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

Are you driving a Prius because you're Green or Frugal?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Glenn G, Jun 22, 2018.

  1. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    One reason I bought my first Prius was because I wanted to make a statement about oil. We were stuck in another war in the middle east and sending our young men to die for big business to profit.
    I felt we needed to go in a different direction and say screw big oil.
    I am A Vietnam vet.
     
  2. ClemsonSteve

    ClemsonSteve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2016
    270
    246
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    True. But, it depends on the basis for the comparison. I traded in an expensive sports sedan. As with most sporty cars--this one being a higher end mega--the costs to run and maintain are very high. Going from that car to a Prius Prime, I'm saving tons on gas, about $210 per month, tons on maintenance--brakes every 25k @$700, tires at 20k @$1000--and if anything minor breaks when the warranty is up on a luxury brand, it starts at $1,000 and goes up from there. For me, I'm looking at an earlier than expected retirement--so the massive savings generated by switching to the Prime from the luxury sports sedan fit like a glove. I could have gone cheaper--much cheaper by purchasing something like a used Honda Fit, or the like. But the new Prime Advanced was a great compromise--buy new, get the extras I want while cutting costs by tons over my previous ride, and keeping the new Prime until something major/cost prohibitive happens. I'm aiming for 300,000 miles--I plan to post the happenings with this trek right here on PriusChat! Wish me luck--I hope we all get 300k trouble free miles!
     
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    How about neither, exactly?

    We needed a car the size of a Yaris or Fit etc. I was disappointed with both of those. My wife didn't like the style of the new Accent. We gave the prius c a whirl and we both loved it!

    The fact that it is a hybrid is merely coincidental. If anything I expect that to become a bit of a hardship with regards to future repair. Toyota dealers aren't common around here and I haven't found a single independent mechanic promoting their hybrid chops within 50 miles.

    I know I'm new here but the more I read, the more I think the prius brand is just a way to market cars to nerds.

    Another choice missing in your questionnaire: California HOV lanes. I used to live in Los Angeles, and I still visit frequently for business. I have a number of friends and associates out there who drive electric, and every single one of them picked it for the sticker & lane rights. They would line up to buy a car powered by an unshielded nuclear reactor and the hearts of orphans if it allowed them to hover over traffic.
     
    dubit and Andyprius1 like this.
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    That's a bit of a odd statement, since basically everyone is a "nerd" based on the rate technology is accepted now.

    Camry hybrid is packed with tech too, as well as pushing a sporty look. How is perceived?

    What about the 2019 appearance change expected for Prius?

    Keep in mind that early on, the biggest non- hybrid draw aspect was that it was the only midsize hatchback against look available in the US market.
     
    #24 john1701a, Jun 23, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2018
  5. AnneLW

    AnneLW Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    118
    95
    0
    Location:
    California desert
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Bought our Gen II in 2004 for "green" reasons.

    Since gas prices were higher then, and it replaced a pickup that got 15 mpg, and we kept the car for 13 years, it actually paid for itself in gas savings (that won't be the case for most people).

    Then, we just fell in love with Prii.

    Bought our 2014 V for more cargo space and our 2017 Prime because I've wanted a plug-in since I first heard about people converting their own cars in the 2000s.
     
    bwilson4web likes this.
  6. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    That's a pretty good point. The amount of tech being spackled into new cars today is pretty extreme compared to just a few years ago. So perhaps it would be better for me to say it started out as a way to market cars to nerds.
     
    bisco and Andyprius1 like this.
  7. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I’m not sure what a nerd is ? But Iv had a Prius now for 13years. I have always been frugal. Never believed in waste. The Prime suits my needs exactly, being green is a nice plus, having a spotless tailpipe that emits almost nothing is fantastic. No smell, no mess, no noise, now if they could only arrange for chicken soup to come out of there ! On Coast to coast a guest said things will get intolerable to life by 2021 Unless we do something.
     
  8. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Incidently, Were Hawking, Einstein, Fermi nerds ? if so we need more. I don’t understand them but I love them.
    Just what does E =MC squared mean anyway?
     
  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I never had the chance to meet any of them, but I have a hard time imagining that they weren't at least kind of nerdy. Please understand, I'm not using the word in the pejorative sense- I count myself as a nerd as well. I bought in, after all. Don't let the avatar picture throw you.
     
    Andyprius1 likes this.
  10. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    The avatar is way cool, nobody would ever suspect you of being a nerd, but, you always have good posts.
     
    padroo likes this.
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, both ECOs, that's ECOlogy and ECOnomy, were contributing factors for deciding on purchase of Prius. But in the end, it all boiled down to EGO. I just wanted feel good about my purchase and driving it around to satisfy my needs. If I really, really wanted to be ECOxECO, then I should have bought a bicycle. LOL
     
    #31 Salamander_King, Jun 23, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2018
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    [​IMG]
     
    jerrymildred, benagi, padroo and 2 others like this.
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    judging by the talents of so many members here, i'd say nerd is typical, and compliment. i definitely don't fit in.:oops:
     
  14. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I thought it was the next logical step up from diesels. :p
     
  15. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Not true, you have your own kind of nerdism.

    That cat is definitely a nerd
     
    #35 Andyprius1, Jun 23, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2018
    karthik1107, pilotgrrl, bisco and 2 others like this.
  16. juhjuhjuhjames

    juhjuhjuhjames Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2018
    49
    18
    0
    Location:
    seattle
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I joked around about getting a Prius for a while. When I started actually looking at new cars, it seemed like a better and better choice. I knew I didn’t want a civic, corolla, or anything in that category. I wanted a car I wouldn’t have to maintain for years that got good gas mileage - and one that felt luxurious enough with the right amount of trim to justify buying a brand new car, that I would be happy with for years to come. It came down to a CPO bmw, new WRX, current generation Prius and the Prius prime. The prime has everything i was looking for and I couldn’t be happier.
     
    ClemsonSteve likes this.
  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
    Throughout my life, I have driven small cars with huge interiors. (Ford Falcon 2 door S/W, Mazda 808 Mizer S/W, Maxda GLC, Ford Escort S/W, Toyota Corolla All-Trac S/W, Subaru Forester) Both my Prius have followed this trend. Despite this clear trend, folks want to stereotype Prius owners in other ways

    Gen 1 Technology freaks
    Gen 2 Save the Planet attention seekers
    Gen 3 Save gas money misers
    Gen 4 Connoisseurs of Ugly

    Once you start listening, very few owners actually fall into these stereotypes.
     
    dubit, pilotgrrl and ClemsonSteve like this.
  18. ClemsonSteve

    ClemsonSteve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2016
    270
    246
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Hear, Hear!!!!
     
  19. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2010
    708
    454
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina low country
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    A bit of environmentally conscientious, and a whole lot of 2 weeks between visiting gas stations. (range in other words)
     
    Andyprius1 and ClemsonSteve like this.
  20. ClemsonSteve

    ClemsonSteve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2016
    270
    246
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Absolutely! Gas station once a month is my motto!
     
    Andyprius1 and pilotgrrl like this.