Primary reason for buying a Prius

I never did like mutiple-choice quizzes. Reminds me ot those "personality profile" things, or "aptitude tests." None of the choices fits exactly, and they ask the same questions phrased differently.

1: Technology; 2: Environment; 3: Fuel economy; 4: Gizmos.

 

Pretty much all of the above except the wife thing. She has her own car.

 

I'll go with those. When I first saw one in 2004, I was very impressed with the technology of the car, but I never thought I'd own one. Then my nearly 15-year-old car failed smog (for the first time) and I started to think about getting a new car and one that was better for the environment. I remembered the Prius and the rest is history.

 

1.) Environment
2.) Oil Dependency

Technology wasn't part of it for me. I tend to have a deep suspicion of gizmos on cars. That stuff tends to break and it's annoying when it does. That's probably the one reservation I have about the Prius. It seems to be a pretty complex car and I wonder how it will age. Since it's a Toyota and they have built an excellent reputation for quality I figured I'd put that fear aside and dive in. Definitely glad that I did.

 

I put "environment" as my voting choice.

My decision really was a tossup between environment, fuel economy, technology, and utility. To me, they're all equally important...and huge plusses come in the form of the numerous safety features and government incentives. And the pleasure of being able to drive such a noteworthy car. B)

 

My #1 item reason for the Prius was gas savings. I needed a vehicle with better fuel savings. I drive 30k miles annually and had a Jeep previously getting 16mpg.

Factors that led me to the Prius

1. 50-60mpg (I based my decision expecting 45mpg - I'm getting 50)
2. Cost - At just over $27k, it had more features, extra's and luxuries than my previous Jeep which I paid about $27k for too
3. Hatchback - Giving up the Jeep meant giving up the space - I give up much less with the Prius
4. It's a Toyota. Every time a I had a big repair with one of my 3 previous Jeeps, my wife would always tout Toyota. I was pretty much decided on a Toyota. Which one was the question. Although I did contemplate the HCH.
5. All the extras - really a bonus since I would have gotten it without, but the NAV was a big plus!

 

I chose "environment". I also wanted a slightly smaller car compared to my Camry.

When the Prius came out, they were just the "funny looking cars" to me. Now I am love with those cars!

ETA: I also wanted a reliable and safe car without having to buy European.

 

I wanted "economy", and I could a buy a significantly cheaper car, that gets relatively good gas mileage and the hit on the pocketbook would be similar to a Prius.

But I am buying a Prius and I voted "Technology". It just makes sense to build a car that is able to turn itself off while sitting in traffic or at a stop light (at least most of the time). Anyway, that tips the scale.

The Prius is just the start. All future cars will be much smarter. And they are already smarter than us

 

Voted for "environment" since that's the single biggest reason for Prius vs. all other cars. But "utility" is what set it apart from the Civic Hybrid... we started out thinking we'd go with the Civic since I've done well with my 2000 coupe and since its availability was better, but the non-folding down seats and general lesser cargo space was big in making us go for Prius instead. Technology wasn't really a factor, though we do intend to enjoy it.

Of course, all this is subject to change since we don't actually HAVE a Prius yet!

Michelle

 

It seems we are about evenly divided between Greenies and Geeks

 

I had always been a believer in buying used cars, to beat the off the lot depreciation. Heard a news blip about the Prius shortage causing the depreciation to be non existant. In addition my primary vehicle was a Ford Exhibition requiring a tank of gas a week (26 gal x $$$$). Seemed like a good idea at the time and has turned out to be one of my life's better decisions. I truely love my Prius (so does my wife)!

 

Technology was #1 and environment was #2 for me.

Does that make me a "Greek" or a "Geenie"?

 

I voted "other" to avoid skewing the results, but actally, for me it was equally environment, utility, safety, and gadgets. I wanted a car with ABS and air bags, but did not want to give up the utility of my Civic station wagon. At the same time, I wanted a car that would conserve gas (for environmental, not economic reasons) and I loved the geek factor of a car that has no clutch or tranny, can run on electric alone at slow speeds, etc.

I was holding off trading off my Civic because nothing else on the road appealed to me. When I read my first review of the '04 Prius, everything about it just jumped out at me.

 

It was better than any of the Civics.

 

None of the above.

I hate this type of poll. The set never fits me and I won't conform myself to fit a given set just to "fit in".

Since the '70s I've been saying,"If someone would come out with a vehicle worth driving, I'd buy it.". Meaning environmental, mileage, techie, sophistication, comfort. Well, it arrived in the liftback Prius.

I put our $ where my mouth has been for years. FWIW, we haven't regretted it a bit. OK, so it's the wife primary transportation, I drive it on weekends and when We've planned major miles.

Impatiently waiting for the '08 version.... So that I can drive the '05 full time.

 

So the money you spent on gas now goes into a college fund for the kids right?

 

I agree with all of the above except #4. Im have never had a lot of trouble with any of my vehicles. Guess it was good maintence, whish I usually did nyself.

 

I picked technology. I'm not an environmentalist by any means, mostly because the obvious environmental groups are so very radical and unrealistic about the goals they continue to pursue.

I can honestly say that in years of following vehicle technology there hasn't been any new development as significant as THS/HSD. I've heard it said that there are no inventors anymore, just engineers. Which is partly true. The average car today is really nothing more than the produt of continuing engineering of the original concept. But HSD is different, very different, and very new. Not just engineering or an old concept to make incremental improvement, but a totaly new way to think of motive power and a totally new design of what vehicle motive power should be.

 

Other - Oil dependency

I would rather give money to the Japanese than the Arabs.