Bronsin Goes To The Toyota Dealer To See What Sup Wit Dat

[bronsin]

There is a new Toyota mega dealer on Route 73 in Mount Laurel NJ. (the old one is a parts store now):w00t:

I went window shopping today and this is what I saw! (all models 2012. NO 2013):clap:

Scion iQ. There were eight of them all identically priced. $16,000 bottom line every one. :smile:

There were mucho Prius (20?) models which ranged from $40,000 for the plug in model :thumbdown:to $23,000 for the Prius C. There WAS a plug in for $33,000. :cool: There was something called the Model Two and the V which was confusing. There were three C's each $25,000. There was one C that was $23,000. There were lots of Model Twos and they were all $25,000. :barf:

There were a grandtotal of TWO Yari. Both were four door hatches with auto and they were both BOTTOM LINE $16,000 and change. One was black and one was silver. I guess that says everyting you need to know about which is the BEST model of them all. Too bad but they did not have the handicap special (extremely wide doors) 2 door models. They hopefully would have been less. I did not see any leftover Classic 2011s which I would have bought in an instant if they were two doors! :thumbsup:

PS I think the 12s styling SUCKS especially the interior. Too busy. Center speedo and dual glove boxes for me! The exterior sucks too compared to the 11s but admiddedly not as bad as the interiors. :thumbdown: (forgive me personal opinion here) HOWEVER if I were to choose from any of the above it would be the 2012 Yaris even if it means giving up my Yaris World do it yourself $10 cruise control. :cry:

Maybe the one I would buy if I desparately needed a car was a used 2009 four door hatch with auto RED because I dont drive much (<5000 miles a year) with 82,000 miles Toyota certified $11,000. It was beautiful. :smile:

But I will tell you a secret although I will NOT disclose its location. Theres a NEW Smart 2013 WITHOUT AC sitting on a lot for $13,000 BOTTOM LINE. It ios missing a left front hubcap but I would INSIST it be replaced. I am throughly SICK of driving an automatic (doesnt slow down when you take your foot off the gas). I have driven the Smart with it auto clutch five speed and it DOES slow down when you take your foot off the gas pedal.:headbang:

So the Yaris is $7000 LESS than the cheapest Prius! :clap:And there are CHEAPER Yari! :thumbsup: The iQ is the same price and you can put a LOT of stuff in a hatchabck Yaris! :drinking:

[vten]

did you check the fr-s ?

saw one again on the road earlier today ...hot chick is behind the wheel :thumbup:

[bronsin]

What is fr-s? :iono:

Ques qu c'est "hot chick"? :iono: Is that something you get at Popeyes?:bonk:

[b20vteg]

lol...

[vten]

LOL.... popeyes sounds good for dinnah :laugh:

[cali yaris]

I guess it was a combined Toyota + Scion dealer?

Prius C's go for $20,920 or less here:
http://www.lacarguy.com/details/New+2012+Toyota+Prius%20c+Prius%20c%20Two+JTDKDTB3 XC1018574+Hollywood

[bronsin]

I guess it was a combined Toyota + Scion dealer?

Prius C's go for $20,920 or less here:
http://www.lacarguy.com/details/New+2012+Toyota+Prius%20c+Prius%20c%20Two+JTDKDTB3 XC1018574+Hollywood

What I saw was the price on the sticker.

What YOU saw was an advertisement. (apparently)

What do Yaris's go for there?

[edmscan]

Just because it is cheaper doesn't make the Yaris better than the Prius. It is not always about the money.

I personally don't like the 2012 Yaris at all ... I think it is pretty fugly looking. But the Prius is better looking from the front .. and well from the back, it has a little bit to be desired.

The Yaris Hybrid also suffers from the Fugly syndrome.

IMHO .. the nicest Yaris' are the 2007-2011 Years in the Liftback configuration, sorry Sedans you are also just too plain looking to make the grade.

