How wealthy are prius drivers?

I would say the opposite for young people. That is when you need to build your credit. For instance, I have no credit at 22. I have a credit card paid off every month, but that's it. I had cash to pay for my Prius, but instead I financed at 1.9% or 2.9% (I forget lol) and I build my credit. Now if I already had credit, then paying cash would make sense.

Also, people always say they will keep the car until the wheels fall off, but in reality most do not. You get bored and want a change every now and then. 4-5 years seems average for switching cars.

 

new $22,000 prius, should be around $400-$425month.

used 2007 to 2009 should be around $275 to $350 a month

 

Nothing wrong with an apartment, one went up for sale in Hyde park in London for £140M. I bet the owner would look down on cheap cars like a BMW or Mercedes.

Interesting to see that kind of prejudice by those who are against the prejudice ;-)

 

Cameron Diaz likes prius. Didn't she smile at you last week when she was over

 

In most parts of the US (New York City being one exception), an apartment is a leased residence--what you'd refer to as a flat.

 

Nope a flat or an apartment has no meaning to the way you purchased it at all...Generally you don't own the land or there will be shared ownership but that doesn't mean you don't own the flat or apartment...Can't seem to find that in a dictionary either....But I do appreciate the explanation for perhaps some implied meaning...

 

The other - how many are financed and how many owned outright

 

I agree that most people in the states consider an apartment a rented dwelling that is not a single unattached home. If you own the unit it is probably (80-90% I would say) either a condominium or a cooperative apartment. If someone here says "I have an apartment" they are paying rent for a unit in a multifamily dwelling.

I have no idea what an apartment means in most other countries and frankly it is of little moment to me. I understood what he meant. But thanks for the basic property law lecture from your country.

 

An American apartment is a rental unit only. An American condo is basically a European apartment where you buy it and can sell it later but you don't own all of it.


So the first one you just throw your money into a pit and burn it essentially, the second one you get something out of the deal.

 

I don't care, the Prince of Abu Dabi is being ripped off...

IMO that finish makes the Mercedes SLR McClaren look like a KENMORE kitchen appliance. My first reaction is to look for the ice dispenser in the doors.

 

I went in to pay cash for my Prius, but they were having 0% interest. So now my money is making 2% and some computer transfers Toyota their payment amount.

 

This link brought a smile to my face. I have owned NOT just driven Jags and fully tricked out chevy/ford trucks and vans but mostly caddys in my adult life( all purchased New). At this point in my life I can afford to drive almost ANY production car in the world. I choose the Prius for several reasons. The turning point was when I filled up my last suburban and it cost $125 to fill the tank! So out with the SUV and in with the Prius. I still have a fully tricked out Avalanche but the car we use most is the Prius. My 2009 Prius has almost 50k on it and I can really say I love it. Not that it will not be soon replaced by a 2011 or 2012 unit but for the moment it is the car that suits me/us the best. And my income has nothing to do with the choice.

 

This thread needs to die...I cannot believe it got a Star. I cannot believe I am perpetuating it by responding...this act of responding makes me feel slimy/sick to my stomach...can't seem to stop....

The English gentleman was correct this thread is actually quite offensive to many Europeans who think it very rude to ask the first question most Americans ask when meeting someone for the first time "What do you do?"(which is a form of "how much do you make").

The existence of this Thread exposes an ugly side of the American Psyce...feeling a need to respond to this thread is just an example of how deep this uglyness goes...Excuse me what do you do for a living? Where do you live? How much did you say you make?

There now I need a shower.

 

You seem easily disturbed. I suggest taking a deep breath and accepting that most things, particularly internet forums, are not that sinister or profound.

 

I was the one who gave this thread one star. By the way, one star is a VERY BAD RATING, it's worse rating than no stars. It shows everyone this thread sucks.


