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

Save the planet vs. Save the wallet

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by fulltank, Oct 19, 2011.

  1. fulltank

    fulltank New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2011
    230
    38
    0
    Location:
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I get the impression that some Pri drivers do not like to discuss their gas savings but would rather boast about their green footprint. Not sure if I'm in the minority but I'm all about the MONEY!!! I was at dinner with another Hybrid driver the other night and started to tell her that the money savings were more important to me than saving the planet and she thought I was some type of barbarian... I do feel great that I'm helping to reduce gas emissions but it takes a back seat to what I'm saving at the pump!!!
     
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    :pop2::pop2:

    Oh boy... FWIW, the fuel economy was my primary reason too.
     
  3. Roadburner440

    Roadburner440 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2011
    316
    59
    0
    Location:
    Hampton, VA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I get that same reaction whenever I answer people similarly.. For me it is all about the bottom line. I drive the Prius gently to keep the mpg up, but the Volt I drive it like the wheels are going to fall off since I don't have to worry about paying for it at the pump. Is nice to be able to accelerate fast again without having to shell out $60 a week for gas, or anything at all for that matter.
     
  4. HybridMario

    HybridMario New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2011
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Freesville, USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I considered the low emissions a side benefit of a vehicle I purchased primarily for fuel efficiency and technology.

    I believe in global warming and having a smaller footprint, but honestly, being environmentally friendly is expensive (and often times, inconvenient) as hell, so I just try to do what I can and give commendations to Leaf-owners.
     
  5. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    741
    274
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I bought a 2011 Prius because it had good handicap access. My late wife was a brain injury patient (horseback riding accident in 1996) and transferred from a wheelchair with assistance (grab, stand, turn, sit). The used Subaru Outback I bought in the summer of 2010 for her caregivers to drive her to upcoming breast cancer treatments became more difficult to use as she got weaker due to the lack of a frame to grab around the windows.

    After some test drives with my wife, we found that the Prius had good ergonomics for her, was a good overall car, held a transport wheelchair behind the rear seat, had a flexible interior configuration, had a reliable reputation, and, as a bonus, had great fuel economy. I bought the car while she was in the hospital for a supposedly short stay. Unfortunately, the docs discovered that her aggressive cancer had returned and metastasized throughout her body. She continued to worsen in the hospital and passed away - never getting a chance to ride in her Prius.
     
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^ what a sad story... sorry to hear about that.
     
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Prius is a winner for many reasons, good looking sporty, economical, eco-green, fun to drive, highly useful vehicle hatch-back design, easy to park, engineering triumph, practical, dependable, reliable. Certainly long term cheap car was high on my list too as nearing retirement. But it is easy to see why Prius could attract different types of folks. Did I say babe magnet? she was probably hitting on you.
     
  8. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    3,093
    350
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    For a moment, I thought you were referring to GM's build quality!
     
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Firstly, each of us is allowed to buy what we wish, it does not have to be a "versus" thing at all. The closest to 'fuel economy' on my list is that there is a finite amount of petroleum, someday folks will be angry we thought burning it was a good idea.

    Others I have seen wish to not not fund terrorists, hurt gas companies, preserve national security, etc.
    Anyway, here is my list, Green makes some appearances, but is not all that dominant.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...502-2010-prius-school-project.html#post979468

    (I have 75,000 on it now and MPG is up to 48. I like the 'gizmos' more than I thought I would)
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    funny thing is, i'm not sure the 'saving money' thing really pays off.
     
  11. fulltank

    fulltank New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2011
    230
    38
    0
    Location:
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Why would you say that? Personally, I've reduced my monthly gas budget from $360 down to $60. I have $300 that I'm applying toward my car payment. Technically, not saving money. But, I do have a new car rather than an '02 Suburban w almost 200K miles.

    Anyway, this doesn't have to be a 'verses' thread but I do think ALL Prius owners can state which is more important to them. Money or Eco-Earth Conscious. I often find those that are more earth conscious seem to be disappointed or put off by those that claim money savings are more important. Just sayin'
     
  12. Sophia

    Sophia New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    42
    5
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Im very sorry for your loss. :(
     
  13. Sophia

    Sophia New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    42
    5
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I used to dish out $45 (approx) weekly to gas up my car. Now, I pay $30 every two weeks.

    Call me a pig but I bought my prius for the mileage, not for the environment. THe environment part is a perk that came with. Im happy either way.
     
  14. J5A

    J5A Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2011
    592
    83
    0
    Location:
    Severna Park, MD
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Buying a low emission sipper was important to us.
    I love using approx 60% less fuel.
    Prius isn't the solution, but it's a step in the right direction.

    If we wanted to save money we would have bought the Two.
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The Prius is the total package. No matter your political stance it fits the bill and I am just happy all of you bought one!

    Carcompulsive, I am sorry to hear she passed. I'm still fighting stage 4 colon cancer so I sort of understand the situation but I cannot fathom losing someone so important. :(
     
  16. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,037
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well done, but you would have saved more by buying a used Prius instead of new. Next time you can do better still by saving up the entire price and paying cash. Forget car payments; pay yourself instead of some financier.
     
  17. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I intended to pay cash, but Toyota had 0% interest loan rates. So I invested the $27,000 in bonds and I pay off the car from them, $5000 left to go.
     
  18. Acre

    Acre New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2009
    104
    3
    0
    Location:
    Woodside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Be happy you don't live in California. At rates that go from 0.15 to 0.45 per Kw H you'd be paying more to charge that volt than to gas a conventional car.
    My last car was a 37 mpg non-hybrid Civic HX. In terms of economics the two are roughly even. With the tire-eating propensities of the Prius the Civic HX might come out a little ahead.
     
  19. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,854
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    If you do something just for the money and nothing else, it is a more egotistical viewpoint than doing something for the benefit of all.

    You don't always have to buy what costs the least. If that was the case, you should have bought a $200 junker. It would take a long time for the gas bill to equal out and you would have no car payments.
     
    1 person likes this.
  20. Pragmatic

    Pragmatic New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2011
    15
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A

    Car compulsive: I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting us know about your wife; I had noticed you started calling her your late wife and had been wondering. Although your late wife never got to try her Prius, perhaps she would be happy that it has brought you into the PriusChat community - to which you have already contributed a great deal.

    F8L: Good luck with your fight! :cheer2:

    For me, I'd like to think I'm considering a Prius because of the environmental benefits but I must admit I'm also quite lazy and hate visiting the gas pump!

    Back to F8L:

    That's a big difference in mileage between the 15" and 17" wheels. Is it the same car and the only difference is the wheels? I'm looking at the new 2012 Prius v wagon and considering the top package and wondering how much that will impact on fuel economy.