Dallas Realtor needs help with Prius or Camry

If you drive clients around to look at houses, I would take a long and hard look at the back seat of both cars. Whatever you save in gas mileage with the Prius over the Camry may not be worth it if you have unhappy people in the back seat.

That said, the Prius has an average back seat in terms of comfort, and it's a little short on legroom if you're tall. I suspect the Camry is probably more comfortable, but I didn't spend a lot of time checking that out when I test drove the Camry.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Jun 24 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]467331[/snapback]</div>

I'm 6'3ish and do not fit in the back seat of the Prius. My head hits the glass, though the legroom wasn't too bad (For the backseat of a non-large car). I had to lean forward to sit there, or tilt my head far to one side or the other.

Another thing to consider is statement. I do think the Prius is interpreted by some people as a political statement. I think it's foolish that this is so, but from talking to people at work and those that I know, it clearly is.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 03:27 PM) [snapback]467336[/snapback]</div>

Interestingly though, there is little agreement about what that statement actually is. It differs depending on who you ask.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AXDSLNGR @ Jun 24 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]467330[/snapback]</div>

Have you considered the Camry Hybrid? It may be the best of both worlds for your specific needs, comfort, refinement and economy.

 

How often do you have more than one client in the car? When you have more than one, who rides in the back? The 6'3" husband or the short wife and kids?

As for how the Prius is perceived, that will depend on your clientele. Whether it's seen very favorably or not will depend on who you deal with. The Cambrid won't make a statement but it won't offend anyone. It also won't get as good mileage as the Prius.

Keep in mind the Prius has plenty of space for signs, folding card table and chairs for all of those open houses.

 

As others have said, you need to consider the type of clients you will have and your impression management. A good guide would be to look at the cars in the driveways of the houses in the areas you're representing. If they're all Lexuses and Mercedes, you may need to move upmarket. If they're hemi-powered pickup trucks with bull horns mounted on the hood driven by Texas rednecks, a foreign car, especially a hybrid, would be like a red rag to a bull.

To middle or upper middle class professional people, either the Prius or Camry hybrids would be acceptable. Either car would manage the duty you describe very well.

Do remember many see hybrids as a political statement and be ready to respond.

Mike

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]467336[/snapback]</div>

I'm 6'-5" and as other big folks on PC of similar height state, the back seat is roomy both head and leg wise. At least with equal inseam / waist measurements. Malarky, how much do you weigh? That may be the issue ... if you're heavy - proportionally. The Prius is far from being a boat, but it aint no slouch when it comes to being roomy either.

AXDSLNGR ~ Welcome to PC !!
My wife is one of the top realtors of our city ( fluctuates between 1st - 8th depending on her health) here in big buck O.C. California. When we got rid of our Range Rover, I tried to have her get the hybrid Highlander. It has plenty of room for lugging customers. She opted to buy the pricier but similar model hybrid SUV under the Lexus branding. All that to say, your customers (according to 'she who must be obeyed' ) often equate successfulness by the car you drive 'em around in.

If you were in the boonies, yea, get a Camry for your customers - or another 'average' type car ... even something with more people room. Dallas aint the boonies, though. Though I would normally not recommend glitz, in this case I would recommend going nicer. I hope my Prius doesn't read this !!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringmike @ Jun 24 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]467401[/snapback]</div>

Hi Mike,
The whole political statement / hybrid thingie becomes moot when buying most any other hybrid other than the Prius. It's shaped like an egg. The whole world knows it's a hybrid. On the other hand, our Lexus RX-400h looks exactly like the NON hybrid SUV. Heck, it doesn't even have one of the little sticker / badges on it stating, 'hybrid'. So who'd know? With the exception of the Prius (and the Insight, which is out of production and no good for realtors anyway), no one need be the wiser that you're driving one of those dang tree hugger cars. imo

AXDSLNGR,
If we were in Dallas, considering your cash outlay, you can pick up a nice used hybrid Highlander. That will knock 1,000's off the cost, and put it within your budget. We got our SUV as a lease return and it had less than 11K miles on it. The hybrid system is warranted between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, depending where you live, so you can't go wrong.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Jun 24 2007, 08:26 PM) [snapback]467408[/snapback]</div>

I vary between 200 and 210, depending on how sedentary I've been that month Inseam is 34. I agree that it's roomy - It has the Tardis thing going on with regard to size, but I also just didn't fit in the back. Fortunately I don't plan on being back there very often and rarely do I have large passengers.

