Decided on Camry, but many thanks

[Claudia]

This is just to say thanks for all the responses to our questions - we learned a lot here. Our main problem with the Prius came down to the almighty dollar - as much as we loved driving the Prius, there was about a $5000 difference in the appraised value of our Accord and the price of the Prius. I told hubby I just wanted to test drive a Camry and think about it - we had had an Avalon in the past and loved it. Went to the local dealership and saw a green aspen pearl Camry and test drove it. While he was driving, I found a large cardboard sticker buried beside the console that informed me the car had been reduced about $2500 and the cost difference in that and the Accord was $148. At that point, money doesn't talk - it screams. Because it was so much cheaper than the Prius, we were able to immediately get rid of those Integrity tires and replace them with a set of 90,000 mile Michelins (got $150 off for trading in the tires), and change out the
stock stereo for a Sony at Circuit City - even got an iPod jack run into one of the little cubby holes, so just have to plug iPod into the jack and it incorporates into the Sony for control. Total cost of the upgrades we did was about $600 - which we wouldn't have been able to do had we paid for the Prius. Went from a 6 cyl to a 4, so we'll see some mileage improvement, and the Camry is equipped with moon roof and side curtain airbags.

We really hated not to go for the Prius (but the idea of never recouping the price difference we didn't like - it would take a lot of driving to make up the difference in fuel savings, and we drove under 10,000 miles in the last year. Also, the dealership that was getting in a Prius for us lied - they said they wouldn't run the credit card for the $500 deposit until we decided if we wanted it, and damned if they didn't run it about the time we walked out the door. I do not like being lied to, and after that wouldn't have bought a car from them for anything. If we live long enough, maybe our next car will be a Prius (or a hybrid Camry).

Thanks so much to all of you who took the time and effort to help us learn what we needed to know to make an informed decision. For us, at this time, this was the right decision. The
Camry is a great car, and so easy to drive compared to the Accord that I don't even have Prius-envy syndrome!

[Godiva]

Was the price of your Accord based on dealer's price for a trade in? Did you consider selling it as a private party? Usually gets you more.

Too bad you couldn't wait a year. Toyota is making a hybrid version of the Camry due in 2006.

Glad you have a car you're happy with. Maybe after this one you can afford a Prius. Who knows what will be offered in 2009.

[bookrats]

Understood -- I know how it is to balance your budget.

The Camry is a great car, and reliable as all get-out (like most Toyotas).

Have fun!

[alsgameroom]

Everybody's situation is different.

We currently drive from a '93 saturn sl2 (can't kill it) and an '88 dodge Ramcharger (can't kill this either but the gas pains -Ouch!). I commute in the saturn, wife gets 8 mpg around town in the truck.

We'll soon get our Pruis so I'll commute in the Pruis, the saturn will be the 'round town vehicle.

Like most sensible people, I budget for gas and repair /maint. Before deciding on the Prius, I made a spreadsheet of my miles per day for each vehicle and estimated a low 45 MPG for the prius.
I also figure my repair/maint will be cut in half as the saturn will be driven about 100 miles per week, the prius will need little maint (I do my own) and I am banking that the prius will not need costly repairs.

my numbers: about 2000 year savings! keep in mind I am already budgetting this money so its not fluff... I will actually realize these savings in CASH..
then theres the tax rebate.

I figure in 4 years I'll accumulate 8 to 9000, and can trade in the prius for a new car by throwing in a couple grand.

So as I see it...I am upgrading to a green vehicle at no extra cost.

:-)

[paul16451]

I well understand budget caps when it comes to big purchases, sorry the Prius didn't meet yours and that you had such a crappy dealer. There was no reason for them to treat you like that...First, they should have known by law that there is no such thing as a non-refundable deposit on cars, second, the demand for the Prius is so high that it wouldn't have stayed on the lot very long anyway.

I guess the only possible thing I could think of was that competition for commission was so fierce that the salesperson wanted to make sure he had their name attached to yours if you did decide to buy.

[gschoen]

game - I know how it is to try to kill the "saturn that won't die!" My 96 SC2 is refusing to go, was hoping it would die whiel on the list for the Prius, but my wait turned out to be short. Now I have two cars and don't even need one! Must say the early saturns really keep ticking (my earlier 92 SC2 still going strong by my step-brother)

[DanMan32]

It may have been a credit hold they placed, and not a charge. Credit holds expire after a time and are mainly to be sure you have the necessary credit, and you don't end up maxing out your card on something else.
Many gas stations need to do this now, especially for at-the-pump transactions.

[Claudia]

The hold is a nice thought, Dan - but I checked with the credit card company. It was a charge. Further, when we called the dealership, we got a run-around - the type where gee whiz the only person who can fix the problem was out of town and couldn't be reached for days. They say that now they have credited it back, but credit card company has yet to confirm.

Value of the Accord based on Kelly. I know we shoulda sold it ourselves, but I just wanted to get away from that car! It actually had me convinced that I had forgotten how to drive. I've stopped trying to figure out how that happened - been too busy driving around in the Camry to worry about it. It sure is nice to feel competent again (and comfortable,too).

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Claudia\";p=\"90316)</div>

...but I just wanted to get away from that car!  It actually had me convinced that I had forgotten how to drive.[/b]

What was the problem?

[galaxee]

Can't kill a Saturn? My husband's 94 SL1 died after the timing system went beserk and the engine head got all bashed up from hitting the valves. Then he went and replaced all the engine head parts only to have the oil pump die on him 3 days later and the engine seized.

Make sure you have a receipt for the credit back. It took a few days for us to get our credit back when we financed everything. And we had to give them the credit card number about 5 times. But they should be able to produce a receipt if they actually did put the credit back.