2006-2009 verses 2010?

If you still like your Gen2 better, keep it. 90k miles/needing new tires and brakes are not good enough reasons to upgrade.

 

I've found the 2010 Prius III to feel more solid in the chassis than my non-touring Gen2 with only 10k miles. The '10 has less body roll through turns and I have not found the ride, on a III, to be too harsh.

Although not a big deal, I'm not a fan of that farty pump sound in the Gen2 that occurs quite often. None of that sound in the '10.

IMO, the driver seat is over 100% improved in the 2010, but some more lumbar support would be nice.

The driveline roll back from stop in D gear on an incline seems weird on the '10, but there is a hill start assist feature.

I could hear gas sloshing in the '10's tank on a quiet morning.

I think the '10 is easier to blend in with traffic flow. Power mode would be great if you've got a hot dog driver behind at a stop light.

Basic push button controls would be easier to fix in case. Sure hope I wouldn't need to replace that $4k touchscreen in the Gen2 out of warranty. Ouch.

The '10 is roomier in the cabin. It's a sizeable improvement over the 2nd Gen, but I cannot get the rearview mirror up and out of my sightline.

 

Ya know, tires and brakes is equivalent to about 2 car payments on a 2010. Maybe 3 if they really overcharge for it. Another way to look at it - tires and brakes are probably less than the depreciation hit you will take as soon as you drive the new one off the dealer's lot. If you like your Gen 2, I would keep it until you can no longer afford to repair it, or it rusts away.

 

Good choice, just drive it into the ground. Even if you have to spend $4K over the next 50,000 miles your still ahead of buying an new car. Every car needs maintenance on routine wear items and it shouldn't be figured into the equation. 90K is nothing if you have been on top of the routine maintenance. There is no reason you can't get 200K miles out of the car with minimal up keep costs each year. As long as you are spending less than $150 per month in repairs costs on average the car is worth keeping.

 

4-5 test drives to up an hour...

That's pretty generous for a dealer to offer so much time testing behind the wheel. I feel like the dealers in L.A. are stingy with test drives, most won't offer you one and it's up to you to ask for it. Then they just want it to be 1-2 miles max. Maybe there's too many joyriders around here.