Why I'm going to ditch Prius for Subaru

At the risk of getting this thread really off-topic, I'm providing an interesting plot (Jan., 2013 WSJ) showing brand loyalty and resale value of various brand vehicles. A caveat is that brands like Ford and Toyota have truck results combined with car results.

 

We have both in our family!
2005 outback
2010 Prius III

We drive the Prius mostly as a family (for obvious reasons), but we still love our Subie!

When we get heavy snow, I enjoy driving the subie around for fun (I've never got her stuck....even in 2 feet of wet snow)


iPhone ? - now Free

 

Toyota owns 16% of Subaru. Subaru's Indiana assembly plant has built Camry's for years. Subaru builds Scion FR-S cars for Toyota. Guess where Subaru hybrid technology is coming from?

 

I'm not sure, since what from I have read the Subaru hybrid is an assist setup more similar to Honda's IMA than Toyota's HSD.

 

You may want to also consider a Mazda CX-5 AWD that will be available with a 2.2l turbo diesel in April of 2014. Offering 173 hp at 4500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm, and Mazda's Skyactiv suite of technologies, the car will offer high MPG's, with high power, AWD, and fun to drive. If you go drive a gas-engine CrossTrek and a 2.5l gas CX-5 today, I'm confident you'll chose the Mazda.

It is correct that Subaru's hybrid will be a light hybrid similar to Honda's. Toyota's current hardware doesn't work with a pancake engine. Technology sharing among Japanese manufacturers always leaves the gene pool muddied.

I don't think I'd want to be an early adopter for Subaru's first foray with a hybrid, despite the fact that they build fine cars.

 

I totally agree with you. I would NEVER but another Prius, and probably not buy another Toyota. I might have been sold a lemon, but I'm in over $10,000 in actual and pending repairs - ALL of which are due to poor design: headlights (both stopped working after only a couple of years, $700 to replace), throttle cable, stereo volume knob stopped working (they want $900 to replace), replaced bearings at 80,000 miles, floor mats, dash (goes completely dark, want over $3,000 to fix), paint faded off the tail gate, and the brake actuator (part alone is $1,700!). Yes, I average ~50mpg, but the total cost equates to more like 15mpg. The dealer and Toyota direct (yes, I called their 800 number) would not help me with any of the repair costs except the floor mats. My 1978 Ford F-150 is more reliable and lower total cost.

 

Back in 2006 we moved to a tiny little town in Colorado. My mom had a beautiful '06 RX400h AWD that we loved, but it was a little too bougie for country living and with all the road salts and living on a dirt road, we didn't want to mess it up. We traded it in for a new 2007 Subaru Outback 3.0 H6 as much as we missed the RX hybrid and its mpg, the Subaru really was a better fit. My mom still has that car 7 years, and 75000 miles later. Mechanically it has been reliable. The only negatives to speak of would be that the interior quality is disappointing, the soft touch materials on the door panels have weird bumps and indentations. The same goes with the arm rest. Also, the Vinyl sections of the "leather" seats are pretty worn and torn. It gets about 17 mpg city driving but on the open highway at 70 it will get 27-30. Overall it has been a pretty good car and I would recommend them if you need something a little more rugged.

 

Sounds like the combination meter, which should be free to get replaced. Combination Meter Warranty Enhancement | PriusChat

 

Obviously it's because you can afford to not save money on gas now. Congrats on your promotion!

 

You need to find an independent hybrid repair shop to maintain your car. All those things would have probably cost less than half of the prices you listed.

Avi

 

A good indie guy for any car is better, but finding one is easier said than done. It took me 5 years to find a decent shop for my old car after moving here. It isn't convenient to get to and unfortunately I wouldn't call his shop high tech, so I'm guessing he isn't equipped for a hybrid.

Even in the DC area where there are a ton of hybrids running around, I think I've seen one or two hybrid specialist shops mentioned on here. Leave a major metro area and good luck.

 

Try New Mexico - here if you have kids, dogs and a pickup, it's MANDATORY kids and dogs ride in back. Must be, 'cause we see it so much...

 

Low back support in the car is utter crap.

I had a lot of use of a couple of Subarus a decade ago and their mileage was God-awful. I've seen in recent days that they appear to rust like absolute crazy. I've seen many in the 8 or so year old range with tons of rust around the wheel well, a problem you don't often see on a toyota or nissan, for example.

 

Hey single-post troll... you know that the Prius throttle is purely drive-by-wire and has no cable, right?

It's probably a plain falsehood. There is no throttle cable in a Prius. It was designed from the ground-up as drive-by-wire.

Easy proof (not that anybody would need it knowing anything about the Prius) without having to go into the service manual:

Luscious Garage | Blog | Prius Gas/Accelerator Pedal: Replacement, How It Works

Note that this is from a 2nd-gen, which is precisely what the troll claims to own from his profile.

 

I wonder if a part time 4wd system would give better gas mileage? You don't need AWD all the time anyway

 

Maybe something like Highlander and RX hybrids?

 

It sounds as though there is a lot to like and not much downside other than cost & mpg.

 

I'll not call you a sell-out, but I see little value in painting things in black and white when the truth is grey and subjective.

Prius is comfortable; you find the Subbie more comfortable.
Prius is a pleasure; you derive more pleasure from the Subbie

... ... ...

 

She bought a Lexus RX 450h, not a Subbie. Not only that, but she said comfort with the Subaru and Prius were comparable.