Debating about Prius Persona

You'll have a hard time getting a full size road bike in the back of a Prius with just one side of the rear seat down. It might be done, but it would be tight and take some time.

 

The good news is it seems you know exactly what you want.

I think your idea to rent one, excellent.


I guess my only concern is that you seem to be highlighting a lot of "wants" or standards that aren't exactly Prius benchmarks. By that I mean, IMO the best reason to buy a Hybrid, is because you want a Hybrid. In other words, you want the MPG and the efficiency a Hybrid vehicle offers.

Tell me you want to buy a Prius, because you've decided you want a Hybrid, and all the advantages a Hybrid vehicle provides and I'll say "Go Get One".

But tell me you are considering a Prius, but worried about comparative attributes that probably can be matched or surpassed by a wide variety of regular ICE vehicles? Then I start to worry about the choice. Especially when you admit you have a short commute. Which somewhat negates the advantage of HSD.

I'd say...yeah...rent one for a week. Maybe a week and 1/2. You should be able to know by then whether it will meet the standards you wish, with all the advantages of HSD and in all the other automotive areas.

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Fixed that for you.

 

The TDI is the only car close, but its a VW and doesnt have the reliability and youll now have oily hands

Sold VW for 5 years and know the product well. # years in Toyota and just bought the persona and love it. No way would I trade for a problamatic VW. Bought a bug for the wife, been there done that.

personas can be had 25999 all day long, and handle great and have a ok nav system with a above average sound system.

 

It depends on your tolerance for the difference in the soundtrack. You will probably notice the pitch of the engine varying a lot with the terrain. This gives the same impression you get from a car with a sloppy torque converter but in the case of the Prius it's nowhere near as wasteful. Still, it won't sound relaxed.

 

Rent one for a weekend and put some stick time in it.

The Prius meets all of your needs except interior appointments. It's pretty reliable....actually VERY reliable compared to the Vee Dubbaya brand and I think that you can stuff a road bike into a Prius once you yank the front wheel off. No...not the Prius, the bike.
That's what the weekend test drive will either prove or disprove.


Handing? .....uh.....what's that mean exactly? Compared to das Bavarian Motor Werks???
No.
The Prius has electric steering, a one speed transmission, small skinny hard tires, and it turns like a toad.
However (comma!) It's a low slung 5-door car, so you're going to be able to pretty much go where a 325i can go. It's just going to take a little longer and not be nearly as much fun.
This is why "handling" is a want and not a need.

All this boils down to what goes on between YOUR earlobes.
Rent one.
Drive it.

I'm a work-a-day unionized blue collar kinda guy, so iif somebody put me in the upper 5% I can't really say that I would be driving a Prius. (hee....hee! ) But if I had to chose between BMW and a Prius for MY driving NEEDS?
I'd pick a Prius every day of the week and twice on Sunday!


Good Luck!

 

It does what it needs to, to do the job. Unlike a car with a lockup torque converter or manual transmission you won't find the engine speed varying directly with the vehicle speed.
In the long run all of your energy is coming from an 1800 cc engine. Zero sum game.

 

^ That will help.
If you go with the PP you can also get some kid to opine on things like springs and braces.With some $$ and some noodle work, you can probably get a G3 to "handle" fairly well...however (comma!!) you're going to have to give to get.
Sticky 17" tires are going to cost you gas.
Boy racer parts will probably cost you ride quality.
Aftermarket seats are going to cost you $$$.

After you're done making a Prius handle like a Beamer, it's going to cost almost as much as a Beamer...and it's still going to accelerate like a Prius! (Without Prius fuel economy....)

Like I said before...this is an emotional thing.


Good Luck!!!

 

I went canyon carving the first night I had mine.

My Ducati 848 does much better, but I was really suprised how well this little prius did.

Going down was a blast, I thought it would such going up. It did much better then I though.

Its a nice car.

 

Lexus CT-200H?

 

Probably less vertical cargo space for his bike.