I can't make up my mind!

I sold a relatively new BMW 745i for my Prius- talk about crying! But I did it for environmental reasons. The Prius is an awesome car- I feel great about the partial zero emissions and the high gas mileage- it fits with my consciousness. I know smile when I see a 745 drive by. So do it- you will be happy!!

 

Get the Prius. It's a great car in a class of it's own. I've never been happier with an automobile.

Tom

 

Will paying half as much for gas make you cry less?

 

Lets see, New Hampshire, 8 miles each way. You need a Prius and a Block heater for the winter. Look into threads on Radiator blockers as well. You will laugh every time you pass the gas station.
I forgot you need snow tires as well. That will do it!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lauran520 @ May 9 2006, 07:49 PM) [snapback]252441[/snapback]</div>

I loved my 02 Isuzu Trooper. I used to say I was going to drive it until the wheels fell off...it just fit me, you know?

Then, I looked at my 2-year old son. And I realized that no car was worth the damage I was doing.

So, I traded it in and could not be happier. The Prius is the best car I have ever owned, hands down; I was really afraid that I was going to have issues coming from the SUV to the smaller car, but I have had NO issues. The car is so smooth, so sweet...and so jampacked with features that I think about my Trooper and say "Why did I wait so long?"

Hope this helps.

 

I had a 99 Lexus GS and a 2000 BMW 740i. I sold the Lexus and purchased the prius. The Lexus was one of the most comfortable cars I've ever owned.

I am very happy with the prius and the technology is incredible.

 

I had a Toyota Tacoma two years ago, had it for only 9 months before I couldn't take it anymore because of the horrible gas mileage and the horrible greenhouse emissions. Traded it for a Toyota Matrix (didn't even think of a Prius two years ago). It got 30 miles to the gallon and was much better on greenhouse emissions but I needed more. The Matrix was great (probably like your RAV4 but smaller). The ride was harsh (I know that now) and it had manual transmission.

After picking up my Prius last week, I now know what eveyone else is talking about on this forum. The Prius is one sweet car! I still can't believe how cool it is after one week. I commute about 5-6 miles to work. Not the ideal distance for the Prius, but I'm averaging 46.6 MPG. It will only get better with time. I don't miss my Matrix at all. Not at all. I liked how much stuff I could pack into the Matrix. I'm going to Lowe's this weekend for mulch, flowers, etc...and mindful of the 810 lb limit. I should be able to pack as much into the Prius as I did in the Matrix.

Go with the Prius. You will not be disappointed.

 

My most recent vehicles were a double cab Tacoma and a Sport Trac. The Tacoma got between 16-18 mpg, the sport Trac 14-15mpg.

I giggled like a school girl with her first crush the first time I "filled" up the tank on the Prius. I still smile. I got all flushed and excited everytime I sat at a light with no engine running! I love the handling and no longer worry about rollover or general safety in this car! Friends make excuses for me to drive places rather than taking their cars.

Transitioning from years of trucks was made easy by the "love" my Prius gives me. Toot Toot to all those SUVs at the pumps!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lauran520 @ May 9 2006, 06:49 PM) [snapback]252441[/snapback]</div>

I just bot my new Prius on March 28. I hadn't even planned on trading in my 2001 Mazda Tribute. It had so many problems, I didn't think they would offer me much. And it was filthy, much to my embarrassment when they offered me more than double what I thought they would and I did the trade in. But like you, I was very surprised at how I felt when I saw them drive off with it. Felt like I was being disloyal to a vehicle that had been great to me. I still miss that girl.

Gary

 

I am sure you would love the Prius as much or more than the RAV, but why are you considering selling a 2 year old car you love?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lauran520 @ May 9 2006, 07:49 PM) [snapback]252441[/snapback]</div>

• What do you like about it and does the Prius have the same 'things'?
• Can you afford the depreciation loss on the RAV?
• Do you often put BIG stuff in that barely fits? I would imagine you can use the truck for that

I really liked my '95 Honda Odyssey but I wouldn't trade my '04 Prius for it. The neighbor who bought it (he has had no problems) has offered to swap me even a few times But at 9 years and 100K miles, I wasn't in the same situation as you are now. Plus my kids are now 11 & 13, I passed the need to carry portable cribs and the like many years back.
There are a LOT of things I love about my Prius. I won't give up SKS or 'by wire' planetary gear transmission for anything. I try VERY VERY hard to NEVER be in a vehicle that doesn't shut off at stops, it drives me NUTS! Well, not Shane on Survivor - Exile Island nuts, but you Prius owners know what I mean.
The only things it can't do that the Odyssey could is carry as much stuff with 4 in the vehicle or transport 6 people. The Prius is HIGHLY flexible, especially the ability to fold the front seats back FLAT to the rear cushions. Plus I can carry MORE in the Prius with 5 than I could in the Odyssey, not much room behind that 3rd seat.

I (and many others here) could talk your ear off with all the great Prius features. Most of them are not on, or available for, your RAV or a lot of other vehicles. Just don't have a great need for a sun/moon roof.

 

...Polar bears are on the endangered species list. Soldiers are dying because America needs oil. The future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is in jeopardy. I have four nieces and nephews, all 5 and under. List goes on and on.

You have answered your own question, go for it!! You'll love the Prius!

 

What cool string of replies. Good to know the pre-Prius stories.

There is also more room than you think inside. Speaking as a rookie, there are many fun discoveries to be made about the Prius after you own one. You even learn to drive differently. I'm a day five owner on my first tank of gas. Recently sold my 2001 Yukon SUV, that, like a knucklehead, I drove like a car when cornering, stopping and starting. I have a feeling that it is going to be very fun to go to the gas station to fill up the Prius the first time. Very stoked about the Prius from all monetary and environmental angles and having a blast.

Go for it !

 

I love my AWD 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. It mostly sits now. I've even considered selling it. The Prius is way more fun to drive than I would have thought. It gets double the MPG of the Impreza. I originally bought the Prius to save commuter miles (500/wk.) from wearing out the Impreza. I considered the Prius as a boring, throw-away commuter car that I would hate, but would be good for me. Was I wrong! It's fun, has cool toys, fun to drive in different ways from the Impreza. I kind of feel guilty like I'm cheating on my relationship with my beloved Impreza. I know, it sounds wierd. Most Prius owners probably have similar feelings vs. their "other" cars.

 

I loved my '89 Honda Civic station wagon. It was the best car on the road in its day. But it didn't have ABS brakes or air bags and I wanted those safety features. I'd have replaced it with another Civic in 2001 when I returned from Spain, but the station wagon body style no longer was being made and I didn't want to lose the convenience of all that luggage space.

I also loved Honda. They had always treated me like royalty, whereas the Toyota dealer in Fargo (where I lived then) did not have a stellar reputation.

But when the first reviews of the '04 Prius came out I had to see it, and a couple of test-drives later I abandoned Honda like an unfaithful lover, and went over to Toyota, whose youthful allure of HSD was irresistable.

I never regretted buying the Prius. But I do miss the way Honda always treated me. Sorry, my love, but your ungainly IMA is not as satisfying as that sleek, sensual HSD.

 

Assuming you need and use the truck, keep the Rav4 and dump the rarely used sports car and repalce it with the Prius. If the truck is an affectation, get rid of it instead.