Opinions Wanted Please

[mike_m]

I am on the verge of pulling the trigger. I hope these are fun to drive, other than the gas mileage thing. I read in another post that somebody said they were going back to their Benzo when the novelty of the Prius wears off. I told some of my friends that I was considering this car, and they said that I don't fit the typical hybrid driver profile, whatever that means. My CTS passes everything on the road except a gas staion...... I have no problem paying for gas, even though I don't like it. Has the novelty of this car warn off any, who now regret buying one? Thanks for your patience and understanding with these questions, and I sincerly hope nobody takes offense to anything.

Thanks,
MIKE

[galaxee]

i've been driving a prius for just over a year. i still love that car.

i also don't fit the typical hybrid owner profile. but i don't care, and i still enjoy driving way more than i ever did before.

[JBJAG]

Dude - the Prius is awsome -
and speaking as someone who is used to driving a 400hp 6litre V12 Convertible Jaguar I understand where you are comming from -

My other car is our Prius - and it is a joy to drive - yes a completely different experience but all the same a very pleasureable one -

Now I save the Jag for sunny Sunday afternoons and when faced with a choice between the two in many ways I prefer the Prius.

It has a totaly different form of status attached to it - and the more you drive it the more you'll become attached to it -

I recomend renting one for a weekend before buying - and I doubt you'll find many on this boad who regret buying a Prius.

Best of luck - James

[coloradospringsprius]

1. I've had my Prius for 14 months, and I still sometimes turn around and look back at it while I'm walking away.

2. I'd never use the word "novelty" about the Prius. It can actually change the way you think - not just about cars, but about energy consumption in general.

[aaf709]

I've had mine for a little over a year and I still enjoy driving it. I'm looking forward to a long trip with it.

I agree with renting first (I did for 2 weeks). Some have bought it without a test drive and find that the seats hurt them.

[ghostofjk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike_m @ Apr 28 2006, 03:44 PM) [snapback]246885[/snapback]</div>

I don't fit the typical hybrid driver personality, whatever that means.
[/b]

Welcome to PC, if you weren't greeted at the door!

First, hang around here reading posts for 2 or 3 days and you'll know that, despite the tree-hugger/Birkenstock claptrap, there's no typical hybrid driver personality. We've done lots of internal polling, some serious, some for fun, and three things I can see that are "distinguishing" about us (and it's only among those who post fairly regularly, which may or may not represent another trait in itself) is that there are lots of Mac users, lots of engineers and we're on the "liberal" side politically. Of, I forgot one. Worst spellers on the planet.

I have two Priuses now and have owned four total. Yes, the PHYSICAL novelty of driving the car has worn off. One Edmunds tester remarked that Prius systems are so "neutral" it made him feel he was driving an appliance---and I thought he came close!

But it's what's in your noggin that will make you feel special driving it, or not. After a total 130K miles, I still do. Not everyone gets to drive the most advanced machine ever devised for ordinary transportation. Its potential for pointing the way to actually influence the world oil market probably will never be realized, but it's there. Sound ovwerblown? That's me.

Plus it'll suck up almost everything else on the road going up a steep hill. :P

[huskers]

6 months driving my Prius and each day is better and better...I have never owned a car that I love like this car.

[Amyshubby]

I doubt you will get many people expressing regrets, simply because if someone was sorry about their purchase they probably wouldn't participate on this board.

I can tell you that I bought my Prius a little over a month ago for the sole purpose of getting onto the HOV lane. I didn't care about any of the other aspects of the car.

Having said that, I am in love with this car. It looks small from the outside, but is roomy on the inside. The smartkey system, back-up camera and bluetooth features are a joy to use and I still feel like a kid in a candy store when I drive in stealth mode. I am also getting 49 MPG (I drive mostly highway miles). With my Saab, I was filling up the 18 gallon tank twice a week. Now I go a little over a week without filling up about 10 gallons. Most important is that this car is just fun to drive. I really thought I would be giving up a lot when I bought it, but I haven't missed my old car at all.

[Canuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Amyshubby @ Apr 28 2006, 05:43 PM) [snapback]246926[/snapback]</div>

I doubt you will get many people expressing regrets, simply because if someone was sorry about their purchase they probably wouldn't participate on this board.

I can tell you that I bought my Prius a little over a month ago for the sole purpose of getting onto the HOV lane. I didn't care about any of the other aspects of the car.

Having said that, I am in love with this car. It looks small from the outside, but is roomy on the inside. The smartkey system, back-up camera and bluetooth features are a joy to use and I still feel like a kid in a candy store when I drive in stealth mode. I am also getting 49 MPG (I drive mostly highway miles). With my Saab, I was filling up the 18 gallon tank twice a week. Now I go a little over a week without filling up about 10 gallons. Most important is that this car is just fun to drive. I really thought I would be giving up a lot when I bought it, but I haven't missed my old car at all.
[/b]

Amy's Hubby:
Really not trying to be disagreeable because I concur with everything except your first paragraph.
I submit that upon carefully reading of the posts on PC you will find a considerable number of folks who have posted their displeasure with the Prius. For the most part, all PriusChat contributors tolerate negative vibes about our sacred automobile providing the criticism is founded on fact and experience ....not second-hand garbage. Yes, on PC you would find a great number of Prius naysayers posting if the vehicle warranted such experiences. When you have been here long enough you will find that everyone really tells it as it is.
Glad to have you as a fellow owner.
Gary

[Bill Lumbergh]

I've owned a Boxster, a WRX, and plenty of Hondas. The Prius was the only car that taught me to drive for efficiency instead of maximum speed.

It's also the only car I've driven at least five days a week, to and from work, that has not needed gas for over a month. I last got gas on March 30th!

It satisfies the cognitive side of me. Emotion has very little to do with why I drive it. Smug? Oh yeah....I love laughing at others who complain about getting raped at the pump.