It should also be noted .. there are 4 versions of the Prius C (Prius City) .. and they range from the 1 version (cheapest) to the 4 version (most money). So unless you know what model you are looking at .. it is tough to make a comparison.

[bronsin]

Just because it is cheaper doesn't make the Yaris better than the Prius. It is not always about the money.

.

In 2012, trust me, its about the money and nothing BUT the money! :headbang:

[cali yaris]

What I saw was the price on the sticker.
What YOU saw was an advertisement. (apparently)

The sticker is also an "advertisement" and not what anyone should ever pay.

Just talked to my friend who OWNS 'LA Car Guy', and that is the advertised price as you suggested.
The actual price if you go in and negotiate is LOWER, of course.

Cheapest Yaris on their site is $16k.
http://www.lacarguy.com/details/New+2012+Toyota+Yaris+Automatic%20L%20Liftback+JTD KTUD32CD537266+Hollywood

[edmscan]

That would make the Prius C about $4k more than the Yaris. Sure does make it sweeter of a deal. I believe that money is probably 25% of why people buy cars.

But I don't know if I would want a stripped down car .. as I believe my friend with a Prius C paid around 31k, but I think that was pretty much fully loaded.

I know a lot of people don't think it is a good deal .. but there are MANY MANY more cars out there that are much more money yet and people still buy them. I still believe that buying a car is a very personal thing .. and it is about whether the car says something to the prospective owner.

For me the Yaris meant good gas mileage and a car to drive in the city (which is about 95% of the driving I do). I really didn't care if it had things like cruise, but things like how zippy and fun it is to drive in the city sold me on the Yaris.

[nookandcrannycar]

There is a new Toyota mega dealer on Route 73 in Mount Laurel NJ. (the old one is a parts store now):w00t:

I went window shopping today and this is what I saw! (all models 2012. NO 2013):clap:

Scion iQ. There were eight of them all identically priced. $16,000 bottom line every one. :smile:

There were mucho Prius (20?) models which ranged from $40,000 for the plug in model :thumbdown:to $23,000 for the Prius C. There WAS a plug in for $33,000. :cool: There was something called the Model Two and the V which was confusing. There were three C's each $25,000. There was one C that was $23,000. There were lots of Model Twos and they were all $25,000. :barf:

There were a grandtotal of TWO Yari. Both were four door hatches with auto and they were both BOTTOM LINE $16,000 and change. One was black and one was silver. I guess that says everyting you need to know about which is the BEST model of them all. Too bad but they did not have the handicap special (extremely wide doors) 2 door models. They hopefully would have been less. I did not see any leftover Classic 2011s which I would have bought in an instant if they were two doors! :thumbsup:

PS I think the 12s styling SUCKS especially the interior. Too busy. Center speedo and dual glove boxes for me! The exterior sucks too compared to the 11s but admiddedly not as bad as the interiors. :thumbdown: (forgive me personal opinion here) HOWEVER if I were to choose from any of the above it would be the 2012 Yaris even if it means giving up my Yaris World do it yourself $10 cruise control. :cry:

Maybe the one I would buy if I desparately needed a car was a used 2009 four door hatch with auto RED because I dont drive much (<5000 miles a year) with 82,000 miles Toyota certified $11,000. It was beautiful. :smile:

But I will tell you a secret although I will NOT disclose its location. Theres a NEW Smart 2013 WITHOUT AC sitting on a lot for $13,000 BOTTOM LINE. It ios missing a left front hubcap but I would INSIST it be replaced. I am throughly SICK of driving an automatic (doesnt slow down when you take your foot off the gas). I have driven the Smart with it auto clutch five speed and it DOES slow down when you take your foot off the gas pedal.:headbang:

So the Yaris is $7000 LESS than the cheapest Prius! :clap:And there are CHEAPER Yari! :thumbsup: The iQ is the same price and you can put a LOT of stuff in a hatchabck Yaris! :drinking:

