That Prius is ...How Much?

[bronsin]

Last June, Toyota made a statement that only 2 percent of respondents to a customer satisfaction survey reported paying an extra dealer charge for their Prius.

Yet, every dealer I've contacted has added an average $3000.00 "Dealer Fee" to the price of their Prius hybrids.

I have been told that the fee is "non-negotiable" by multiple Toyota sale's staff.

Still, supply of the Prius does seem to be improving. Sale's reps have told me that this is due to 'unclaimed' cars. Essentially, those that have put a deposit on cars are failing to claim them, defaulting on their downpayment, and providing a few unclaimed and immediately available for sale Prius.


This is not me its an article I found on the net. Here are more lies by Toyota:

Hybrid Costs

> Hybrids cost about $3000 more than gas-only cars.

> But you'll save at least $5500 in fuel over the life of the vehicle

[hackenfort]

When I purchased my Yaris, this past March, The local Toyota Dealer here had near 40 prius cars in stock for sale. The issue I noticed, everyone I looked at had Nav and was loaded (about 30K USD). So I ended up with a 3 door yaris, stick, pw, fogs, mats, air, power locks, for 14K.

My Yaris is getting about 40 mpg around town, and 37 highway, not sure I'd every see a return on the twice the price prius.

[carnageehw]

Originally Posted by hackenfort

My Yaris is getting about 40 mpg around town, and 37 highway, not sure I'd every see a return on the twice the price prius.

Are there no traffic lights in your town?

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by carnageehw

Are there no traffic lights in your town?

I just got 430 miles out of my last tank and I was well shy of ten gallons.

43mpg on the tank with 30/70 city/highway driving is about right for me. That's just reality, face it. The Yaris is just that good on gas.

8 years is more like it with the Prius battery, and considering that my last car was a rust prone jeep wrangler and I took it to over 200,000 miles, unless there's just something about these Toyota products that I won't get at least 200,000 miles out of a Prius, then I would think I'd easily see the money back.

Doesn't matter to me though. I was able to hard ball the dealer on a cash deal for the Yaris so I got the deal I wanted. I wouldn't have done that one the Prius, and I really don't think they would have moved as much on that car, but who knows?

I'm very happy with my Yaris, and I know plenty who are loving their Prius. They're both great cars.

[bronsin]

Prius 100,000 miles/ 50 mpg = 2,000 gallons X $4 gallon = $8000 to drive 100K miles

Yaris 100,000 miles/ 40 mpg = 2,500 gallons X $4 gallon = $10,000 TO DRIVE 100k MILES.

You therefore "saved" $2000 in gas over 100K miles by spending $10,000 more than a Yaris.

[Black_griffin6]

I'd still take a Prius over the Chevy Volt. The Volt is a good concept, but poorly presented imho. It's just a sale's gimmick.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Black_griffin6

I'd still take a Prius over the Chevy Volt. The Volt is a good concept, but poorly presented imho. It's just a sale's gimmick.

AND it cost what? $40,000?

The world is completely out of its mind if it thinks Im spending $40k for a car when I can get a Yaris for $15k.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by Black_griffin6

I'd still take a Prius over the Chevy Volt. The Volt is a good concept, but poorly presented imho. It's just a sale's gimmick.

Not a sales gimmick....but a political gimmick.

People are reporting the car doesn't get the mileage under extreme hot or cold conditions and overall, it is just a flawed vehicle. Another failure for GM and the incompetent president in chief!

[Kiteless]

My 2 cents: The Prius is a nice sensible car with a lot of cool tech in it. It gets great gas milage and the plug in version will do even better. As stated it is also in a different class of car, offering bigger more comfortable interior and a surprisingly large cargo area, especially with the seats down.

The Prius is also mind bendingly BORING to drive. I drive a manual because its fun for me. An automatic is not nearly as interesting to drive for me, and the CVT is 9 million percent more boring than an auto. At least an auto changes gears, REAL GEARS.

Also I dunno about you guys but I only average about 36MPG without trying... The best I ever did was 39 and I was driving slow, drafting simi's, very gentle acceleration. I even removed the spare and the jack and anything else that was not bolted down to see if I could do any better and 39 average was the best I could do. I did get about 40 average driving to Arizona once, but that was 99.8 percent freeway driving. Of course I got my Yaris back when it was super cheap for $10,500 plus destination and all the other crap one has to pay for with a new car.

Bottom line, even at 36MPG the Yaris (even at its current $12-$13K price) is cheaper to own over a 5 year period than a moderately spec'ed out Prius at 30K and 50MPG average. The Prius is a much nicer car, but incredibly boring. The Yaris is much more fun to drive (especially in a manual), but a bit rough around the edges.

Then there is the maintenance. Anybody that knows their way around a car can work on a Yaris. Its a body, engine, and some tires, done. If not, they can take it to a garage. The Prius HAS to be taken to a Toyota Dealership, THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO GET ANYTHING DONE TO A CAR.

Anyway just my 2 cents. They are different cars for different people. If I HAD to have a Hybrid I would go for the CRZ.

- Jason/Kiteless

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by Kiteless

My 2 cents: The Prius is a nice sensible car with a lot of cool tech in it. It gets great gas milage and the plug in version will do even better. As stated it is also in a different class of car, offering bigger more comfortable interior and a surprisingly large cargo area, especially with the seats down.

