Toyota Prius - thoughts?
Nov. 19th, 2006 05:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tanithryudoSo we were looking at new cars today. I kinda like the Toyota Prius. It's a hybrid car - and seems to be the only convertible sized hybrid around these parts (well, there's also the Camry Hybrid but that's Toyota's too anyway). Mom and I both liked it; Dad... well, let's not get into his tastes.
Pros:
- can file for carpool lane privilege w/o any passengers
- environmentally friendly from all accounts
- kawaii... first thought that popped into mind was the Hello-Kitty of autos XD
- incredible mileage (ie. the gas light won't be annoying me every other time I turn around)
- lots and lots of features (voice-control GPS, rear-view camera, 6-CD changer, i-Pod/MP3 jack, *drool*)
Cons:
- more expensive (anywhere from 22k - 29k depending on features included) than non-hybrids
- no holiday discounts
- unknown battery replacement costs
- limited range of color/feature package choice left (the good ones are sold out -_-)
Iono... from some cursory googling on the battery issue, it seems that no one has a real solid answer on how much it would take to replace the batteries (most common citing is $3k for complete replacement)... mostly because they come with a 8 year warranty, the first Prius was sold in 2000, and apparently no one has tried to replace their batteries yet. When we were at the car dealers, the Toyota dealer was claiming that the battery had a lifetime warranty (even tho the brochure and online source said 8 year), while another car dealer on hearing that my mom and I were more interested in the Prius said that the replacement cost is $8000 and it's more common to just scrap the car after 5-6 years (then again, I'm not sure I trust the competitor's words on this.)
Note that since my dad isn't particularly impressed by it, if my mom and I push for this, then I'm most likely going to be paying for half or all of the cost, which is why I want to be sure I know what I'm getting myself into. If they end up buying any other car, then I wouldn't care since it would go to my dad first anyhow.
Any thoughts? My impression overall is that anyone going to buy this car wouldn't be buying just expecting some kind of overall savings (on fuel, etc.), but more likely for other reasons ranging from environmental concerns to the l33t features...
Pros:
- can file for carpool lane privilege w/o any passengers
- environmentally friendly from all accounts
- kawaii... first thought that popped into mind was the Hello-Kitty of autos XD
- incredible mileage (ie. the gas light won't be annoying me every other time I turn around)
- lots and lots of features (voice-control GPS, rear-view camera, 6-CD changer, i-Pod/MP3 jack, *drool*)
Cons:
- more expensive (anywhere from 22k - 29k depending on features included) than non-hybrids
- no holiday discounts
- unknown battery replacement costs
- limited range of color/feature package choice left (the good ones are sold out -_-)
Iono... from some cursory googling on the battery issue, it seems that no one has a real solid answer on how much it would take to replace the batteries (most common citing is $3k for complete replacement)... mostly because they come with a 8 year warranty, the first Prius was sold in 2000, and apparently no one has tried to replace their batteries yet. When we were at the car dealers, the Toyota dealer was claiming that the battery had a lifetime warranty (even tho the brochure and online source said 8 year), while another car dealer on hearing that my mom and I were more interested in the Prius said that the replacement cost is $8000 and it's more common to just scrap the car after 5-6 years (then again, I'm not sure I trust the competitor's words on this.)
Note that since my dad isn't particularly impressed by it, if my mom and I push for this, then I'm most likely going to be paying for half or all of the cost, which is why I want to be sure I know what I'm getting myself into. If they end up buying any other car, then I wouldn't care since it would go to my dad first anyhow.
Any thoughts? My impression overall is that anyone going to buy this car wouldn't be buying just expecting some kind of overall savings (on fuel, etc.), but more likely for other reasons ranging from environmental concerns to the l33t features...