The prices you are typing are way above the base MSRP for each level. Do all of these cars have Pac stickers (a DEALER affixed added final sticker than has added dealer markup as an item, worthless dealer added options that cost the dealer 1% of what they're charging, or both of these) or are the amounts you're quoting from the FACTORY sticker and the dealer just ordered each car with a lot of FACTORY OPTIONS? I'm not surprised that a dealership in that location would primarily order cars with lots of factory options or slap on a Pac sticker or both. They probably figure there are enough people from Moorestown and other like areas who don't care that much about what they pay for the car. The Prius C that I sat in at my local dealer was a Four, but it DID NOT have a Pac sticker and didn't have any factory options, so the MSRP was the same as on the Toyota website. The Prius C and the 'regular' or 'standard' Prius each have 4 models/levels -- the One, the Two, the Three, and the Four. The different (sharply I think) Prius V is essentially the 'Prius station wagon'. For some reason I thought you lived in the northern part of New Jersey, not the southern part. Much easier to drive around in the southern part, at least the last time I was there. When visiting Philadelphia, I stayed in Maple Shade and hung out at the Barnes and Noble in Mount Laurel. The outside of the '12 Yaris is growing on me, but the dash in our 2nd gen cars is SO much better.

[bronsin]

The prices you are typing are way above the base MSRP for each level. Do all of these cars have Pac stickers (a DEALER affixed added final sticker than has added dealer markup as an item, worthless dealer added options that cost the dealer 1% of what they're charging, or both of these) or are the amounts you're quoting from the FACTORY sticker and the dealer just ordered each car with a lot of FACTORY OPTIONS? I'm not surprised that a dealership in that location would primarily order cars with lots of factory options or slap on a Pac sticker or both. They probably figure there are enough people from Moorestown and other like areas who don't care that much about what they pay for the car. The Prius C that I sat in at my local dealer was a Four, but it DID NOT have a Pac sticker and didn't have any factory options, so the MSRP was the same as on the Toyota website. The Prius C and the 'regular' or 'standard' Prius each have 4 models/levels -- the One, the Two, the Three, and the Four. The different (sharply I think) Prius V is essentially the 'Prius station wagon'. For some reason I thought you lived in the northern part of New Jersey, not the southern part. Much easier to drive around in the southern part, at least the last time I was there. When visiting Philadelphia, I stayed in Maple Shade and hung out at the Barnes and Noble in Mount Laurel. The outside of the '12 Yaris is growing on me, but the dash in our 2nd gen cars is SO much better.

All I can do is relay what the stickers said. What price the dealer will agree to in another matter entirely. But if a cheaper price could be negotiated for a Prius it stands to reason one could also be had for a Yaris. Or iQ.

No these were NOT PAC stickers with dealer added extras.

If I am ever back there I will take pictures of the stickers so you can see for yourself.

Interesting that posters are claiming the Prius can be had for $20k when in reality the cheapest sticker I saw was $23K.

However for some strange reason a Yaris sticker is 16k but the posters claim you will pay THAT and not $13k.:biggrin:

[matti]

The dealer in my city has two Prius Cs on the lot and one is about $20,300, I believe (FWIW).

[bronsin]

The dealer in my city has two Prius Cs on the lot and one is about $20,300, I believe (FWIW).

Wow. Didnt see any Prius with a sticker like that.

Can you take a picture? You say you "believe" its $20K. I saw what I saw and am reporting just that.

I know when I was shopping for a car in 2000 I saw a Prius in the showroom that had a sticker of $27k. There was a $3000 premium added to that by the dealer so the price was actually $30k.

Since then I dont trust the dealer!

