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Coach's Test Drive of the Prius III

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by coach81, Dec 30, 2010.

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  1. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Buying a new car probably won't make sense. Have you consider trading it for a pre-owned hybrid?
     
    #61 usbseawolf2000, Jan 13, 2011
  2. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I go through this every year or so with my other vehicle and each time never quite pull the trigger, glad for my holding back. I recommend you setup an auto savings account and throw the would-be payments into that. In this manner every month you keep your truck is literally more money in the bank. It will help give perspective about the real benefits of an older vehicle.
     
    #62 Skoorbmax, Jan 13, 2011
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  3. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Great idea... thank you
     
    #63 coach81, Jan 13, 2011
  4. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    That would be one problem.. YOU CAN'T FIND ANY .. I will check for them around my area.. and there are NONE...
     
    #64 coach81, Mar 31, 2011
  5. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    It's been a while since my test drive... here are some of my current thoughts / and updates:

    1. Overall I feel like I made the right decision to hold off on pulling the trigger on a new Prius.

    2. Just the other day, I put a 40 lbs sack of crawfish, some ice, ice- chests, and several bags of groceries (for a crawfish boil we had YUM) all very easily in the back of my truck... and I thought to myself "this would have been a big problem if I would have gotten the Prius".

    3. I am a very busy person.. and I don't have much patience.. I like to "get where I'm goin' really quick most times.. I think this would work against me having the Prius.. to really get the best mileage, you really need to take your time.. especially on the takeoffs.

    4. With all of the above being said.. I still am intrigued with the vehicle.. We just went to Disney on vacation.. I called out every Prius (and they were quite numerous) that I saw during the trip, when I recently got hit with a $500.00 repair bill- Spark plugs, and fuel filter needed replacing- I thought about the Prius again...

    5. The service techs at my local Nissan dealership had informed me that I need the following repairs done sometime in the near future:
    a. - I have a small oil leak from one of my valve heads.. it will only get worse. Quote to repair- $700.00
    b. - My timing belt needs to be replaced with the age ('03) and mileage (77K) on my vehicle. Quote to repair- $1800.00

    6. So as I stated, I got the spark plugs, and fuel filter repaired.. and the truck is running great again... (it was noticeably stuttering and missing before which led to the repair).. My plan now is.. DRIVE IT AS IS.. AS LONG AS I CAN....

    When the repairs become such that they outweigh the benefit.. I will have to reconsider my options..

    Thanks for reading...
     
    #65 coach81, Mar 31, 2011
  6. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Oh my, no mention of how feminine or weak owning a prius is at all in the post, oh, wait, I found it

    "Closet Louisiana Prius Lover...."

    It's the signature
     
    #66 ursle, Mar 31, 2011
  7. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Ha Ha.. nice one.. Ursle!!!

    BTW not my mindset.. EVERYONE ELSES...
     
    #67 coach81, Mar 31, 2011
  8. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Your mileage will fall more aggressively when you drive fast in the frontier than the Prius, don't forget. Driving fast kills miles regardless of vehicle.

    That's why I hate timing belts. It was a big part of me not buying a used Honda Pilot back around Christmas time. I got a quote of around $800 and most of the pilots in the price range I wanted were around 100k mark. Without any proof it was changed I would have been looking at an $800 repair bill immediately. Not interested in that!

    Your truck is worth well more than $2500 for those repairs (and some oil leaks can be coaxed along for years), but if I had guaranteed $2500 repair on my van right now I'd sell it, but then I've been looking for an excuse for a year to get rid of it. :)

    What city are you in? I thought it was texas, but if it is Lousianna per your profile:

    http://neworleans.craigslist.org/ctd/2262841142.html

    Look at that. A Prius II with 36k costing what I paid for mine new, what a scam.
     
    #68 Skoorbmax, Mar 31, 2011
  9. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Thanks for the link! HOLY COW.. what a scam!!! If I were in the market.. it would be so much better just to get a new 2011 for close to that price!!!

    Interesting that you found ONE nearby me.. I have always had a difficult time finding any..

    Yeah I plan to "coax" my truck for as long as I can... LOL

    As always, thanks for your comments, Skoorbmax.
     
    #69 coach81, Mar 31, 2011
  10. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    2008 for $2500. I already flagged it: Toyota 2008 Prius

    Pickings do seem very weak in your area, though.
     
    #70 Skoorbmax, Mar 31, 2011
  11. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

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    How is the pricing on that car possible ?

    It would have been gone 10 seconds after it was listed.

    REV
     
    #71 revhigh, Mar 31, 2011
  12. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    It's a mistake (maybe) or a scam (probably).
     
    #72 Skoorbmax, Mar 31, 2011
  13. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Like I said.. you really can't find 'em..
     
    #73 coach81, Mar 31, 2011
  14. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Well it's been 6 months so far, Skoorb.. I'm still holding out!!!

    I think the price premium statement will be very true.. with gas currently about $4 and perhaps going even higher for the next few months.. and a Gen III '11 going for $32K (at my local dealer now) I really think the mark-up on the Plug-in PHV will be very high.. I'm guessing close to 40K sticker for the initial roll-out...

    Your thoughts???
     
    #74 coach81, May 8, 2011
  15. rpickoff

    rpickoff Bob P

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    #75 rpickoff, May 8, 2011
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  16. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I think that prices right now are not meaningful. We have a supply crunch and a demand spike because of the oil bubble that we're seeing. Things will settle down a bit. Even if Priuses do not again or any time soon become such great deals they appeared to be over the last year, before the quake and run up in oil, the prices now are simply silly and I'm absolutely sure are temporary. I guess a plug-in should still come in around 30k or low 30's--before any tax credit. At least that will be its MSRP and this nonsense now of charging so much for them cannot continue, for if it does Toyota will just step up production once they've recovered.
     
    #76 Skoorbmax, May 8, 2011
  17. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    we shall see how prices are affected in the coming years...
     
    #77 coach81, May 14, 2011
  18. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    #78 coach81, Jun 22, 2011
  19. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Keeping the truck, and saving...

    Hoping to have either a HUGE downpayment or outright cash payment for either a PHV or a top-end "regular" Prius in a year or so

    The truck is a Nissan.. and I love it.. as of now I plan to keep it!!!
     
    #79 coach81, Jun 22, 2011
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Sounds like a good plan!
     
    #80 Tideland Prius, Jun 24, 2011
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