1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

After nearly 8 years, we bid the Prius adieu

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by SW03ES, Sep 12, 2011.

  1. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    But, according to Steve's profile thing a ma bob, he's in MD which is the mid-atlantic not mid-west. In fact, MD is my neighbor but I don't know exactly where his city is located. If he's not in the mountains, this area really is "hit or miss" when it comes to snowfall, amounts, etc. The last two winters were pretty bad (one of epic proportions, ha!). Other than that, it probably had been easily 5+ years of no big snowfalls here.

    As for needing an SUV for it? I question that, unless you live in the country area where it might take a week before a snowplow comes down your street. And if there's 2 feet of snow on the ground? Even an SUV might not go anywhere. Heck, my brother's Wrangler couldn't. The farmers down his way cleared their streets because it took DelDUH too long to get there. I took my Prius out in the first blizzard of the '09-'10 winter season. It handled just fine, and I passed 3 accidents along the short journey. 1 tractor trailer, 1 RWD car, 1 SUV.
     
  2. oldasdust

    oldasdust Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    356
    47
    0
    Location:
    illinois
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    It's not just toyota over the years with the quality or cheap issues you bring up. I am a long time Honda owner and feel the same. Without getting into detail honda areas are interior, suspension and transmission. They all have faults but i am finding it easy to live with my Prius faults and all.
     
  3. ystasino

    ystasino Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2007
    793
    50
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If I were buying a new, high end car without caring car about reliability or maintenance I would get Audi.
     
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    People are certainly free to do whatever they can...and want.

    But it sounds from SW03ES posts, that he has the luxury of being able to afford multiple vehicles and/or vehicle upgrades. I could be wrong but this doesn't sound like a person maintaining a single vehicle, with an aim of it being the most focused all-around vehicle.

    I guess then, the only thing I'd say, is if it was me? I would of just kept The Prius. In my opinion a paid off Prius, in good condition, is probably the best 2nd, or 3rd automobile you could keep parked in your driveway.

    Prius are in demand now, so trading one in, it is argueably a good time to get value...but if money were not an issue? And I could afford multiple vehicle ownership...I'd keep my Prius until it absolutely dropped...

    8 years was a laudable run...but I owned a 16 year old Honda Accord that was still viable...although not without some significant investment into repair.

    The Prius is such an economical, good, all-around vehicle, that I find it hard to swallow the statement that a new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, is a better choice for someones "lifestyle" than a paid off Prius?

    If your lifestyle includes driving a lot, a desire to save resources...and the ability to occasionally fold down seats and haul things...then I'd of kept The Prius and simply bought the Cherokee separate.
     
  5. oldasdust

    oldasdust Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    356
    47
    0
    Location:
    illinois
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Mine new high end vehicle would be BMW X5 but completely different type and cost compared to prius but if i win some serious cash.... Would have both PHV and beemer time to wake up now.
     
  6. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I thought about it! We really don't need 3 cars though. One of them would never get driven.

    I'm about 15 miles north of DC in Montgomery County. We've had a bad few years for snow here, but in general historically you're right we don't get a ton of snow, certainly nothing you *need* an SUV for. However, I have family in southern WV in the mountains that are getting older, I like the ability to get to them in the winter if I need to. I like the idea of being able to travel to upstate NY which we do every winter to visit family, I like being able to get up to Deep Creek in the winter to get away for the weekend/go skiing.

    Like I said, we thought about keeping the Prius, but really we don't need three cars. I take great care of my cars, and I wouldn't be able to do that with three of them. We got a good price for the Prius, and I'm happier to put that money away for a rainy day and enjoy the interest free loan on the Jeep.

    From a dollars and cents perspective no doubt keeping the Prius was the smarter move. However, I'm a car person and my cars are my primary hobby. I get a lot of enjoyment out of them, so its not just an appliance to me, and making them as inexpensive as they possibly can be isn't the primary goal. The Jeep affords us the ability to travel in all kinds of weather, to carry 4 people, our stuff and the dog. We can go to WV and drive down to the river...load it up and take it to the beach...lots of stuff we can't do in the Prius or the Lexus, and at this point in our lives those are the things we want to do.
     
