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thinking of trading in for Civic Si

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by xsmatt81, Oct 27, 2008.

  1. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    Only had the prius since mid 2007. It's the best car I've owned by far, but I find myself already growing bored with it(also miss stick shift badly)

    Honestly I am with stupid on trade in. Would it be a poor choice since I still owe about 18,500. They would only give me what I have paid so far correct? then take on the rest of the payment for me.

    I will be putting 2800 down plus trade in.

    I am on the fence still though, the fuel economy is fantastic in this car, and it's really a good vechicle. I just want something a bit more sporty, and I barely drive anymore. My new job is only 3 miles from the house. Maybe 150 miles a week. Total miles is super low at 13,027

    what should i do? keep it a few more years? I am I nuts?

    Thanks

    let the Flames begin =)
     
  2. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    If you are inclined to make this move.....sell the Prius privately; you will make several thousand dollars more than trading it in. Do not just give away your Prius to the dealership where they will wash/wax and mark it up $5K and sell it quickly. Cars are a black hole for money-always try to minimize your losses by making smart decisions.
     
  3. rpg51

    rpg51 Member

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    I agree - sell privately, especially a good used Prius. But no matter how you do it you are almost certainly going to take a big hit. I finally got it in my head at age 57 that when you start buying and selling cars for reasons other than a need for reliable transportation you are going to be spending a lot of money basically for recreation. That is fine if you have the dough. I have other things I want to spend my recreation dollars on. But if a cool car that flips your switch is important to you then by all means - go for it.
     
  4. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    I've trimmed down your post a bit, to make answering it a bit easier.

    1) Try not to tie your self esteem to your car. I have family members who do this and end up spending tons of $$$ in cars over the years. Absolute and utter waste of money.

    2) Here's a telling part, you are bored and miss a stick shift. You barely drive anymore. You work 3 miles from your house. You drive 150 miles/week. There is no urgency nor reason to sell this car. You aren't driving it. If you are bored, you need to come up with some hobbies and not look at the car as a cure for your boredom. The Civic SI will be a fun vehicle for a couple of years, but then you'll be bored of it, then what are you going to replace it with? S2000? 911? Vette? Motorcycle? And after you get bored with that next vehicle, then what.....

    It is a car. A mode of transportation. However, this car is reliable, inexpensive, and pollutes less than any other car out there. No, it doesn't have testosterone enhancing 0 - 100 mph times nor will it attack a slalom course like a slot car. However, the times you are called upon to floor it to 100 mph or save the world by taking 35 mph mountain road corners at 60 mph are extremely few and far inbetween. The times spent filling up at the gas station, schleping 3 adult friends around town, or arriving at your destination without AAA intervention are far more frequent.

    Honestly, take the money that you would lose by trading your car in, the $$$ spent on gas, insurance and whatnot and invest in a hobby.
     
  5. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I think you are a car dealers dream.
     
  6. hybridgrl

    hybridgrl New Member

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    "It's the best car I've owned by far", "..am I nuts?" Read again and again what you wrote. I had a Honda Civic and have driven other Hondas and can tell you there is no comparison for comfort level between Honda and Toyota cars and suvs. I do not know what Honda uses to cushion their seats with but it can't be much. If you go to Edmunds.com and read some of the reviews of the Honda cars/suvs you will see where much of the complaints run along the way of uncomfortable seats. As far as your job goes, although it is only a few miles away as of today, you do not know what is down the road and what happens if you change jobs and have to travel quite a distance? I think the reply directed to you is correct when telling you to get a new hobby. You are obviously very smart by choosing the Prius. Don't let your emotions get the best of you - car dealers LOVE that!
     
  7. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    Sorry that you are getting bored with your Prius. If you want more excitement in your life, try marriage, or divorce.

    From a financial perspective, the best thing you can do is to keep it and drive it for a long, long, long time.

    Good Luck!

    Keith
     
  8. cattail722

    cattail722 cattail722

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    My suggestion, since you live so close to work, don't waste the money on a new car because you're bored with your current car. Buy yourself a bike with the money you save and ride to work every day. Talk about boredom relief!
     
