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What do you get after Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Vas25tl, Mar 19, 2013.

  1. Vas25tl

    Vas25tl Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Just curious to see what you all think, what kind of car do you buy after owning a Prius?

    I bought my certified 2010 in October with 32k miles on it. It now has 50XXX on it. I drive a lot for work. I typically switch cars twice a year to keep my losses down since I drive so much. I am starting to get the itch to get something different but I am having a very difficult time choosing something else. What else can you buy slightly used for around $20k that is so reliable and efficient.

    I can't believe that in my searches I find myself thinking "ugh 30mpg is horrible!"

    A year ago I had a 2006 Pilot EXL and a 2004 Lexus GS430. I was lucky to see high teens in the pilot and the GS was about 24hwy. How quickly we change.....

    If you we're looking at something different, what else would you get? I drive 3000-4000 miles a month, 85% freeway in WI, IL, MI, IN, IA, MO. The Prius with winterforces on got me through the winter just fine.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    After the Gen 2 Prius, I got a Prius v, I traded some MPG for more room for cargo.
     
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  3. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    another prius... ;)
     
  4. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What losses do you keep down by trading cars every 18,000 miles?
     
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  5. Vas25tl

    Vas25tl Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Are you happy with your purchase? That is a option as well. Is it quieter?

    I don't by the cars new, I get them used and buy them right. This way I am not taking a huge hit every time.

    I actually thought about getting another low mileage one (2012) and giving this one to my wife instead of our XB.
     
  6. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    Location:
    Chino Hills, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I think most likely will be another Prius but however I do have 2 cars in my mind.

    Tesla Model S, or Fisker Karma.
     
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    In retrospect I would have liked the v5 more than a v3, I miss 3 door SKS, other than that, the only downside of my purchase was the part about having my Gen 2 totaled by a semi trailer.

    Road noise is quieter, rain and hail are louder. It is much smoother and handles better.
     
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  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I just rented a Camry hybrid LE for a couple hours today (costs only $10 to do so). btw, I'm not looking at current Prius' these days, but I'll have a look at the 4th gen in a couple years.

    Camry hybrid is much more powerful (200 vs 134), much quieter inside, drives very well, although I wouldn't call it 'fun to drive' or 'sporty' by any means, but check this...

    after Camry hybrid was warmed up, MPG gage was reading 43.x MPG and was up at 45.8 MPG when I turned it in.

    My Prius is up at 52.6 well into this tank.

    Do the math of how much difference in gasoline after 450 miles, cause it's less than 2 gallons.

    Camry hybrid sticker is $27k, Prius 2 is $25k, that is not very much difference < 10%.

    I wouldn't buy the hybrid LE because the manual adjust seat doesn't work for me. XLE has a power adjust seat. But, i'm not changing anything now.
     
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  9. Hoosier1

    Hoosier1 Member

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    Location:
    Southwest Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The Camry Hybrid is a great car but too large for me. Try to find a used 2012 Prius Four that has a power drivers seat and all the electronic extras including automatic headlights. I agree that after averaging over 50 MPG it would be difficult transitioning to a car with less fuel mileage.
     
  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
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    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    After more than 9 years with my Prius, I got a Tesla Model S...there are several other current or previous Prius owners in the Model S club. To be fair, I'd had my Prius less than 6 years when I ordered the Model S.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    a higher mileage car. for now, it's the pip.
     
  12. -1-

    -1- Don

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Chester, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    :)I was in the same situation several months ago, looking for my next car. Currently have a 2011 Lexus IS F-Sport. Mindset was the new Gen 3, Lexus IS 350, due out this fall. Another Mercedes, which model? Sold a SLK 55 ///AMG two years ago. Wifey has a SLK 350. BMW, Cadillac, Acura, Toyota Camry? Spent a Sunday afternoon looking. When I got home, my wife asked if I saw something I liked. I stated yes, but you'll never guess. It was a Prius 5. Within two weeks I had a new 2012 Prius Plug-In Advance (I wasn't kidding, well close). Self employed 62 year old worker bee. I've lost my lust for higher dollar, fancy cars, that I don't have much time to enjoy or take care of. Always irked me to pay premium gas or diesel fuel prices when regular unleaded was expensive. Always been conservative with my money, but a nice car was my reward for hard work. Time for a change, something new and different. My Prius fits my need for basic transportation, exceptional mileage, all the must have options I want, including exciting technology. Way too new to the Prius to be thinking, "next car"? Not a clue, but chances are, I see myself as a multi generation Prius owner. If the current PIP is this good, what's next?
     
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  13. ralleia

    ralleia Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I'm with css28.

    If you put high miles on a car, then an analysis would show you that you minimize the losses by getting a vehicle with high reliability and keeping it LONGER.

    Up-front depreciation, sales tax, fees, and the factor of an unknown vehicle eat up cash, time, and mental energy.

    If a person is addicted to changing cars twice a year to gratify the ego, then that is fine.

    Claiming that one does it for economic purposes is plain dishonest.

    Unless your employer offers lucrative financial incentives to frequently replace your car.
     
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  14. OceanEyes

    OceanEyes Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Which is why I went with the Prius - I figure I am driving mine until either she quits or I quit.... and had a knowledgeable source tell me "They are great, reliable cars - you should have a lot of good miles with yours."(y)
     
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  15. Michael King

    Michael King Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Raynham, Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Were you one of the first 1000? Did you goto the factory?

    I so wanted to buy a Model S before I bought the Prius, but I couldn't swing it financially.
     
  16. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Location:
    Vermont, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I agree that a Prius changes your perception of what "good" MPG is, anything under 30 looks/sounds positivly guzzly in context. :)
     
  17. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I am just going to blurt out: "CAMRY HYBRID".
    That's what I really wanted in 2006, but Prius was better car then.

    However, we are starting to ramp down our jobs/miles driven. Car taxes are awful in Northern Virginia, especially on a Toyota (low depreciation hurts annual prop taxes) with possible new hybrid taxes on top of that. Therefore unless things change here, we need a non-hybrid, non-Toyota for our next vehicle. Sorry.

    If you are putting on the 15,000+ miles/year in VA, then you can start to pay off the hybrid.
     
  18. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

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    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I was not a signature buyer (the first 1000 or so), but I was a very early buyer on the "friends and family" list. My VIN is 01267. I'm in Missouri, so I had it drop shipped to me at work...really!
    [​IMG]
    Delivery Day-Model S by efusco, on Flickr
     
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  19. Vas25tl

    Vas25tl Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2012
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    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    So far, I've been able to only lose about $1000-1500/car by putting 15-20K miles on it. So I drive 30-40K/year with $2-3K/year in losses. That $2K includes taxes, maintenance, etc.

    To reiterate, I buy them used, in good condition and I used to do this for a living so I like to think I know what I'm doing.

    And yes, I am addicted to switching cars often. I had a demo for 4 years where I had a different luxury car every 2-4 weeks and since then (5 years), I haven't been able to own a single car for longer than a year.
     
  20. Vas25tl

    Vas25tl Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Gorgeous car. I see them in Chicago all the time now. I hope you're enjoying it :)