Rented a Prius for a week

I liked it a lot. It was a 2012 and had 3k miles on it. I drove it a 1000 miles over the past week. I am really thinking about getting rid of my BMW and getting one. I have many friends with the gen 2 Prius but the gen 3 was much nicer. Coming from a BMW being able to take exit ramps is important to me

 

Awesome. I always said the best test drive is renting a vehicle for a while and that you did

All I have ever owned was a car that could corner like a wild man so I had to have the Plus Performance package on my Prius. Excellent handling in my opinion. How soon you gonna pull the trigger and order your Prius? I rented 2nd Gen & mostly 3rd Gen Prii for a bit over 20k miles since mid 2009. Then I finally got to order mine last March. The only thing that bugs me is the software bugs in the audio system but that will get worked out eventually.

Mike

 

I am going to get a used 2010 V w/ the tech package. I have seen several in FL for $22-23k. That way I get the 17" wheels. I will put in the + rear sway bar and brace under the car and that should be good enough for me.

 

That'll be cool The 17's take a hit in the mpg's but look nice. You'll see 46+ mpg driving normal on the highways with higher numbers in town. It still can go over 50 mpg but not as easy as a Prius with Mr Donut tires and 15's

Mike

 

I'll take my "Mr Donut tires" and get 60+ anyday

 

Exactly. I told my wife when she orders her Prius that she is getting the 15's. She has a lead foot so her mpg's with 17's would be shameful

Mike

 

Can the MPG hit of the 17" be made up with higher tire pressure? I live in FL and our roads are near perfect. I have rock hard 18" run flats on my BMW and it rides great on our roads.

 

My tires are Michelin MXM4's which the sidewalls say 51 psi max. I run 'em at 49 front & 47 rear. I only have 700 miles on my car so not a whole lot of miles to get tank averages yet. My car's trip computer repeatedly shows me mid to upper 40's on highway trips and 50-57 in town driving trips. My Scan Gauge yesterday was showing me 60's & 70's something mpg driving around town. I drive it normal. I can drive a rental Prius with Mr Donut 15's and get 50+ mpg in town and upper 40's on the Interstates. If you like the look of the 17's, by all means don't be afraid of them. Do test drive 17's & 15's on the same day on the same roads so you can feel the differences between the two. There are definite differences in acceleration. The 17's accelerate slower but the car is not a turd, it is also not a drag car, but it will win stoplight races against idiots that feel they have to be a jerk. Just don't pick on a true sports car or you'll get your nice person handed to you in a second I absolutely love the setup on my car. It looks damn cool and handles incredible for a street car. There are always improvements to be made to put a car on the track as this is no track car unless you make it a track car. Bottom line, the 17's take a hit on mpg but not enough to say no way do I want them. The true Hypermiler would never have the 17's. The car gets good enough mpg's with the 17's in my opinion. The 15's have a squishy ride, but some like that.

Mike