EDIT:

Rating ThreadsWhat are ratings?
The forums allow you to rate threads between 1 star (terrible) and 5 stars (excellent). Once enough votes are cast for a thread, stars will appear next to its name in the listings. These show the average vote, and can be an easy way to see which threads are worth reading if you are on a busy forum.
On the forum viewing page you can also arrange threads by rating, with either the highest or lowest at the top.
It therefore makes sense to rate threads because it helps all users. To do this, click on the 'rate thread' link at the top of the thread viewing page. Choose the number of stars you feel best represents the quality of the thread. You may or may not be able to change your choice of rating at a later date.


I accept thank yous and money donations.

 

Well I agree. But I don't feel any need to shower after dealing with this thread or even the question as posed. I simply do not give those details out...it's voluntary and anonymous.

I think the anonymous and voluntary nature of the enviroment make the question as posed more palatable....or at least more voluntarily palatable. I chose to offer an opinion and respond BUT not directly volunteer my income level.

But come on! I've traveled and been in England and Ireland. I love it. But I get tired of the "Ugly American" label. There are differences in culture...I think that is true, but why is it uglier to be open and perhaps too frank...as opposed to being closed and more guarded? After I travel abroad, eventually I find myself missing the open and admittedly sometimes bordering on vulgar- HONESTY of American Culture.

Maybe we air our dirty laundry too openly. Maybe we Jerry Springer things that other cultures hide. But there is something admirable in the non-pretentious nature of The United States. Ultimately? We aint afraid to askt ya how much you paid for that car, or how much you makin this year?....and IMO that isn't an entirely bad thing.

Personally, I wouldn't ask someone...on the street how much they paid for something or how much their income is...but I think the internet and forums a slightly different enviroment.

I personally choose not to answer.

But I won't fault a poster for asking, or label it the actions of an uglier culture....

 

I'm curious why, with 37% of the respondents claiming that they earn $105,000 or more, that there are so many threads that describe buying a lesser-equipped model than the buyer wished, and then complaining that the DYI upgrade that they made did not work well? Why did they not buy what they wanted in the first place?

 

Well first of all, I don't really see this as a majority:

"So many threads that describe buying a lesser-equipped model than the buyer wished, and then complaining that the DYI upgrade that they made did not work well?"

You get an occasional complaint about aftermarket leather seats or an occasional individual experience, but IMO it goes both ways. With just as many threads and posts about being happy with aftermarket quality or happier with a portable Nav System.

So I don't but the premise that there are a LOT of people unhappy with the level of Prius they choose. I think most people do buy what they want and are happy with what they chose.

I would say, I think Toyota has made it difficult with the way they have splintered the line. IMO choices become difficult because there is so much diversity. IMO II's and III's are really very good value. But then IV' and V's are significantly more expensive and with the sunroof being tied to a solar panel and NOT having the tech package available or the bigger wheels....then you have a splintered upper level choice and given cost the "value" drops quite a bit for me. It wasn't "cost" but I spent a lot of time debating whether I wanted to spring for a solar panel and sunroof...sunroof I really wanted...but spend the extra money just to get the sunroof, when I felt I could live without the solar panel? It made the choice hard. I'd suspect those choosing the II's and III's are in a similar situation. Toyota I think needs to work out the progression of packaging, II', III, IV, and V. Or simply allow for more personalized upgrade possibilities.

It's not so much that I've heard a lot of displeasure with II's or III's or port or aftermarket upgrades...I've heard more people saying, I wish I could of bought a Prius with the Sunroof/Solar package and the advantages of Tech Package and V's. The splinter and gap between III's and IV's...and V's needs to be "tweaked".

 

DEBT! It's the American way of life! It would have been more appropriate to ask net worth, liquid assets, cash on hand, debt to income ratio... Someone can make $100K+, but if their annual outlay on bills is $100K+ they may not qualify for anything more, and may actually be worse off than someone earning $25K a year who is living within their means!

Of course, any of those questions are just as ugly as the initial question, albeit much more revealing...

 

Boy, some people take themselves too seriously.

I thought it was kind of informative. I am obviously in the wrong business.

Of course I take anything on these types of site with a grain of salt.