Posted by Shawn Hirn on April 22, 2008, 3:59 am
> Bill wrote:
> > I'm getting more and more interested in buying one of these cars. It's
> > a little small, but the fuel economy is most appealing. Are these cars
> > holding up mechanically? How bout it Prius owners?
>
> Stay away if thats your concern. Very few have gone more than 300,000
> miles before being totaled by an SUV.
>
> As for size, be sure not to actually sit in one else your preconceptions
> will be dashed. Three big adults in the back is a bit tight, but not
> two. Surprising amount of legroom and headroom.
I have a 2008 Prius purchased only three months ago. I would prefer a
larger trunk, but its ok. I have a folding bike that spends a lot of
time in my Prius' trunk. Little else fits in there unless I stash it in
the lower compartment. When I take a friend who's wheelchair bound out,
if I fold down the rare seats and shove my bike forward, her large
wheelchair fits in fine.
Posted by MrTom on April 21, 2008, 2:43 am
Bill wrote:
> I'm getting more and more interested in buying one of these cars. It's
> a little small, but the fuel economy is most appealing. Are these cars
> holding up mechanically? How bout it Prius owners?
>
> Thanks,
>
> bill
Consumer Reports rates the Prius tops in reliability. There's little
maintenance to do (change oil and rotate tires, of course), nothing at
all for the electrical components of the hybrid. The CVT (continuously
variable transmission) is remarkably simple, no doubt contributing to
the Prius' reliability. The gas engine is designed to shut off when the
car stops for a red light, etc. and often as one drives, so the gas
engine does not get as much wear as would the usual auto engine.
Here in California the Prius high voltage battery is warranteed for 10
years or 150,000 miles.
Brake pads should last for a very long time because so much of the
braking is done by charging the battery instead of brake pad friction.
You say the Prius is a little small. On the inside the car (mine is a
2008 purchased in Oct. 2007) seems a lot larger than it would appear
from the outside. I find the hatchback design is extraordinarily
functional.
The Prius government safety ratings for 2008 are 4-stars except for the
front side crash 5-star rating. Yes, I would have liked all 5-stars.
The biggest problem I have had is finding my car in the parking lot
because there are so many silver Prius's around. My fix for that was to
customize my silver Prius by wrapping yellow tape around the antenna.
Tom
Posted by Bob & Holly Wilson on April 21, 2008, 3:09 am
> I'm getting more and more interested in buying one of these cars. It's
> a little small, but the fuel economy is most appealing.
If you need space, look at the Camry hybrid or Ford Escape hybrid. Both
are quite roomy.
> . . . Are these cars
> holding up mechanically? How bout it Prius owners?
I've only had mine for over two years and bought it used with 49,300
miles. I expected to replace the tires and did after a year. I've
changed the oil, added a 1 kW inverter and otherwise driven over 50,000
miles getting 52.3 MPG. The new ones get even better mileage and have a
lot more space and performance.
GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson
Posted by Tomes on April 21, 2008, 3:28 am
"Bob & Holly Wilson"...
> Bill :
>> I'm getting more and more interested in buying one of these cars. It's
>> a little small, but the fuel economy is most appealing.
> If you need space, look at the Camry hybrid or Ford Escape hybrid. Both
> are quite roomy.
.... and have less MPG too.
>> . . . Are these cars
>> holding up mechanically? How bout it Prius owners?
> I've only had mine for over two years and bought it used with 49,300
> miles. I expected to replace the tires and did after a year. I've
> changed the oil, added a 1 kW inverter and otherwise driven over 50,000
> miles getting 52.3 MPG. The new ones get even better mileage and have a
> lot more space and performance.
Mine after a year and a third is just fine, no problems at all. We get
52-56 MPG every tankful (right now the tank is almost empty and it reads
54.7).
Get in one and drive it before you decide it is too small. It uses the
TARDIS principles where the inside is bigger than the outside <g>.
Tomes
Posted by David Kelly on April 22, 2008, 1:37 am
Tomes wrote:
> Mine after a year and a third is just fine, no problems at all. We get
> 52-56 MPG every tankful (right now the tank is almost empty and it reads
> 54.7).
So you are really getting about 52 MPG. The factory MPG meter is pretty
good but its optimistic by at least 2 MPG. $@^&@ P.O.S. being 4% off... :-)
> > I'm getting more and more interested in buying one of these cars. It's
> > a little small, but the fuel economy is most appealing. Are these cars
> > holding up mechanically? How bout it Prius owners?
>
> Stay away if thats your concern. Very few have gone more than 300,000
> miles before being totaled by an SUV.
>
> As for size, be sure not to actually sit in one else your preconceptions
> will be dashed. Three big adults in the back is a bit tight, but not
> two. Surprising amount of legroom and headroom.