The Statement is a great topic; My father thinks it's an over-the-top environmentalist statement ( I had to laugh ). Co workers mostly felt it was a positive "I give a hoot about the Earth but still have to get to work" statement. I work next to Yale University, though, and it's a very green town.

Thinking about it personally, if my Realtor was driving one I would probably think well of them; that they were open minded and frugal, which I think are two good things.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 08:48 PM) [snapback]467414[/snapback]</div>

My most recent realtor has a Volvo. The back seat is terrible, espec getting in and out.

I don't care what a realtor drives, as long as it is clean and fairly comfortable. When I am looking at houses, I am thinking about a lot of other things.

I think I would go with leather upgrade and test out the ac in the back seat, as Dallas is hot.

My realtor had a cooler with bottled water and cokes in the trunk - I liked that.

We called an Arborist to look at some trees - I was impressed that he drove a Prius. He said he was able to give free estimates now that he did not spend a fortune on gas.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jun 24 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]467414[/snapback]</div>

I now owning my second Prius, first because I was able to get nearly all my money back that I give for the first one. Well I actually made money if you factor in the gas savings. I have owned hundreds of cars over the years of being in and around the car business. I have never had a car that got as good of resell value as my 2004 Prius. Second I can haul things you won't get in the trunk of a Camry, or most sedans for that matter. I have hauled my lawn mower to the shop (handle folded), 2x4's, Flat panel TV's, Christmas lawn decorations, potting soil, Plants, and other large items I did not think would fit. With the seat folded down you can get a lot of stuff in the back. I just carry a roll of plastic to spread out when I need to haul something.

I do recommend leather upgrade, as my 2004 Prius cloth upholstery wasn't nearly as comfortable as my leather upgraded 2007. The Prius is much more versatile. However if you are only going to use it to haul customers around the Camry Hybrid might be more appealing to you. If other factors are important then you will just have to drive and make the decision that suite's your needs.

I drove the Lexus SUV Hybrid and compared the Highlander Hybrid. But I did not think that they saved enough gas to warrant the added cost of the hybrid. If you want the preformance then it could make a difference to you. I have not hear that they bring nearly all you money back 3 years later, like my Prius did.

Good luck.

 

I looked at both, the hybrid camry and the prius. The prius won. The back seat had a lot more room than the camry and the trunks are the same size.
I was after mileage. I drive about 2000 mi a month and wanted the savings in the wallet. I will say, that I have a 6'4 husband a 15 yr old and twin 11 yr olds and we all fit just fine!!! We all tried both cars and the kids fit better in the prius, which suited me just fine, better gas mileage!!!!
I drive about 70%hwy and 30% city and am getting 52mpg. I don't do to much rush hour, the only time I hit stop and go is on Hwy30 in the afternoon. Even so, rush hour actually helps the mpg. I will see it go up 2-3 mpg.
Hope this helps!

 

Score!!

I just bought a house, and I tried like heck to talk my realtor into getting a Prius.

And the inspector too.

Oh yeah, and the insurance guy.

I guess my new neighbors will be next.

 

I'm a Realtor myself in a higher price bracket area from what you were describing ($350k-$1.5M+). I have several colleagues who drive Prius', and several who drive Highlander Hybrids, Lexus Hybrids etc. The Assistant Manager in my office just traded in his E320 for a Camry Hybrid and couldn't be happier. I have colleagues who drive S550 Mercedes, Mitsubishi Galants, it really runs the gambit.

I think a lot of Realtors worry too much about the image they project. I've always just been myself and done business in the professional and witty manner I've always done business and it has always worked for me.

 

Your buyers aren't going to care, theres no real quality or public perception difference between a Prius and a Camry really, both are midmarket cars around the same price. If you were talking about a Prius and a Lexus then sure, but even then your buyers probably wouldn't care.

My concern about the Prius would be comfort for myself and my clients. I just got back from a 500 mile round trip driving the Prius and it is a VERY uncomfortable car to drive to me.

 

Why don't you rent a Prius for a week or two while you're working with these clients? Don't way anything at first to get an honest reaction. Then you can tell them you're renting the car to see how it works out before you buy.

BTW gas seems to be a real concern of yours. I don't think the HyHigh or the HyLex SUV are going to do it for you. I imagine they use as much gas as the car you're getting rid of.

Way back when I was looking for a house I remember looking, but I can't remember what car my realtor drove. Not even the color. All I remember is it wasn't a little compact car and it wasn't a big boat.