Dallas Realtor needs help with Prius or Camry

[deswain1971]

Hey all !!

I have been lurking here for a while, I am about to purchase a new vehicle. I am currently driving a W8 VW Passat it is an awesome car but for what i am doing it is not to awesome. I am a Realtor in Dallas and average 2000 miles a month i am currently doing 50% hwy and 50% city driving. I have driven a 2007 Camry 4banger and a 2007 Prius. I am very impressed with both vehicles the Camry is more refined but the Prius is more appealing to me.

So here are my concerns, if anyone has opinions please post them as i need help.

1. How will the prius perform under a lot of hwy and and a lot neighborhood driving? (stop and go)
2. 24000 miles a year X3 years how will this affect my resale? will the Camry hold the resale or will the prius?
3. I am concerned about the professionalism of the Prius vs the Camry.


I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions so please let me have it good and bad.

Thanks in advance

Eric

[Jonnycat26]

If you drive clients around to look at houses, I would take a long and hard look at the back seat of both cars. Whatever you save in gas mileage with the Prius over the Camry may not be worth it if you have unhappy people in the back seat.

That said, the Prius has an average back seat in terms of comfort, and it's a little short on legroom if you're tall. I suspect the Camry is probably more comfortable, but I didn't spend a lot of time checking that out when I test drove the Camry.

[Malarkey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Jun 24 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]467331[/snapback]</div>

If you drive clients around to look at houses, I would take a long and hard look at the back seat of both cars. Whatever you save in gas mileage with the Prius over the Camry may not be worth it if you have unhappy people in the back seat.

That said, the Prius has an average back seat in terms of comfort, and it's a little short on legroom if you're tall. I suspect the Camry is probably more comfortable, but I didn't spend a lot of time checking that out when I test drove the Camry.
[/b]

I'm 6'3ish and do not fit in the back seat of the Prius. My head hits the glass, though the legroom wasn't too bad (For the backseat of a non-large car). I had to lean forward to sit there, or tilt my head far to one side or the other.

Another thing to consider is statement. I do think the Prius is interpreted by some people as a political statement. I think it's foolish that this is so, but from talking to people at work and those that I know, it clearly is.

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 03:27 PM) [snapback]467336[/snapback]</div>

Another thing to consider is statement. I do think the Prius is interpreted by some people as a political statement.[/b]

Interestingly though, there is little agreement about what that statement actually is. It differs depending on who you ask.

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AXDSLNGR @ Jun 24 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]467330[/snapback]</div>

I have driven a 2007 Camry 4banger and a 2007 Prius. I am very impressed with both vehicles the Camry is more refined but the Prius is more appealing to me.[/b]

Have you considered the Camry Hybrid? It may be the best of both worlds for your specific needs, comfort, refinement and economy.

[Godiva]

How often do you have more than one client in the car? When you have more than one, who rides in the back? The 6'3" husband or the short wife and kids?

As for how the Prius is perceived, that will depend on your clientele. Whether it's seen very favorably or not will depend on who you deal with. The Cambrid won't make a statement but it won't offend anyone. It also won't get as good mileage as the Prius.

Keep in mind the Prius has plenty of space for signs, folding card table and chairs for all of those open houses.

[Stringmike]

As others have said, you need to consider the type of clients you will have and your impression management. A good guide would be to look at the cars in the driveways of the houses in the areas you're representing. If they're all Lexuses and Mercedes, you may need to move upmarket. If they're hemi-powered pickup trucks with bull horns mounted on the hood driven by Texas rednecks, a foreign car, especially a hybrid, would be like a red rag to a bull.

To middle or upper middle class professional people, either the Prius or Camry hybrids would be acceptable. Either car would manage the duty you describe very well.

Do remember many see hybrids as a political statement and be ready to respond.

Mike

[hill]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]467336[/snapback]</div>

I'm 6'3ish and do not fit in the back seat of the Prius. My head hits the glass, though the legroom wasn't too bad (For the backseat of a non-large car). I had to lean forward to sit there, or tilt my head far to one side or the other.

