Should I buy a Toyota Prius?

81 Comments

• it's a cool choice (and in fact i've been looking at it). but since it may be more expensive than even a camry, u gotta make sure u'll drive it for more than a few yrs so that u actually save the money on gas... btw, it gotta be silver, IMO...
  

• With all that tech, you'd think they could make a better looking car...
  
  
  
  I'll wait for a BMW hybrid or Benz hybrid ;-)
  

• This is sorta apples to oranges...
  
  
  
  My wife has been driving our civic hybrid for the last 37k miles. It has averaged around 44 mpg with a bicycle rack on top. It is a basic Honda Civic with cooler than usual instrumentation [battery gauge, digital MPG readout, etc]. It gets the best mileage in the city driving like your grandmother -- unless she drives like my grandmother. Without the rack, it averages 48 mpg city/highway.
  
  
  
  If we didn't live in the central plains (read: no mountains), I don't think I would want to own it as it really revs to get up anything with a significant grade. With two bikes on top, the MPG drops to mid-20s on the highway.
  
  
  
  I think it is both a positive and a negative that it looks like a regular Civic. Its a good car and if you live in the right area -- topographically speaking -- then you will get some pretty dang good mileage.
  
  

• I know several people who own a Prius and each of them is very enthousiastically satisfied, to the point of being fanatics like Mac users. That's a good sign...
  

• Don't buy a Prius to save money. (If you do the math, it simply doesn't work out.) Do it because you think it's a cool car. That's why I got mine.
  

• Raymond: Yes I agree. I'm not buying the car because it will save me money, the gas mileage is just bonus. If I did by it, it would be because I think it is cool.
  
  
  
  Eric: I actually like the way the Prius looks ;)
  
  
  
  Thanks for the feedback everyone. Keep it comming!
  

• Nice car, and Toyota is really reliable. Everyone I know is very happy with every Toyota model they have ever purchased, including my parents. I think it looks pretty sweet too!
  

• The savings are bogus, you pay a premium for the Prius that counteracts the value of improved MPG.
  

• Prius = Dumb Idea
  
  
  
  Diesel = Good Idea
  
  
  
  I'm a big fan of keeping things simple. Compared to a normal car, the Prius adds a couple electric motors, a more complex gear box, a battery pack, a motor controller, and the control logic to drive it all. All this complexity and expense to get gas mileage that's only marginally better than a good diesel sedan (which is a refinement of a 100 year old design that powers most of the industrial world...).
  
  
  
  It's hard for me to justify that over even a moderately powered Gas-engine sedan.
  

• I own one. It is an excellent car. All the bells and whistles, smart entry, HID lights, ABS, stability control. Unless you want nav system, don't take JBL audio. It is cheaper to upgrade later (I did it partially myself). Don't expect sporty behavior, just enjoy driving.
  
  
  
  Mileage is *significantly* better than diesel. Show me please diesel sedan which makes 48mpg. By buying Prius you won't be saving gas or money. You will be saving environment and supporting great company that boldly makes hybrid cars and even hybrid SUVs.
  
  
  
  I traded in one year old Infinity FX45 for the Prius and never regretted it.
  

• BTW, diesel Golf produces 50% more CO2 than Prius. VW may have decent mileage, but Prius produces much less emissions.
  
  
  
  As for BMW, I owned '98 M3. Good car and in fact, had decent mileage (I was averaging 23 mpg with 5sp manual). However, I don't want sport car anymore.
  

• "Mileage is *significantly* better than diesel. Show me please diesel sedan which makes 48mpg."
  
  
  
  I'll admit that Hybrids have better economy than Diesel, but better enough to justify the added complexity and cost? Not to me, at least. For that matter, I'd take a reasonably powered gas sedan over a hybrid. The hybrid just doesn't make economic sense.
  
  
  
  "By buying Prius you won't be saving gas or money."
  
  
  
  So why take on the risk and additional cost?
  
  
  
  "You will be saving environment and supporting great company that boldly makes hybrid cars and even hybrid SUVs. "
  
  
  
  If you're justifying a Prius because it supports a 'good cause', consider this:
  
  
  
  A Camry is $2K less expensive than a Prius before you consider that Camry's are discounted more heavily than Priui (?). This makes the 'good cause' choice a choice between driving a Camry and making $2K worth of contributions to the charities of your choice or driving a Prius and making a $2K contribution to a $200Bln multinational company. (A company that's entirely profit driven, as it should be.)
  
  
  
  "I traded in one year old Infinity FX45..."
  
  
  
  I'm not sure why you posted this; It doesn't seem relevant.
  
  
  
  However, assuming it is relevant, I find it pretty incredible that a year ago you were tooling around in a 315hp ***15mpg*** SUV and now you're preaching about the relative merits of hybrids versus diesels. Not to mention how costly it is to walk away from year old $50K cars. Even if you're completely right, my cynical take is that you're just jumping on the bandwagon...
  

