How does your Prius make you feel?

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

rising price of gas in general and the gas spike of last summer

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?

I purchased my Prius used. It was more adequately optioned (leather, hid's, navigation, bluetooth) for the price, compared to what I would get by purchasing a new honda insight for instance (no leather option, etc.)

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?

The little tech features of the car (push button start, digital dash, info computer) are what drew me to the car. Even though it isn't the fastest thing, it handles nice, and it's always fun to drive. It's like a video game or a personal competition against myself to try and best my mpg rating everytime I get into the car.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?

I've only had the car about a month. A lot of people ask me about my mpg. My friends and family all want hybrids now

 

1) I drive over 100 miles a day, 30,000 miles a year, so my wife wanted to save money on gas, and I wanted to have less impact. I was holding out for a 2 mode Saturn Vue, a car they never made, by a company that no longer exists.
2) I am large, I need a vehicle that I fit in. I carry a lot of gear, and that needs to fit as well. (see pic <--)
3) I am still enjoying learning to drive the way that makes the car happy. I like being quiet, thrifty, nonpolluting. The Prius coddles me more than I expected, lots of conveniences.
4) Like any other small foreign car. No better, no worse.

I have always enjoyed small, underpowered, station wagons. (Mazda Mizer wagon, Mazda GLC, Ford Escort wagon, Toyota Corolla All-Trac wagon, Subaru Forester) the Prius is the latest in a long line of frugal devices to move stuff.

 

What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

A: Each one of makes a difference in reducing oil consumption. I am on the road often with business. I accomplish my same work tasks at 45 to 58 MPG in my Prius that I did in my 14 MPG auto.

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?
A: MPG and the technology

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?
A: I love the way it handles, love the driving experience and knowing that I am making a difference.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?
A: At the dealer- fine, on the road mostly no different than any other cars I drove. In the business world I'm often asked about how I like my Prius. I get a little ribbing now and then.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't

A: After your study I suspect you'll be driving a Prius one day.

 

I have a good relationship with our Prius. His name is Rudy, and he's becoming quite the good car.

Okay, serious answers below...

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?
Needed a car that was reliable, wanted to encourage development of sustainable products, like hybrids
-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?
What competitors?
-Now that you're an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)? [sorry, had to fix that grammatical error, there. Those drive me nuts.]
I feel like I've made the right choice. 60K miles, not one whit of trouble, no trips to the mechanic at all. Toyota is quality. I'm also feeling pretty good about the MPGs.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?
I don't think, when people see my car, that they notice it's a hybrid right away. Generally, I'm treated the way I treat other people, in the long run.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?
I couldn't buy another production EV, so the Prius was the best runner-up.

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?
Best gas mileage, best feature set, best configuration, best all-around car available at the time.

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?
Like all gas cars, it makes me feel like I'm an idiot for driving it. Burn gasoline to cross town? Gimme a break! (which I only do in a car if I need to transport lots of people or crap... or it is pouring rain or over 100 degrees) But... if I start with the stipulation that I'll be driving a gasoline car, then I feel GREAT about driving the Prius. For a gasoline car, it leaves the smallest foot print. I don't kid myself into thinking that any automobile is sustainable, however.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?
By other drivers? By the general public? Not sure what the question is really asking. Around here there are so many Priuses on the road, that it is just another car.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).
I think that "hybrids" like the Prius are a good, small step back to where we need to be - electric transportation. They provide a way for people to make ZERO change in their lives, and clean up their transportation a bit. But make no mistake - today's hybrids are gasoline cars that get good mileage, and pollute much less than the standard automobile. They're a step in the right direction. They are NOT the endgame.

Hey, thanks for caring.

 

Instead of "underpowered" I'd suggest you call it "appropriately powered." It is only underpowered if compared to the grossly OVERPOWERED options that are on the road. The times I've needed all the power that the Prius provides: Never. So for me, that makes the Prius overpowered. The Prius has at least twice the power as our main automobile... and even that has never been "not enough." So please... don't call the Prius "underpowered" unless there is truly some power need that the Prius doesn't meet for you. And I can't imagine what that would be unless you're towing a ski boat up a ramp.

