Did you buy your Gen III for Styling?

Ever since my high school band trip to Japan in 2005 I've been in love with Japanese styling. At the time there, everybody seemed to own a Prius or some cool little car. There's something about Japanese cars that scream efficiency, reliabilty, and badass coolness. The lifestyle in Tokyo reflects these qualities too. Tightknit and run like a factory. It's even more cultural than one would expect, at least for me.

 

I like the styling of the GenIII much more than that of the GenII - but it took me a while to realize this. I prefer the "Five" version because of the full alloy wheels (I detest wheel covers). I also like the look of the dual LED low beams.

Other hatchbacks I (or my wife) have owned: 1974 VW Rabbit, 1979 VW Sirocco. For some reason I occasionally call my Prius "the Sirocco" ... senility must be setting in. I also have a strange attraction to the Pontiac Aztek, argueably the ugliest car ever made, which looks like it could be a "Prius XL".

 

I guess the "sharp" elements of the 2010 design finally made me realize that it was also a cool lookin car! BTW, there is no argument, the Aztec IS the ugliest vehicle to ever roll across this planet!

 

I dislike the styling. I bought a prius for the gas mileage.

 

As I said in an earlier post, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
I normally don't think of 'Prius' and 'styling' in the same breath...at least not in favorable terms for Priuses, but the G3 is a well executed design. To the unwashed non-Prius cretins out there, one Prius looks pretty much like the others---Toyota obviuosly did this for 'branding', just like Saturn used to with their 'swoosh' styling.

You have to credit Priuses at least for being iconic. Heck....even the 'ugly' kids out there have parents that love them!!

 

I'm not ordering a G3 because of the styling, but the styling of the G2 was enough to deter me from considering one the last time I ordered a new car. My view of the Prius's styling has gone from negative to neutral in the evolution of the car from G2 to G3.

 

I dont mind the look of it. After all most here bought one. Wish it was wider. Looking at it side on is fine but from the rear looks a little odd. Now here in Aus we have the Camry hybrid. I prefer the look of the Camry over the Prius.

 

When my wife and myself went shopping to a car to replace a well worn 2001 Highlander, we went to the Toyota Dealer and looked around the lot. She looked at the Prius without knowing it was a hybrid and fell in love with it. Now after driving it for 5 months, she loves the car and is very happy with her choice. I am considering getting one for myself but my 2006 Civic has been too reliable to justify the change.

 

My decision was based purely on gas mileage. We narrowed it down to the Prius, Insight, and Jetta TDi. The Prius won... Since then, the styling has grown on me and I do prefer the Gen 3 over the Gen 2, but at the time of purchase it was not a factor...

 

I thought the Aztec was the ugliest vehicle on the planet until the Prii came along, this is a case of "the end justifies the means"

 

I can safely say that many of us bought the Prius mainly because it gets 50+ MPG. Granted that there are those who truely like the styling, but if the Prius only made 30+ MPG, we would rather buy a Civic Hybrid or a Camry Hybrid. These two cars look much more modern.

 

I don't know if I would classify the Camry and Civic as modern, as much as to say they are more mainstream... The Prius is certainly unique as there is no non-hybrid version of it. The Camry and Civic Hybrids certainly blend in with today's cars, and if you weren't specifically looking for the Hybrid Badge, you may not know they were Hybrids at all.

 

Although it wasn't a complete makeover, I think the GenIII is a huge improvement. I tried to buy a new 09 but it was strictly for the FE. Hindsight being 20/20, I'm glad that greedy dealer experience turned me off to the Gen II when I saw the first photos of the 2010 here on PC. That and the solar vent which, living in the south, I think is one the greatest ideas since canned beer. :rockon:

 

I liked the Vented Glass roof as well, but like bottled beer it was a bit out of my budget! So, I went with the tin roof and continue to drink my beer from the can...

 

Past styling keep me from buying a Prius but the Gen III new look did convince me. But I would not have purchased the car if it did not get near 50 mpg.

I also like the fact that it now has 4 wheel disc brakes. But I sure could do without the weird center console, in fact I would like to see none at all and a clear floor.

TED

 

I like the 3's, but the 2 is out there a bit more. The 3 just looks like any other Toyota! I do like the one with the solar panel roof thou. H

 

Ditto. My wife has suggested I get the Prius in the past but I wouldn't consider it until the Gen III came along. The 17" wheel Gen III styling is what pushed me over the edge. Even if I got the 15" wheel Gen III, I would have immediately upgraded the rims.

Now, I wouldn't mind getting the Gen II, but only if I upgrade to bigger rims.

 

I've always said that a modified Gen II looks way better than a Gen III. It's overall sleeker and 'ricier'. A stock Gen II though leaves much to be desired though. It sits too high for a car with such sleek curves (whether or not you think it's ugly, it does have sleek curves). I would gladly take my modified Gen II over any other Prius, except maybe those hardcore guys' Priuses in Japan.

The Gen III just looks heavy. People say the Prius is lame because of the heavy battery, well the Gen III looks even heavier with it's fat square a**. Ironically though it does have slightly more power and better undercarriage design so I'll give it that.