• There were some problems reported with Toyota prius that car engine just turns off itself and car stals on freeway.
  
  
  
  Toyota officials are investigating that. You might wanna check on that first before buying it
  

• Don't forget to investigate the tax deduction available -- only on new vehicles, BTW, not used. There might be state and local incentives, depending on where you are.
  

• Did you ever get one? I found an old post of yours while searching for Prius info.
  

• We bought a Prius for our airporat car replacing our Volvo 740 GLE with 365,000 miles (given to my daughter) If you are just going to buy another car, why not get one that gets (my limited experience) 49 to 52 mpg? The back seat folds down, and you can get a lot of stuff in the Prius which you can't (length wise) in a Honda or Ford high mpg vehicle. It isn't the money (Our other cars are Maseratti Quatroporte (14 mpg), 612 (10 mpg) 500cls 22 mpg), but we drive the Prius more than the others. It is great to get 50 mpg! and it works great as an airport and commuter car! The seats, however, are the worst in existence. Toyota has no answer for that. Road handling is VERY poor on curves Also, look for CalCars new battery alternatives which gets you up to 100mpg. Cost 12 K, but hat is so cool, and saves on emissions. Look for Toyota to combine elctric plug in features on future cars along with better batteries. (I hope). All of our other cars, we drive like 4,000 miles per year. The Prius in two months has 2,500 miles already.
  

• Do u think Prius is worth buying
  

• I bought one in July 2006. I'm so happy with the Prius. I'm averaging 53 mpg. Light years ahead of the mpg I was getting from my Ford Explorer, which I kept for weekend trips to Home Depot.
  

• Everyone should focus on the facts not spreading FUD. The reality is I have owed one for 18 months and regularly get over 50MPG and often up to 54MPG. This car is a PZEV, compare that to a poluting pig of a diesel. Prius 3.4 tons/year of greenhouse gases vs. Volks TDI 5.6 tons. Prius 9.5 emissions score vs. TDI 1 (10 is best). Finally, no the Prius is no Bentley when it comes to handling and noise but it is far better than most. It is comfortable but not luxurius, it is quiet but not blissfully silent and the suspension is certainly stiff. Given all this I happily drive it back and forth between southwestern CT and Boston and upstate NY constantly and it is comfortable enough for me.
  Good enough that I just bought a second so that my wife and I will both have one.
  Buy it to save gas, buy it to save the environment, buy it to be hip, buy it to stick it to the OPEC dirt bags!
  

• To the folks creating FUD about the electrical dangers of a hybrid like the Prius... this is straight from the Prius manual ... "The electrolyte is absorbed into the battery cell plates and will not leak even in a collision". When the Prius is in a bad accident the battery is disconnected/shut off from the cables. "The HV battery pack relays will automatically open to stop electricity flow in a collision sufficient to activate the front SRS airbags" Toyota was quite thorough about safety including for the rescuers.
  

• I've owned a 2005 Prius for two years. Doing partly country, partly town, partly freeway driving (about equal measures of each, mostly at 5,000 ft altitude), I average about 55mpg in warm weather, about 48 in cold (more friction, loss of energy to heater & lights, etc., I guess). Figuring gas at $3 per gallon, I figure I save at least $600 for each 10,000 miles I drive (I have 46,000 on it now), compared to a 25mpg car. So the financial payout is definitely there in my case, several times over by the time it dies.
  
  Car is very reliable (zero problems), performance adequate, very good in snow & ice, great cargo capacity, very comfortable on long trips.
  
  And if you want to leave some of our resources (including our air) for our children and grandchildren, you'll feel good about driving this car.
  
  If you need a muscle car for your ego or a sports car for your fun or an SUV for your soccer team (or your fears of losing a head-on), skip the Prius. Just about everybody else should consider driving one of these.
  

• Top on my list.
  
  Toyota keep getting better every year not just with their hybrid propulsions, but also their renown for frugal and reliable ICE-based VVti engines. I know coz my current and last one are all Toyota and they easily gets me to almost 40mpg. Yes Pruis shall be my next ride ;)
  Practical yet cool. What more do u want for driving a future car in todays polluted (*cough*) world?
  

• I own one, since March, 2006.
  My Reasons for purchasing:
  1) It's a cool car.
  2) Lowered emissions save the environment.
  3) Better statistics. Fuel savings do make sense over the long haul. Compared to my old $16k Nissan Sentra (cost of getting one today), the $22k Toyota Prius works out. Using an average gas price of $2.50 a gallon (and let's not kid ourselves, it WON'T stay that low over the next five years, much less the ten I plan on keeping mine), here's the math: 23mpg on my current Sentra vs. 46mpg estimated on my Prius (I'm a pessimist - and turns out I actually average about 48mpg, so even better!) assuming 100,000 miles lifetime (for the record, my Sentra was traded in at 12 years, 203,000+ miles, still ran but was nickel and diming me to death on repairs), we get (rounded to nearest dollar):
  (100,000miles/23mpg)*$2.50/gal=$10,870.00
  (100,000miles/46mpg)*$2.50/gal=$5435.00
  Difference: $5435.00
  Prius ($22k) - Nissan ($16) = $6000.
  Break-even point: 110,400 miles, IF GAS DOES NOT GO UP.
  I also point out that last summer, gas hit $3.89/gal for REGULAR in some parts of Chicago, so I know I'll come out ahead much sooner at that rate.
  :P
  

• I am going to be 16 and I need a good car that is good on gas and will run well for about 6 years. Is a Toyota Prius good for me?
  

