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Top 10 Reasons NOT to buy a 2010 Prius (from a huge Prius fan)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bob Hayes, May 8, 2009.

  1. asj2009

    asj2009 Member

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    A V with nav is at $33k+, a IV with solar is $31k+
     
  2. Bob Hayes

    Bob Hayes New Member

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    Checking in again...the author of this original post...wow....10,000 reads!

    So to update, has anyone seen the Consumer Reports review of the 2010 Prius? Consumer Reports has been a top fan of the Prius. Their review of the 2010 is still very positive, but surprisingly mixed. Some of the negatives:

    * Lack of knee room for 6 footers like me, because of the intruding console (the very first thing I noticed on my test drive...what was Toyota thinking?).

    * Unlike the EPA, they found that mileage is the same as Gen II in real-world driving, (higher on the highway, lower in the city - 44 combined).

    * Reliability is excellent, though 4-5 year old Prius are chalking up a lot of electrical problems, which can be very expensive to fix.

    My conclusion after a year of monitoring the new Prius: I'm sticking with my 2005 until a Prius plug-in, Volt, or other "next gen" vehicle captures my attention. The Generation III, in spite of being "all new", just isn't that much of an advance over Gen II.

    One guy's opinion, anyway!
     
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  3. datrays

    datrays New Member

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    Isn't this more a slam against the Gen II:confused:
     
  4. Bob Hayes

    Bob Hayes New Member

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    Yes, but Gen 1's are having the problem too, so it's worth watching over time. Seems like all the complex electronics may be developing problems over time. We'll know in 4 or 5 years about Gen III's.

    I have an employee whose entire Gen 1 computer system failed. Toyota agreed to cover part of it, but he was still stuck with a big bill....and he was stuck at the side of the Interstate with his family waiting for a tow truck. The bill easily exceeded his gas savings over the life of the car.

    No car is perfect, and the Prius has some of the best reliability out there. But the electronic stuff can be tricky...and very expensive. Let's see how the bulk of Gen 2's and Gen 3's hold up.
     
  5. GreenGuy33

    GreenGuy33 Active Member

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    As for the Ford Escape hybrid, I test drove one and it was an uncomfortable driver's seat with no support. It was $31,500 and felt like a $9000 piece of junk. Maybe Ford has changed since I tested the 2008 Escape, but I wouldn't buy a Ford if you paid me.
     
  6. GreenGuy33

    GreenGuy33 Active Member

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    A mass-produced Prius plug-in most likely won't happen. Toyota said they were making a limited amount to lease. You can turn your Prius into a plug-in through a third party.
     
  7. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    I agree,
    GM is crapping on us, and has been for years. For example,
    look at the EV1. It was a perfect electric car, it was fast,
    it was sleek and it was among the best ever built. But GM
    wasent ready to move forward. There was no reason on
    gods green earth that they took that car back and crushed
    them all. They could have sold them to to us and made money,
    instead of crushing them and loosing money.
     
  8. Solarman44

    Solarman44 Junior Member

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    I was vacillating about trading my 2004 with 41K miles for a 2010 for quite a while, looking at the pros and cons. Reading all the pros and the cons from you readers here I had to think about it all. Will I be sorry if I traded my beauty of a car, one that is trouble free, solid and fits me like a glove for a new one that I might regret, and my old reliable girl would be gone. Well Saturday I took delivery of our new 2010 silver package II and today is only Monday and I’m not a bit sorry. I love the instruments, yes I can see them well especially with my none polarized sun glasses. I’m 6’4†and the fact that I can adjust the height of my seat is WONDERFUL, plenty of room. I really like the lighting very nice thoughts put into it. Okay, so I only have 183 miles on it and in the ECO mode I’m up to 58.6 mpg, I never got that on the 04’. Just think when I get it broken in what I’ll get. I jacked the tires to 44/42 and reset the warning light for it. Tomorrow I get the windows tinted as dark as Florida will allow, like I did with the 04’.

    After having Toyota’s, starting with our new 1999 Camry we are sold on Toyota’s. We still have the Camry with 51K miles and runs and looks fantastic. My wife will NOT part with it, not even for a Prius of her own. The deal is I drive the Prius and she the Camry.

