Look at a 2007 Touring

D1CK1E · 02-17-2007, 10:11 PM

Hi. I have been car shopping for over a year now and the Prius has by far been the choice calling at me. My main question is this: should I wait another year for the 2008 model?

Also, has anyone purchased one of the lighter package 2007 Touring models? Package #1 or #2 are what I'm looking at... but what exactly is the "Vehicle Stability" on #2?

Any push in the right direction on where to learn all that I need to know about the Prius would be welcome. I've spent about an hour test driving a 2007 and I hope to rent one for a few days before I make my decision. I would like to spend less than $25k.

Thanks.

cireecnop1 · 02-18-2007, 08:35 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 17 2007, 08:11 PM) [snapback]392209[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hi. I have been car shopping for over a year now and the Prius has by far been the choice calling at me. My main question is this: should I wait another year for the 2008 model?...."

Thanks.
[/b]

I would go for the Prius definately, I just don't know what to tell you about the 08 besides that I think its an 09 being released in 08. I would wait for the third gen prius if it was coming out this year, but I decided to get this 07 Touring then in 2 years when the New one comes out, 'add' it to my collection.

Beryl Octet · 02-18-2007, 08:58 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 17 2007, 10:11 PM) [snapback]392209[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hi. I have been car shopping for over a year now and the Prius has by far been the choice calling at me. My main question is this: should I wait another year for the 2008 model?

Also, has anyone purchased one of the lighter package 2007 Touring models? Package #1 or #2 are what I'm looking at... but what exactly is the "Vehicle Stability" on #2?
[/b]

Should you wait? It depends. How's the shape of your existing car, is it going to bug you being on the old style when a new one is out etc. etc. Right now there seems to be a good supply of inventory, so you might get a better deal on an '07 than you could on the new '08.

VSC is a system to help keep the car stable and on the road when something bad happens. It was one of the features I wanted in a car. Some more details:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/ar...92/article.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/electro...bility-control

D1CK1E · 02-18-2007, 04:17 PM

Thanks for the links. I'll be getting package #2 if I can find it here. Still not 100% sure I'm going to get a Prius, but I'm going to start interest rate shopping next week and see what I can swing. The corolla is pretty dope too, and I'm in no rush at all. I have a 2002 civic I've been driving for a couple of years that I'm going to give to my brother. A year might be too long for me to hang on to it though; his car may die before then.

The 45~ mpg averages people talk about are a little disappointing for a car that claims 60mpg though.

usbseawolf2000 · 02-18-2007, 04:37 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 18 2007, 04:17 PM) [snapback]392489[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The 45~ mpg averages people talk about are a little disappointing for a car that claims 60mpg though.
[/b]

I got 45 MPG on my last tank. I calculated by miles driven divided by gas filled. It is not the most accurate way to measure as the bladder tank changes size according to the temp. But overall, my average dipped to 49.5 MPG.

Since we got snow last week, Prius was on with the defrosters going while removing snow for a couple minutes. On this tank, I also spent about 30 minutes watching a video (on Archos 604 wifi) with my gf in the car with heat while waiting for friends. I also went to New Jersey through Holland Tunnel and back with a horrible traffic jam. I made a video to document my first winter in Prius.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=80...24369&hl=en

Normally, I average 52 mpg in warm weather.

Dennis

OlsonBW · 02-18-2007, 09:07 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D1CK1E @ Feb 18 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]392489[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Thanks for the links. I'll be getting package #2 if I can find it here. Still not 100% sure I'm going to get a Prius, but I'm going to start interest rate shopping next week and see what I can swing. The corolla is pretty dope too, and I'm in no rush at all. I have a 2002 civic I've been driving for a couple of years that I'm going to give to my brother. A year might be too long for me to hang on to it though; his car may die before then.

The 45~ mpg averages people talk about are a little disappointing for a car that claims 60mpg though.
[/b]

Something to keep in mind. Prius' and ALL cars gets worse gas mileage during the winter. So this is the worst gas mileage that you will see for the year.

I'm sure the EPA doesn't do their mileage estimates during the winter.

Bill Merchant · 02-19-2007, 02:38 AM

One option you really ought to try to get, D1CK1E, is side curtain airbags. I don't know what comes with a package 2 on the 2007. All Prius have a super-strength steel safety cage around the passenger compartment. VSC will help keep you going in the direction you want to go. ABS will help you stop in the direction you want to stop. Side curtain airbags will keep you from punching out your side window with your skull if some fool T-bones you.

Toyota MUST advertise 60/55 mpg, it's the law. When the EPA changes how they measure fuel efficiency, Toyota, and all other car manufacturers, will have to advertise those numbers. 44-45 MPG is easy to attain, without much effort. Better than EPA is possible if you try (look for a thread called I Beat The EPA). The Prius has better fuel efficiency that most other cars, and lower emissions. If you look at the carrying capacity, it pretty much can't be beat. Unless it doesn't fit you.

D1CK1E · 02-19-2007, 11:56 AM

Out of all the cars I test drove I loved the Prius... I'm just a bit worried that the Corolla is a smarter and more practical choice. I'm also worried about new hybrid technology coming out in a few years that makes me regret not waiting to buy a Prius.

