possible Sports Car to 2nd Prius

There are a LOT of differences between Gen 2 and 3, along w/many options available on the Gen 3 that never existed on Gen 2. See http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/88583-prius-versions.html#post1242903 and a bunch of posts past it.

I can't speak to satellite radio as I don't care about it, but http://priuschat.com/forums/knowled...andard-optional-equipment-some-countries.html might help when shopping for a Gen 2.

 

I think the Gen II is the best deal out there. They are highly reliable, very practical and get nearly as good of gas mileage as the C or Gen III. I would look for an 06 or 07 w/ under 80K in good shape and go for it. Economically, it makes the most sense. You could score one of them for about $14K and save even more than $350 a month. My 06 has been a very pleasant experience currently sitting at 50.3 mpg's over the past 573 miles.

 

here is a copy from a post I made about a month ago for someone on the fence b/t a fully loaded used gen II or a barebones gen III:

after owning the gen II for years i bought a gen III fully loaded V with radar cruise, the works, you get the idea. lets just say i sold it and went back to the gen II. Although the outside of the gen III is much more beautiful (as opposed to nerdy) the inside is downright insane:
first, its missing some key HVAC steering wheel buttons, and instead added a dozen or so hard buttons on the center stack. In gen II I could go months or years w/o having to touch a button on the dash because the steering wheel buttons was perfect, not so on gen III.
second, speaking of the center stack, that floating scandanavian thing may be cool in a volvo, but it just made me feel cramped and closed in from the rest of the cabin.
third, the nav screen is way too low and pointed towards the ceiling, after years of never having to take my eye completely off the road to see it in the gen II the gen III is downright dangerous.
fourth, and this is going to sound petty, the cupholders went from being really cool in the gen II to downright stupid in the gen III. Whereas the 'door' of the front cupholder in gen II becomes part of the cupholder (ingenious imo), the door of the gen III front cupholder is too tall and ugly when open. And speaking of open, you have to leave the center console partially open to have a second cupholder, that means you are losing storage space and you have to show the whole world all the crap you keep in there.

Yes you are correct the seats are better on gen III, but if you care that much about comfy seats than you want a long distance cruiser and you should get package five not two because the radar cruise makes long distance driving so relaxing, you can just set the speed and the car automatically slows down for traffic and speeds back up when traffic clears, you get out of the car after a 2 hour drive feeling like its only been 15 minutes. The cost: oh about 10 more grand for the loaded five over the two. Also I have to give gen III credit for allowing me to see consumption and nav at the same time so I don't have to toggle back and forth, all in all in 6 years Toyota has made more deprovements than improvements.

exterior: like I said the gen III is much more beautiful and the roof is strong enough to support a moonroof (aftermarket or factory solar) which would make summer driving more enjoyable than a gen II. But there is a problem, you only get the cool L.E.D. headlamps and fog lamps on the package five, all other 4 packages get cheap-looking halogens and cheap gray plastic instead of fog lamps that just shouts "This car is missing some available options". At least on 'cheaper' gen II Prius you don't get empty spaces where fog lamps are supposed to go.

last is the wheels, on the gen II we got either nerdy looking 15" wheels or attractive 16" wheels, but at least you could take off the 'trim rings' and the 15" wheels would look decent. on the gen III you either spent over $30K to get the V with gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous 17" wheels or you get 15" wheels which in my opinion are unattractive w/o the covers and downright hideous with the covers on.

and your theory of making more financial sense to buy the gen III is wrong, the first buyer always takes the biggest depreciation hit. a car loses 7% by leaving the lot and 10% each year. I think the 2009 is priced a little high but a certified 7 year 100K mile warranty will give you better peace of mind than the 2011. The 2009 will look like a 2004 whereas the 2011 will still look like the newest model for years to come, something to keep in mind.

So when comparing gen II and gen III I think I've made it pretty clear that my dream prius would be a gen III package five with a gen II interior but the seats from a gen III or VW GTI . . . if only such a car existed? Maybe toyota will keep the prius attractive for gen IV and fix the interior . . .

 

I'm with you cnschult

 

You're 21, married, have a 4 BR house, and want a second Prius? :twitch: Is anybody else WTFing?

Edit: I need to join the freaking Army.

 

You can save a lot of money when you're in a war zone for a year.

 

Hyundai Genesis coupe offered a nice 3.8 V6, 6-speed manual and a better warranty than your 350z while also offering RWD, it also had an available track model with Brembo brakes and track suspension standard, it had rear seats for children and didn't have silly gigantic rear strut towers stealing all your cargo space. It also had a moonroof, I'm not sure if 350z offered one, if not that's another plus for the Genesis.

If I lived down south the Genesis coupe is what I would drive, but I need FWD up here so as soon as Honda puts rear seats in the CR-Z I'm there.