Hey, Y’all. I’ve really enjoyed reading your comments on other threads. I would greatly appreciate your help with my car-buying-decision-making process.
I need some opinions about whether to buy a Prius now or wait a couple of years in hopes of better seats/comfort. I was planning to keep my old car (1999 Saturn SW2 station wagon) for 1-2 more years and then go hybrid, but I totalled my car last week and am forced to make a decision now. My main reason for choosing a Prius/hybrid car is that I think it’s the right thing to do. And, yes, I admit I also think they’re cool (ie I fit the ‘greenie’ and ‘techie’ labels more than the ‘cheapie’).
However, I had always hoped that my next car would be MORE comfortable than my Saturn rather than LESS so. I don’t have many opportunities to test drive a Prius here (rural NC). A friend came from out of town last weekend and I drove her ’04 around the block and was surprised by how up-right and uncomfortable the seats were to me. I do realize that this was 2 days after my wreck, so everything seemed uncomfortable to me. (I otherwise thought it was an amazingly cool car, of course.)
At first, I thought my decision was simple because I thought I couldn’t afford the monthly payment on a new Prius right now, anyway. I was going to get a used Honda Accord (safe, decent MPG, room in the back seat for toddler car seat, and good re-sale value.) Thought I could sell it in 2 to 3 years and get a Prius.
Just realized though, that I will be driving more from now on (new job). Maybe as much as 30,000 miles per year. If so, and assuming the Toyota calculator is correct, the difference in gas cost would be almost identical to the difference in car payment. (And, of course the Prius would be much better for the environment, etc.) However, driving that many miles, I want to be reasonably comfortable and not be cursing my car seats half-way into my commute.
Are the seats as bad as I think? Does anyone know if Toyota is going to improve the seats/comfort in the Prius in the next one to two years? If not, I guess I would just get the Prius now. If they did change the seats soon and I wanted to get a new model, would the ’05 Prius be as easy to sell as the Honda? (It would have quite a few miles on it.) I don’t want to make a profit, just would hate to be really up-side down on it. I also tend to keep my cars for a long time (I’m 36 and had a VW Golf for 10yrs then the Saturn until now), so the idea of changing cars every couple of years is weird to me. But I want to have a car I love.
Sorry to go on so long. I would appreciate any input you guys might have for me.
Lana
I need some opinions about whether to buy a Prius now or wait a couple of years in hopes of better seats/comfort. I was planning to keep my old car (1999 Saturn SW2 station wagon) for 1-2 more years and then go hybrid, but I totalled my car last week and am forced to make a decision now. My main reason for choosing a Prius/hybrid car is that I think it’s the right thing to do. And, yes, I admit I also think they’re cool (ie I fit the ‘greenie’ and ‘techie’ labels more than the ‘cheapie’).
However, I had always hoped that my next car would be MORE comfortable than my Saturn rather than LESS so. I don’t have many opportunities to test drive a Prius here (rural NC). A friend came from out of town last weekend and I drove her ’04 around the block and was surprised by how up-right and uncomfortable the seats were to me. I do realize that this was 2 days after my wreck, so everything seemed uncomfortable to me. (I otherwise thought it was an amazingly cool car, of course.)
At first, I thought my decision was simple because I thought I couldn’t afford the monthly payment on a new Prius right now, anyway. I was going to get a used Honda Accord (safe, decent MPG, room in the back seat for toddler car seat, and good re-sale value.) Thought I could sell it in 2 to 3 years and get a Prius.
Just realized though, that I will be driving more from now on (new job). Maybe as much as 30,000 miles per year. If so, and assuming the Toyota calculator is correct, the difference in gas cost would be almost identical to the difference in car payment. (And, of course the Prius would be much better for the environment, etc.) However, driving that many miles, I want to be reasonably comfortable and not be cursing my car seats half-way into my commute.
Are the seats as bad as I think? Does anyone know if Toyota is going to improve the seats/comfort in the Prius in the next one to two years? If not, I guess I would just get the Prius now. If they did change the seats soon and I wanted to get a new model, would the ’05 Prius be as easy to sell as the Honda? (It would have quite a few miles on it.) I don’t want to make a profit, just would hate to be really up-side down on it. I also tend to keep my cars for a long time (I’m 36 and had a VW Golf for 10yrs then the Saturn until now), so the idea of changing cars every couple of years is weird to me. But I want to have a car I love.
Sorry to go on so long. I would appreciate any input you guys might have for me.
Lana