• I read in the Toyota brochure that The Prius is supposed to get 60 mpg. in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. A friend of mine has a 2007 and she said she gets 57 in the city and 75 on the highway. She went to Maryland on 6.5 gallons getting an amazing 99 mpg! I do not want to bug her a lot so I'm asking you guys. I need to know about the Prius. Would it handle well for a 16 year old. I am a 4.2 GPA average student and I'm starting college next year. I need a car that is reliable and gets great fuel economy. I'm getting my license in two weeks. After that I need to know the perfect car for me so I can go get. Thanks for helping me out. Please tell me all you know about the Prius and if it is right for me. Thank You
  

• For the year and a half that I've had the car I've gotten 48-53 MPG in summer and 38-45 MPG in winter, but those are still pretty good numbers and it also depends on your driving habits, commute distance and terrain. All in all though I love to car and would highly recommend it.
  

• I have a 'classic' Prius - 2002. (The 2004 redesign was supposed to improve mileage -- but seems mainly to have increased the interior room.) I've meticulously kept gas mileage records for over 4 years, and I get 44mpg +/- 3mpg all of the time. (I live in Phoenix, AZ and do mostly city but also some mountain-highway driving.) So far, it's been a very inexpensive car to run and maintain - routine oil changes, a wheel alignment and a set of tires, in the first 45K miles. However, as much as I like it, I have to agree that you don't buy (a new) one to save money. Do the math on the present value of your anticipated gas savings. It doesn't work unless you anticipate a steep run-up in the price of gas (always a possibility). But do it anyway -- because you've seen an Inconvenient Truth. A note: The $1,575 federal tax credit gets cut in half (again) on April 1, 2007.
  

• Definitely NOT - i just bought a 2007 Prius and here are all the problems i have with it:
  
  1. My feet feeze!! The floor heating is very poor.
  
  2. I can't see out the back window - the bar splitting the back windshield is distracting and blocks vision. The back window wiper only cleans 2/3 of the window.
  
  3. Cheap seats - the seat quality - both padding and covers is very low quality, my back hurts driving this car.
  
  4. Only one small cup holder on the front seat.
  
  5. Cheap interior - i have owned the car for two months and already the buttons used to put the car in park and turn the car on and off are all scratched.
  

• Yes, buy a Prius. I bought mine a few weeks ago. I love the car, in spite of the great gas mileage and potential carpool stickers. It rides nice, it's quiet, has all the bells and whistles (I got the high-end with Nav). You need to get used to driving it though, no peeling out obviously! I've been averaging 51mpg so far, mixed hwy, mtn and traffic.
  

• I consider anyone buying any hybrid car a hero. Thank you.
  

• Just the other day, I went and drove a 2007 Prius, I thought the handling was decent and the car was unique.
  For the OWNERS of a Prius. Why did you buy the Prius? Is it because of the great gas mileage, or is it for the enviroment, or is it hip and cool and the wave of the future. If you had to choose only one reason, what would it be? Last, are than any stats on these questions?
  Thanks
  

• I drive pretty fast. 80+ on fwy. i commute over 600 miles per wk. i have to drive up a steep incline to my house which takes 12 minutes in my infiniti g35.
  
  i took a test drive in a prius yesterday and it got 35 average on the test drive. the salesman told me since sitting idle wears down the battery and this vehicle had been test driven several times that it had to use more gas. but i recall that we drove around looking for the touring model for abt 10 minutes before the drive.
  
  i don't know how much tighter the handling is on a touring model but this car was unsettling on turns. maybe it's all relative to your previous car.
  
  do most prius drivers drive slowly and therefore get better milage? 45+?
  

• If you do buy a Prius, be aware that it is low-slung so a rough rocky driveway must be driven over slowly. Also be aware that they are fragile. In a recent fender bender I managed to demolish the front end while leaving a hand-sized dent in the passenger side of a Honda SUV. Total damage was over 11 thousand dollars, almost half the price of the car. And then it was in the shop for over a month. If you live in snowy, slippery country be sure slow down well ahead of time, especially if you are used to "gearing down" in a straight stick. On greasy snow my brakes simply didn't do the job.
  

• I think part of the problem here with the non-hybrid enthusiasts is that they want to drive hard and fast. Well.. I don't think the Prius is built for that.
  
