Prius: the truth is out there.

[Turbonutter55]

We (my family) may be getting a new Prius to use as our "large" car (for hauling stuff around and long trips). For everything else, such as fun, we have our FIAT 500. We will test-drive it this weekend. Watch this thread to see how it goes, and no flames please.

[UCR]

£17,545 - Toyota Prius

£17,548 - Volvo V50

No silly looks, Bigger, And only an extra £3.

Think about it.

[Coventrysucks]

You could do better than that.
Get a 2 year old VW Passat TDi estate for less, and it gets better fuel economy, you can fit more in it.

If it is to be used for long trips as in cruising the highway at 50+mph for hours on end, don't think you'll get good economy from a Prius.

They are designed to use the electric motors in town, and the little 1.5 cyl engine would be rather put upon to lug a car filled with people and luggage at higer speeds.

With a TDi engine you get lots of torque so you can pootle along at minimum revs and the engine isn't using as much fuel.

[UCR]

I still say Volvo V50, why buy 2nd hand? Urgh

[d-quik]

In other news, McDonald's, Microsoft, General Motors, Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, and EA games have combined to make the greediest company in the world. Their headquarters will be situated Quebec.

[early93viper]

My Dad has a Prius and Loves it. I drove it and it does what it is supose to do very well. And is actually pretty fun to drive. I say get it.

[Lagonda]

Take the advice on the Passat.

[Karrmann]

GET THE PRIUS!!!!!! you'll benefiet from it.

[Lagonda]

GET THE PRIUS!!!!!! you'll benefiet from it.

He'll hardly "benefiet" from it.

[Coventrysucks]

I still say Volvo V50, why buy 2nd hand? Urgh

2nd hand has one main advantage, and one main disadvantage.

The disadvantage is that you cannot spec the car to your personal taste, although you'll probably find one close, and you don't really know what the previous owner got up to in it.

The advatage is that you miss out on the brunt of the depreceation.
I think the average is about 30% of the cars value in the first 3 years.

And, if you spend the money that you would have spent on a new car on a second hand one you'll get a much better spec car.

The V50 is quite a nice car, but I am unconvinced of its capabilities as a load-lugger. Too many estates sacrifice luggage space for a stylish look.

What is the point of an estate if it offers little extra space over its saloon counterpart though?

GET THE PRIUS!!!!!! you'll benefiet from it.

No, you won't! Toyota will be the only ones benefitting, because they can charge probably £7,000 more than the car is worth because it is "environmentally friendly" and has "technology".

Don't forget that you have virtually twice the number of powertrain components to go wrong.

Then as I previously mentioned, you will only get great fuel economy if you drive in towns all the time.

I think that a slightly used large family sized car, in the Passat/ Mondeo class, would be the best bet for long distance cruising, as that is what they are designed to do: ferrying reps along highways between sales conferences.

[Karrmann]

well just in case you don'e know, the Prius has the excellamnt reliability according to Consumer Reports.

[UCR]

http://www.volvocars.co.uk/showroom/...rs/default.htm

Worth seeing, 'turbo....

[Karrmann]

grat link jim.

[Sweeney921]

grat link jim.

learn to spell

I would take the Prius if all I did was city driving. that isn't the situation, though, so I'm going with what I have right now

[Matra et Alpine]

We (my family) may be getting a new Prius to use as our "large" car (for hauling stuff around and long trips).

Get the salesman to talk you through "hauling stuff" or better TRY IT.

I asked about tow bars on Prius when I did a test drive and the salesman nearly choked having to tell me that it CANNOT tow. So then I asked about putting horse feed in the boot and how much weight and I think he was about to explode.

The drivetrain is 'tuned' to optimise the use of the engine or the electric motor ON THE ASSUMPTION of the weight it is carrying. So it has quite a rigid and restricted weight limit. Go over it and the drivetrain "won't work properly" is what he ended up saying. I'm guessing that it will end up trying to push too much current through te electric motor and burn it out.

So 'caveat emptor' and ASK detailed question on what results you'll get. ( And post his/her replies here, I'd love to see how another sales person addresses that )

BTW< I tihnk you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's actually bloody good.
BUT not good enough to match the performance, economy, price or load towing/carrying of a diesel Picasso