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Is it safe to buy a new Prius right now?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by malibuss03, Mar 9, 2010.

  1. ajc

    ajc Member

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    nonsense of brakes :mad: it's real and it happened to me several times, so how can you make a nonsense statement like that? It also happened after I had the computer software ugrade.
     
  2. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    The Prius is likely to start on its own, drive around the garage while you're sleeping, and hurts the economy because it devalues oil stock futures. Get a nice reliable motor home, instead. The bigger the better. Soon after your purchase, it won't start at all, will never fit in the garage, and it will help your oil stock futures whenever it does run.
     
  3. lunabelgium

    lunabelgium Member

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    @ malibuss03 (Some advice please....

    And you - What's YOUR advice ???
    Trouble with the brakes : it happened to me several times - the last was yesterday.
    My Prius will be upgrade on March 19.
    It's OK for the Prius built as from mid-January.
     
  4. kenopa

    kenopa Junior Member

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    I had to do an emergency stop yesterday and the Prius, like........ stopped. OMG. That curse of intended braking. Seriously, I cart around grandchildren all the time. If I didn't think the vehicle was safe, I wouldn't have considered the purchase. After driving new for two weeks, thinking maybe we should have gone for his-and-hers 2010's. This is the second Prius we have owned.
     
  5. mitch672

    mitch672 Technology Geek

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    Yeah, I have a GPS locator on mine, because it is frequently out cruising around on its own, and it's never where I leave it parked :) damn car has a mind of it's own.
     
  6. Iceman123

    Iceman123 New Member

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    Toyota Examining Prius Incident

    Prius With stuck accelerator glides to safe stop

    Updated: Tuesday, 09 Mar 2010, 8:53 AM EST
    Published : Tuesday, 09 Mar 2010, 8:52 AM EST
    EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — Toyota is looking into why a Toyota Prius uncontrollably sped up to 94 mph Monday when the driver says he accelerated to pass another vehicle.
    The man says his gas pedal got stuck, but he was told his car wasn't on the recall list.
    Meanwhile, an Associated Press review shows that lawsuits by Toyota owners who claim their recalled vehicles have plummeted in value would cost the automaker $3 billion or more.
    A California highway police officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph (151 kph) to a safe stop on Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck on a freeway near San Diego, authorities said said.
    Prius driver James Sikes said that the incident Monday occurred just two weeks after he had taken the vehicle in to an El Cajon dealership for repairs after receiving a recall notice, but he was turned away.
    "I gave them my recall notice and they handed it back and said I'm not on the recall list," Sikes said.
    In a statement, Toyota said it has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the incident.
    Toyota has recalled some 8.5 million vehicles worldwide — more than 6 million in the United States — since last fall because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius.
    On Monday, Sikes called 911 about 1:30 p.m. after accelerating to pass another vehicle on Interstate 8 near La Posta and finding that he could not control his car, the California Highway Patrol said.
    "I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny ... it jumped and it just stuck there," the 61-year-old driver said at a news conference.
    "As it was going, I was trying the brakes ... it wasn't stopping, it wasn't doing anything and it just kept speeding up," Sikes said, adding he could smell the brakes burning he was pressing the pedal so hard.
    A patrol car pulled alongside the Prius and officers told Sikes over a loudspeaker to push the brake pedal to the floor and apply the emergency brake.
    "They also got it going on a steep upgrade," said Officer Jesse Udovich. "Between those three things, they got it to slow down."
    After the car decelerated to about 50 mph, Sikes turned off the engine and coasted to a halt.
    The officer then maneuvered his car in front of the Prius as a precautionary block, Udovich said.
    Toyota owners have complained of their vehicles speeding out of control despite efforts to slow down, sometimes resulting in deadly crashes. The government has received complaints of 34 deaths linked to sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles since 2000.
    One of the crashes claimed the life of a CHP officer in August.
    Off-duty CHP Officer Mark Saylor was killed along with his wife, her brother and the couple's daughter after their Lexus' accelerator got stuck in La Mesa.


    May help your question !
     
  7. lshean

    lshean 2006 2008 & 2010 Prius Owner

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    Buy a Prius you won't be sorry you did. I've had 3 a 2006, 2008 and now a 2010 and they are the best cars I have ever owned.
     