  I've read reports where people after buying a Prius have fun trying to maximize their fuel efficiency. If that's the case, what's wrong with that? They are saving money at the pump, getting their jollies and helping contribute to a real problem... Global warming.
  
  Obviously, if your looking for performance, the Prius is not the car for you. In that case, get yourself a BMW, Mercedes, or whatever floats your boat. But if you are looking to cut down fuel consumption, help the environment a little, and have a car that gets pretty great gas mileage without sacrificing, get the Prius.
  
  By Sacrificing... what I mean is any other car that's sort of comparable to the Prius is a little sardine can of a car. At least the Prius is a mid-size that you can put yourself and a few friends in fairly comfortably. Or yourself, one person, and fold down the seats and put some stuff in.
  
  You can't get that with a Yaris or some other similar car.
  
  I don't own one at this time, but I am seriously looking at them for my next purchase(around 6 months.
  
  I am a semi-professional musician, and would like the extra gas mileage to travel to gigs and have room for the PA equipment.
  

• WE like our '05 Prius so much that we bought an '06. Every time we head out our drive we feel as if we are doing the best we can for our future and our grandchildrens futures. I cannot understand why the comments persist about how the expense offsets the savings. Our cars were only (about) 22k and 26k. What expense?
  

• In reply to the physicist, in order to "recapture" the Prius' kinetic energy, one must have generated it in the first place, which means either recapturing energy already established by the gasoline engine, the batteries, or gained from the force of gravity, such as going down a hill...
  
  My father once decided to go on a gas-saving kick; he turned off his engine when stopped, when coasting to stops and down hills, etc. He got 60MPG in his Triumph TR3. One would not want to do that today, but it proves the point that driver techniques can greatly factor into the fuel-saving equation. One can also employ similar technology; for example, my 1987 Nissan Maxima {from which I still get 26 MPG) shuts down the fuel injectors when you take your foot off the accelerator...
  
  Besides that, Toyota isn't that altruistic - a plug-in (or solar cells on the roof) could make a significantly better energy resource, and where are they with those simple approaches?
  
  As for diesels, I owned a 1976 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel and drove it for 30,000 U.S. miles of mixed driving. I maintained it carefully and kept extremely accurate records. It averaged an overall 49.97 MPG (U.S.) and cost $8.40 in unscheduled maintenance (piece of road trash got kicked into the alternator belt). Amazingly, here we are 30 years later with folks bragging about mileage that just begins to approach that? I am obviously not impressed with Prius' MPG figures.
  
  Moreover, Prius owners, in thinking they are green, must all have been bewitched by the Toyota Pied Piper -- the overall carbon footprint of a Prius EXCEEDS THAT OF AN SUV! Moreover, there are plenty of zero-emission non-hybrids. Prius owners are neither green nor smart, they're just victims of P. T. Barnum's axiom...
  
  Want real automotive progress in the area of fuel savings and greenicity (I just invented that word)? Mate hybrid technology with the new, "clean" VW TDI diesel, augment the battery charging capability via plug-in capability, add more augmentation via roof-mounted solar cells (why are we wasting all that sun power, particularly on the top of buses or truck trailers?!) and get several HUNDRED MPG, plus plenty of power.
  

• We just got back from a two week vacation. The battery in our recently purchased BRAND NEW 2007 Prius is dead. This is the second time it has happened. When the battery dies, the car doors WON'T LOCK. We had kept valuable items in it and are thankful they weren't stolen.
  
  We are done. We will be unloading it ASAP and getting a regular car until the bugs in hybrids are worked out.
  

• We found that the T-Mobile Dash does not work well with the 2007 model of the Toyota Prius. Other phones worked well but in the case of the Dash, it did not turn off automatically, the volume was very low and the sound quality was not great. We do not recommend that model of cell phone for this car. Note that the Verizon Wireless and Cingular phones worked better although the T-Mobile SDA was better than the Dash.
  

• I had ased questions here before. I just wanted to say that I tried out a Toyota Prius and it just did not do anything for me and for what I want. I bought a 2007 Honda Element EX 4wd. It is the best vehicle in the world! And I'm happy to say I'm achieving 30 MPG!!! So I am happy with my decision and than you for the help that you supplied to me. Thank you.
  

• I am holding off on buying a hybrid / pure-EV simply because I am not prone to early adoption of new technology. I prefer to wait until the kinks have been worked out and improved features added.
  
  In the case of the Prius, I think it is a fine car and Toyota should be commended for making steps toward the future. There was almost 0 chance that U.S. auto manufacturers would have started making steps if some foreign company did not step up to the plate. Toyota and Honda have one of the most (perhaps the #2 and #1 respectively) full efficient car fleets in the world....The U.S. car fleet's fuel efficiency barely beats a Model-T...maybe not even that.
  
  The simple fact that CalCars can mod the car in a short period of time for $5k to get 100+ MPG (by adding a lead-acid battery array) seems to indicate the potential of the Prius in my opinion.
  
