Who else traded luxury for a Prius?

Had 3 & 5 series BMW's, a Porsche Boxster, and Audi A4. Bought a Prius because it became important to me to drive a car that maximized fuel economy. It seemed like basic common sense, quite frankly. I have commuted 75 miles round trip every day for the last 20 years.
If you wanted better fit, finish & luxury, the new Lexus hybrids offer all of those.

 

I've never been much of luxury car driver, so the G3 is more of a lateral move for me. Priuses are Ecoboxes, (Note for the reading impaired: There's a difference between ECOBOX and ECONOBOX. I thought that italics would help. it didn't...) and thus you have five different trim levels for almost the exact same car (less some steering bits for the 17" equipped models of course.)
I actually like where Toyota has taken this concept, because the same platform can be used to satisfy the 'needs' of luxury car drivers who want to roll a little greener, and (for some) a more spartan trim level can meet the price needs for people who want a good commuting car that also happens to be fairly reliable and very frugal with gas.
Its a testament to Toyota that the $35,000 version of this car is very close to being as green as the $25,000 version, and vice-versa for drivetrain quality.

Unfortunately, as you're finding out...Toyota had to sacrifice more than a few interior appointments at the altars of economy and ecology in order to keep the car green, and keep the price sub-stratospheric...but like Kermit the Frog always says..."It ain't easy being green."
I think it's a fair trade. Lexus is already starting to build more upscale cars with ecology in mind. As the market shifts away from 0-60 times and skidpad measurements and towards MPG and tailpipe emissions, you're going to see more and more upscale auto manufacturers turning out cars that combine ecology and luxury---for a price.
You have to remember...you traded from BMW to Toyota. Toyota makes great cars...but they're hardly what you would call a top shelf brand.
$35,000 buys a pretty nicely appointed Toyota...it doesn't buy much of a BMW.

 

I came most recently from an H2. In addition, I own an A5 and 328xi that other family members drive. I have to tell you I love the Prius. I think for a 25K car there is alot of stuff in it that other makes would not offer at that price. I love the ride as well as the handling, feels like a go cart. I would agree that in snow I would rather drive the H2. What I love the most is zipping past all those "luxury" cars stuck in traffic while I cruise the HOV lane. Now that to me is the ultimate driving machine

 

Why trade it in? Keep a luxury car and a Prius, preferably one of the higher trims so the shock from going back and forth between them won't be too drastic.

 

What's your opinion of the Lexus CT 200h?

 

Well, not sure it actually qualifies as a luxury car, but I traded my 07 GMC Seirra SLT, that was fully loaded with memory seats, leather, and all the other "luxury" options you find in the typical luxury car, so yes, I did give up some creature comforts for whup @ss gas mileage! But not for long...

Six months after trading my fully loaded luxury truck for the Prius, we traded my wife's CR-V for a luxury HS250h, so got my creature comforts back and still get respectible gas mileage! Now instead of having a a 16 mpg truck and a 22 mph SUV in the barn, we have a 55 mpg hatchback and 37 mpg luxury sedan! I've gone from a $200+ a month gas bill to under $100 per month with no change in commute distance...

 

I like it! And, I have purposely been avoiding the Lexus dealer because I'm afraid of what might happen if I test drive one!

Had they been on the lot when we purchased our HS, I'm pretty sure there'd be a CT parked next to my Prius instead of the HS!

 

Looks too much like the older Mazda3 hatchback. I also dislike the HS as it looks too much like a Toyota Corolla. I'd rather get the Lexus RX450h as it's at least unique in design, as is the Prius.

 

I am assuming you didn't buy your luxury cars for under $25k. So, I think if Toyota builds a $40k Prius may be it can have all those too?

It must be difficult to step down from luxury, but I hope you are enjoying the aspects Prii are built for.

The Prius is my first car. So, I wouldn't know what "luxury" is. Luxury is really not my type either, so I probably would not ever buy one.

 

Trading down to a Prius may be a state of mind that transcends burlwood grains, supple leathers and plush pile carpets. I think Prius owners may have traded down in terms of 0-60 performance, high-speed cornering, road-hugging traction, sleek styling and more. When all the Prius performance and comforts are discounted, what's left is high MPGs, technology and low-emissions. For me, that's everything.

 

I sold my 08 Cadillac CTS4 due to its high fuel consumption of around 19.5 mpg (highway and outside city, much less with city) and the lack of quality and fun to drive. I only had it for a year and found that the AWD was not great, too much weight, bad seat and leather quality, nice Nav screen but lot's of problems in route calc and crappy voice quality outside Switzerland, chromed parts started to rust and fade after just 1 year and some otherminor problems. I also had an Audi A8 a few years ago and to be honest this car was even worser. Not everything built in Germany is better. Now I bought the Prius as my daily driver and still have a 94'Z28 convertible, as well as two older Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (93&96), one for racing (maybe never again, I'm getting older).

