Traded in the Prius

[georgeinhere]

So, after a year and 17k miles, I traded in the Prius. Why am I posting this exciting news? Because I'm hoping to save someone a bit of money in this world of high gasoline prices.

The Prius, when driven grandpa style, is a monster of a car averaging 45MPG. To achieve it, you're going to get passed by 3 wheeled Yugos.

If you drive the car like a normal person, 35 to 40 MPG and that's where the whole thing doesn't add up. The amenities are equivalent to a $15k car, it's loud, uncomfortable and just crappy. I tried to lie to myself and others, it just isn't that good.

I bought another little car, an A3 and it feels like a Bentley in comparison.

That's all folks, back to your regular routine.

[aigel]

LOL

Couldn't catch me dead in one. Miserable looking car, only available with push button start, auto transmission and those skinny tires!

With the TDIs now availalable new in CA it is clear what you have to buy for a gas saver without giving up handling, comfort and your man card.

G

[jwasbury]

Congratulations!

Agree that turbo diesel is the best choice for fuel economy. Gasoline electric hybrids exist only because of marketing IMHO.

[notmytarga]

The idea of the regenerative braking storing energy is the only appeal for me. The load of the batteries lessens the appeal. Would a capacitor store the braking energy for the next acceleration? Hmmmmmm - I should patent that idea. Engine braking and assist via a big alternator coupled with a capacitor.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

The amenities are equivalent to a $15k car, it's loud, uncomfortable and just crappy. I tried to lie to myself and others, it just isn't that good.

You realize that you're one of the only (former) Prius owners to feel this way, right? A lot of people (almost none of whom actually have owned the car) may bash it like you have. But it's interesting you say this even after a year of ownership.

FWIW, my regular gasoline Honda Civic averages 35-36 mpg. Admittedly I drive a lot of highway miles and I try to drive with a light foot (without holding up traffic). On the highway, the best I can usually do is about 42 mpg. My wife, when she borrows the car for her around-town driving, avgs in the 28-32 mpg range, so that may be more representative as to what most others would get, too.

[georgeinhere]

My mistake was to drive the car like a regular car, I understand that you can get 50++MPG if you drive it a certain way and at the beginning, I was achieving close to 50 but once it became a hassle my MPG dropped tremendously.

[vash]

the TDi A3 is a win win win.

[azasadny]

My 2010 MazdaSpeed3 will get 32mpg on the highway if I drive if nice and it's a lot more fun than a Prius!

[Esel Mann]

Sorry to hear about your experience with the Prius. I'm still scratching my head (not at you but at VW). VW has had diesel technology which is essentially on par with current gas-based hybrids. The advantage being that with the diesel you still wind up with something of a car which is versatile.

I am very happy that I made the Jetta TDI purchase back in 2005 when I did for my DD. It's by no means a Mercedes E-class blue-tec, but it is reasonable transportation and does circles mpg wise around the E-class which is a much larger car hence the lower mpg. Here it is almost 7 years later and I am thinking about what the next DD will be. It's a toss up for me but I do know it will be diesel.

Do the Europeans really suck that bad at marketing in the U.S.? I know diesel had a bad rap from the 80's but come on, that was an eternity in marketing terms and hence the bad rap should be an obstacle which can be overcome.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

My mistake was to drive the car like a regular car,

That's no doubt the problem. I know half a dozen Prius owners. They are all thrilled with their cars. None of them are car enthusiasts.

[georgeinhere]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's no doubt the problem. I know half a dozen Prius owners. They are all thrilled with their cars. None of them are car enthusiasts.

Without a doubt. But there is a silver lining to the story:

Prius MSRP: Close to $26.5K
Purchased for 23K
Owned for about 13 months
Miles: 17k

Trade In: 21,750.

That's pretty good if you asked me, I also got a deep discount on the new car so true numbers.

[flatbutt]

Drove one as a loaner while having the Taco repaired. Didn't really like it.

[sammyg2]

it's good to hear from someone who is logical instead of just pretend-smug.

Hope you enjoy the A3 for many years.

Hey I hear you can get a really good deal on a chevy volt ........

[Icemaster]

One of the perks of traveling a lot is getting to try a lot of cars via rentals. Prius, never again. New Passat on the last trip although it wasnt a diesel, I'd definitely look hard at it.

Wish Ford made a diesel version of the Explorer. I liked that one.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's no doubt the problem. I know half a dozen Prius owners. They are all thrilled with their cars. None of them are car enthusiasts.

I think I've met them, driving 55 in the carpool lane in front of me while the rest of traffic is zipping by at 70.
More concerned with their hyper-mileage than the people around them, common courtesy means nothing as they are sooo superior to the common folk.

We usually refer to them as lane-tards or smug-tards.

[porwolf]

The MPG ratings for hybrids are combined city and highway driving. Hybrids get very good milage in the cities because of the stop and go traffic. The battery recharges every time you brake. On the highway it is a completely different story and the MPGs are much worse.

Besides the whole new hybrid technology leaves me unimpressed: I had a 1981 diesel Rabbit that really got 50 miles per gallon! I did a test and filled both the standard and the added custom tanks with the total capacity of 20 gallons. I really drove over 1000 miles before I needed refill! So, where is the progress???

[RWebb]

the progress in the last couple of years was to clean up the very high particulate emissions from diesels so they could be used here

diesels are good on the hwy., not so good in town as per above post

hybrids are just getting started...

[Tobra]

My buddy's Civic VX got better than 45 mpg on the freeway, 40 around town and was not too bad to drive. Drove a Prius once, brakes were wierd, steering was numb.

[bell]

I want a prius........so I can wedge a v8 in the middle of a tube frame and scare tree huggers........and to make sure it gets less than 5 miles to the gallon......

[szyzygy]

Why did they have to make it so god awful ugly? I like the idea of alternative fuel technology and that crap, but damn, the prius is just so ugly.

I've noticed that girls like Porsches.