  When I next buy a car, I would like all the bells and whistles of EV: plug-in, electric-only range of 40+ miles, rooftop solar cells, and perhaps even clean diesel (with support for using biodisel) as the backup fuel.
  It sounds like I should also require more comfortable seats.
  
  However, none of my personal wants for an eco-car diminish the real accomplishment of Toyota:
  
  The "marketing" success that some of you are denigrating has done what none had accomplished previously...make eco / fuel-efficient vehicles popular. I think (or hope) that this little pebble of innovation will start an avalanche that will push average fuel economy in to the 50+ mpg range and top fuel economy to 100+ mpg.
  

• i currently drive an suv that averages @ 20 mpg (total 60% city). How many miles a month would i need to drivwe to make a prius pay to own?
  

• I drive a lot and I'm in the market for a new car. Let's say averaging 2500 miles/month and let's assume $3.20 per gallon. If you buy a car that averages 50mpg - fuel cost/month=$160, at 40mpg=$200, at 30mpg=$267 and at 20mpg=$400/mo. A diesel, like a VW Jetta (45mpg) & with diesel at $2.80, your fuel cost/mo would be $156/mo. Purely a decision on milage? Jetta-Prius, it's a wash right now. Their prices are similar for new. Now, a Jetta or a Prius at $25K financed for 3 years at 10%, no money down is over $800/month. There's a slew of other cars you can buy for $15K or less with at least 30mpg. To finance $15K at 10% for 3 years, no money down is about $490/mo. Now calcualte your situation and go buy a car your comfortable in.
  

• My "commute" to work is 3 miles. Aside form that, I would drive the Prius only short 15 minute trips around the island. I read somewhere that it is recommended by Toyota to drive it at least for 30 minutes at a time every week for the health of the battery. And then I read here about problems with the battery if the car is parked for 2 weeks. I do hope to get away on vacation once in a while, maybe even for 3 weeks. Sounds like Prius is not a car for me.
  

• I bought a new prius 5 months ago. I am very happy with my purchase. Personally, I do think the money saved in gas was worth the purchase. I have cut my monthly gas bill in half. The prius has plenty of power when taking off and I love the way it looks. The smart key it great and the fact they it is not adding to the pollution problem is also a plus. I personally never considered a diesel simply because they are not as fuel efficient nor are they as good for the environment.
  

• Anyone have any comments on the Prius's performance with two bikes on the roof. Considering one but will need to be capable to maintain highways speeds with the aerodynamic restriction.
  

• I bought a 2007 Prius in May. Have about 4,000 miles on it and so far I'm very happy with it. After numerous 4 hour trips, mostly interstate, I have averaged 47/49/mpg...regardless of how carefully I drive. Now, I just relax, go the maximum speed limit and forget about coasting and other dumb tricks. Time is valuable and the sooner I reach my destination the better. Love the fact that we can travel from Illinois to Cincinnati and never make a pit stop!!!
  

• On Aug. 30, 2007 I tried to pick up a Toyota Prius (previously reserved) from Hertz car rental at PDX. I was told all their Prius'were in the shop for "electrical problems". At first they said 5 of their Prius were there, then later told me "all 3" were in the shop for this problem. I know of no recalls current for Prius for any electrical problems. I think all their cars must be at least 2006 or 2007 models. Does anyone out there have any info on this? I suspect they did not have any available and were lying to me to cover up their mistake in not having one set aside for me as promised.
  

• I just bought one a few months ago. That was the smartest thing i have done! I ave between 54+56 mpg. I live in NJ so i drive both city and highway.
  

• AFTER YEARS OF LOOKING, I FINALLY BOUGHT A 2007 PRIUS IN APRIL 2007. WE TOOK A TRIP, 7200 MILES. FLORIDA, BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, NY, CONN, RHODE ISLAND. I KEPT CAREFUL RECORDS AND ADVERTAGED 53.6 MPG ON THE WHOLE TRIP. NEVER WENT OVER 70MPH. DROVE THROUGH NYC, BROOKLYN, BRONX, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND. THIS IS WHERE I ONLY GOT 48,7 MPG. THE CAR IS GREAT. IF EVERYONE BOUGHT A PRIUS WE WOULD NOT HAVE A GAS PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.
  

• IF EVERYONE BOUGHT A PRIUS WE WOULD NOT HAVE A GAS PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.
  
  Not true the damant of fuel is every year
  greater even if everyone drives a prius.
  But the prius is a great and fun car to drive!
  Have fun with yourse!
  (sorry for the bad english i'm from Holland europe)
  Gr. Raymond
  

• While it is true that the pruis is designed to save fuel the pruis i bought six months ago wiht 12k miles on it is broken down and toyota has just informed a new "corporate" decision was made and that all the 2007s do not have road side assistance!!! Luckyme, i get i to pay the tow truck. HMM i am begining to wonder about priuses....
  

• I've flipped back in forth between buying a midsize sedan (honda accord,toyota camry) and a hybrid car.
  
