Why did you buy a hybrid(s)?

What was your reason?
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We needed a new vehicle, and we originally went looking for a RAV4, but we didn't care for the ride or the gas mileage. Drove a Corolla, but it was too plasticky and didn't feel solid. Drove the Prius, and we were hooked. Gadgets, mileage, ride, technology, emissions. And we loved the new styling. Our kids even want to borrow our car now, so you know it must be cool!

 

Gadgets - love the gadgets!, mileage, time saved - do not have to fill up once or twice every week, money saved - tax benefit + gas money...

A couple years ago I would never have bought a hatchback looking car... after looking at the Prius close up then test driving one - with a NAV system - I was S-O-L-D! It accelerated well, felt good, and looked good.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(simple_in_seattle @ May 31 2006, 04:04 PM) [snapback]263607[/snapback]</div>

Your primary reason would also mirror mine. As one who lost a few friends in the terrorist attacks of 9-11, I decided that when my vehicle at the time needed replacement, mileage would be my primary guide towards my next vehicle. Secondly (as a fellow Northwesterner) the lower emissions were also a great draw towards the Prius while watching the local mountains dissapear during the ever increasing clean-air action days declared every summer here in Portland.

Seeing as how gas prices were hovering around $1.80 when I took delivery of my Prius, simply saving money on gasoline was of little concern at the time.

 

I'll have to say it was the cool factor. I bought a 2005 Corolla new, but I had never really liked it. So what started out a fact-finding trip ended with my driving away with my wonderful 2006 Prius!

I do love the gas mileage though.

Peace --

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(simple_in_seattle @ May 31 2006, 05:04 PM) [snapback]263607[/snapback]</div>

I bought my Prius for the green factor. I drive over 30k a year, and when I graduated college I wanted to buy myself a new car that would be dependable for years to come, and would have a lessened impact on the environment. I feel that too many people are too concerned with only themselves, and I have always been concerned about the state of the environment (although I will welcome with open arms anyone who buys a hybrid for any reason since every one lessens the impact we have on our world). What kind of world will we leave our children?

 

I first heard about the Prius in 2004 and thought it was a great idea. One of the first I 'saw' in real life was parked in New York City, with a sticker on it saying it was a NYC 'fleet' car bought in the interests of the environment. But I didn't NEED a car then - I had a perfectly good '98 with about 35,000 miles on it and I was unemployed.

I DID research the Prius, though, and was impressed with what I read, and I resolved that my next car would be a Prius.

I had just passed the 50K mile mark on my old car when it was totalled. I needed a car as soon as possible, and from everything I'd read, Prius's were on waiting lists. So I went shopping for an inexpensive 'box with 4 wheels' to get to and from work. The first Toyota dealer I called said they had several Prius's as well as Scions and Corollas for me to try, and even a couple of Yaris's. I got there and all the Prius's had been sold in the half hour between our phone converation and my arrival (but I got to look at the one Yaris still on the lot albeit sold), and the salesman tried to sell me a 2007 Camry and somehow couldn't find a Scion for a test drive. But he DID have a used Prius for me to test drive, a 2005 model that had been used as a loaner car. I test drove it and loved it (roominess, visibility, acceleration, braking, etc.) but didn't want to a car that had 5000 'loaner' miles on it, especially in my last choice of color.

I stopped at another dealer on the way home and they let me test drive the Corolla and the Scion, neither of which I liked, and I sat in the Yaris but decided not to even test drive it - I wanted a Prius. They had an acceptable color and package coming in the next week, so I put a 'no-obligation deposit' on it.

In the meantime I got calls from some other dealers, including one that had a great deal on a red package 6 - we negotiated a price over the phone, but they called back half an hour later - sorry, the car was actually already sold<pout>.

So I called another dealer and they had a white package 5 on the lot, but I had to go their to discuss price. They gave me a reasonable deal, so I drove it home that night. And I'll admit I love the extra 'gadgets' - my Smart Key, my 6 CD changer, and the blue-tooth (won't get a new phone until August when I get a free/cheap upgrade, but it WILL be a bluetooth phone).

I didn't buy it to save enormous amounts of money on gasoline - after putting on 50,000 miles in 8 years, I didn't expect to be driving long trips to and from work. I bought it because it's better than anything else reasonable for the environment, AND it had GREAT features. It was a little more than a 'box on 4 wheels', but with the tax credit, it wasn't THAT much more, especially when I compared prices with side air bags - I wouldn't consider not having them. Of course, I DO appreciate the 43 MPG and the 48 MPG I got on my first two tanks, and I'm a little over 100 miles into my third tank after 7 weeks.

I've actually given out a couple of brochures at work, with people being even more interested considering the tax credit.

Will my next car be a hybrid? I don't know - it depends on the technology available when I'm in the market again - hopefully at least 8-10 years in the future.

 

I hate to admit it.. but I bought mine for HOV/carpool lane access..

I love the car.

 

Global warming
Dependance on foreign oil
Clean air
To help support efficient technology that we need for our future
And, its a cool car

It also saves me money, but that is NOT why I bought it.

 

I got the Prius quite frankly because I needed a new car.

