<p>Car shopping. Heard so many good things about the Prius. Is it overrated, anyone ? Any problems, unexpected costs, and are the savings in gas mileage worth the investment ? By the way we are in the Northeast, no longer Calif residents as my nickname suggested.</p>
<p>Your input will be most appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, in this new age is there an option of direct buy instead of haggling with a dealer ?</p>
<p>There was a thread about it in the Cafe a few months ago. We were shopping, too, and were considering Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. H went with a Corolla hatchback instead (ugh, another Corolla), because we calculated that we had to buy $5/gallon gas for 6 years to justify the cost difference ( at that time, gas was $3). The Corolla was dirt cheap due to the fact that Toyota was coming out with the redesigned body style and really wanted to move the old model off the lots. Otherwise, we would have bougt the Prius, and we would have gotten a small discount off the MSRP by going through the Costco auto buying program (Prius buyers in our area pretty much have to pay MSRP - it is a very popular car). If you consider a hybrid, take a look at Honda Hybrid; it is more conventionally styled, but get exceptional milage and drives like a Civic.</p>
<p>We have a 4-year-old Prius. We bought it new and there was no haggling - unfortunately at that time there was a 5-month waiting list, so we just paid the dealer price. That made it double the cost of any car we had ever bought before. We’re happy with it, though. We got it partly for good mileage (we find it easy to get 50 mpg), but mostly we like it for the low emissions, since it’s a PZEV - partial zero emissions vehicle. </p>
<p>One of our complaints is that rear visibility is poor, so you have to be extra careful with lane changes. Also, the display conked out recently. This seems to be a design flaw because lots of other people have noted it on Prius discussion boards. But there haven’t been enough complaints yet to make Toyota declare a recall and pay for it. So for now we make do with the climate and audio controls on the steering wheel, but it’s a pain and we wish the display would start working again.</p>
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Regardless of the vehicle you end up buying, if you know what you want, let your fingers do the shopping and haggling by getting detailed quotes from the fleet department which usually also handles the ‘internet’ requests. You should get quotes via email from all of the dealers within a reasonable distance. Make sure that ‘reasonable’ includes driving 20 or 75 or so miles if need be to get the best deal unless you don’t care about the cost. Bounce the quotes against each other as well as the ‘dealer price minus dealer incentives’ from kbb.com, edmunds.com, or similar sites. You should end up with a fairly competetive price. If you pay more than expected above dealer invoice (which is much less than MSRP), at least you’ll know you did the best you could without going through the mandatory, stereotypical, tiresome, salesman/sales manager rigamarole/scam.</p>
<p>Be willing to buy at a dealer that’s not the closest if they have the best deal - all dealers will service the vehicle and in fact, make money off of the warranty service and should be glad to see you.</p>
<p>I’ve purchased my last several vehicles this way including ordering some from the factory to make sure it was exactly what I wanted (domestic vehicles).</p>
<p>I love my Prius. I’ve had it for 3 years. I average about 50 mpg, more in the summer months, less during winter. When comparing price consider the tax advantages too. In my state it was exempt from sales tax, and then when we did our taxes we got a pretty nice energy savings tax credit too.</p>
<p>Prius does not qualify for the federal tax credit anymore. Neither does Honda Hybrid. Sigh. And unlike in CA, we can’t drive them in carpool lanes without passengers.</p>
<p>Looks like those waiting lists for hybrids may be coming back. Husband went looking for the Honda hybrid and the dealer said there are none to be found in our area…we are in the greater LA area. Guess we’ll have to search high and low if that’s what we decide to buy. Doesn’t look like gas is ever going to come down!</p>
<p>I’ll go out on a limb and say - gas prices will come down.</p>
<p>There should be several more hybrids to choose from which should make the supply as well as the competition greater in the coming years. Honda will be launching several new hybrids to try to directly compete with Toyota as will Lexus and other manufacturers. In addition, there’s an article today that says Toyota might start building Priuses in their Fremont, California plant for the next model (I think 2010). Hyundai and almost every other manufacturer is planning hybrids as well.</p>