On the flip side, the CVT is something that really impresses me as well as the interior design of the Prius. I am 23 years old now and have never been in a wreck so safety doesn't concern me much anyway. What can you do if an Escalade runs you over at 60+mph?

One last question... is it possible to get EXACTLY the options you want via a dealer order? Has anyone done this or do most people buy a Prius that is already on the lot?

David Beale · 02-19-2007, 02:02 PM

Check around via the internet. If you are willing to travel a bit, you can get exactly what you want at a good price. You can get the MSRP and model availability off the Toyota web site. Look up different city zip codes and enter them to see what's available elsewhere. Use the "Price your Toyota" feature on the website to see the MSRP.

Note also, that you can get the "extended warranty" for much less than most dealers offer from a dealer who you can contact from this site.

MegansPrius · 02-19-2007, 03:32 PM

The side-curtain airbags are standard on 2007's, so you don't need to worry about those. Also, if you purchase before March 31 you should still qualify for the $1575 tax credit that you can deduct from your 2007 taxes (unless you earn something >100k a year and have to pay Alternative Minimum Tax). After March 31 the tax credit drops to $787.

You ought to be able to get good financing offers, possibly from Toyota right now, as they've been offering incentives to increase sales.

02-19-2007, 02:38 AM	#7
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,949 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 49	One option you really ought to try to get, D1CK1E, is side curtain airbags. I don't know what comes with a package 2 on the 2007. All Prius have a super-strength steel safety cage around the passenger compartment. VSC will help keep you going in the direction you want to go. ABS will help you stop in the direction you want to stop. Side curtain airbags will keep you from punching out your side window with your skull if some fool T-bones you. Toyota MUST advertise 60/55 mpg, it's the law. When the EPA changes how they measure fuel efficiency, Toyota, and all other car manufacturers, will have to advertise those numbers. 44-45 MPG is easy to attain, without much effort. Better than EPA is possible if you try (look for a thread called I Beat The EPA). The Prius has better fuel efficiency that most other cars, and lower emissions. If you look at the carrying capacity, it pretty much can't be beat. Unless it doesn't fit you. __________________ Bill Bill.Merchant@PortlandHSD.info 2007 NL 5 Silver Wraith 2005 BC 6 Silver Cloud Portland Area HSD Meetup Group: PortlandHSD.info Become carbon neutral: Carbonfund.org or TerraPass.com

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02-17-2007, 10:11 PM	#1
D1CK1E Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi. I have been car shopping for over a year now and the Prius has by far been the choice calling at me. My main question is this: should I wait another year for the 2008 model? Also, has anyone purchased one of the lighter package 2007 Touring models? Package #1 or #2 are what I'm looking at... but what exactly is the "Vehicle Stability" on #2? Any push in the right direction on where to learn all that I need to know about the Prius would be welcome. I've spent about an hour test driving a 2007 and I hope to rent one for a few days before I make my decision. I would like to spend less than $25k. Thanks. __________________ 2007 Prius (Black, Package #2)

02-18-2007, 04:17 PM	#4
D1CK1E Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for the links. I'll be getting package #2 if I can find it here. Still not 100% sure I'm going to get a Prius, but I'm going to start interest rate shopping next week and see what I can swing. The corolla is pretty dope too, and I'm in no rush at all. I have a 2002 civic I've been driving for a couple of years that I'm going to give to my brother. A year might be too long for me to hang on to it though; his car may die before then. The 45~ mpg averages people talk about are a little disappointing for a car that claims 60mpg though.

02-19-2007, 11:56 AM	#8
D1CK1E Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Out of all the cars I test drove I loved the Prius... I'm just a bit worried that the Corolla is a smarter and more practical choice. I'm also worried about new hybrid technology coming out in a few years that makes me regret not waiting to buy a Prius. On the flip side, the CVT is something that really impresses me as well as the interior design of the Prius. I am 23 years old now and have never been in a wreck so safety doesn't concern me much anyway. What can you do if an Escalade runs you over at 60+mph? One last question... is it possible to get EXACTLY the options you want via a dealer order? Has anyone done this or do most people buy a Prius that is already on the lot?

02-19-2007, 02:02 PM	#9
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,438 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Check around via the internet. If you are willing to travel a bit, you can get exactly what you want at a good price. You can get the MSRP and model availability off the Toyota web site. Look up different city zip codes and enter them to see what's available elsewhere. Use the "Price your Toyota" feature on the website to see the MSRP. Note also, that you can get the "extended warranty" for much less than most dealers offer from a dealer who you can contact from this site.

02-19-2007, 03:32 PM	#10
MegansPrius GoogleMeister, AKA bongokitty Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,032 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	The side-curtain airbags are standard on 2007's, so you don't need to worry about those. Also, if you purchase before March 31 you should still qualify for the $1575 tax credit that you can deduct from your 2007 taxes (unless you earn something >100k a year and have to pay Alternative Minimum Tax). After March 31 the tax credit drops to $787. You ought to be able to get good financing offers, possibly from Toyota right now, as they've been offering incentives to increase sales.