    Maybe there might be something I’ll find that I dislike about the 2010, but so far it’s a winner. :cheer2:
     
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  9. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    Thank you for this info. The CR link states that the Ford Fusion is among the most reliable cars. Is this the first year for the Fusion? Doesn't a new car have to have a track record to judge reliability? I am not understanding how a new car can be among the most reliable. Any help? Thanks
     
  10. sshaw10

    sshaw10 Member

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    They're basing it on the regular Fusion which has been around a while. Most of the car is similar but CR's evaluation of the hybrid version is only a guess.
     
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  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    No, Fusion has been around since 2006. CR also considers history of prior designs, so that even newly redesigned models will get a CR reliability rating, valid or not. Since Ford already has some history on its hybrid system from the Escape, that likely gets rolled in too.
     
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  12. Arthur Dunkel

    Arthur Dunkel New Member

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    I usually don't keep a car past the warranty, and never have I had a car with more than 100,000 miles on it. But, now my 2005 Prius has 115,000 miles on it. Every week-day as I sail past the slow Sacramento traffic because I have the diamond lane sticker, I vow to keep my 2005 until the sticker expires in 2011. Then, I'm getting a new fully decked out Prius. BTW: The service record manual ends at 120,000 miles. Can I get a continuation service record?
     
  13. Slovewell

    Slovewell New Member

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    Your Cat looks like a cat I had for 16 years. His name was blackie and he was the best cat. He got cancer and my wife had to put him down. I still miss him. Oh yea back to the Prius. I agree with the POS part.
     
  14. Bob Hayes

    Bob Hayes New Member

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    Regarding CR and reliability....

    Rarely does CR give a rating to a new car before it has a repair history, unless numerous components are the same. Check out the recent issue for ratings....Most new cars like the Camaro don't get a rating until they have proven themselves.

    Priuses remain among the most reliable cars. What we all have to watch is how often major systems like the hybrid drive computer fail after many miles and years. When these items go out of warranty, a single incident can erase all gas savings from Day 1.

    It will be interesting to watch as more and more of us pile up lots of years and miles.
     
  15. concertinajohnnyboy

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    Gasoline prices are scheduled to go down. So there is no reason to consider a 2010 Toyota Prius or any other hybrid.
     
  16. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    ??? So let's buy a Hummer? How far out does this "schedule" go? I assume it has predictions or allowances built in just incase Iran decides to nuke Israel? Middle east peace is fragile and any disruption in it will cause chaos. Our enemies can bring the US to it's knees overnight if they cut us off. Fortunately they need our money to buy guns. But even then with the dollar dropping in value, we will become less important to them.

    There is no (long term at least) "schedule" for gas prices. Like the stock market, it changes daily with the mood of the investors and world events.
     
  17. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    I think Ford has a decent vehicle, but the second row seat in the Escape is really uncomfortable and tight. If you want the room for people in the second row, the Escape comes up short. I went with the HH.
     
  18. GreenGuy33

    GreenGuy33 Active Member

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    Were you bullied by a Prius as a child?
    I am curious as to all your anti-Prius posts.:confused:
     
  19. Carnutt

    Carnutt Member

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    Gasoline prices are scheduled to go down. So there is no reason to consider a 2010 Toyota Prius or any other hybrid.

    (Sniff sniff, smells like a troll.) Whose schedule are you referring to?
     
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  20. codybigdog123

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

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    A major factor impacting oil (gas) prices, relates to the value of the $$. As the $$ loses value with respect to other currencies, gas prices will continue to climb. Fact. Simple economics - the stronger your currency is, the more buying power you have. A weaker $ will simply have less buying power on the commodity market. With growing US debt, etc, it's almost a certainty that the value of the $ will continue to decline. As that happens, and unless the oil producing countries increase volume (supply), gas prices will rise...

    Anybody that thinks gas prices will steadily come down is fooling themselves. While there will be seasonal corrections in price, the overall trend for gas prices will be up. Bank on that.
     
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