  I think buying a toyota camry hybrid makes no sense at all!! But if interested in saving gas, I think the prius is the way to go, even though, it doesn't get you that much as the advertised 51/61 mpg.
  
  I've read all your comments which have been really helpfull. I'm gonna have to buy a car within 7 days and gonna testdrive a prius today.
  
  Sure its 5-6K more for the hybrid technology, but that's all we got right now. Besides, you won't lose much on the resale which is what I plan on doing when the electric car comes out in 2008-2009.
  
  

• Rick mentioned that the road side assistance is no longer offered. A salesman today told me that if anything under warranty requires a repair, and the car is not drivable, our tow bill will be reimbursed by Toyota? Has this changed?
  
  Also, we live in an area where the temperature can be zero to minus 20 in winter. I'm giving up my heated seats, and want a good floor heater for my feet. Can anyone comment on the floor heater of the 2008 Prius. Please respond quickly as we're ready to buy tomorrow!
  

• You guys painted quite a picture. I decide not to buy a Prius, reasons:
  
  1. The technology seems still not 100% mature, it still has space for price dropping.
  2. The saving on gas is not proportional to what you've paid in extra for your purchase unless you keep the car for a lot of year + you drive a lot + the gas price increases.
  3. Tax is not favoring Hybrid car anymore.
  4. The interior of Prius is terrible.
  
  Keeping our mother earth clean is nice, but, let's face it, most of us are driven by price, not how many CO2 we can reduce each year.
  

• We bought a 2007 Prius 2 months ago and I love it. I love the high-tech display screen (although I generally don't know what it's telling me other than the current and average gas mileage - is it a good thing when I generate those little cars?) My mileage averages 47-48 mpg - I drive mostly on the highway at 65 mph and some driving in town. We've always had fuel efficient cars, including diesels, but I like the Prius the best so far. Diesels can save fuel, but they are somewhat stinky.
  

• Had a friend in a wreck. Her 2007 Prius almost caused her death. Her brake line was severed. Since all four wheels get their brake fluid from the same line she had no brakes. She was hit in the from drivers side her electric wheels keep turning she could not stop her car and it took about 1/2 mile to stop when she hit a guard rail. It has caused me to think twice about buying one.
  

• I've had my 2004 Prius for almost 4 years now and love it. I always wonder though, when people say that one "pays the price" for hybrid and don't expect $$$ savings. I don't think the Prius is priced unreasonably at all! If you are comparing it to a Corolla or a Civic, perhaps, but this car is head and shoulders over either of those, even if it wasn't a hybrid. It's much roomier and has great standard features. My Prius is over 60,000 miles now with no problems at all. I hope to keep it another 5 years. And hopefully, by then, there will be even greener cars available. I can't believe that Prius is still the only car specifically created to be a hybrid and optimize fuel efficiency.
  

• I just got a 2008 Prius, I love it, true it is not the most luxurious, but it is very economical and for a person that doesn't drive that far and doesn't care about speed racing, this is great for me. I talked to several people that owned these cars for up to 2 yrs and they said they had zero problems. None.
  I have to admit, I am extremely lucky though..this was a gift from my sister. Her family traded their top of the line Mercedes and Range Rover in for a Prius and a Lexis hybrid. Big difference !!!Esp. in luxory. That was enough of a statement for me. I am a believer.
  

• I sense some "Prius envy" among the people posting here who don't own one. In fact the gas mileage will be in the 45-48 mpg range if driven "normally" - a little better if you are a miser. (My brother-in-law who is a leadfoot gets 43 mpg.) This puts you about 10-15 mpg better than your "economy car". People like the Physics student Alex don't know what they are talking about. The "synergy drive" sytem removes the two most dirty and wasteful parts of driving from the gas engine's duties - idling and accelerating. It also stores energy during braking. The "funny look" of the car is due to the extra care given to aerodynamics by the designers. These four features account for is how these gas mileage improvements are achieved.
  

• I just bought a 2008 last week. I love the sporty look and the great mileage. The Smart Key feature is a fun toy. I intend to be buried in this delightful little car.
  

• Had to laugh at some of the comments on here about MPG and how much better hybrid cars are than diesels....
  
  10 years ago I was running a Ford Orion 1.6 diesel which would average 55 around town (this is in the UK). On a run it would be up to around 65mpg.
  
  My wife runs a UK spec 2003 Mondeo TDCI 2.0 dieel which averages about 45mpg now, whilst I run a 1989 Land Rover Defender - again averaging around 28mpg. The thing is, the Land Rover is the ultimate reecycled vehicle - it gets run on biodiesel, remould tyres etc and gets used for just about everything - daily drive, towing heavy, off road driver training etc... as well as voluntary work with a 4x4 response group. I can also fix it without the need to access a computer - it has no electronics on it whatsoever....
  

• The computer reports MPG's about 5 MPG higher than actual. Has anyone out there checked their Prius, using the actual gallons of gas bought against the odometer milage snfd the computer calculation??
  
