The Right Thing To Do, But No Fun To Drive

It is really hard to leave a luxury $60-85,000 car and like the prius.

Although a prius runs from $20-38,000 it is NOT a luxury car. The higher price you are paying for a plug in, is basically for better fuel economy. Sure, it has some neat gizmos, but it is basically your average car with a lot of fuel saving technology stuffed in it.

If you don't like it, keep your BMW and pay more to drive around. I believe you would be very hard pressed to find someone on here that got the prius solely for comfort and style.

Every one has their own opinions on cars etc.

Personally I think BMWs are butt a$$ ugly myself and am not too crazy about the prius body style.

There were ONLY 2 reasons why I got a prius.
1. the high fuel efficiency in a vehicle in which I could afford.
2. My parents have had toyotas for over 20 years and have driven each one they have owned for over 240,000 miles without any major issues.

IMO, it is ultimately up to the perspective owner. If you want awesome fuel economy, some neat gizmos, then get a prius.

If you don't want to give up the power or the roomy comfort of your current vehicle, then get a newer version of the vehicle you already have.

There was a person on here not too long ago, that traded his less than 1yr old prius in on a Pick up truck. He liked the fuel economy but found it wasn't worth giving up the roominess and comfort of his old truck, plus you can't pull very much with a prius.

To each their own is what I say.

 

Shocker! A $24K NON-LUXURY CAR from a non-luxury brand has a worse quality interior than a luxury car that starts at $73K and can go beyond $140K! Paging ProximalSuns to convince you that there isn't any difference in interior or plastic quality (My Prius Rant | Page 2 | PriusChat).

The Advanced model PiP, other than Softex seats and wheel has an interior that's not any better than the base $24K regular Prius.

If you want something w/more power, luxury and isn't a hatchback, you should consider the Camry Hybrid or some of the Lexus hybrids above the CT (e.g. the ES, GS or very pricey LS). GS hybrid is RWD and has 338 hp.

The Prius is admittedly not the car to buy if you want great handling or acceleration. But, some of us find it fun in a different way. I owned a 287 hp Nissan 350Z for 8 years, until last year, part of it was alongside my Prius. I've driven other sports/sporty cars including BMWs.

 

Yeah but by not driving a BMW people will now longer think you're an arrogant ****. You'll also no longer feel the need to cut people up, pull out on them, drive 2 inches from their rear bumper and generally drive like you own the road.

You might find you now get invited to dinner parties more often and other drivers might now be willing to offer help if you ever crashed or broke down, rather than having a sly grin to themselves at a BMW drivers misfortune.

Pro's and cons to both cars eh?

 

Do look into a Volt... It's a bit cramped inside since it's EPA rated a compact, but when the battery is charged (not in charge sustain mode), it does feel like an EV since the ICE won't kick in until the battery's depleted to that point wher you're in charge sustain mode.

Interior bits are pretty decent although not up to ~$40K luxury car standards.

But seriously, do look into the other vehicles I suggested. They'll be closer to the experience you're accustomed to, esp. if it doesn't have a 4-banger.

 

OP: to my knowledge there are no fuel economical, inexpensive BMW7s available on the new car market.

Steering feel is such a personal opinion I hazard to even guess what you are talking about. Fwiw I think the steering in my G2 Prius is ok, but I like the weight and feel of my Lexus CTh more. As a wild guess, you may like the Camry hybrid, the new Ford Fusion hybrid, or the Ford hybrid hatchback.

 

After 15+yrs of racing high horsepower cars and trucks I bought a Prius and never looked back. I do love these cars. It's a different mindset and a different kind of joy to drive. BMWs and other non-hybrids just seem so archaic now.

 

As a former owner of half a dozen cars much less powerful than a Prius, you can drive a car with 60 HP flat out on public highways MUCH more often than you can a car with 400 HP. No one outside your car will ever know.

Many car makers, including some Lexus branded Toyotas, make sporty hybrids. The Prius brand is for the pure eco cutting edge. I do not expect Prius sporty cars, they would be branded Scion or Lexus to reflect a change in market. CT200h comes to mind.

BMW themselves makes impressive hybrids. Not 50 MPG hybrids, as they refused to give up the dynamics that make a BMW a BMW, but still an impressive 15% better MPG.

BMW 7 Series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Isn't a 15% improvement on bugger all still bugger all?

 

Leaf owners feel that way about Prius owners as well. <G>

Potentially 15% less 'horrible' is a lot more gas saved than 30% of 'already good.' I was going to use EPA estimates but bmwusa.com does not list mileage for any 7 series. Apparently, if you have to ask, you are looking at the wrong car.

 

What region are you in?
You may like a Model S or a Volt.
It really depends on your driving patterns.

In my case I liked both of our Prii very much. The only reason we aren't driving them is we found more efficient cars for our driving patterns (Volt and Tesla).

 

Go drive a Tesla Model S. It has the performance and it's built in the USA, "The Right Thing To Do."

 

The right thing to do is not drive. Perhaps a car you don't like to drive will help you do that.

Personally, I am unable to evaluate the cost of plastic by looking at it. But if you are, cover it with the same simulated wood that they use in your bimmer. Many examples of that here, costs about $200.

The powertrain does what I need; more would be encouragement to do what I don't want to do, waste gas. The handling matches, though I wouldn't complain about tighter steering.

Agreed. Who cares about that stuff.

No, but we can't help you with beholder's eyes. I like the looks but would prefer more curviness. The shape is the basic shape that all cars will be moving towards. Grow to love it, or doom yourself to hating them all.

The Prius is safe, cheap, challenging to drive well (hypermile). Another option for you might be a Tesla Model S, if you have (or are willing to get) reasonably green electric power. It is beautiful (IMHO), high performance, and green as the electricity put into it.

 

Desertdweller, I had a similar reaction when I shopped for a tack hammer at the local hardware store. My first reaction was, "Look how small it is!" The salesman pointed out that it is designed to do what it does. He suggested a sledge hammer if I needed to drive stakes or break concrete.

 

I understand the feelings. I came from driving Infiniti g37s and M45s to the Prius It will never have the driving satisfaction of the performance driving cars but for what it is designed to do it does it well.

 

I just bought a 2007 Prius, level 5 about a week and half ago. I sold my GMC Envoy that I had owned for eight years for it.

I found that the smile on my face as I pass the gas stations and see my car is getting 50mpg much outweighs my need for 300hp anymore. And Im a relatively young male still!

YMMV. But if you found the Prius unattractive - looks and performance - like somebody suggested a Lexus hybrid might better fit your bill.

I absolutely love mine and have acted as a catalyst in my group of colleagues and friends, who Im working on converting to future Prius (or at least hybrid powered vehicle) owners

 

I think you will be fine with the new battery technology. Toyota did quite a bit of testing before they released the PIP which included building hundreds of cars and allowing real everyday people drive them for weeks at a time to collect data. They took the conservative approach with the PIP.

There are things you can do to promote battery health and longesvity. Start by controlling heat build up inside the cabin while the car is parked or being driven and adjust charge levels and charge time according to ambient temperature patterns. I.E. don't charge while it is 115F outside and your car is parked in the full sun with the windows up baking for 8hrs. lol