I'm 15 years old and I usually drive a Lancer Evolution 8. I dont know if I would loose interest in the prius after a week of purchase. I like the idea of the car and great gas mileage, but how well does the car keep up with everyday traffic? I'm all for the hybrid Prius, but I dont know if it will be practical for me?[/quote
I am going to disagree with the majority on this board.
No, you should not have a Prius for your first car. Or any other new car for that matter. Look for something about five years old with about 50,000 miles on it. Toyota or Honda preferably.
Three reasons.
New drivers, especially teenagers, are very likely to damage their first car. Fender benders, scratches, and kicked doors are all cheaper and easier to fix on a 1999 Civic than a 2004 Prius. New drivers also use their cars pretty hard. You are going to lose more at trade in time on a new car than an late model used.
The Prius is also a LOUSY choice for a first car. Your first car is where you really learn the driving habits that will stick with you for the rest of your life, and the habits you will learn with a Prius are just a little different than a typical car. If you start with a Prius, your instincts are going to be a little off for other cars, you are going to expect the insturments to be in a different place, you are going to expect the brakes to be grabby, you are going to expect the car to end just past the edge of the windshield, you will not think to warm up a car on a cold day, your concept of how gears are used will be off. Just a lot of things are different for Prius. You should learn the common set first, then branch into the odd like the Prius.
Lastly, no new driver should have a distracting, pretty toy like the multi function screen in a car. You need to have your eyes on the road in front of you, your mirrors, and your speedometer. As a new driver, you need to concentrate on the basics.
Wait until you go to college before you get the Prius. Hit you parents up for a graduation gift after you prove how well you can take care of a 2000 Corolla.