Looking to buy a prius based soley on economics

[dogfriend]

Hi Zhackwyatt

I also own a Ford Explorer. Based on my experience 14 - 15 mpg is about what I was getting when I drove it back and forth to work. I bought a Prius last year. My mileage on the same commute is 48 -50 mpg.

The Explorer is great for towing a trailer, hauling stuff from Home Depot (although I have carried 8 ft long lumber in the Prius) and driving through snowstorms. The remainder of the time it serves as a driveway ornament.

[Keri]

Welcome.
I was in your position last year. Should I or shouldn't I? I should have. Don't wait like I did. Go for it. Look at all of the posts here, these people really love their Prii! Show me one message board like this for a Ford Explorer.

[tkil]

As others have pointed out, if you just want the cheapest commuter car, you're better off finding a low-milage used Civic or Corolla and buying it.

If you want certain creature comforts, then it's no longer a "solely economic" decision, is it?

I did a brain dump on a related question here:
At MSRP, is the Prius still worth it?

The general point is that you have to list all the options that are acceptable to you; analyze each for the benefits and costs; weigh each of those factors according to how *you* perceive them; then determine which is the best fit.

I am still in love with my Prius, although I've had it 3 years; the fact that it's still the lowest-emissions, highest-MPG car available, has incredible flexibility for cargo, has great geek toys, and very low maintenance costs (55k miles and still on original brakes!)... I feel it was a no-brainer -- but I didn't have the option of keeping my old car, and I had the disposible income to get a new car.

Your constraints and priorities might be very different.

I will echo others on this thread that most of us have very positive experiences with the Prius, and we hope you have just as much fun with yours (if you choose to buy one).

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by Keri

Show me one message board like this for a Ford Explorer.

Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

Actually I still like my Explorer except for one thing - the horrific gas mileage.

I kept it because the resale value is almost zero and it can be very handy when I actually need it.

But I like everything about the Prius too and it gets great mileage.

[Keri]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

I googled before I made that remark and I did not count that site as being all about one vehicle, like PC. This was the description of the forum site and my reason for discounting it:
Ford Explorer, Sport Trac, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger Enthusiast Forum

I could be wrong, but that seems to me to be a multi-vehicle forum. I love that PC is all about the Prius. Even though there is an area for people to discuss other cars, it is a site dedicated to one certain car.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by Keri

I googled before I made that remark and I did not count that site as being all about one vehicle, like PC. This was the description of the forum site and my reason for discounting it:
Ford Explorer, Sport Trac, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger Enthusiast Forum

I could be wrong, but that seems to me to be a multi-vehicle forum. I love that PC is all about the Prius. Even though there is an area for people to discuss other cars, it is a site dedicated to one certain car.

Its primarily a Ford Explorer forum, most of the members have Explorers, but they have sections for other vehicles too, just like PC has sections for TCH and HyHy, etc.

The Explorer board was originally started by some guys who liked to modify their vehicles for off-road but it has expanded to include street vehicles, lowered vehicles, vehicle repair, etc. Its an old forum, I've been posting there since 2002.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

Its primarily a Ford Explorer forum, most of the members have Explorers, but they have sections for other vehicles too, just like PC has sections for TCH and HyHy, etc.

The Explorer board was originally started by some guys who liked to modify their vehicles for off-road but it has expanded to include street vehicles, lowered vehicles, vehicle repair, etc. Its an old forum, I've been posting there since 2002.

Does it have a big section about repairing roll over damage?

[Doc Willie]

Solely on economics:

1. Judicious use of used cars, driving them as long as possible is always the cheapest route. CarTalk.com has some calculators to do the math if you want.

2. Total cost of ownership, starting with a new car, as calculated by Consumer Reports: Prius is the cheapest thing you can own over the life of the car.

3. Priism can be addicting. I have spent far more on this toy than I am ever going to recoup on gas savings. But that's me. You have been forewarned.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by patsparks

Does it have a big section about repairing roll over damage?

4x4 Flips Down Mountainside Video


Rollover posse Application - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations


Actually, they aren't any more likely to flip than any other SUV, no matter what the reputation. Most of them die from transmission failure.

[bac]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

And you can keep the Explorer for when you start feeling bad for OPEC.

... Brad