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Prius or Escape hybrid?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by exbauer, May 25, 2008.

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  1. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    I had a 2008 Prius that I passed on to family and now looking for another car. With the way dealers are now with the Prius I have been looking for an alternative. I have been thinking about the Ford Escape hybrid. It is priced closely to the Prius with the tax credit (I know I will qualify). I know it doesn't get as good gas mileage. I have a 2009 Prius on order and a 2009 FEH.

    I have had a 2007 Honda Civic hybrid and I would get almost the same gas mileage as a FEH. Plus the Prius blows the HCH out of the water.

    What do you think?
     
    #1 exbauer, May 25, 2008
  2. Abrannan19

    Abrannan19 New Member

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    to different ball games..not really a fair comparison..

    it really depends on you and what you plan to do with your vehicle.
     
    #2 Abrannan19, May 25, 2008
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    hmm... tough choice. Do you need AWD? (cause a FWD SUV is pointless imo). Also I think Ford tweaked the FEH for 2009 with a higher EV drive mode and a new engine among other things.

    The FEH is quite invisible. It might the reason why I've missed a couple (I must've missed a couple. They can't be selling that poorly). The 05 model I test drove was decent but the plastics were crap. The 07 model (i.e the current one) that my friend drove (I sat as a passenger) was much better. Plastics were good but still below par imo. Fit and Finish is much improved and the AWD version actually had some screech when we powered out of the auto mall. Nice!


    How are they equipped in the US vis-a-vis?
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, May 25, 2008
  4. SparrowHawk60

    SparrowHawk60 Happy to be green!

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    Do you tow anything? = Escape althought it's limted by the Hybrid addition.

    Second car or Primary Car? = Prius

    Need lots of room to load stuff into without the addition of a roof rack? = Escape

    Want better MPG? = Prius

    More than five in family? = Escape with third row seating.

    Better looking, more fun to drive? = Prius
     
    #4 SparrowHawk60, May 25, 2008
  5. ZC1

    ZC1 Junior Prius Owner

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    I think you set yourself up for an Escape Hybrid, unless you were planning to buy a new Prius.

    I'd think the Escape has a tad more interior room, but you will suck on the gas part and emissions part, (and the COOL feature as noted above)

    Still, I don't think a Prius and an Escape are comparable as far as hybrids go. I think the Escape is only disguised as a hybrid.
    Refer to Abrannan19's post.

    ZC1
     
    #5 ZC1, May 25, 2008
  6. ForTheGlory

    ForTheGlory New Member

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    Isn't the effect of the tax credit in the noise when you're getting 1-2 new cars every year?
     
    #6 ForTheGlory, May 25, 2008
  7. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    When I got the 07 HCH I qualified for the tax credit. When I purchased the Prius the tax credit was phased out. So, that didn't matter. If I get a FEH I will be able to get the tax credit since I didn't get one in 2008.

    I don't need the utility of a SUV and the Prius really does fit me perfectly. I don't tow anything and don't have a family. I am not sure I can wait 6 months in getting a car. I have 1 car that I will be sharing come next weekend. But, it will be really inconvenient. Hopefully the Toyota dealer will have somebody that falls through and will have one available to me. I am looking for a base or touring pkg 6 Prius. The FEH is similarly equipped. I think my luck in finding a FEH is higher than a Prius. But, you never know.

    The 2009 FEH seems to be better than the 2008. It has a bigger engine and 1 more MPG than the 2008. I rather have a smaller engine and more MPG. I think with resale Prius is way to go, but the FEH won't be that bad either. I will be able to purchase it with X Plan pricing and will not be paying MSRP.
     
    #7 exbauer, May 25, 2008
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well if you don't need it, then just get a Prius. It's a lot lighter too (less wear on tyres and brake pads).

    Sparrow, I'm unaware that the FEH has 3rd row seating. I thought the RAV4 was the the only compact SUV with 3rd row seating.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, May 25, 2008
  9. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    The FEH or the regular FE doesn't offer 3rd row seating.
     
