19 2006, 12:38 PM) [snapback]258093[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I now drive a 2000 Jetta VR-6 and have always been what's known as a "car guy" driving to me is one of lifes pleasures and while I am no hot rodder I like a car with nice handlling even at slow speeds.
[/b]

I had a Jetta 1.8T (2001 I think) before I got my Prius. If you're the type who likes to "drive", you may not be so happy with the Prius. The mileage is great, and it's good for my commute, but sometimes you find yourself on a twisty road and wistfully think to yourself that the road would have been a lot more fun with the ol Jetta.

Sarge · 05-19-2006, 02:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(benighted @ May 19 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]258121[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The Prius has plenty of power for passing and entering the freeways. Though if you are used to performance handling cars you might be disapointed with the Prius at first as it has quite a bit of body roll and understeer in corners.

But you can always add things like low profile tires, suspension kits and stiffening braces until you get it the way you like. Or you might even like the way it handles stock. A lot of us have gotten out of performance handling cars and got in the Prius without having a problem with it because it sort of changes the way you think about driving, it is a very "relaxed" sort of ride see this thread.
[/b]

Having recently traded my trusty 1996 Integra for a Prius, I definitely agree with the body and understeer comment. Not horrible mind you, just not close to the Acura-sports-coupe territory, especially one that had a few minor upgrades of it's own.

I will probably investigate the stiffening brace and better tires in the future to improve this, but it's not priority right now... tires will be upgraded when the Integrities are worn out.

I guess as you grow older, priorities change. As others have said, it is less about performance and more about efficiency. I do feel a bit more relaxed, and also find myself striving to shrink the consumption bars (Canadian, eh!) as much as possible.

My wife and I take her on her first road trip tonight as we head to Montreal (~350 miles) to visit family! Very exciting!

- Kevin

05-19-2006, 12:38 PM	#1
B Rad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 295 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	OK, I'm a new guy thats very close to buying a PRIUS and have a couple of ??'s for those who care to respond. I now drive a 2000 Jetta VR-6 and have always been what's known as a "car guy" driving to me is one of lifes pleasures and while I am no hot rodder I like a car with nice handlling even at slow speeds. I also want a car that can enter a freeway and pass when needed without problems. It seems to be pretty impossible to take a test drive, hence my question. What did you drive before and how does that compare to your Prius ? __________________ B Rad Silver Pkg#3 Arrived 6/21/06 metalic tint,mud flaps,side molding, clear bra,Wet Okoli. 17" Centerline Wheels + 205/45-17 Falcon tires

05-19-2006, 01:56 PM	#6
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 2	I had a 1996 Saturn SC2. A compact coupe that's meant to seat 4, but only if the rear 2 passengers are child-sized otherwise there's not much room for adults in the back of that tiny thing. The Prius is much more multi-passenger friendly (4 doors, seats 4-5), and easier to get in and out of because it's not as low to the ground as the Saturn was. It was just getting to be an old car, my first car really, and I managed to put almost 180K miles on in the 9+ years I had it. It was a good car, served its purpose, then I moved on and up to better things. __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

05-19-2006, 02:11 PM	#8
mike_m Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 232 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I really admire those that have answered so far. It really takes discipline to keep a car that long. I haven't been able to do it so far. My Mag Grey should be here this week. I am trading in my Cadillac CTS with 40K miles. My wife thinks I'm "Nucking Futs". She said she can't picture me not driving something sporty. I rented a Prius for a week and really loved the car. I hope this car grows on me, and I don't get bored with it. BTW, as somebody suggested, I added the EFPC wheels, and the 17" tires to "tighten" it up a little bit. I could care less if I lose 5 MPG, cause I'm going from 18MPG. IF I get 40, I'm a happy chappy! Dude, go rent one. I didn't want to do the test drive. I wanted real life comparison without a salesperson next to me. __________________ Mike

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05-19-2006, 12:43 PM	#2
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,840 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	My last car was a 1990 Ford Probe LX, bought new. It had the V-6 engine and was lower to the ground than the Prius. It was fun to drive, but was much smaller inside. It also had about 193K miles on the clock and failed smog for the first time in 2004. I've had no problems driving the Prius either on the highway or off. It's easy to maintain a good speed and is pretty quick off the light, if necessary.

05-19-2006, 01:05 PM	#3
NoVaSnow Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 152 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Six days ago, I handed over my '96 Jetta GL to my 16-year-old daughter. 10 years, 102K on the ODO, just changed the original spark plugs and timing belt this week. It is a great car, and I'm glad to still have it in the family. My daughter is just as thrilled to have her Jetta as I am to have my Prius.

05-19-2006, 01:14 PM	#4
benighted Chief thread hijacker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westport, WA Posts: 530 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The Prius has plenty of power for passing and entering the freeways. Though if you are used to performance handling cars you might be disapointed with the Prius at first as it has quite a bit of body roll and understeer in corners. But you can always add things like low profile tires, suspension kits and stiffening braces until you get it the way you like. Or you might even like the way it handles stock. A lot of us have gotten out of performance handling cars and got in the Prius without having a problem with it because it sort of changes the way you think about driving, it is a very "relaxed" sort of ride see this thread.

05-19-2006, 02:11 PM	#7
wrprice Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 137 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	'94 Dodge Intrepid ES, 3.3L V6... 11 years old, ~130K miles, and my last MPG estimate before getting the Prius put it at ~13MPG on my stop-and-go commute to work. And compared to the Prius, that car felt like a yacht.