 

I only accused the Prius of being frugal, not underpowered.

I too have not felt the Prius is underpowered, compared to 4 of the cars I have owned that made under 70 HP, or the AWD car that made 105 HP. The CVT helps as well, I formerly drove manuals, and 3 or 4 gears make the steps large. Neither Mazda could maintain freeway speed uphill if you ever had to get out of full throttle even for an instant. Top speed in third was 45 and you could not pull 4th uphill that slow. In comparison, the Prius has never fail to pull any speed I asked, as it is always in the right gear.

I think I have used full throttle once in the year I have owned it. I was never NOT in full throttle in the Corolla, when accelerating at all.

Compared even to the Forester (also a much more powerful car than I was used to) it is less of a station wagon than I usually buy. But everything I need fits. And it still goes.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

My family likes to buy 'interesting' cars that aren't like anything else we own. We needed a new car (our Accord was beginning to show its age). We weren't about to join the throngs if SUV-driving idiots.

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?

I bought it over a civic hybrid because of the Civic Hybrid's poor acceleration (I have driven them on numerous occasions as rentals). The Altima Hybrid wasn't easily purchased. Like Jimbo, we were in the market for a wagon-like car. We had driven the Audi A4 Avant, VW Jetta and Passat wagons, and Subaru WRX wagon. The Audi S4 avant was not aviliable locally for a test drive.

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?

It's a common, mass-produced car - they sell 15k a month. It's hard to have any emotional response to something that common (does a toothbrush provoke an emotional response?). I do enjoy driving the car more quickly than others might expect it to go (especially on racetracks, not just drag racing).

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?

By Toyota: poorly (service is often incompetent and they constantly try to push things on you that you don't need, but you have no choice but to go to them).
Everyone else: Regardless of what you see on this forum, nobody else really cares about how many MPG you're getting and the car just blends into the background of nondescript cars.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged

GTFO.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?
Needed a new car, wanted to pay less for gas.
-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?
Great MPG and interesting technology.
-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?
Reasonably satisfied. Only been to the dealer for maintainence.
-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?
Same as in any other smaller car I've driven. Slightly different from driving the mini-van.
-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).
Hope you get enough information. Mostly it is a car.... I do think the fuel economy(mpg) information is something that should be in a lot more cars than just hybrids.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

Al Gores "An Inconvenient Truth" (Seriously!)

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?

There's not a lot of choice in the UK. Prius, Civic, Insight, and a collection of Lexi. Lexi are out of my budget (and not very economical), Insight is a bit small, it came down to Civic and Prius. Prius gets an exrtra 10 on the MPG's, and it's a third gen system.

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?

I love seeing regen, and driving in EV mode, and not hearing the ICE when i stop. it makes me feel that we are SO CLOSE to practical and affordable EV's, and that i am helping the world make that change. Everyone i've shown it to loves EV mode.


-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?

People purposefully race past me to prove a point. i don't really care about that, but it would annoy some people. In a hybrid/EV based on an existing car (i.e. looks completely "normal", in the UK we don't have hybrids fords, or civics in saloon style that aren't hybrid - all hybrids stand out) i suppose this won't be a problem.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).

Hope you get enough info for your project!

 

What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

Highest mpg, doing my small part to reduce oil consumption and emissions. Make an example for my kids.

What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?

MPG, technology (full hybrid versus the Honda motor assist), interior room, and past reliability history

Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?

Love the car, love to drive the car, feel like I am doing my small part

As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?

I get more questions about the hybrid mileage, how it works, maintenance expenses, etc. Other than that, not treated any differently.

Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).

Good luck with your project !