  7. sorka

    sorka Active Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    1,004
    196
    0
    Location:
    Merced, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    I have an '04 Dodge Durango Limited HEMI. It is the first and last American car I will ever buy. It has been an utter nightmare and at 108K miles, is just at about the end of it's life.

    Contrast that with our '95 Lexus SC400 at 310K miles has *NEVER* had a single breakdown or repair and runs like the day it was new with no squeaks or rattles. Sure the Lexus cost more but from cost per mile standpoint was many times cheaper than the Durango.

    So the Irony is that the Durango is on it's way out. I'm trying to sell it for cheap but just might have to donate it. The Lexus on the other hand will probably be given to my 7 year old daughter when she turns 16.
     
  8. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    No question the Lexus is a great car (I've had 4), but even they aren't built like they used to be. That SC will literally last forever though, the 4.0L V8 is an incredible engine.

    In terms of American cars, our Jeep only has 1,000 miles on it so far so too early to tell reliability, but from a build quality perspective its excellent. Great materials, very solid. Smooth drivetrain. We'll see as it ages, but like I said this won't be a 100k mile vehicle for us likely.
     
  9. DieselConvert

    DieselConvert Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    Central Coast, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    My experience with PriusChat has been so positive and educational that I am unlikely to bid all of you, especially Danny and Galaxee adieu. However, we turned in our 2004 Prius on a 2006, and now our 2006 on a '08 Avalon Limited Edition, so I looked back here to see if a comparable (or sister) site were accessible.

    My only disappointments with Prius were: (1) stiff, uncomfortable ride when over 50 miles in length; (2) delay coming out with plug-in models, and (3) declining MPG here in California as greater proportions of corn are fueling all gasoline engines, by law. Yeah, I know that our Avalon suffers from (#3) also, but it took a lot of wind out of our sails after being used to 27 - 28 MPG in our '04, at first. Our typical 10 mile round trip driving for 90% of our use of private transportation would have sold us on PlugIns up until a year ago, or so, but we are quite happy with the dozens of conveniences that we've learned to use, especially after we had felt that we had the ultimate in current technology and convenience in Prii.
    And our 84-year-old rumps couldn't continue to accomodate to the wooden benches of the Prii. Toyota reliability and customer service kept us in the Toyota family, and I'll surely check back in to read the knowledgeable and entertaining contributions of several Senior Members, if just simply because I love to find info I can't find anywhere else.
    Keep up the good work, Danny.
     
  10. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I can absolutely understand how you plan to use the SUV. It'll also be easier on your family in WV to get into and out of than the Prius. Everyone has to make decisions on vehicle at some point, and I'm sure you weighed your pros/cons before you made the move. As long as you use the vehicle as intended, at the end you made a good decision and put the vehicle to its intended use. I'm worried that if we have another bad winter here, the budget cutbacks will result in roads not getting plowed as quickly or as well - not that I ever felt they did that good here anyway.
     
  11. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I just looked at the farmer's Almanac, says we're going to experience a warmer than usual, wet winter. So you guys can thank me for that, because I bought the Jeep LOL
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2006
    2,260
    163
    18
    Location:
    Pierrefonds (Montreal) Quebec Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I rented a Jeep Wrangler 2-door for my week in Maui (no more Prii's available!).

    Costs twice as much to fill up, goes through gas so much faster, and it's so weird driving it. I thought it would be "fun" to drive. Ugh.

    On the "Road to Hana" the lady that does US mail deliveries drives a G2 Prius, and easily passed us. I was never able to keep up with her, the jeep was so unstable in turns.
     
  13. LIPriusFreak

    LIPriusFreak Can I haz JDM?

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2011
    449
    34
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    just to chime in...Best of luck with your GC....I really like the 11's and 12's...Chrysler stepped up their game but only time will tell...Was never a fan of Chrysler products because of years of tranny issues but we have an 07 at work with over 100k w/o issues (and it never even had a tranny flush up until 100k)

    For me, the prius isn't my DD...my 95 Legend is...and when winter hits, the 99 Subaru becomes the DD.....but its always nice to have multiple cars to fall back on, but some just aren't that lucky

    Hope your GC treats you well!
     
  14. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,531
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Yep, a Subaru in the snow is an amazing creature. I'm loathe to give up our '96 for that reason alone.