  Roy
  

• 2008 Prius vs 05 Outback Suburu (XT Turbo)? We live at 7200 ft elevation and so do a lot of all season mountainous driving. Two kiddo's and a BIG doggie(possibly 2) and want it all!!! We get plenty of snow/ice conditions and need to be able to travel to and from town 4-8miles and then work 60miles each way. Needs enough power to go up mountains and be able to pass--------like to go 5-10mph over speed limit. So what is the solution. The Prius has amazed us with all its special gizmo's---especially the kiddo's. The Suburu seems more practical and less expensive eventhough the gas mileage will not ever come close to the Prius. What should we do?
  

• I'm anxious to see what folks say about the last question - am also looking at the Prius, and am the owner of large dogs. I currently drive a Honda CR-V, about 25 mpg but lots of room. I "think" the dogs can fit - and realistically, how often are they all (3) in the car? But it needs to be able to happen. Don't think I should be driving 50 miles to and from work every day in a medium-sized SUV by myself. Plus - gas is expensive! Drove 27,000 miles last year!
  

• Taking delivery of a 2008 Pirus this Saturday in Chicago, Like the gizmos, dont care much about the milage, gives me a "Star War" feeling, just enjoy...
  

• I'm doing a report on the Prius and would like any information anyone has.
  

• I owned an '05 Prius. The car now has 35,000 miles. I am averaging 35 MPH. Thats all I get.
  I am wondering and envious when I read about people reporting about getting 40-50 MPH. I complained to the dealer but their response
  was the ethanol in the gasoline that cause the lower gas mileage. I guess I just have to live
  with it. 35 MPH is not bad compared to my SUV.
  
  

• As an aside, ethanol in gasoline will lower the overall energy content of the gasoline (ethanol is not as energy dense), so any vehicle using an ethanol blend will have a lower gas milege.
  

• I had mine for 3 years now and let me tell you... the BEST choice I ever made!!!! I also have a Nissan Maxima 2005 and I paid over $600 a month on the gas. With the Prius I can go 2 weeks on $20.00. Not you tell me if this is not cool? My Prius has 60.000 miles already but the only thing I changed on this car is a oil. That's it! No problem with anything at all. Car can easily go 95 mpg. I mean common.. how many people drive that fast? I love the interior of the car too. I think it's very cool has all the latest staff in there. For the person who said that it's not good of a car needs to get over her/him self!
  

• I test drove a prius yesterday/I just loved it. Today I test drove a different one. It was a very sunny day, and I couldn't see how fast I was going. Is this common?
  

• I'm a Prius owner and I'm very happy with my car. The 51/60 MPG is not true but i definately expect mid 40s to 50. In winter the MPG goes down into the low 40s though.
  
  Great car, handles well and is very quiet.
  

• I own a 2007 Toyota Prius and I can only say good things about the car. I have taken a trip from KC to Lexington Kentucy and from KC to Palm Springs Calif. My MPG on the highway was 49 and driving only on city streets in KC I get better than 60 miles per gallon. To get this kind of MPG I believe you really need to have a clear understanding of how a hysrid functions. I've been involved with hybrid technolgy and design for 30 years and I know how to achieve this high mpg. One way thing Toyota should do is put a green and red light on the dash which would tell the drive when the engine was on and when you were in all electric. The way to get this kind of MPG you need to drive it like the manual tells you but you also need to be able to tell when the engine has stopped and you are on all electric. Once you are all electric you need to learn to keep it in all electric till the battery gets low enough to demand the engine to start. You also must stay under 40 MPH as above that on level ground the engine will start. All the speeders on the road make it difficult to get better but on a Sunday with little traffic I can make my round trip, 25 miles, to my factory and average 86 MPG.
  Most people are only getting in the 43 to 49 MPG range but they aren't working to stretch the MPG.
  

• Remember, for those of you in England, a British Gallon is larger than a US Gallon. So your mileage will be higher. I believe that is why your European diesels seem to get such high mileage.
  

• Bought a Prius in April...after thinking we wouldn't like it. We were impressed by the car in many ways: mpg, the lack of a "shift" feel as you accelerate and the amazing space in such a small car. We drove it on a 2000 mile road trip and averaged 44mpg. Since we had hills, we were impressed. It's only been about 5000 miles so far, but we LOVE the Prius. The price is reasonable. We were comparing it to vehicles like the Volvo station wagon and Dodge Magnum. You'd get maybe a little more space for probably $10,000 more, plus gas. With gas prices these days, people are going to wish they had a Prius!
  

• I just bought one Monday... 2008 package 3...
  
  I love it so far...
  
  I've gone 115 miles and its still says I have
  a completely full tank.
  
  How can that be?????
  