 

OK .... here goes:

1 - We owned a 2001 Toyota (Highlander) and enjoyed wonderful success with the brand. It was time for a new car, and I wanted a more fuel efficient vehicle.
2 -We considered a Ford Fusion, but the Ford dealers were unresponsive. The area Ford dealer did not have a hybrid, and did not even return our calls.
3 - How do I feel? Like I am very savvy, sensible, and patriotic (foreign oil and the environment ... even thought those were not my goals).
4 - I have not experienced any negative comments. Quite the contrary ... this past week I drove a friend that had never been in a Prius. Before he got out, he said he was very favorably impressed. He never knew they were so roomy, quiet, and comfortable. When I pointed out the HSI display, specifically the fuel efficiency, he was really impressed.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?
Because our generation and the preceding ones are the weakest of all. Which heritage will we leave our children?

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors? Competitors - which ones ?

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?
Something which I like much. It's my baby and sometimes I am annoyed against it - LOL.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?
Not enough people understands the need for changing our behaviors.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).
No stay with us and don't forget to give the result. What you'r doing is very nice and interesting (sorry for my English but it's not my mother language)

 

My Corvette had an unfortunate occurrence in my driveway, and I needed to get a ride to got to work in...

<------- still have it, and it still hasn't been fixed by me yet.

The frau said we were going to get a Prius (since there were NO American counterparts)... it is a Toyota soooo, I know it was going to last a while.

The car has been a flawless transportation/commuter car from the first day... I still bump my knees getting in though.

As for what others want to think about my cars... or what I drive... I couldn't give a rat's nice person one way or the other... The reason I like a car or drive a car has absolutely no bearing on what others think about it... which is why I am in the market for a Ferret Scout Car too. The Prius is a perfect fit for my daily driver routine... and hasn't needed any help from me other than getting it to the dealership for scheduled maintenance.

The coins I saved in petrol since getting the car, have paid the monthly bill of buying the Prius... and I don't have to sweat in the heat to keep my ride cool enough in slow traffic either.

 

Bob Wilson

 

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?
An engineer, I have no feelings about inanimate objects.

I agree. I have no feelings for a machine, but I do have a feeling of admiration for its designers.

 

The 2006 made me feel proud - to have an interior like a 90's Tercel - except the touch screen - because of the pollution factor and the wonderful HSD.

The 2010 now makes me feel like I have a car that's worth the money - and thousands of dollars cheaper than I paid for the 2006 model too.
So not only the improved HSD, better interior of higher quality and engineering.

Driving the 2010 for 1 day now, the 2006 experience still fresh in my mind, it feels like the 2006 was juvenile and the 2010 is mature.

 

-What spurred your decision to become a hybrid driver?

I was fascinated by the technology: the lack of a transmission; the ability to drive (for short distances) on electric power alone; the high gas mileage and low pollution.

-What drove you to choose the Prius over its competitors?

The only competitor was the Honda Civic Hybrid. But the Civic was unable to move without running the engine, as the Prius can do.

-Now that your an owner, how is your relationship with the car itself (i.e. how does it make you feel)?

Ever since buying my Zap Xebra 100% electric car, driving the Prius makes me feel dirty. The Prius is more comfortable, but the Xebra is more fun. Unfortunately, I occasionally need to drive farther than the Xebra's 40-mile range, so I still have to drive the Prius occasionally. -- But I still consider the Prius the best gasoline car on the road.

-As an owner of a Prius (or hybrid in general) how do you feel you're treated?

Nobody has ever treated me differently than when I drove a conventional car. No difference at all.

-Any additional comments are welcomed and encouraged (even if it's you telling me to get the hell out of your forum, although I hope it isn't).

The Prius was a great advance in automotive technology. Now it's only slightly ahead of all the other gasoline-powered dinosaurs.

And you are quite welcome here, as is anyone who has an interest in the Prius. One need not be an owner to be welcome here. Just have an interest in learning about or discussing the car.

Again, thank you so much for any and all responses. I can't explain how much I truly appreciate it.

You're welcome.