Prius or BMW 5 series?

jamarimutt · 07-27-2004, 09:19 AM

Read jrawles' post again. That pretty much says it all.

Eug · 07-27-2004, 10:15 AM

When I bought my 2001 Prius, the Toyota salesguy told me to get a Lexus. Obviously I didn't listen. :P It all really comes down to personal preference... and now I'm on my second Prius, a 2004.

Or you can just wait a bit and get a Lexus hybrid.

htmlspinnr · 07-27-2004, 10:34 AM

Not quite the same car, but I did trade a 1999 Contour SVT (200hp version) for my 2002 Prius back in 2001. While I do miss the power and handling of the car at times, I certainly don't miss feeding it Premium while it only gets 17-18mpg at best. I also don't miss the fact that it was at the upper limit of the allowable emissions standard of the time.

The 2004 Prius has provided me with more of a compromise due to increased power w/o increased fuel consumption, and more ammenities than even my Contour had (save leather and sunroof, the former I wouldn't want).

We may all drool over a 5 series or an M3 at times, but for most of us, reality sets in and says, "Hey, the Prius really does serve our 'needs', and it's way more socially responsible to drive to boot!"

**efusco** · 07-27-2004, 10:57 AM

If you're in no hurry, and you can get your hands on one, buy the Prius. I think your heart is in the right place on the issue. If you find it's not the luxury you desire you can sell it, potentially at a profit and still get the 5-series.

I've been in the new 5 series with the speed sensitive steering....Dang is that a sweet feature. The car can really move, is very comfortable, sweet feature package (though they don't have SS/SE) It does have BT telephone, GPS NAV, etc. Down side, watching the fuel mileage on the computer...yikes.

bruceha_2000 · 07-27-2004, 11:25 AM

Quote:

When I bought my 2001 Prius, the Toyota salesguy told me to get a Lexus.

And I'm SURE it had NOTHING to do with the commission. ;-)

pshady · 07-27-2004, 12:06 PM

thanks for all of your input. yes, as you've figured i'm leaning heavily toward the prius. i'm a techno gadget freak, and the "responsible" part of me loves the idea of a reliable, practical, fuel-efficient car. the "teenager" part of me wants to bmw....

i'm sold on the prius! now if i can only find one to buy without paying through the nose....

jamarimutt · 07-27-2004, 12:27 PM

True, you can almost certainly go to a BMW dealer and buy a 5-series car today. You can't go to a Toyota dealer and do likeswise with a Prius.

LeVautRien · 07-27-2004, 02:25 PM

I'm glad you're sold! Most dealers arn't charging over MSRP, are they? Or are you interested in getting one now? :mrgreen:

jfschultz · 07-27-2004, 02:30 PM

Quote:

ok i have a real dilemma. i love the prius (i've driven it a couple of times), and it's great value for the money. however, i'm afraid that i would regret it if i bought it. i'm used to driving german luxury cars (i currently own an audi a6) and i was thinking about getting a bmw 530 until i saw the prius.

did anyone else here make a similar leap and do you regret the decision?

i feel like i'm at a crossroads (light = prius, darkside = bmw).

haha....

Back in the late 70's I had an Audi 100LS (bought used) and a Fox (bought new). Both had oil consumption and CV joint problems as they got to 60K miles. After we had my wife's 1980 Corona for a year and a half I compared the maintenance file with the first year and a half on the Fox. It was no comparison.

So when the CV joints went out the Fox's last trip was to the Toyota dealer for a trade and I never looked back. The 04 Prius is Toyota #6.

Let the Huns have their cars.

DaveinOlyWA · 07-27-2004, 08:48 PM

i agree. only major repair bill for any toyota i owned was an engine replacement caused when my then girlfriend hit a curb ripping a gash in the oil pan of my 83 corolla. she then promptly ran it dry and got it slightly hot.

well to make a long story short. it lasted another 6 months and then i put a new motor in it. the old motor had 165,000 on it. i put 20,000 on the new motor and sold it and bought another corolla.

