Choose 2012 Prius Five or 2012 Elantra Limited?

Ok, I understand someone does not like me posting my findings on the Elantra. Moderator please remove this thread and I will discontinue posting on Prius Chat. I thought this was a nice thread to have but Joel said in a PM that this didn't belong on a Prius forum or something like that. I am very sorry that I offended someone here. Thanks to all those nice people that gave me advice on which car to purchase. Take care everyone

Mike

 

I will check in a few minutes from the hotel. I am in the car right now on Tap a Talk

Mike

 

It's not a moderator. I will contact Danny and make sure this thread is OK with him. Whew, I had thought I was getting the axe on here with my thread. If Danny says it is a no no, then I will ask him to remove the thread. I will always have a passion for the Prii no matter what anyone says I really very much appreciate the people that have given me encouragement around here. Even some folks over at a Elantra forum thought this was a awesome thread comparison Now to go run down Danny.

Mike

 

I just seen that section this morning :twitch: What is it all about? I didn't look to see if there were threads in there or not.

Mike

 

Yes I hope this thread stays intact also. I hope others can do comparisons between the Prius and other cars as well. Nothing wrong with that I went on an Elantra forum and asked similar questions and I expected them to say buy the Elantra. I came on here and fully expected these awesome people to say buy the Prius. It turned out way different than I expected.

Now about the Prii and long haul driving My opinion is the Prii fabric seats are extremely cushy. They are way, way more comfortable than a RAV4 seat. I have never gotten a sore butt driving a Prius, and when I drive rentals, I put 500 plus miles on per leg of our trips. A good example is the Elantra on this trip, I am over 1400 miles on it so far and it will be about a 2500 to 3000 mile trip when I return it. That is one heck of a test drive.

You want super soft and comfortable seats, the Prius fabric seats are it. You want some more side support in a fabric seat, drive a 2011 or newer Elantra. I have one birth defect and two injuries to my lower back. I can tell you neither the Prius fabric seats or the Elantra fabric seats cause me any pain. The RAV4 gives me numbness in my legs even with the adjustable seat height. The Prius & Elantra both have height adjustable seats. Both are damn comfortable. The Elantra seat has more side support. If you have ever sat in a Recaro seat, you know what I mean about side support. Think of the old RX-7 seats where you were one with the seat. That is the Elantra seat. The Prius seat still has plenty of side support but is more of a cushy, softer feeling. Not to fear, the fabric seems to be strong as I have rented Prii with 30k plus miles of rental abuse and never have I seen even a hint of fabric wear.

I know what these people here will tell you for the choice of the car with your 30k mile annual trips. It will be a Prius hands down. That car will easily get you 43 mpg driving with a heavy right at 80-85 mph. Drive 70 mph and it will get about 48 mpg. Drive 65-70 mph and I have found it will easily nail 50 mpg. All that above is from my 10k plus miles driving experience over the past 3 years in rental Prii.

Well then, why did these people recommend the Elantra for me even though it gets 10 mpg less than a Prius? It's my 2k to 7k miles per year driving. There isn't much gas to be saved, and the Elantra Limited is so much lower cost than a Prius Five. That's it. But, I am so whipped over the Prius that it is a damn tough decision for me. Serious. I am a tech nut and the Prius is the ultimate tech nut case car Something about it that says buy me

Now, keep in mind that the Prius nor the Elantra, is a drag car for the stoplights. Their both about driving a cool awesome looking modern designed car and getting good gas mileage. But, you can hose many a ricer off the line with a Prius if you time the light right and use that electric motor torque Also let it be known that the Elantra will eat the Prius from a dig and be well ahead of it at the end of the quarter mile :behindsofa: Still, both cars are freakin awesome to drive. One will save you big $$$ on gas when driven more miles per year and the other will have a lower total cost of ownership if you drive little miles similar to me.

The best thing to do is drive both. Rent both of them. Drive them for several hundred miles if you can. But, bottom line, with your higher miles per year, my opinion is,,, buy the Prius :tea:

Mike

 

Look what pulled into the hotel lot this evening
Hint: look in the background.



Mike

 

That is what someone else told me earlier this evening. I think all is OK now. I'll add them to my ignore list

Thanks,
Mike

 

And when it hits the dealers, it might be one of those good luck buddy finding one of the specific models I want. I hope the stock of Prii gets back to normal soon. It's just weird not seeing Gen III Prii on the lots. Even used Gen II's are scarce. Sad

Elantra Limited's are nearly as rare to find as a Gen III Prii. In talking with sales people, I hear that they order them but what is being delivered to the stores is already spoken for before they even arrive. Sounds just like the Prius supply & demand. Hope it all settles out come next spring when I will be bringing the new car home.

My other worry is there will be some other car model that magically comes out in early 2012 to screw with my already confused mind :der: I bought 5 Kentucky lottery tickets this evening. With any luck I can buy both a Five & a Limited

Like that would happen anytime soon...

Until then, I'll just keep racking up the miles on rental Prii & Elantra's.
Mike

 

Both the Elantra and Prius are awesome looking cars. Half way home now. Got the car loaded real heavy after some shopping today The Prius can carry more weight with it's firmer suspension. The Elantra is hanging low and hitting the bump stops on big bumps. I would never load up my own car like that. Only rentals get the heavy haulin I think we are gonna rent a Swagger Wagon for the next trip thru Indy. The wife likes to shop

On that Wiener Mobile, it has Wisconsin plates. I have seen them before with Wisconsin plates. I am now wondering if there are more than one or just that one? It sure was a attention mobile Monday morning. Lots of people taking pictures

Mike

 

Thank you :rockon: I will do that update on the first post when I get home on my regular computer. I am using a netbook in my travels and the tiny keyboard makes me type typoes left & right. Not so easy

Mike