• if you actually want to save the environment, catch the bus or buy a small petrol (gas if in America)only or diesel only car.
  if you are just looking to save fuel and the way they make the battery and the way the car drives dose not concern you then buy a Prius, if you care about the environment and want to save on fuel, buy something like a Fiat Punto Diesel, it will probably work out in the long run, cheaper too because Priuses, as i have read, only last about 100,000 kms or about 62,000 miles, so if you don't update your car regularly, it is going to be expensive. because its new technology, its expensive to fix and buy so buying a car like a Fiat Punto Diesel. Diesel has a much higher mpg average than petrol too.
  

• Bought a 2009 Prius 2 weeeks ago, Friday. So Far averaging about 42 MPG. Consider that winter (in Chicago) is just starting. I'm told in summer to expect 52 - 60 mpg. Apparently the cold affects the battery & engine to decrease fuel milage while the spring - fall weather will cause it to increase...
  
  Previously owned a 1992 Toyota Camry 4 cyl with 320,000 miles. We expected 200,000 & got much more...
  
  Lower emissions better milage how can one go wrong with a prius?
  
  Simply a wise - reliable - Long term investment (10 year) if you put on 20,000 miles per year as I do...
  
  One last thing, it is actually helping me to become a better driver as well.
  
  See a red light ahead get off the accelerator & watch the mpg climb to 100 mpg. The same is also true on off ramps & in traffic, let off the gas - the batteries kick in & again zero pollution & mpg savings again...
  
  This will only get better with time, as Toyota introduces the third generation Prius in 2010 with Solar & improved battery packs (smaller - more power 4-6 mpg increase)...
  
  Also, I work in a diesel engine engineering lab & have hooked at the Prius Plus (Battery / Solar) add on options. It seems wise to me to be patient & wait for Toyota, Honda or GM to market a reliable fully electric car that does not exceed the vehicle engineering capabilities or its warranty.
  

• I have owned a 2005 Prius since November 2004. I have just under 113000 miles on it today. I drive about 106 miles a day and get 45 - 47 MPG regularly driving from my home up and down several steep hills on the I-95 corridow between Baltimore and Washington at 65+ MPH keeping up with the traffic flow. It is sensitive to your driving pattern; if you set the cruise control to the traffic and leave it alone you get the best milage. If you're aggressive and always are jockying for position mileage suffers. I rarely use my brakes preferring to give 2 or more seconds following distance and coasting to slow down. In my opinion this is the best engineered and built car I have ever owned. I'm in my 60s now so I've driven a lot of cars. My 2 cents worth.
  

• A note to the individual who wrote this (and those who own Priuses): "To the folks creating FUD about the electrical dangers of a hybrid like the Prius... this is straight from the Prius manual ... 'The electrolyte is absorbed into the battery cell plates and will not leak even in a collision.'"
  
  Don't explicitly trust the manual or NHTSA test crash results. These safety devices and tests are designed and conducted in controlled conditions. More often than not, those conditions do not resemble what happens in the real world. When it comes to the actual performance of safety and other features in the real world, ask a State Trooper/Traffic Cop or Paramedic/Fireman who has actually had to deal with the aftermath of crash that occurred outside of controlled conditions. According to those I personally know who have encountered crashed Priuses, the batteries CAN short despite designed safeties posing a danger to those inside and outside the car. This is because damage to the battery casing can cause an INTERNAL short, which no "safety disconnect" can prevent. Moreover the Nickel Metal Hydride can react chemically with the air when exposed or with other materials in the car, and burning (whether caused by short or other sources) will cause toxic fumes. Most State Troopers here won't even go near a crashed Prius until the fire department has ensured the car is grounded and safe to approach.
  
  Does this mean you're more likely to survive a crash in a regular fuel car? Not necessarily. Let's just face it, crashes are bad. But, this is one reason why I personally won't buy a Pruis (at least not yet). Though, I do own a Toyota Corolla, and while not great, I do get roughly 35-42 mpg highway. Plus it's one of the better rated cars for crash survival among State Troopers. :)
  
  The other reason I won't buy a Prius? Higher sticker price, and the cost of eventually buying new batteries -- because $200 for recycling isn't that significant in my tiny pocket when the batteries cost roughly $2500 (not including other fees), have a life span of only 8 years (approx. at most), and I'd only be saving roughly $48 on gas per year with a Pruis over my Corolla (yes, I did the math, literally). At that point, with depreciation, it'd almost be worth it to just buy a new car.
  
  Besides, over time... my Corolla's footprint (depending on how often I drive, which is not a daily occurrence) won't be that much larger than a more regularly used Pruis. After all, even the Pruis's 11 gallon tank eventually reaches empty, too, which means at some point, it burned up roughly the same amount of fuel as my 13 gallon Corolla.
  

• Yes, I think it is a great car and you should deffinetly buy one. This way you demonstrate you think about the enviroment.
  

• I've learned a lot reading everyone's entry but still feel confused. If I buy a used civic hybrid or a used prius, won't the savings offset the cost quicker? I am interested in hearing anyone's experience with a 2005 civic hybrid stick shift.