Why I won't be buying the 2010

For those GenII owners, why not try a private party sale, then work with a dealer who is willing to do a courtesy trade? I know states vary with regard to sales tax, but at least here in PA, you pay sale tax on your purchase after subtracting your trade value. So, you keep the tax saving benefit,while getting a significantly higher value for your vehicle.

Its not that hard to private party sell a car these days...
Now, speaking as a car salesman, I'm never exactly excited about 'courtesy trades' because they are twice the work for the same pay, but hey, its still another car sale.

If I owned a GenII, I might consider holding out for a lithium-powered version of the 2010, but as I have a supercharged (high octane) inefficient 2006 Grand Prix GT, I can't wait to get my new Prius. I plan on purchasing a package IV with dark grey leather and nav. with Blizzard Pearl for the exterior color. :bounce:

 

Don't kid yourself...car flipping is a pandemic. And the prius fans just don't get it; when they trade their SUV's in for MPG fanaticism they simply can't grasp its a losing battle: the insane economic configuration (trade policies, central bank actions, etc) rams the dollar lower, oil higher, and then they become a sucker for the next Prius with another 5mpg "huge" gain which rams the....uh see the vicious circle here?

 

Now is really the best time to buy a 2009 if you are in the market for a new vehicle. When I was shopping around I saw a nice touring package that was almost 4,000 dollars off MSRP. This is what actually caused me to land my 2010. I had shopped around several dealers and when one particular dealer wouldn't give me the price I was looking for I told him quite honestly that my wife and I would be going back to the other dealer and would be strongly considering the 2009. He didn't have any 2009's available how we liked them equipped so he came back with a deal I couldn't refuse on the 2010. They charge a dealer fee of 898.00. To make things work they took 1600 off of the MSRP and the deal was done. A week later I received my brand new 2010 with just 2 miles on it.

 

Oh No! PriusSkeptic discovered another thread.

 

Just test drove a Prius Package IV last friday at my local dealer. Funny aside: One of their two demo models was left on (for about 1/2 an hour) since the last test drive! Someone was going to be in trouble...

I'm an avid prius and hybrid fan ever since the 2001 Prius. I have owned a 2001, 2004 and 2008. I was sold on getting a 2010 as I like to get new cars when the models change significantly (2008 is an exception - just happened to get a smokin' deal).

Anyhow, I was leaning toward not getting a 2010 because the safety standards are changing by the 2012 models (notably the crash test dummies will be much smaller - around 5'2" & 110 lbs. which is better for my petite wife).

Needless to say, I wasn't against buying a 2010 as I'd be the primary driver. But after the test drive, I don't think the pros outweigh the cons for upgrading from my 2008.

Pros:
-Much more comfortable seats
-Seat warmers
-Power mode kicks butt!!
-Higher MPG
-Leather (I know it's been available before but I haven't had it in a Prius yet)
-Cooler technology (like the beltles engine & no bladder gas tank, sunroof, technology package and much more!)
-More screens of info

Cons:
-It appears to my wife and son that there is actually a smidge LESS room in the back seat (front-to-back). The more room touted appears to be in headroom. This is further evidenced by the fact that the reat seat headrests fold down in order to fold the rear seats
-The trunk isn't really any bigger (can't fit in our stroller without folding down one of the back seats).
-Still can't fit a Britax roundabout car seat in the 2nd row without pushing the passenger seat up all the way.
-Headlights do not turn off when you turn off the car and open the drivers door (I like to leave them on for simulated DRL).
-I don't like the new display up top. I much prefered having it in the MFD. It's now narrow and squashed. And worst of all, it's not bright enough for me to see with polarized sunglasss on (no matter how bright I turn it up). I found myself tilting down my shades the whole ride.
-The armrest on the front doors is somewhere between 1-3" lower than the 2004-2009 models (makes me feel like I'm drooping).
-The sun visors STILL don't extend! (Did I mention my eyes are very sensitive to sunlight?)
-Large map pockets in the front doors are gone. Now there's just a bottle holder type hole.
-I like being able to reach the cupholders in the rear seat of the 2004-2009 while driving (for extra water, etc...). Now they're in the (still) flimsy armrest.
-Still no power seats

I'd rather just keep my 2008 and see if there are some more things added by 2012.

--Russ

 

We did buy the 2010--only because my wife has long legs and the previous models didn't have an up-down adjustable drivers seat, and adjustable steering wheel. We loved the 2009 which we rented for a weekend trip--except Sue couldn't get comfortable driving it.
That said, the 2010 is better. The "wandering" steering is gone. It feels bigger, heavier and accelerates quicker. It rides marginally better. And yet, it really does get 50 mpg without trying (the 2009 got 45 mpg, with us old leadfoots driving it).
So, we kind of got "forced" a little into buying a brand new 2010. Now we're just enjoying the heck out of it!