So far I'm missing the great sound of the BOSE system in the Caddy and it's very nice interior design. Also the dual zone air conditioning, variable seat heaters and seat vents, the adaptive HID headlights and its beautiful candy red color. But that's it! With the Prius I save at least $3.6k in fuel, tax and insurance per year compared to the Caddy. And I do not have any problems regarding quality, rattling or other any other complaints.

So if I invest $600 in better speakers and a good sub and am happy with the sound again. And the LED headlights of the Prius are even better as the Caddy HID ones (the Caddy used 24 seconds t oswitch on the headlights when driving into a tunnel. Driving 24 seconds in the dark without any light is really a stupid thing. Manual switching on the lights disabled the adaptive turn headlights...stupid and not programmable).

- Rob

 

A little promising....but I can't get past the looks.
It's probably a great car----and it will almost certainly be a step up from Toyota---in quality and in price.
It's just not my kinda car.

I wish them well. The more people that drive ecoboxes...the better.

 

funny, my mother in law's friend bought a 5 series for her 80th birthday. she let me take it for a spin. i really didn't like anything about it. i know it's just me and can't explain why. i have never owned a luxury car, but i would love the prius to be quieter with better seats.

 

Would a power adjustable driver's seat have worked for you? Other than that, it seems a decent chair. Never had leather car, so don't know. No seat heat adjustment is .. lame.

I questioned soo many times - why did I spend so much ($27.6k + TTL for this small car that seats me like a 'little person's' car).

But to answer your question. Quite simply, it is : pumping half or less gas in on the next fillup.

Also, it's the fact that the drivetrain does what cars ought to be doing - using the motors and braking most efficiently.

Try the Lexus CT200h. Cheers.

btw, sat in a BMW 500 or SLT at auto show ... good gravy, .... luxury!

 

CT has the sillhouette of a Mazda3 hatch, but it defintely looks more sophisticated, especially than the new one which has defintely gone to the just out of college look or SLT.

CT interior? Mazda3 Grand Touring not even in CT's ballpark.

 

I'd love to see Honda and Toyota join forces to build the ultimate Prius car.

Toyota's HSD with Honda's sense of style, interior detail and edge on road manners. Go ahead, make a top end Prius.

OP, would you have liked your Prius V interior to look something more like this?? (Accord, Top selling midsize along with Camry)



Car and Driver - Camry enthusiast rating - 2 stars

Accord sedan - 4 stars
BMW 5 series - 7 stars, fwiw.

 

My last 2 vehicles where a Range Rover and a Mercedes E550 and New job had me reevaluate my vehicles. I chose the prius for fuel economy and with amount of miles i would be driving it would be a shame to destroy a new one so I bought a used one and have fallen in love with it. I will not lie I do miss the smooth and Ultra quite ride but what I do not miss is the 500+ dealer services for scheduled maintenance and premium fuel prices and between 12 to 18 mpg's depending on which one was being driven .

 

you probably not gonna get much sympathy here.. most Prii owners did not trade down, it was either a horizontal or up move for them. And I doubt Tom Hanks or other celebrity owners post on this this forum.

Either way, you did a right thing, all those minor inconveniences well worth the cause.

As other posters mentioned, check out Lexus CT200h. Also BMW will be coming with hybrid, but it is still a few years away. And if you decide to stick with Prius, there are aftermarket parts (strut tower bar, rear anti-sway bar, etc) which will improve road feel, just get your mechanic install them good luck.

 

I like the old saying "A lot of people that ain't saying "ain't", ain't eating."

A lot of people that "ain't" driving an economic cars, "ain't" driving, with the price of gasoline.

What is luxury? A "landyacht?" Big, long, heavy ... a Lincoln? Or taught, well appointed, .... a Lexus?

I have never wanted or owned what many might consider a "luxury" vehicle. I traded a 2001 Toyota Highlander .... certainly not a luxury car, but an excellent vehicle. Today, the Prius is absolutely perfect for me, especially in view of the rising fuel cost. Tomorrow, we shall see. But I do not forsee the day that I am willing to pay for wood trim, plush lining, soft leather, 400 hp, length, weight, or whatever else describes "luxury."

Is it not a "luxury" to be able to afford to drive and visit family and friends; to take a vacation; to have some change left in your pocket after filling the tank? I think so, and I am basking in that "Luxury."