  8. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    Buy it if you can get a good deal. I got mine last November and don't have any problem. Also had the brake software flushed and don't seem to notice any difference. Suggest after you get your car, practise putting the car to N while driving. This is not to say something will happen but it is nice to know what to do in case of emergency. It is like experience yourself with the ABS so when it comes on, you know exactly how it feels and what to expect.
     
  9. Iceman123

    Iceman123 New Member

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    People dying, having unexpected glitches or seeing their car devalued by 25% in a few months would disagree with your assessment..Just say that you have enjoyed your cars..No telling what awaits us with the 2010. If I could ...I would love a full refund ! Who needs to gamble with your life to save a few pennies..The same pennies that tuned into quarters we lost in the lost value of our car or the extra insurance payments we will be making next year !
     
  10. Superdrol

    Superdrol Member

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    I got free oil changes and heavy discounts on the prius. Sold my 2008 corolla to finally get my hands on a prius. I've always wanted one. Unless something happens I'm not going to worry about it.
     
  11. Iceman123

    Iceman123 New Member

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  12. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    Did you sell all your stocks when they were at their lowest last year?
     
  13. Iceman123

    Iceman123 New Member

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    No, I'm gonna sit and wait 10 years to see if Toyota can get back to its high from years past....Investing in the stock market is like gambling in Las Vegas. There are far more losers in the last 10 years then winners..The only real winners are the officers running the helm of these big corporations, giving themselves sizable salaries,bonuses and paint a beautiful picture of their company, while the investors take it on the chin. You use a poor analogy...But to use your analogy.. when you pay for something of quality, no reason to take a nose dive...Unless the books have been cooked !
     
  14. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    It's pretty clear iceman, you will never be happy with the Prius. You need to break the deal, or sell before it leaves the showroom.
     
  15. The Ericsons

    The Ericsons New Member

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    Ummmm - I don't believe there are any acceleration issues with the 2010 as yet, are there? This last one was a 2008, I believe.
     
  16. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    The Ericsons .... I could not help but notice your comments at the bottom of your post. I hate for anyone to not be satisfied with their purchase ... especially when one cost so much. Hopefully, this might help.

    I have experienced no squeeling with the brakes. Perhaps teh dealer should check it out.
    Re the fob, most new cars are going that way ... I object more to my wallet in my rear, than the fob in my front pocket. Plus, in my older car, the keys are banging against the dashboard on each bump.
    The fob will unlock all doors if you press it more than once. It is a safety issue. You may well not want to open all doors if an unsavory individual is approaching from the passenger side.
    Confusing display? Use the HSI display ... it could not be any more clear.
    Youi are from ILL. Your fuel consumption will decrease dramatically once Winter passes.
    Odometer? I have no idea what your issue is there. It also appears on the HSI screen.

    Spring is not far off. Good luck.
     
  17. Taser

    Taser New Member

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    Malibu, I bought mine on March 1st, 2010. Love it and got a great deal!
     
  18. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    Safety? Reliability?
    My text is the April 2010 issue of Consumer Report; In a section entitled "Profiles" of 2010 cars (pages 38-69. The 2010 Prius, as did the Ford Fusion, earned CR's "Recommended" and a "top score" (red circle) for Reliability and Satisfaction.

    Reliability:
    Just scanning the profiles, it was interesting to see those that earned a black circle (the lowest rating). To name a few: Audi Q7; BMW 5 Series; Cadillac CTS; Cadillac STS; Chevy Aveo; Chevy Colorado; Chevy Suburban; Chrysler Sebring; Chrysler Town & Country; Dodge Avenger; GMC Canyon; Jeep Wrangler .... well, you get the picture.

    Page 70-74 deals with "Safety." In the "Small Car" category, where the Prius is listed, most cars earn a good to best ratings. The Kia Forte, Scion tC and the VW Beetle are the excptions.

    Page 14, entitled "Rating the Carmakers," Toyota scored 74, third behind Honda (score of 77) and Suburu (score of 77). All three earned an good "Reliability" rating. Ford, the first American manufacturer, earned a score of 64 with an average "Reliability" rating. GM's is next to last with a score was 57, and a below average "reliability" rating, and Chrysler is last, with a score of 46, and a below average "reliability" rating.

    Is is safe to buy a Prius? CR seems to think so from their test and owner responses.