<p>[Honda</a> to Add Three New Hybrids: 2010 Fit, CR-Z, and Small Hatchback - Car News/Latest News &amp; Reviews/Car Shopping/Hot Lists/Reviews/Car and Driver - Car And Driver](<a href=“http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/latest_news_reviews/honda_to_add_three_new_hybrids_2010_fit_cr_z_and_small_hatchback_car_news]Honda”>http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/latest_news_reviews/honda_to_add_three_new_hybrids_2010_fit_cr_z_and_small_hatchback_car_news)</p>
<p>Side note - I rented an Avis car at San Jose airport not too long ago and was surprised to end up with a hybrid Nissan hybrid. I was surprised because it’s a vehicle that must cost Avis more (since they don’t pay for gas).</p>
<p>My family has had a Prius for the past 7 years (we have the original 2001 model), and it still runs great. The only major problem we have encountered, to my knowledge, is that the axles need to be realigned pretty frequently in comparison to our other car. Otherwise it’s great, and the ~45 mpg is definitely saving us money.</p>
<p>I love my Prius. With the types of cars we buy (I don’t like very small cars), it ended up being only a couple thousand more expensive than what we would have bought anyway, nowhere near twice. (For a 2005, I paid $21,000 - the Honda we looked at was $18,500.) Gas was $2.50/gallon. Daughter goes to school 350 miles from us; I make it on 1 tank of gas. I don’t do as well as some of the other posters - I average about 45 mpg.</p>
<p>I also love the fact that when I’m stuck in traffic, I don’t pollute - the gas motor turns itself off.</p>
<p>I tried to buy a Prius this week, but very little supply out there and no discounts from the sticker. Last summer we got a $1,000 discount.</p>
<p>Try using cruise control on the freeway and drive close to the speed limit. My wife is getting around 53 on the hwy now… up from 45-48.</p>
<p>We have a 2004 Prius and just bought a 2008, so daughter can take the 2004. I have to say the 2004 is the best car I have ever had. Nice ride, great gas mileage, easy to maneuver, comfortable. No complaints (which is why we bought a second one.) It is true that we got no discount on either of them, which seems to be pretty typical. More info at [PriusChat](<a href=“http://priuschat.com/”>Page Not Found | PriusChat)</p>
<p>I too have been looking at the Prius since the gas price increases. How roomy is the Prius? Would my 6’1" 15 year old fit comfortably in the front passenger and/or back seat? His main complaint is that he has no leg room in our current car. Of course, I bought it when he was 8 and he fit perfectly then!!</p>
<p>Prius is incredibly roomy for a small car. You’ll have to take your son to test-drive it to make sure he fits in the back saet OK, but I guarantee that the front seat would not be a problem for your son.</p>
<p>I have a 2005 Prius. While the mileage is great, I find the comfort to be lacking. The front seat might be OK for your 6’1" son, but he will be grazing his head on the ceiling in the rear seat. I don’t like to sit in the Prius for long periods of time (road trips) though I’ve noticed that others don’t have such issues…maybe its just me.</p>
<p>A diesel is more cost-effective. Not only is the initial price about the same as a hybrid but its other costs are lower:
-maintenance (no huge battery) (the diesel engines are known for lasting for A LONG time; much longer than gasoline)
-fuel (depending on where you live)</p>
<p>Wait until Jan 2009, Prius v.3.0 will be unveiled. Better mpg, cheaper by at least 1000.</p>
<p>Do NOT get a diesel if you now live in the Northeast. One thing they never tell you is that diesel FREEZES and you have to blanket it and wait for it to thaw. Happened to a number of friends of mine (prior to hybrid popularity).</p>
<p>And don’t forget diesel is at least $0.70 per gallon more in the NE</p>
<p>Diesel cars can be converted to run on vegetable oil, although “freezing” may be a problem in cold areas.</p>
<p>““The main form of SVO/PPO used in the UK is rapeseed oil (also known as canola oil, primarily in the United States and Canada) which has a freezing point of -10°C. However the use of sunflower oil, which freezes at -17°C, is currently being investigated as a means of improving cold weather starting. Unfortunately oils with lower gelling points tend to be less saturated (leading to a higher iodine number) and polymerize more easily in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.””</p>