07-27-2004, 10:34 AM	#13
htmlspinnr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ (Phoenix) Posts: 1,304 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Not quite the same car, but I did trade a 1999 Contour SVT (200hp version) for my 2002 Prius back in 2001. While I do miss the power and handling of the car at times, I certainly don't miss feeding it Premium while it only gets 17-18mpg at best. I also don't miss the fact that it was at the upper limit of the allowable emissions standard of the time. The 2004 Prius has provided me with more of a compromise due to increased power w/o increased fuel consumption, and more ammenities than even my Contour had (save leather and sunroof, the former I wouldn't want). We may all drool over a 5 series or an M3 at times, but for most of us, reality sets in and says, "Hey, the Prius really does serve our 'needs', and it's way more socially responsible to drive to boot!" __________________ Rick Johnson - Linux Geek, Private Pilot 2004 Prius - Tideland Green Pearl - Pioneer #3 (#9 pkg) - 101K miles - Factory EV Button, Homemade fog lamp grills, Goodyear Allegra tires 2002 Prius - Blue Moon Pearl - All options except NAV - 51.5k miles - Coastal Hitch Family Prius Score: 4 (2 mine, 1 parents, 1 aunt/uncle)

07-27-2004, 10:57 AM	#14
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	If you're in no hurry, and you can get your hands on one, buy the Prius. I think your heart is in the right place on the issue. If you find it's not the luxury you desire you can sell it, potentially at a profit and still get the 5-series. I've been in the new 5 series with the speed sensitive steering....Dang is that a sweet feature. The car can really move, is very comfortable, sweet feature package (though they don't have SS/SE) It does have BT telephone, GPS NAV, etc. Down side, watching the fuel mileage on the computer...yikes. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

07-27-2004, 12:06 PM	#16
pshady Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 132 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	your thoughts thanks for all of your input. yes, as you've figured i'm leaning heavily toward the prius. i'm a techno gadget freak, and the "responsible" part of me loves the idea of a reliable, practical, fuel-efficient car. the "teenager" part of me wants to bmw.... i'm sold on the prius! now if i can only find one to buy without paying through the nose....

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AC Schnitzer GP3.10 3-Series Coupe	greenman456	Other Cars	1	09-13-2007 10:47 AM
Excellent documentary series!	Alric	Fuel Economy	0	04-13-2007 10:21 AM
What ever happened to series hybrids?	marjam	Prius and Hybrid News	20	09-02-2006 10:32 PM
BMW 1-Series as Sporty Three-Door	Tideland Prius	Other Cars	0	07-01-2006 08:10 PM
EPA says Series Hybrid Better	Anonymous	Prius and Hybrid News	29	05-09-2005 05:45 AM

07-27-2004, 09:19 AM	#11
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Read jrawles' post again. That pretty much says it all.

07-27-2004, 10:15 AM	#12
Eug Swollen Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Earth (for now) Posts: 285 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When I bought my 2001 Prius, the Toyota salesguy told me to get a Lexus. Obviously I didn't listen. :P It all really comes down to personal preference... and now I'm on my second Prius, a 2004. Or you can just wait a bit and get a Lexus hybrid.

07-27-2004, 12:27 PM	#17
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	True, you can almost certainly go to a BMW dealer and buy a 5-series car today. You can't go to a Toyota dealer and do likeswise with a Prius.

07-27-2004, 02:25 PM	#18
LeVautRien Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Claremont, California Posts: 367 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm glad you're sold! Most dealers arn't charging over MSRP, are they? Or are you interested in getting one now? :mrgreen:

07-27-2004, 08:48 PM	#20
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,661 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	i agree. only major repair bill for any toyota i owned was an engine replacement caused when my then girlfriend hit a curb ripping a gash in the oil pan of my 83 corolla. she then promptly ran it dry and got it slightly hot. well to make a long story short. it lasted another 6 months and then i put a new motor in it. the old motor had 165,000 on it. i put 20,000 on the new motor and sold it and bought another corolla.