PIP Injured

With your typical driving, the CMAX Energi would easily cover you on most trips. The rear cargo area bump is what kills me but the Volt has a weird hatch opening so I guess it's not much better. Make sure to look at the headlights. The CMAX base has cheesy reflector style headlights. I'm not sure if the Energi offers projectors or not. I know you.

 

Oops, make that $7,000 off MSRP plus tax and state incentives for a Volt. Kinda crazy. Leases are down to $179/mo for 10k miles a year.

 

When I was shopping the Energi was on my list. As long as your trips are with the Energi's EV range it should work for you. On Fuelly the fuel efficiency of the 2013 Energi & PIP are identical (60 mpg). I expect MPGs of both to increase as the weather warms.

I hope someone does a head to head comparison PIP & PIP. It would be nice to compare fuel efficiency of the two vehicle versus distance and speed.

 

Well, better headlights or more fun to drive? I'd choose the later.

I got a PIP because of my long drives and cargo needs.

 

Can't say I wouldn't get another PIP, but I agree with your logic. Nice to have other options and they're only getting better.

 

Car doesn't look totaled to me.

Yep. Both those cars are CA compliance cars. Doesn't really help the OP unless he wants to take a chance on issues getting work done on the car (the Tesla bits in the case of the Rav4 EV).

 

If the cars were not competitive, it wouldn't be a difficult decision. Each has its own niche. For me I either have short trips (under 10 miles) and long trips (over 150 miles). Very little middle distance. For me the PIP gave best mix of efficiency. Plus I simply loved my Gen 2 Prius. My total cost of ownership was very low so I went with a proven product. The deal breaker for me on some of the competition was simply that my 6'7" large frame fits well in the PIP (8-way power seats great!) and was crammed in the competition.

 

So I did extensive test driving of both the C-Max and the PIP. I ultimately went with the PIP for MPG, reliability, and resale valve. In terms of better drive-ability, user functionality, and convenience, the C-Max felt to me like the better car. Since you drive mostly on electric, you have to ask your self if you want something fun to drive or you want a Toyota(reliability and resale).

I commute 100 mile a day, so I wanted the better hybrid MPG I got with the PIP. I don't actually plug the thing in because the cost gas is cheaper than the cost of electricity (yes, I bought it for the HOV sticker). Just my opinion

 

Well, let me amend that. I wouldn't buy another current generation PiP to replace my PiP. The next gen PiP, maybe.

FINALLY! A kindred spirit! I've been on this forum for over a year and have not read of anyone buying this thing for the sole reason of the HOV sticker. Just about everyone I know has mocked my decision. I think DW gives me the eye roll as well. It's as if you just validated me. Yeah, its costs me a little under a $1 per charge which is equivalent to about $5 a gallon. I still do it to be green but I'm not too upset on those occassions I forget to plug in.

Sounds like you're desperately trying to validate your decision. I know how it feels. The last big improvement was in the late 90's for reflectors. The recent difference was the changeover to projectors I think. And not just the Prius. Lower priced cars are coming with projectors which used to only come on luxury cars.

 

Try to negotiate with the insurance company to get some depreciation credit..

 

If you plan to drive over 62mph I wouldn't go with the C-max....

 

Pay attention, there will be a quiz after this:

Here's a list of all the repairs my 2012 Prius Plug-in required after 20,000 miles:

And here's a list of all the repairs my 2010 Prius required after 40,000 miles:

1. Wiper blades

 

$8k doesn't mean it's a lot of damage, just the bumper alone can be a couple of grand. My only concern would be the battery pack, since it's located under the trunk, and any PiP specific stuff upfront. As long as they didn't treat this like a regular Prius, you should be ok.

 

That's the thing that got me to go through a handful of Toyotas since 1980. After my wife's 1980 Corona was 18 months old, I compared the size of the folder against the first 18 months for my 1976 Audi Fox.