The Prius is also mind bendingly BORING to drive. I drive a manual because its fun for me. An automatic is not nearly as interesting to drive for me, and the CVT is 9 million percent more boring than an auto. At least an auto changes gears, REAL GEARS.

Well, I agree there is no sporting and engaging feeling with the Prius, but I would say there's a different type of joy that comes from driving one, therefore, I wouldn't call in boring. It's hard to explain, but the high tech hybrid feel can be "fun" if you're into tech and are a fuel efficiency enthusiast.

Originally Posted by Kiteless

Also I dunno about you guys but I only average about 36MPG without trying... The best I ever did was 39 and I was driving slow, drafting simi's, very gentle acceleration. I even removed the spare and the jack and anything else that was not bolted down to see if I could do any better and 39 average was the best I could do. I did get about 40 average driving to Arizona once, but that was 99.8 percent freeway driving. Of course I got my Yaris back when it was super cheap for $10,500 plus destination and all the other crap one has to pay for with a new car.

Don't worry, that's pretty normal. You're already averaging higher than the EPA ratings. 50/50 city/highway rating is only 32 MPG. Not sure what your city/highway ratio is.

Originally Posted by Kiteless

Bottom line, even at 36MPG the Yaris (even at its current $12-$13K price) is cheaper to own over a 5 year period than a moderately spec'ed out Prius at 30K and 50MPG average. The Prius is a much nicer car, but incredibly boring. The Yaris is much more fun to drive (especially in a manual), but a bit rough around the edges.

Well, you'd have to get the very top of the line Prius V (5) to get it up to $30K. The adequately equipped Prius I starts at $22K and makes the most sense.

Originally Posted by Kiteless

Then there is the maintenance. Anybody that knows their way around a car can work on a Yaris. Its a body, engine, and some tires, done. If not, they can take it to a garage. The Prius HAS to be taken to a Toyota Dealership, THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO GET ANYTHING DONE TO A CAR.

Good point. However, you can certainly bring your Prius to any shop for routine maintenance (oil changes, tires, ect.) which is likely the only work you'll need for a very long time. The Prius is proven to be as trouble free as the Yaris. Basically, two of the most reliable cars you can buy. You probably won't need to visit a Toyota dealer until well after 100,000 miles. Maybe 150K.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Well, I agree there is no sporting and engaging feeling with the Prius, but I would say there's a different type of joy that comes from driving one, therefore, I wouldn't call in boring. It's hard to explain, but the high tech hybrid feel can be "fun" if you're into tech and are a fuel efficiency enthusiast.

It also helps to be seriously delusional when it comes to the bottom line.

[Bernie P.]

Another problem is bat life and it's replacement cost.Some years back I read in CR they were good for about 4yrs and cost 4k to replace.I don't know if the numbers have changed but I'll stick with gas only.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Bernie P.

Another problem is bat life and it's replacement cost.Some years back I read in CR they were good for about 4yrs and cost 4k to replace.I don't know if the numbers have changed but I'll stick with gas only.

To be fair as I understand it its not uncommon for the batteries to last 8 years.

Of course even if they are $2,000 there goes even the minimal gas savings over a Yaris!

Prius =

[bronsin]

Heres a rebuilt Prius battery for $1100 on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-...Q5fAccessories

The beauty part of a Yaris is it doesnt ever NEED one of those!

[carnageehw]

My hybrid is bloody awesome. I'm at 50,000 kms and no problems yet *which isn't a real big milestone).

The hybrid is especially important for me, since I'm constantly doing parking and city driving I'm driving with the gas engine off about 1/3 to a 1/4 of the time, depending on the lesson.

In the summer I'm driving with students anywhere from 7-12 hours a day. I used to fill up every day in the Yaris, whearas I can drive 3 days without filling up in the hybrid. Of course, the gas tank IS bigger, but still; Savings!

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by carnageehw

My hybrid is bloody awesome. I'm at 50,000 kms and no problems yet *which isn't a real big milestone).

The hybrid is especially important for me, since I'm constantly doing parking and city driving I'm driving with the gas engine off about 1/3 to a 1/4 of the time, depending on the lesson.

In the summer I'm driving with students anywhere from 7-12 hours a day. I used to fill up every day in the Yaris, whearas I can drive 3 days without filling up in the hybrid. Of course, the gas tank IS bigger, but still; Savings!

Yes the Prius has in fact proven to be durable and dependable. In spite of dire predictions to the contrary.

But I wonder if you could comment on my calculations. They show a Prius will only save $2000 in gas per 100k miles versus a Yaris. Yet it will cost you $10,000 more to buy a Prius than a Yaris.

What do you make of that?

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Yes the Prius has in fact proven to be durable and dependable. In spite of dire predictions to the contrary.

But I wonder if you could comment on my calculations. They show a Prius will only save $2000 in gas per 100k miles versus a Yaris. Yet it will cost you $10,000 more to buy a Prius than a Yaris.

What do you make of that?

Much of the reason for that is because the Prius is a higher class of car. It's bigger, more luxurious, and more refined. So even if the Prius was a non-hybrid, it would still cost at least $19K in base form. Can't compare apples to oranges and argue taste.

[DMZ]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Yes the Prius has in fact proven to be durable and dependable. In spite of dire predictions to the contrary.

I believe the Prius' gas engine is the same 1.5L engine used in the US Yaris, albeit tuned a bit differently, but the same reliable engine, nonetheless.