2nd thoughts about the Prius now...

DITTO- That is the hwy mileage I have averaged. I do a lot of highway trips long distance, and I have never come close to 50 mpg's. I usually go around 75 mph- depending on the traffic flow. That's still much better then any other car I have had.

 

I went from barely 40 when I first started to 43-44mpg after 4 months of "training". Beyond "gas savings" each individual must decide what he or she wants in a car. For me:
* Hatchback was a necessity
* low emissions was a plus
* Did not know it at the time but Smart Key is Fab. It would be factor in choosing another vehicle.
* I love Nav, yes you can get after market and I would go that way if I had to
* comfort and joy of driving

No one can make the choice for you, go out and drive them.

 

I've had my '06 Prius for two weeks now and the silly grin people talk about is still on my face. Choosing between the Prius and Civic Hybrid involves deciding how much you can wisely invest in a car, how much interior space and flexibility you need, your styling and ergonomics preferences...in other words, a whole passel of stuff.

My family's owned three Accords and three Civics in the last eighteen years, and I have genuine respect for Honda's build quality and reliability. However, I chose the Prius over the hybrid Accord or Civic for several reasons.

1. I prefer Toyota's hybrid philosophy over Honda's (i.e., the ICE supplements the electric motor in Toyotas: the technology's the other way around in Hondas).

2. I need a larger car than the Civic, but couldn't afford the Accord Hybrid.

3. The battery pack placement in both the hybrid Accord and Civic mean that the rear seatback cannot fold down, something I always valued in my Civics. (I also understand that the Accord's battery pack uses up a cubic foot of trunk space.)

 

One thing to consider when comparing the '06 Civic to the '06 Prius. Both are eligible for the federal (and in many cases state) tax credits. However, early estimates were that the Prius, being a "full" hybrid (not an assist hybrid), would only be eligible for about 1/2 the federal tax credit.

I would also point out that the Civic (a nice ride) is considerably smaller both in terms of rear passenger room, and trunk space (the rear seats do not fold down and the trunk is a trunk, not a hatchback). With a baby on the way my wife and I were especially sensitive to the fact that the prius, but not the civic, had ample room in the back seat for both infant and toddler seats.

Just my two cents. . .
P

 

Throwing in my 2 cents.

I looked at both and decided on the Prius for a few reasons

-HCH does not have Traction Control, which I wanted in the northeast

-The larger interior. I'm about 6'2" and the HCH felt cramped

-The HCH is in it's 1st year of major model change - My Dad and others alwasy said never buy a car in it;s 1st model year or after major changes.

-The storage room has no comparison, especially with the split fold down rear seats.

With the tax credit difference , I find the base Prius actually less than the HCH. Add in say Pkg 3, not much of a difference (where they both have Side Air Bags)

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Isn't it the other way around? Isn't Prius eligible for full tax credit?

 

Definitely take a look at both vehicles. I looked at the HCH (before the new body change) and the Prius and was really impressed by how big the Prius felt. I also like the fold down rear seats which I don't believe the HCH has.

Good luck!

 

Well, if you decide to go with the Prius, I for one say you should reconsider your decision to not get the NAV. It is a great system. My brother bought his w/o the NAV and now wishes he had it. I really really like having it.

Incidentally, I am in Chicago area myself. I've got a long commute (40 miles each way). I have had my Prius since August. I already have 12,000 miles on it. In the warm weather I averaged 49 - 51 mpg with travelling about 70 - 75 mph. Now that the weather has gotten cooler, I'm getting 43 mph pretty routinely. I'm actually a little surprised that I get better mileage on the highway than city, after all the talk. On the weekends I do most city driving and watch my average change. It usually drops a bit.

One more thing I'll throw in. The folding seats and hatchback are truly something to consider. I've been amazed at the things I've been able to fit into that car. If I had it to do all over again, I'd still buy it, and I paid MSRP, not a premium...

 

As someone who usually drives 80 mph on the highway, I've observed the Prius getting much better mileage than the 2006 HCH I currently own. (I've rented a 2005 Prius a few times.) On highways I average 38-41 mpg with my HCH, but with the Prius I typically get 46 mpg. And of course it does much better in stop-and-go. They only get similar mileage when driving 50-60 mph with few stops or hills, in my experience.

However, I personally enjoy driving my HCH alot more than a Prius; it's a much better car except for the hybrid drive. That's why I bought it. Also the range of this car is better than a Prius, even with slightly worse mileage.

That said, the upcoming Camry Hybrid sounds intriguing.

 

My thoughts:

I've always tried to avoid buying cars on their newly remodeled year.

Also, my friend bought a non-hybrid 2006 Civic and has had to have several items repaired under warranty, including the sunroof.

 

I am waiting for warmer weather to buy my Prius, and have had second, third, and fourth thoughts about it. It is the first car I have bought with my own money, and my first brand new car.

My reasons for choosing the Prius over the HCH:
- The wheel covers on the HCH look ridiculous
- The cargo space of a Prius...no comparison.(I didn't even know about the lack of folding rear seats in the HCH...that just cements it) My coworker recently put a folded driver's seat from a tractor trailer in the back of his Prius.....show me that in the trunk or back seat of the HCH!
- Can't get over the weird look of the new Civic.

Bottom line.....buy the car that you will enjoy longer.

 

When shopping several months ago, I found the HCH to have a very high premium. All four dealers I visited (Orange County, CA) had an additional mark - up of between 4 and 6 thousand over MSRP. They want to start the deal at this inflated price. This fact coupled with a 20 minute test drive of both cars, left me clearly decided on the Prius. One month of ownership, and I cannot imagine a better fit for me. Good Luck! If you decide on an HCH. Come back and tell us about your buying experience, and if you are of a mind to, what you paid for it.
My 2006 Prius #3 - with floor mats = $23,966. ) MSRP Not a deal but, IMO, not a rip off either. Subtract the tax credit of approximately $3,100 = $20,866. The best money I've ever spent on a car!

 

No folding seats was a big negative on the Civic for me too. Almost considered it until I found this out.

I agree the Prius is more of a "statement" car and I think it doesn't hurt to make a "statement" in this case regardless of the cost if you can afford it.

Andy

 

Yea... better test drive before you compare anything else.... you may not bother after that!

 

If your intent is to minimize the costs of ownership, don't buy any new car. Buy a few years old compact in good condition.

If you want to minimize both pollution and petroleum dependency, buy a Prius.

 

Some time ago I read somewhere (vague, isn't it?) that you got a Prius because you wanted to make a statement and got a Honda Accord or Civic hybrid in order to "fit in." Whether that's true or not I don't know.

 

I also tossed around the idea of buying a used Prius, but it didn't really make sense - I could get on a waiting list and buy one that will only ever be driven by me at MSRP, and get a $3000 tax credit, or buy a used car for about the same price. If you are looking for one soon, I think you'll be better off looking at a new Prius. If you've got a while to wait, you can see what supply levels do after this port change is done and maybe even after the Camry rollout - time will tell, I guess. Best of luck whatever you decide.