10th Jun 2007, 03:06
Just bought one and love it! It is quiet, reasonably comfortable, performs well in all conditions, and all the controls are extremely easy to use. We purchased the leather interior which is very attractive. For some reason the leather seats are vastly more comfortable than the fabric seats. And room -- it is endless!
Our other car is a Lexus LS 460 which offers a pretty high bar with which to compare! The Prius is certainly no Lexus, but -- for the money -- has no need to apologize. If all goes well, we'll be keeping this car for 10+ years.........
11th Jun 2007, 16:53
I agree - the Prius has nothing to apologize for when it comes to the interior. Mine is very clean and upscale, and has gotten many more positive reviews for its interior than anything comparable from Dodge or Chrysler.
The Prius doesn't look like other cars on the road, but is built to be totally functional and especially aerodynamic. I've grown to really like its looks and function.
I agree that a diesel engine could probably match its efficiency, but we were not able to find a diesel automobile that could match the reliability and price of the Prius.
Toyota has gotten consistent "outstanding" marks from Consumer Reports for the Prius's reliability. The Prius may not be for everyone, but it's a fantastic car for someone looking for function, reliability, efficiency, space and safety.
13th Jun 2007, 18:59
Test drove 2007 Prius with Package 2 tonight. Very impressed with ride. Never drove hybrid before. Concerned that the computer/control area may be a distraction when using it.
Mechanic said new battery pack will cost 1400.00. Is this the truth?
Friend who has one claims 55 mpg on highway driving about 120 miles round trip per day on mostly highway.
14th Jun 2007, 15:37
When the battery pack wears out pal a regular car would need some maintenance too. I guess you're one of those guys I see on the road who don't maintain their cars and just keep on driving them till they die on bald tires. Any car will need at least 1500$ or so in repairs once they hit 200,000 miles. if not than the car will probably self destruct anyway passed 220K.
15th Jun 2007, 03:03
Actually pal! I meticulously maintain my cars.
I would never dream of making cars run dangerously and I was talking in pounds not dollars.
As I said there cheap pieces of badly made junk!
As many people are starting to find out.
15th Jun 2007, 17:52
The Toyota Prius was named highest in customer satisfaction for all vehicles by consumer reports. I would have trouble believing a piece of junk would garner that kind of praise.
16th Jun 2007, 15:13
I just bought a 2007 Prius (package 6). I am pleased with the pickup when merging on to the interstate and passing. It is comfortable with acceptable leg room for both front and back seat passengers.
I have 600 miles on the vehicle and am disappointed with the mileage. Although I didn't expect to achieve the published 51 highway and 60 city, I did expect better than 45 highway and 42 city.
17th Jun 2007, 10:26
Your Prius' mileage will improve after 1000 miles of break in. Our average increased almost 10 mpgs after we crossed 1000 miles.
13th Jul 2007, 14:25
Tomorrow my wife and I are purchasing the '07 Prius Touring (red) with Pkg#6 and a bunch of extras. I currently have a '00 Honda Accord EX-V6 with leather interior. I test drove a Prius and was not impressed with the get-up-and-go (a.k.a. positive acceleration) when merging on the highway. Fortunately I don't drive on the highway very often.
The interior is a bit smaller than the Accord. It is 3" narrower. The headroom is comparable, but the legroom is about 1" shorter than the Accord. Our other car is an Odyssey Touring minivan. If we need legroom, we'll take the van!
I know how to drive a car, and I know the Prius is not going to give me the same performance my 6-cylinder Sedan will. I understand that a car built with lightweight material will not "feel" like a luxury sedan. I'm not buying it for racing or impressing guests. If I want an exciting ride I'll hop on my sport bike. I'll only be taking the Prius to work and driving my kids to school every day.
The Prius has a number of safety and comfort features that make the Accord look and feel like a stone box. I feel better driving my kids in the Prius than in any midsize car.
I'm getting 18MPG right now in a car rated at 24MPG. I hope the Prius is able to provide at least 66% of the rated MPG. If so, I will save about $110.00 per month (don't know what that is in Pounds) in fuel.
The insurance is cheaper on the Prius because of the safety features and smaller engine size. I will be saving another $30 per month on insurance. That's about 1/2 of my car payment!
I have to believe that this type of car is the future. It is one of the many sensible things we, as an industrialized nation, can do for our environment. I just wish the American auto manufacturers would step up to the plate and introduce an American built product like this one.
28th Jul 2007, 10:59
I recently in May purchased our primary car, a 2007 Prius with Option Package # 2 after doing a lot of on-line research and talking with two current Prius owners. I also test drove my son's Prius before buying. I now have over 7K miles after taking the car on vacation to Topsail Island NC from Indiana. I am averaging just over 51 MPG (combined highway and city). I absolutely love the car. The Hybrid system itself has a 100K warranty and by the time I need to replace the battery, I speculate the replacement would come down as the supply and demand increase, but this is not much of a concern to me. Performance for my needs is more than adequate. I am about 6' 2" and visibility for me is excellent, and I especially love the instrument panel visibility in all conditions. You can dim or completely shut off the display screen. Interior room and optional fold down arrangements are very good. I like the FOB and never having to use a key. The ride, noise level and handling are fine. Future options that I would like to see are telescoping steering wheel, auto headlights, keypad entry system and more adjustable seats, though you can optionally leave the lights on and they automatically shut off. The gasoline engine will automatically shut off when not needed, so idling slowly in a parking requires caution since people may not hear the car approaching. In my truck I want a diesel, but not in my car.
8th Jun 2007, 05:38
'350 miles on 7 gallons of gas is phenomenal'
Not really phenomenal is it? Most small to medium sized engined diesels will do that & more, and have much better performance.
And before anybody comments on how diesels have higher emissions than a Prius, I suggest you look at the new Mini diesel... reasonable performance, 60+mpg, and much lower emissions than a Prius!! (Still wouldn't want one though..LOL)