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All current Prius owners, are you happy and upgrading?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by swich2mac, Apr 24, 2009.

  1. swich2mac

    swich2mac Go Hard or Go Home!

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    What is the range of the battery should one run completely out of fuel?
     
  2. yardman 49

    yardman 49 Active Member

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    I've read of G2 owners who've gone a mile, maybe, on just EV? Some supposedly even more. Hopefully those who have will comment. But this is not recommended, as "deep cycling" the NiMH traction battery in this manner can result in damage or a shortened life for the battery. If you run out of fuel, you are supposed to immediately find a place to pull over, and then refuel prior to continuing on.

    News came out this week that the upcoming Toyota Prius-plugin will go 12.5 miles on a full charge. You can find a thread on the forums that covers that topic if you are interested.

    The Chevy Volt will supposedly get 40 miles.
     
  3. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    Im plenty happy with my 07, sans the black..but I just had it professionally buffed out and it looks brand spankin new..now to care for the paint more. I will pay off my 07 most likely and just keep it as a daily driver.

    I plan to get something sport, coupe. Maybe new mustang, or Mazda speed, maybe Genesis coupe..in manual. On the fence to see what happens with the big 3 though before I decide.

    the 07 is fine. When the PHEV comes out and it blows me away..i may consider just getting another prius.
     
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Correct answer: - Don't drive a Prius any further on the battery than you would drive a conventional car on the battery. In an emergency you can get off the road, that's all.

    That is unless you want to be asking where to get a new traction battery within about a month.
     
  5. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    My last two cars before the Prius were a ML320 and then a Lexus IS.
    The only thing I missed going to the Prius was the heated seats;)
    My wife and I are both very happy with ours.
    However, my next car will be not be a Prius, it will be an all electric RAV4. And my future vehicles will be all electric as well.
    Based on my experience of the Prius and of the customer service I have received from Toyota, if there is an all electric Prius in the future it will definately be the first on the list (I don't need something as large as the RAV4, the Prius will fit carry almost anything the RAV4 will.
     
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Hi Scott,
    Check with your local rental car companies and see if you can rent a Prius for a week or weekend. This will pretty much answer any questions but to address our situation.

    We'll replace our 2001 Echo with the 2010 Prius, actually a significant improvement. I'll continue to drive my 2003 Prius 'until the wheels fall off.' The only remaining gas vehicle will be our 1993 Coachman RV.

    Bob Wilson
     
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    me: very happy with my 2006 (heck if i wasnt pleased with a Pri i would not have bought 2 of them!!) and my next car will be a Pri as well UNLESS an EV comes along at a good price first.

    now that might happen for 95% of my driving needs in the next year which means i will still be in the market for a long range vehicle and i dont see anyone with a better choice out there than the 2010.

    now when i will get it depends. my Zenn has less than 2000 miles on a new batteries and charger, so dont expect any issues with it. the Pri, has less than 40,000 issue-free miles on it, so nowhere near being worn out.

    so, barring a change in driving needs where the Zenn would not work for either of us (it does work for BOTH of us now) probably not anytime soon , but still have not made any firm decisions either. i have a family member who is VERY interested in buying my Pri, and just looking at the financing options since she can't pay the whole thing.
     
  8. seffros

    seffros Junior Member

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    I've been a Prius owner since 2006. I also have a '98 BMW 740i (which works very well, never had major repair problems, is in great condition and I love driving it)...but I put an order in for a second Prius, the 2010, several months ago. Selling the BMW. We will become an all-Prius family. I only wish they work out the technology so that one key-fob would work on two cars! That should answer the question of whether we like the Prius!
     
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I'll give up my 2006 Prius when it can be pried out of my cold dead hands. If I had to replace it immediately I'd have to consider renting a car until the 2010 Prius arrives.
     
  10. kenworthey

    kenworthey New Member

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    I have a 2001 Prius and it has caused me no end of misery, including a complete catastrophic failure of the CVT (transmission) at 75K miles and now, at 113K miles, complete catastrophic failure of the entire hybrid battery system. Do a search for "kenworthey" in the forums if you want details.
     
  11. warrior

    warrior New Member

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    I love my 2008 bt it is the divers seat I wanto upgrade; any help welcomed!!!:)
     
  12. jdonalds

    jdonalds Active Member

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    We live 2 miles from a 2 mile long hill. On the way home that downgrade charges the traction battery to max. A few times I've been able to exit the freeway and drive the entire 2 miles home on EV alone. I stay below 39mph so the engine is off. There must be a very slight down slope because I can make that entire two miles and only use 3 bars.

    Good economy normally doesn't mean driving on EV as you can read many times in this forum. That said the reason I do it most every day is because I'm driving home. The next time I get in the car the engine is going to run for about 5 minutes anyway so it will charge the battery.

    Other times, when the battery indicator is at its more normal level of down two bars (not coming down the hill on the way home) I can get about a mile max.

    We love our 2008 Prius. It is the quietest car I've ever owned, rides smoothly, has great technology, great features, and of course our average is near 50mph pretty much year round in SoCal. We have over 35K miles on it in a year. We'll be replacing the stock tires in another few thousand miles. No problems with the car so far.

    We won't be switching to the 2010. There are a few things I'm not pleased with in the 2010 from what I've read, but I'll wait until I can see and drive one before making my final call on it. No matter what I find I'll wait for an EV.

    2010: The new center console might be a bit restrictive for me, I don't like the change to a conventional shift lever, I think I'd miss the MFD and the jury is still out on the new display. Some of the attractions of the 2010 are higher mileage, telescoping steering wheel, EV switch, vertical adjust seat (I'm quite happy with the comfort of the 2008 drivers seat even on very long trips).
     
  13. Trevor

    Trevor Member

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    I have had my 2006 for 3 years and one month. If I had unlimited discretionary income I think I would go for a 2010, but I'm still perfectly happy with my '06... even the seat.
     
  14. Romeo

    Romeo New Member

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    I am a big Toyota fan so I am happy with my Prius first of all because it is a Toyota and only after that because it is a hybrid. I am not keen of high-tech toys, so I see no reason to trade in my 2008 Prius now.

    My next car, I hope, will be closer to my dream-car which in the current market represented by Subaru Outback and now Toyota Venza - reliable all-wheel wagon with comfortable ride of a sedan and versatility of an SUV (but must be a hybrid of course).
     
  15. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    If Venza had 3rd row *and* they tossed the Camry Hybrid powertrain into it, I'd give it a closer look, provided pricing didn't soar into HiHy territory.
     
  16. sergebergeron

    sergebergeron New Member

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    We own a 2005 and a 2008 Prius - we are extremely satisfied. We are thinking of the 2010 - my wife just loves it - we'll see how the economy goes and see if the dealer can give us a deal we cannot resist. But I tell you the 2005 runs just as smooth as the 2008. It would be just for the joy of owning a new one - not because we need it