Top 10 Reasons NOT to buy a 2010 Prius (from a huge Prius fan)

It makes little sense for a current Prius owner to upgrade to a 2010.

I never found that a trade in decision needed to make sense.

 

I'm comparing MSRPs, and the MSRP of a TCH with leather is about $30k. Sure, you can get a TCH for less given the incentives and negotiation, but I'd still bet you pay at least $2k more for a TCH with roughly equivalent features to a Prius.

There are always exceptions to generalizations. Even in your situation, I don't think it makes much sense, but that's my opinion. Like I said, I buy cars with the intent to drive them for at least 10 years. Other folks would scoff at me for choosing a 2010 over a 2009 or even buying a new car at all (and, economically, their right).

Out of curiousity, when the math's all totaled, how much do you expect your upgrade to cost?

Exactly.

 

If Ford would build a Focus hybrid anywhere in Europe, I'd be interested. The Prius is really a little bit big. Then again, if Toyota would build Prius or Yaris hybrids at Burnaston in Derbyshire, I'd prefer that to a Belgian, German or Spanish Focus.

What native car industry? Jaguar-Land Rover wouldn't build anything in a sensible size and anyway they're owned by India's Tata Motors now.

I'm convincing myself that by upgrading to a 2010, my current Prius can take a Focus (or something) off the road, for a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and a vast reduction in toxic/smog-forming emissions (my average in my 2001 Focus was 38mpg(I) and the Prius is 55mpg(I)). It's not like it'll be crushed with a residual value of £11-12k! Of course I don't plan to do that until the new cars have been out for a few months to a year - let some other sucker take the new-car depreciation hit.

 

All aspects of a purchase cannot be quantified in monetary terms.

Of course, it doesn't matter much anyway. Your expectation of 10 years of ownership is rare here... in the land of sandy & salty winters. A large majority of the cars are replaced before then. We have a different cost of living due to winter impact compared to other regions.
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I know that. I'm not asking you to justify your upgrade. I was just curious as to the cost.

 

I considered the FFH. However, I don't want to invest minimum of $30K (car plus TTL). Also, with only 25K being built this year, I presume the availabilty will be very limited. It's an attractive option, but a Prius III at $23,750 fits my needs and budget so much better.

Also, I asked the question regarding maintenance and repair costs for Prius, and the responses were very favorable. John1701a shared some amazingly detailed stats.

I think we need a new support group (Prius Anonymous?). We're as fanatical about Prii as the folks are on NAM with their MINIs.

 

Don't look now, but you're already in it.

Have you ever noticed a little flicker on your screen as you've typed? Uh-huh. Yup. They're watchin' ya.

 

Even though I haven't bought a D3 car since 1978, it bothers me not to 'buy American' now that they're about to go BK. I never felt sorry for the D3 with their poor products and short-term planning (big SUV's, etc.), but I never thought they would get into such bad shape before turning things around. If the D3 made something comparable in quality & price to a Prius, I would buy it. If Ford had the Euro Ford Fiesta here now, I would be tempted. But I will most likely buy a 2010 Prius. But maybe next time around, whatever is left of the D3 will have something better to offer...sad.

 

Actually, they're much more sophisticated than one would imagine. They're feeding all the stats (number of posts, their content, time connected, etc.) to Toyota. This information is stored in a sophisticated database that is accessible by all Toyota dealorships. Through data mining, they know all about you before you pick up that phone or send an email inquiry.

 

That is my reason for not buying a new hybrid. I was debating between the fusion and the Prius and ended up getting a 2006 RX400h because there really is no point to getting a new hybrid knowing that in a couple of years the plug in hybrids will be available. so in a couple of years I will be trading my 06 in for a plug in.

The problems with the fusion are a. Its loss of value is high based on the research of done and b. Its the first year the fusion hybrid will be available and buying a vehicle in its first year of production can be a bit risky

Its all a matter of trade off's. Once all the Prius's batteries will wear down, you will have them filling up landfills since they are not biodegradable or recyclable however the low emissions that these vehicles produce is much better for the planet than a regular non-hybrid. That being said if you want to really go green don't buy ANYTHING. Anything you buy contributes to global warming but obviously you will not stop purchasing products but you can purchase products that have a lower global warming impact.

 

Personally, I'm sticking with "The Prius you bought several years ago runs like a Timex, so save the 10 grand and drive it until it quits."

 

Wrong!

 

"Once all the Prius's batteries will wear down, you will have them filling up landfills since they are not biodegradable or recyclable"

Huh? Why do these myths STILL circulate the 'net?

The battery is highly recycleable (sp?), worth 200 bucks to a Toyota dealer and Toyota themselves have a recycling plant set up in Japan to dismantle and reuse the metal and nickel.

Where do all the Hummer parts rust out to?

 

I to am a teenager at heart and the Fusion hybrid looks like so many other 4 door sedans, not bad if thats what U want but if ya get a Fusion you mays well get some white golf shoes or a pair of bermuda shorts - I want a computer on wheels which is also a very functional vehicle aka Prius .