Another thing to consider is statement. I do think the Prius is interpreted by some people as a political statement. I think it's foolish that this is so, but from talking to people at work and those that I know, it clearly is.
[/b]

I'm 6'-5" and as other big folks on PC of similar height state, the back seat is roomy both head and leg wise. At least with equal inseam / waist measurements. Malarky, how much do you weigh? That may be the issue ... if you're heavy - proportionally. The Prius is far from being a boat, but it aint no slouch when it comes to being roomy either.

AXDSLNGR ~ Welcome to PC !!
My wife is one of the top realtors of our city ( fluctuates between 1st - 8th depending on her health) here in big buck O.C. California. When we got rid of our Range Rover, I tried to have her get the hybrid Highlander. It has plenty of room for lugging customers. She opted to buy the pricier but similar model hybrid SUV under the Lexus branding. All that to say, your customers (according to 'she who must be obeyed' ) often equate successfulness by the car you drive 'em around in.

If you were in the boonies, yea, get a Camry for your customers - or another 'average' type car ... even something with more people room. Dallas aint the boonies, though. Though I would normally not recommend glitz, in this case I would recommend going nicer. I hope my Prius doesn't read this !! :P

[deswain1971]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringmike @ Jun 24 2007, 07:00 PM) [snapback]467401[/snapback]</div>

As others have said, you need to consider the type of clients you will have and your impression management. A good guide would be to look at the cars in the driveways of the houses in the areas you're representing. If they're all Lexuses and Mercedes, you may need to move upmarket. If they're hemi-powered pickup trucks with bull horns mounted on the hood driven by Texas rednecks, a foreign car, especially a hybrid, would be like a red rag to a bull.

To middle or upper middle class professional people, either the Prius or Camry hybrids would be acceptable. Either car would manage the duty you describe very well.

Do remember many see hybrids as a political statement and be ready to respond.

Mike
[/b]

To Answer a number of questions at one time here i go.

The most people i have had in the car at once is four including myself. If chitlin are involved the parents usually drive why this is i am not sure but i would bet for safety reasons. If i have a couple in the car usually the wife sits in front.

As far as clients are concerned I work in all price levels
as low as 24000 up to 600000. I seem to connect with mostly cool people i very rarely get jerky or snoty types.

I do agree that the Prius makes a statement but what is it? As far as what other Realtors think I dont care as their opinions as they dont interest me. I am concerned about my clients 1st and foremost.

My W8 is amazing but i am running close to $600 a month in gas. So i need something that will minimize gas costs but still provide comfort and a good resale. I will be driving a Cambrid on Thursday but i dont like the price with leather. My goal is to stay under 30000 as i have a hard time spending more since i drive the miles i do.

I want to thank everyone thus far for their opinions! Please keep them coming and ask me questions as this is helpful.

Thanks
Eric

[hill]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringmike @ Jun 24 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]467401[/snapback]</div>

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Do remember many see hybrids as a political statement and be ready to respond.

Mike
[/b]

Hi Mike,
The whole political statement / hybrid thingie becomes moot when buying most any other hybrid other than the Prius. It's shaped like an egg. The whole world knows it's a hybrid. On the other hand, our Lexus RX-400h looks exactly like the NON hybrid SUV. Heck, it doesn't even have one of the little sticker / badges on it stating, 'hybrid'. So who'd know? With the exception of the Prius (and the Insight, which is out of production and no good for realtors anyway), no one need be the wiser that you're driving one of those dang tree hugger cars. imo

AXDSLNGR,
If we were in Dallas, considering your cash outlay, you can pick up a nice used hybrid Highlander. That will knock 1,000's off the cost, and put it within your budget. We got our SUV as a lease return and it had less than 11K miles on it. The hybrid system is warranted between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, depending where you live, so you can't go wrong.