New Member - May Buy Prius

Greetings to all. As my name implies, I'm a Southern Dad. I am considering replacing one of my current vehicles with a Second Generation Prius. I already have a 2000 Honda Insight MT with 73,000 miles on it. It runs perfectly and gets outstanding mpg but only has two seats.

Two seats works fine when it is just my eight-year-old daughter and I but there are times that I need at least one more seat. For those times, I find myself having to resort to driving my largest vehicle, a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. Oh yes, 14 mpg... Going down hill with a tailwind.

Now the Prius wouldn't be to replace the Honda or the Lincoln. Rather, I am considering trading in my 2002 Ford Thunderbird. It is also a two seater and well, for some reason a convertible isn't as appealing to me now as it was when I bought it. It could be that Jaguar V-8 under the hood only getting 18 mpg or it could be the pain in the tail of removing the hardtop or just wanting something different.

With a Prius added to my stable of horses, I'd have the Insight for daily use, the Prius for when I need a couple more seats and the Navigator for when I need to pull something or just want luxury locally around town. (Or maybe want to impress a young lady. :car

So basically, I'm here to learn all about the fine automobile that the Prius is.

 

That sounds like a good idea but I rather like the little Insight. With only 17,020 units sold in the USA, this car could become a niche item. Besides most of the week it's only me in the car. Those other 4 seats of the Prius would be such wasted space.

And lastly, why have one hybrid if you can have two?

 

Shame on me but around town vehicle is just a little bit bigger. When I'm only driving short distances no reason to not live it up a little. This thing has all the comforts of home.

 

You could be right on the mindset. Here is my reasoning. I drive an Insight as my daily driver. Two seats, gets great mileage. It works well for me most of the time. When it's just me, it's fine. When it's just my eight-year-old daughter (DD8) and me, it is fine.

Now there are times that my DD8 just has to have a friend go skating with her. I've taken my DD8 and her little sister (I don't know the acronym for ex-wife's two year old kid) to Walt Disney World.

Since the Insight doesn't have a backseat and stuffing the little tyke in the hatchback area wouldn't go over to well with the ex-wife, I was obligated to drive my gas guzzling SUV almost 900 miles to make the round trip. However, if I had a Prius... I could use the Insight on the daily commute and not sacrifice too much gas mileage when I switched to the Prius. I'd keep the Navigator because no matter how well equipped neither a Prius nor Insight can pull a trailer.

 

I've got 50.9 over the whole time I've owned it. However, it would be far better if I could keep my heavy right foot off the pedal and if I wasn't always running the air. Our last trip from Walt Disney World to home (near Atlanta) I got just over 70 mpg. I was traveling at night at about 65-68 mph.

My daily commute is mostly from Monroe GA to Jonesboro GA down a two lane state highway called Highway 138. This road is all hills and curves. Not to mention traffic.

 

I could easily sell the Insight for $7000 - $8000. It is in nearly perfect condition, good tires, battery working fine, etc. But at the present time I really have no desire to sell it. There were only just over 17,000 of them made.

 

The Insight will remain my daily driver. I find it to be comfortable and I love the mileage. If I wasn't always in such a hurry my mpg would be better.

The Thunderbird is indeed good for a second glance from the ladies, especially the highly shined Evening Black color. But alas, like me it doesn't get out much any more. Something about being 45 and having an eight year old daughter. I haven't been anywhere that checks ID in a long time.

I've looked at the brand new Prius and know that I wouldn't be happy with the bottom of the line model. If I get a pre-owned (the new word for used), I can find a second generation with the Navigation package. I hate having a GPS cord running across to the windshield!

Can't really get rid of the Navigator. That battlecruiser just makes a statement around town. A crisp, clean white tank smoothly gliding through this small town. It makes more of a statement these days than the Thunderbird.

 

Got rid of the wife, kept the daughter (well 50% of the time). The wife was too expensive. Then I hit 40 started my mid-life crisis, bought a motorcycle, a 2-seat convertible car, started taking flying lessons...

Most places that rent vehicles in Georgia anyway restrict you from towing when using them. Besides, I find that having the Navigator around helps a lot. If we want to run and pick up a sheet of plywood, right up on the luggage rack. If we need to carry a gaggle of eight year old girls to some party... No problem. There are times that the five seats of a Prius won't be enough. Anyone with a slightly spoiled daughter will attest to this.

The Thunderbird is a limited production car, as well. They only made a little over 60,000 of them. However, mine isn't getting the appreciation that it needs. The problem with a convertible in Georgia is that it's either too hot to remove the top or there is too much pollen in the air to remove the top.

I'll be getting with you in a bit on some additional mpg ideas for the Insight. I'm a bit hesitant to go back into the battery area. Let's call it respect for high voltage. However, I'd love to have a factory looking MIMA system.