 

Now that's a real low blow!
:fish:

 

Maybe emotional games are effective on 7 year old childs. But Detroit should keep their patriotism for themselves. Because the top priority for Detroit is to keep sending your money to offshore places, like the tax heaven of Cayman islands.So they wont have to return money in US.
But I would ask them in an emotional and equally illusionary manner "how patriotic was the decision to ruin Tucker company, when patriotism wasnt poisoned yet by US vision called NEW ORDER global economy?".

I think that a plug-in/out at $40-50k fully powered by a grid 100% solar powered at several thousand euros would certainly worth the wait and while people would not have to pay huge electric bills, it would be a really green solution if you would keep it for a long long time.

True. At the same price you can buy the Fusion with much more than 4 driving modes, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Parking Assist, LED front-rear, leather, plasmacluster, HUD.

If 25k miles is dissapointing what is the life-expectancy for other cars?

The best thing is not to buy any car at all. If you need a car just compare its emissions aka multiply its footprint emissions per mile by the total miles you re going to drive.:welcome:

 

The tire issue can be a no-brainer. The low resistance tires are hard rubber and give a poorer ride. You can always get an extra 10,000-miles out of your tires if you convert to nitrogen and buy a really good tire gauge and put max tire pressure in them.

I learned that from a tire factory rep and have never had less than 50,000-miles on my cars dating back to 1970. I especially like the 44-psi, they can make up for losing a little when switching out the lousy riding low resistance factory tires.

Same car? This car has 90% different parts. No belts, with electric motors running the old drive belt parts. Better seats? They only come in leather and it is really hot in the summer, so you will only get the lumbar support with leather.

The suspension is better on all models!

No discount under MSRP, at least yet. Maybe in the Fall with Costco or Sam's program.

Reasons not to buy? Recession? Depression? No job down the road? Higher license fees and insurance on a new car!

Do I still want it? I really hate to admit it, but yes.

Ten dealers will be ringing me to drive or fly to check it out. I priced it out in 4-states. I have purchased cars out of state before.

Save me money and have a little vacation to boot!

On the road in July! Maybe Vancouver Toyota!:rockon:

 

1. Buy American?
How do you do that? You believe there's such a thing as a U.S. car ... or that it's 100% U.S. parts? Doesn't Toyota build cars in the U.S.A. ... doesn't GM outsource parts of their manufacturing to Mexico, Canada, China etc.? doesn't Ford outsource too? Don't they all? But right now, with a weak economy, aren't MOST manufacturing plants simply idle? ... Isn't the whole "where's it built" thing almost a non sequitur ?

2. Plug-ins?
Can't you go to a conversion shop for as little as $4,900 and have your existing Prius converted? "Right around the corner" ?? Isn't that what they said about jet packs in the 1950's? Isn't that what the industry has said about hydrogen ever since the 1970's?

3. Carpool Sticker?
Aren't there CNG conversion shops?, don't CNG cars entitle CA drivers to get PERMANENT HOV sticker? Don't like to drive? ever consider moving closer to work? ... getting a bike? ... walk/run/jog/bus/train/carpool?

4. Cost?
Do you have to get the most expensive model? do you think plug-ins are going to be cheaper than a regular hybrid?

5. fusion?
Do you think it's 100% U.S. made? (as though that's somehow better) Isn't it assembled in Mexico? A "bigger" car is more "real" shouldn't you be looking at an excursion then?

6. Sameness?
Faster, quieter, bigger (inside) and style (my addition) is better enough? Is there a reason you left off higher mileage ?

7. Rapid tire Wear?
Don' my michelin hydro edges have well over 60,000 miles on them & yet still look new?

8. Sound system problems?
Such as?

9. Tree Hugger?
... does #5 emphasis on bigger reconcile well with tree hugging? wouldn't tree hugging bode more well with the highest mpg?

It doesn't really sound like you really want a 2010 with everything. And that's fine. So keep the existing prius. It'll last you a long long time. Besides, you CAN't get a 2010 with everything. The moonroof doesn't come with LED headlights ... or lane assist / self park / self brake functions.
If you Do buy . . . . see you at the dealer!


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#9, since you already have a modern Prius, this is a very good reason. You don't yet have your money's worth out it. Leave the 2010s to those of us who have gotten our money's worth out of our 1980s cars, and need to upgrade to something modern and safe.

#10.

 

I'm comparing MSRPs, and the MSRP of a TCH with leather is about $30k. Sure, you can get a TCH for less given the incentives and negotiation, but I'd still bet you pay at least $2k more for a TCH with roughly equivalent features to a Prius.

Comparing MSRP's is meaningless. What you pay for a car is the cost. A 2009 TCH fully loaded (NAV, leather, etc) with a $32K MSRP can be bought for $27K at Fitzmall. They have several. That is basically a Prius V that will cost a little over $30K MSRP and probably the same purchase price for most people. The TCH is $3K less.