  9. rcaine

    rcaine Member

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    Our new Prius just completed it's first road trip, a five hour 350 mile trip from Atlanta to St. Simons Island and then a return reverse of the trip. The Prius replaces our 1997 Honda Civic as our road car (we bought it new) so I can make some comparisons. Normally my wife and I would swap off driving on a trip of this length (two or three hour shifts??) but we returned early after my wife got food poisoning and I had to do all of the driving with minimal stops. After the return trip I was much less tired than I would have been driving my "share" of the trip in the civic. The civic is not as sporty as the SI and is an automatic and there is no comparison in the comfort. I love Honda's reliability but I would suggest you cure your boredom in some other way. A bike or motorcycle would be a good solution but you need to find what works for you.:D:D
     
  10. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I was beaten to it, but get yourself a nice bicycle. There are some really cool and functional technological advances in them now. For a "top line" one you will only have to pay in the $3000 area. Hydraulic disk brakes, suspension, carbon fibre, etc. But better not leave it outdoors. They are so high tech they seem to walk away. ;)
     
  11. Silver 2008

    Silver 2008 Junior Member

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    I would keep the Prius and buy a motorcycle to satisfy your hunger for performance. You could pay for a motorcycle with the money you would lose trading your Prius in on a Honda. Plus, a motorcycle is easy to park, and gets pretty good mileage (although most don't do as well as a Prius).

    Mike
     
  12. samsprius1

    samsprius1 HEV Fanatic

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  13. MadHungarian

    MadHungarian Member

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    :nod: The older I get (and I have no doubt that I'm amongst the oldest on this board), the more I appreciate how short is life. Sell the Prius and buy the Honda. And when you tire of of the Honda, do it all over again (and again, and again, etc.). Enjoy! Life is indeed too short to do otherwise.
     
  14. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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    FWIW, the '06 GTI is rated at 24mpg same as the '09 Civic SI. The '09 GTI gets you up to 25mpg. If you get EPA in any of these cars you are pretty much defeating the point of owning it. Thats why I sold my WRX. It was rated EPA 20mpg, I rarely saw better than 18. If I tried I could get ~25, but it took all the fun out of the car. At some point wasting gas and T2BIN9 emissions stopped being fun, despite the adrenaline rush.


    Rob
     
  15. liverbomb88

    liverbomb88 Push the Button!

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    I agree. Life is too short. If you have the means, sell your Prius and get the Si (or another car/bike/whatever more suitable for you). Some see cars as just a mode of transportation, but a lot of us enjoy the act of driving. Prius does it for some, like the whisper of the electric motor and the seamless transmission. Others enjoy the control of a stick shift or a more powerful engine.

    If you have the tendency to get bored with cars quickly, consider leasing the car. You pay depreciation and have nothing to show for your payments at the end of your lease, but it also means you're always covered by a warranty, save on sales taxes, and can get a new car every few years. This may provide you with the means to enjoy other parts of life.

    Good luck.:rockon:



     
  16. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    thanks I suppose your guys are right. I will sit on it a couple more years. Just need people to help talk me out of it!!

    I do ride my bike to work sometimes, I have a Trek 1.5, but season is out. I have plenty of hobbies. I meant the drive to work is dull that is all.

    I will just sit on it, no sense in getting bent over the table, and i am to lazy to sell right now.

    resale has gone down again on prius anyhow.

    on another note I was also looking at a Mazda speed 3.

    I have a feeling gas may be up to 5 bucks a gallon soon anyway, with the OPEC cuts, possible war looming..and post elections(oil always goes down before election)

    might be wise to keep the pri
     
  17. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    I was thinking of getting a bike. Like a Honda Shadow, maybe that would be an idea and is alot cheaper.

    Just need something that has gears I can shift and goesVroom I guess.

    :)
     
  18. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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  19. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Nonononononononono. Think: Yamaha R6.

    Funny you mention the MS3 though, I hear they make a lot of power with a few bolt-ons (I mean, if you're looking for speed do it right). You do realize that an Si is going to require you to keep it "on the boil" near (the albeit high) redline to keep things interesting, right? Have you considered a used Evo or STi? Either will be considerably faster (and likely handle better) than an Si.
     
  20. Silver 2008

    Silver 2008 Junior Member

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    Even the Honda Shadow would be fun. Most cars wouldn't be able to keep up with it.

    My motorcycle will do a 10.52 quarter. Plenty fast to entertain me, and satisfy that bad boy in me :) Then I get back in my Prius and putter along again.

    If I lived in Vegas, I would ride A LOT! In Idaho, my riding season is limited. Bikes and snow do not mix.

    Mike