Fair pricing

Wow. That's a fast turn-around. What are you getting as a replacement?

It's worth a free appraisal at your local CarMax, just to give you a ball-park figure. I had an '06 Pontiac G6 GTP that most dealers would only give me around $15K for (it was stickered at $29,535 when new and only had 2,500 miles on it), CarMax bought it for nearly $19,000 (by that time the mileage was at 7,500).

Also see what prices similar Priuses are going for on Ebay and Autotrader.

Goodluck!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bozo @ Nov 7 2006, 02:45 PM) [snapback]345162[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't get either of those. The 4Runner is truck-based, has an anemic engine, and gets poor mpg. The Highlander is on its way out, so resale on the current generation will be less than ideal. I'd either wait for the next generation or look at other vehicles, such as:

Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV4
Dodge Magnum
Subaru Forester
Ford Edge
Saturn Outlook
GMC Acadia
Jeep Patriot

Or spoil yourselves and get an inferno red Chrysler 300C

 

Why do people keep calling the Prius a small car? Of course, I'm the one who would love to get a Smart Car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bozo @ Nov 7 2006, 03:11 PM) [snapback]345143[/snapback]</div>

You should look into getting a new wife !

 

One child and she thinks the Prius is too small?????

Here's a small car:

[attachmentid=5632]
http://www.commutercars.com/

Two-seater Tango (one seat in front of the other) pure plug-in EV, zero to sixty in 4 seconds if you install racing slicks. 250-mile range if you pay an extra $40K for lithium batteries.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bozo @ Nov 8 2006, 07:26 AM) [snapback]345374[/snapback]</div>

Do yourselves a favor and test drive the '07 Cadillac SRX V6. I drove the SRX back to back with the RX350, and it was like night and day. The RX pitched and bobbed, the transmission was lazy on downshifting, it handled like a vintage Packard, and the steering was numb.

In stark contrast the Cadillac had a better sounding and feeling engine, the transmission was crisp and transparent, the handling was secure without being too firm, the steering had a nice weight, and it takes regular, while the RX takes premium fuel.

Inside, the Cadillac had much more usuable cargo room, more comfortable seats, and a richer looking dashboard. I know, I was shocked too.

On the quality charts, Cadillac is right up there with Lexus. And the SRX is built in the highest rated plant for quality in the U.S. (beating out all of the Toyota plants).

It couldn't hurt to be open-minded, right?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 8 2006, 11:29 AM) [snapback]345498[/snapback]</div>

But if you plan on trading pretty frequently, the RX350 will be worth more after a couple of years than the Cadillac.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Nov 8 2006, 11:46 AM) [snapback]345515[/snapback]</div>

While likely true, I'd rather pay more for a car (either because it costs more or because it depreciates more) that's flat out better dynamically and aesthetically than be stuck with a car that annoys me all because I wanted to save a couple grand over 4 years.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 7 2006, 04:03 PM) [snapback]345172[/snapback]</div>

 

Funny how non-Prius & non-Hybrid drivers post on PriusChat. I suppose they're very curious. Some do seem to be online to criticize Prius drivers. Others may be looking to "trade up" to a more advanced car.

As for being a "small car," we have more useable space in our Prius than in our Camry... and it's a lot more fun to drive as well as fuel efficient and kind to the environment. My wife drives, and prefers, the Camry... says she can "see out of it" better. I believe she is a bit intimidated by the differences in driving such a technologically advanced car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 8 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]345535[/snapback]</div>

Just pointing out some of the other considerations, in case it really did handle like an old Packard or something.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Nov 8 2006, 03:18 PM) [snapback]345735[/snapback]</div>

Would you be referring to me?

I haven't criticized any Prius driver, nor am I curious, and "trade-up" and "advanced" is rather subjective.

I take a GM Hybrid Bus to the electric subway, then walk the rest of the way to work everyday, so that does more to help the environment than driving any Prius ever will.

IF I were to get a hybrid, it would be the Camry or Saturn Aura. I need a touch more power than a Prius offers. The Camry seems to be an almost no-compromise hybrid (the lack of fold down rear seats and a trunk that's taken up by batteries are major detractions). However, the Aura will likely suit my needs the best. It's great looking; inexpensive; doesn't have as many complex things to go wrong (like $500 headlights and touch-screens); and the main hybrid-feature that would best benefit the type of driving I do is the engine shutting off at lights--which is pretty much all the Aura Green Line does.

A full on balls-to-the-wall hybrid like a Prius is too heavy, too slow, offers dubious fuel-savings at the expense of drivability (econo tires, drum rear brakes), and poses unanswered environmental concerns (all of those batteries and exotic metals have to go somewhere when they're used up).


I like the Prius for its technology, and their owners tend to be a pleasantly eclectic group. But as a car, it's definitely not up to my standards.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 8 2006, 08:29 AM) [snapback]345498[/snapback]</div>

Hm, a friend of mine just returned a SRX under the Lemon Law. It was a joke: tons of mechanical and electrical problems, including a passenger door which developed a half inch gap (when closed.) Went to it from an X5 and hated the way the SRX handled....

On the other hand, IMO, the RX350 is up there with the Aztek and 1960s Japanese boomboxes in being over-designed and ugly. The Cadillac is so-o-o suburban ghetto, but still not as offensive

Go for the 4Runner....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Nov 8 2006, 04:58 PM) [snapback]345827[/snapback]</div>

Bizarre. I drove it on a track. Handled very well. But if Handling was his main concern, a 4Runner would definitely not be on the list.

I can't speak to your friend's SRX experience, because if we relied on anecdotal evidence one could then easily conclude that Priuses have many issues, judging by what's posted here. Rather JD Power and other surveys seem to place Cadillac consistently in the top 5.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 8 2006, 02:10 PM) [snapback]345838[/snapback]</div>

Compared to what? A bus

JD Power has a lot of surveys. That's how they make their money, by having an award for everyone. Perhaps you are looking at the very short-term ones, like initial satisfaction (the C buyer is also traditionally a bit less demanding and a bit more easily wowed than some others, which skews the surveys.)

There is a reason why the resale values for Cadillacs suck, compared to most of the Japanese cars.

The only way they move those SRX things off the lot, is by gimmicky discounts and extending credit to deadbeats On the other hand, people wait for months and pay way over MSRP for the Prius. The market knows best....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Nov 8 2006, 05:44 PM) [snapback]345857[/snapback]</div>

Cadillac's generally don't have rebates. The only one they had recently was the free navigation system. Other than that, they hold off on typical Detroit-style rebates to enhance residual values.

Lexus isn't above that. They have their annual Holiday blow-out too.

But anyway, since he's already dismissed the Cadillac, we're hijacking this thread by continuing to debate Cadillac's merits.