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Why do you drive a Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Isaac Zachary, Dec 6, 2020.

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Why do you drive a 2nd gen Prius?

  1. Fuel mileage

    17 vote(s)
    73.9%

  2. Emissions

    4 vote(s)
    17.4%

  3. Low operating/ownership cost

    13 vote(s)
    56.5%

  4. Comfort or Luxury

    2 vote(s)
    8.7%

  5. Cargo space/size/practicality

    9 vote(s)
    39.1%

  6. Safety

    4 vote(s)
    17.4%

  7. Performance

    1 vote(s)
    4.3%

  8. Techno-geek or nostalgia reasons

    7 vote(s)
    30.4%

  9. Other

    3 vote(s)
    13.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    I'm curious as to why other people have an older Prius.

    I'm sure that when these cars first came out it was mainly because people wanted a car that was good on fuel mileage and that got better than average emissions. Some owners even got better overall ownership costs because the fuel mileage more than made up for the higher price tag of a hybrid.

    But I think that those reasons may have changed now that these cars are over 10 years old. Now it seems like there's a general consensus that these are not a cheap way to go if looking for a used car because all are at the point they'll need a new hybrid battery and possibly brake actuator. I've known at least one Prius owner who was burning oil and had a bad catalytic converter and didn't seem to care, as long as the prius ran. And others that are in areas that legally have to have a working cat and CEL turned off run out and get the cheapest emissions equipment parts they can find without even thinking twice about it.

    In the end, it seems now that if someone is after the best emissions or cost there are better alternatives. But maybe an old Prius is the best middle ground between something like an old VW and a Tesla? What drives you to own a Prius?

    Personally I've always been after better fuel mileage and overall costs, which is I why I went for so long in an old 1985 VW diesel. The thing just wouldn't die, hardly ever needed any maintenance (except CV axles) and got 50mpg! But I also wanted better emissions and performance. And this led me to first look at a Nissan Leaf but eventually to Toyota Hybrids in general. Now I've been the proud owner of a 2006 Prius for the past 10 months. But my story isn't everyone's so what's yours?
     
    #1 Isaac Zachary, Dec 6, 2020
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Our 2010's looking better all the time. I'll check out 5th gen when/if they come out, but my expectations are not high.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Dec 6, 2020
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  3. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    Cheap reliable motoring in a futuristic (for the year) over engineered Gen 2 Prius vehicle with an amazing Hybrid Synergy Drive propulsion system technology that has more than proven itself across the planet.


    iPad ? Pro
     
    #3 Data Daedalus, Dec 6, 2020
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Both a blessing and a curse of old Prius owners is that they're extremely frugal and they hold onto their Prius because they are incredibly reliable. Sadly, frugal-minded folk are unwilling to invest in preventative maintenance, so there's plenty of people saying good bye to their much-loved Prius soon as something that could of been prevented goes wrong.
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Dec 6, 2020
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  5. Jesse Bechtold

    Jesse Bechtold New Member

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    Persona
    From what I see in the Prius Facebook groups that seem to get all the new owners and people that may just have a question about their car. It seems to be about reliability. So what the OP says about them being expensive to fix doesn’t make since to me.

    I am one of those that got a Prius because I didn’t want to drive my gas drinking Suv and my classic cars. So I got a car that I wouldn’t want to do anything other than maintain. Well I complete fell in love and ended up selling the SUV.


    iPhone ?
     
    #5 Jesse Bechtold, Dec 6, 2020
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  6. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    Sounds good!

    Just out of curiosity, what year Prii do you own? I see you have a 2015 prius in your profile.

    I have a 2006 that I already have had to replace 3 battery modules, so I probably need to replace the whole HV battery, and it needs a catalytic converter also. So far I feel like the only way to go is OEM, which means I have another $3,500 or more to go. Of course I could save quite a bit if I go with aftermarket. But I need to get the oil consumption problem fixed first before swapping cats. That may mean taking the pistons out and cleaning out the oil control rings. Not cheap IMO.
     
    #6 Isaac Zachary, Dec 6, 2020
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  7. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    It's a little bit complicated. First, I restricted my search to vehicles with side airbags and electronic stability control, then trimmed the options to a few years around the sweet spot for purchase price/repair costs (slightly below 10 years), then assessed the expected TCO over a 5-year period (or greater) of every single model remaining in the criteria, then compared to somewhat newer more efficient vehicles for whether they would be even more cost-effective, like PHEVs and BEVs. (On that note, I expect 2017 vehicles to be the oldest model year I might buy of PHEV or BEV. Anything older just isn't practical or cost-effective for where I live.) The clear winner of all this filtering was the Prius. I didn't actually expect to be able to find anything newer than 2004-2006 that I could afford, but I found a great dealer that specializes in hybrids near me with great pricing, and I was able to afford this 2008. So, in short, I own a Prius for the total cost of ownership, although safety was an initial factor in trimming down options.
     