My 10-year old Saturn had almost 180K miles on it in the 9 years I owned it. Hubby and I were looking to start a family this year or next (looks like it will be this year after all) and I definitely needed something larger than a compact coupe with a very very small backseat that passengers cannot fit into. Other cars I looked at felt too large, like the Camry, Accord, and Mazda6. I like how the Prius retained a lot of roominess found in midsize cars but has a smallish, more compact feeling footprint (thus easier for me to park).

As soon as I test-drove a fully loaded 2005, I knew the Prius was the car for me. I immediately felt comfortable as soon as I sat in the driver's seat, and I must admit that I was also falling for the fun gadgets the car had too.

I love that the Prius has a TON more interior room than my Saturn and cargo space, and that it has virtually the same size gas tank but can achieve almost twice the mpgs I was getting in that tiny compact car.

 

I bought mine for just one reason, mileage. I wanted something that got better mpg than my 18 year old diesel. The Prius and the Honda Civic hybrids were the only choices available, since I needed more than 2 seats. I quickly ruled out the Civic because of the mechanical ac, the lack of full hatchback storage, and the more limited transmission.

(Note: We can't get diesels in MA anymore, so they weren't choices for me.)

 

In 2001, Prius was the lowest-polluting sedan that met my needs. High fuel efficiency was a bonus that has saved me some money. Way back then there were not so many tech gadgets as now, but somehow I manage with turning the key and moving the big shift lever.

Low vehicle maintenance costs have been an unexpected benefit, as have the several Prius internet groups including PC. It turns out to be a pretty relaxing car to drive, and has an electrical system that supports lots of tinkering.

Car is great, groups are great, why doesn't everybody buy these? Oh yeah, they are still scarce. I hope this situation improves in the future.

 

DH and i didn't know anything about the prius until he started at the dealer and started doing maintenance on them. he told me about this neat car he saw that also happened to be a hybrid, and said that i was the first person he thought of when he drove one.

we were in the market for a new car anyway. we were thinking of just getting a camry or a solara. but when he showed me the prius and i came here to do some investigating... i was hooked. end of story. i'm glad i have it because of the environmental impact and the great gas mileage, as well as having made an investment that will support future hybrid design.

 

#1. To save some money
#2. To help the enviroment
#3. The car just looks soo cool

And in just that order.....

galaxee:
he told me about this neat car he saw that also happened to be a hybrid, and said that i was the first person he thought of when he drove one.


Aww hey guys isn't that romantic? I mean in a guy way... (I'm not really being sarcastic) :wub: ^_^
I'll have to use that when its time to get the wife another Hybrid!!!

 

I saw two choices: buy a TDI and run it on biodiesel OR buy a hybrid and use less gasoline. I opted to support alternative engine technology but I also see huge benefits to supporting alternative fuel technologies.

Two things swayed me: the reliability of Toyotas and the miserable reliability of VW.

 

I'd rather my money go to supporting Toyota and the environment than to polluting terrorists and Saudi Arabia

I orginally was considering the Honda Insight or the Generation I Prius or the Civic Hybrid... but when I test drove the Gen II Prius with the nav, keyless ignition and entry, MFD, etc... I was sold.

And it's the most beautiful car on the road right now.

 

Gas Mileage
Helping the environment
Techno Gadget Tech guy

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(simple_in_seattle @ May 31 2006, 05:04 PM) [snapback]263607[/snapback]</div>

The used car I was driving was starting to give me problems.

While I was tempted by the some SUV's (came from a background of 4x4 pickups and SUVs) I was
also concerned about the increasing gas prices, declining oil supplies and the realization that
I just needed a car for commuting to work & back.

Was always interested in the technology of the Prius, but was too afraid to try it before.

Anyway, we took it out for a test drive and bought it that day.

Best of all, is the rear compartment easily holds my golf bag like it was made for it.

 

The main reason I bought it was the mileage. My Jeep was in need of some basic maintenance and had over $150k miles on it and I was concerned about how much longer it would last. I also drive 30k miles a year and wanted something that would save me some money. Prius was an easy choice after test driving it.

I probably will never buy a gas only vehicle again though, for all of the other reasons many have stated. It just doesn't make sense and a Hybrid can do everything I'd need. Eventually I'd like to be able to tow my snowmobiles (if only I could convert those to hybrids) and we'll probably end up with a HiHy.

And, choosing Toyota was easy, since my wife's brother is a Toyota mechanic and they've had numerous cars that over had over 200k miles on them.

 

I think a lot if it had to do with wanting to walk the talk. That is, I have strong opinions on the energy situation and the environment and the like. I'm not hardcore, just opinionated. Then I read an article in Wired a month or two ago about becoming more green just as part of everyday life, and got to thinking about buying a hybrid.

Then two weeks ago I wrecked my 96 Accord, and came to find out that my wife had been thinking about hybrids too. we found a 2001 Prius at a reasonable price with a tolerable number of miles and leapt all over it.

Now, in retrospect there's also the fun quotient about driving it. Some people have mentioned the tech interest of it all, and I do like that. But overall, I'm a scotsman, an anal retentive, and also a baseball stats guy. The upshot of these is that I'm cheap, into exactitude, and really into numbers. to these ends I'm really enjoying learning to drive the car to maximize fuel economy. As someone who's always enjoyed driving too fast I've never so much enjoyed driving around the speed limit.