    #9 exbauer, May 25, 2008
  10. Per

    Per New Member

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    You will get nowhere near the mileage of an HCH on a FEH--probably be lucky to exceed 30 MPG on the FEH. Also, Ford is limiting production of the FEH and it's Mercury cousin, so they will be hard to get, and you will have to pay at least list price for one.
     
    #10 Per, May 25, 2008
  11. ForTheGlory

    ForTheGlory New Member

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    Please define your requirements. You have a 2007 HCH right now and you've ordered a 2009 Prius and a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. Some questions:

    -How many people will be sharing the cars?
    -How often/how far do you drive each week?
    -Can you get by with just the HCH until the 2009 vehicles are available?
    -It sounds like you want the FEH just because it's a hybrid. If that's the case, why not buy a car that gets better fuel economy than a hybrid SUV?
     
    #11 ForTheGlory, May 25, 2008
  12. removeum

    removeum Member

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    Why not a Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
     
    #12 removeum, May 25, 2008
  13. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    I will be the only driver. I would drive it back and forth to work which is about 20 miles round trip 5X a week. I will be sharing a Nissan Murano when I pass along my Prius. But, having one car will be very inconvenient. I am thinking about getting a FEH just because it is a hybrid. But, the thought of it being a SUV does have some appeal to it. The extra space would be a plus in the future. The resale value of it won't hurt since gas isn't going down.

    The Toyota Highlander is just too big. Plus it is out of my price range.
     
    #13 exbauer, May 25, 2008
  14. fish_antlers

    fish_antlers New Member

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    better chance getting a prius.. only 25,000 Escape hybrids to be built this year.
     
    #14 fish_antlers, May 25, 2008
  15. Sheepdog

    Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie!

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    why are you dumping the Prius? I didnt understand that part?

    If you just keep it then you wouldnt need the FEH and its mediocre mpg.
     
    #15 Sheepdog, May 25, 2008
  16. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I don't quite understand the situation, so it is a bit hard to offer a recommendation. I thought you wrote earlier that you have a Honda Civic Hybrid and a Prius. If so, then when you get rid of the Prius you'll have just the HCH and a shared ride in the Murano?

    Having "just" one car seems like a luxury to me -- unless you are referring to a two-driver, two-commuter family.

    Sorry to be so direct, but I would like to offer an opinion with some value: Do you have a car of your own (once you hand off the Prius) or are you in the position where your only car is the Murano that you'll be sharing with another driver?
     
    #16 a priori, May 25, 2008
  17. fish_antlers

    fish_antlers New Member

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    4wd and towing a small payload come to mind.
     
    #17 fish_antlers, May 25, 2008
  18. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    to clear things up...

    I don't have a HCH, I traded in it for a Prius. I am passing the Prius on to my parents since they were in an accident and their car was totaled. They have a longer commute than me to work and will be beneficial to them.

    I will be sharing the Murano since it is my girl friends. She works close by me so getting to and from work is not a problem. It is just times when either one needs a car and then the other one is stuck at home.

    I am hoping I can get my hands on another Prius. I am on a waiting list for 2008, but I feel like it is already so late in the year that I should wait and get a 2009.

    I don't need another SUV. But, since the FEH gets decent gas mileage and is priced pretty good since I can get it x plan and a tax credit. It is really appealing. I test drove a Mercury Mariner hybrid and it was nice. I was able to get pretty good mileage on the test drive. But, they only had a 4WD model. I would prefer a 2WD since it gets better gas mileage.
     
    #18 exbauer, May 26, 2008
  19. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Thanks, exbauer. I am sorry for the confusion on my part.

    Very glad to see you are able to help out your parents.

    Unfortunately, it seems time is not your friend. Have you considered leasing a vehicle until your new Prius arrives (2008 or 2009)?
     
    #19 a priori, May 26, 2008
  20. drees

    drees Senior Member

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    The 2009s won't be any different than the 2008s, so there's no point waiting for those.

    The 2010 model due out spring of 2009 might be worth waiting for - if so, just pick up a used, cheap beater car in the mean time.
     
    #20 drees, May 26, 2008
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