    #7 oldtechaa, Dec 6, 2020
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  8. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I am seeing more hybrids at my shop, so I bought an 06 with a bad HV battery as a learning tool to study the hybrid systems. Hands on learning is much better than just reading about it in a book or watching a webinar.
     
    #8 mr_guy_mann, Dec 6, 2020
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  9. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    Awesome! Better to think it out and put it on paper! (y)

    Great reason to get one! That's kind of what I'm doing, but for my own knowledge, not for a shop.

    Just remember to learn the hands off portion before the hands on one. :LOL:
     
    #9 Isaac Zachary, Dec 7, 2020
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  10. Jesse Bechtold

    Jesse Bechtold New Member

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    Persona
    I have a 2015 persona, that I have lifted. IMG_1749.jpg
    IMG_1754.jpg


    iPhone ?
     
    #10 Jesse Bechtold, Dec 7, 2020
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  11. Jesse Bechtold

    Jesse Bechtold New Member

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    Persona
    When I got this one I didn’t realize how reliable they were or I would have most likely gotten an older one, but I am extremely happy with my car.


    iPhone ?
     
    #11 Jesse Bechtold, Dec 7, 2020
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  12. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Reliability is my big factor. Long commute at all hours of the day or night. Put over 200k on my 2008 and traded up to my 2011 which now has 250k. I am again in the market for a replacement, with a wandering eye toward Tesla...
     
    #12 AzWxGuy, Dec 7, 2020
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  13. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

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    I bought my 2006 to save money. Back in 2013, we were traveling 3 Hours away 2-3 weekends a month for our kids club soccer teams. We’ve put on 145,000 miles on that thing!

    In the Covid era, our travel has drastically decreased so it doesn’t get as much use anymore. And with cheap gas, I’ve been driving our Tundra Limited Crewmax for those few trips we do take. That and the fact that our boys are growing (1 is almost 6 feet tall), and complain about the lack of space/comfort in the Prius.

    I still love driving the Prius, and the wife and I will probably still use the Prius for long trips once we become empty nesters In 3 years. I had a new OEM Hybrid Battery installed in 2016 so plenty of life there. Just hoping the brake actuator holds up, I don’t think my wife will support me spending that kind of $$$$ at this point.
     
    #13 Rph74, Dec 7, 2020
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  14. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    With three of us being more than 6' tall is what steered me to getting the Avalon hybrid as our family car. I find that most all pickups and SUV's, while having good head room, usually lack in leg room. But at 6'1", in the Avalon I can slide the front seats all the way back, which is uncomfortable driving since the pedals are then too far away even for me, and still have decent leg room in the rear. The Avalon doesn't have good head room, but our heads don't touch the ceiling unless someone sits in the middle rear seat.
     
    #14 Isaac Zachary, Dec 7, 2020
  15. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

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    I have found this to be true as well. My wife and son both drive Lexus GX470’s. I have pointed out to them that there is actually quite a bit more legroom in the Prius vs the GX470. But the Tundra Crewmax is totally different story, it’s limo like back there. According to a review by Doug Demuro, there’s more legroom in the Crewmax than a Mercedes S-Class. And I can pack virtually anything I want in the back lol!
     
    #15 Rph74, Dec 7, 2020
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  16. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    Awesome! I almost went for a pickup myself. It seems like there's always something big that needs to be moved from time to time, like when my wife finds a couch at a yard sale. But I ended up just getting a small 1,000lb carrying capacity flat bed trailer and tow it behind the Avalon. It definitely has it's pros and cons compared to a pickup. The one thing that helped greatly is a buddy of mine and I were able to weld up a tow hitch and receiver that doesn't drag way below the bumper like all the ones available for the Avalon. Instead, mine comes through the bumper.
     
    #16 Isaac Zachary, Dec 8, 2020
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  17. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

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    Oh yes, the trailer will fill almost all of your needs for hauling! I had a folding trailer that I used when I didn’t have a pickup for a couple of years. It’s not as convenient to use the trailer but it really is good enough to do everything a truck can do.
     
    #17 Rph74, Dec 8, 2020
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  18. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    More cars need the DeLorean head cut out in the roof liner!
     
    #18 2k1Toaster, Dec 8, 2020
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  19. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Nope, no Tesla for me. The fit/finish problems, replacement parts supply chain, and the exorbitant over-pricing steered me clear. Later today I should become the proud owner of a 2021 Sea Glass Pearl Prius Limited. My Prius adventure continues. I'll update my profile AFTER I read the owners manual cover to cover. Joy!
     
    #19 AzWxGuy, Dec 10, 2020
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  20. dbat23

    dbat23 Member

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    I also looked into a Tesla (Model 3), but was turned off by the partial completeness I kept on reading about in reviews on-line. They are definitely an up-and-coming car company, but so many things that Toyota has internalized into their quality and dependability reputation have not yet been reached by Tesla. Looking forward to some day when Toyota seriously pursues a full EV line. But really love my 640 mile combined EV-Gas range of my 2020 Prime. No range anxiety here.
     
    #20 dbat23, Dec 10, 2020
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