[matti]

Sorry, I was mistaken. It's $20,964.

http://kolartoyota.com/Duluth-MN/For-Sale/New/Toyota/Prius-c/2012-5dr-HB-Two-White-Car/9687727/

[bronsin]

Hmmm. Im getting ~33 mpg with the Yaris and they CLAIM 53 mpg with the Prius. So that is 20 mpg advantage for the Prius NOT 10 or 12. So that means over 100k miles Yaris uses 3333 gallons of gas Prius uses <2000....

$7000 for Prius gas
$11,666 for Yaris gas

Yaris $16 k to buy

Prius 21k to buy

Breaks even after 100k miles....

Gas goes to $7 breaks even after 50k miles?

[nookandcrannycar]

All I can do is relay what the stickers said. What price the dealer will agree to in another matter entirely. But if a cheaper price could be negotiated for a Prius it stands to reason one could also be had for a Yaris. Or iQ.

No these were NOT PAC stickers with dealer added extras.

If I am ever back there I will take pictures of the stickers so you can see for yourself.

Interesting that posters are claiming the Prius can be had for $20k when in reality the cheapest sticker I saw was $23K.

However for some strange reason a Yaris sticker is 16k but the posters claim you will pay THAT and not $13k.:biggrin:

Sorry, just meant to emphasize, not shout, my bad:redface:. When I use all caps, it's just to draw visual attention so the words stick out...I never mean to shout. The other thought I was having while reading your thread starting post (but forgot to put in my previous reply...also my bad) is thinking that Holman might be a small inventory dealership that needs to have a higher return on investment per car, as opposed to a high volume dealer, to make the numbers work. I've noticed in multiple states that smaller dealerships tend to stock cars with more options and models as high up in the pecking order as the market will bear. I typed Mount Laurel, NJ in the Advanced Search on the Toyota website and 5 dealerships appear on the first page -- Holman Toyota in Mount Laurel and also Liberty Toyota, Toyota of Runnymeade, Champion Toyota, and Faulkner Toyota. According to the website of each dealer Holman in Mount Laurel has a new car inventory of 281, Liberty = 343, Toyota of Runnymeade = 153, Faulkner = 218, and Champion (in Philadelphia) is under 700. I usually go to either Gullo Toyota or Fred Haas Toyota World. Gullo's current new car inventory is 2,231 and Fred Haas Toyota World's current new car inventory is 3,322.

I bought my Yaris while on a trip. I searched about 400 dealerships within a 600 mile safe driving distance from Chicopee, MA (only about 600 safe miles left on my steering rack) and only found I think it was 11 manual trans 3-door Yari...and only 5 had the convenience group (so rear window defroster) and hand crank windows. Re my number one choice, the dealership lied re inventory (online) and the car was still on a boat. I drove to my second choice and purchased it. It didn't have a PAC sticker and it was the first car in my life I didn't try to score a deal on. They knew what they had.....they had moved it from another dealership within their group. It was an enjoyable experience. These top two choices were at dealerships that have current inventories of 211 and 134, so you can have a small dealership staffed with jerks, or you can have an enjoyable and more personal experience that is likely what a small store tries to pride itself on. I think small stores will also try to keep as close to the customer as possible because they are eager to keep that person in the fold for service.:biggrin:

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^ I've also noticed that some dealerships have pages/fields set up where you can submit an online offer on a new car listed in inventory.

[fnkngrv]

sorry Sedans you are also just too plain looking to make the grade.

Clean slate is one way to look at it. There are some pretty slick/sic looking sedans out there. A primary example is lowering the car. If you think that the LB looked better lowered then take a solid look at the sedan...makes it a totally different look. :thumbsup:

[tk1971]

snip...

But I don't know if I would want a stripped down car .. as I believe my friend with a Prius C paid around 31k, but I think that was pretty much fully loaded.

snip...


Got my wife's Prius C (one = base) for $19,935 + Tax + License = $22,017 + change OTD. That was MSRP too. Since the car is so "Hot", I don't have any real evidence that people are paying under MSRP sticker now.

At $31k, I'd rather buy the Lexus hybrid, which I paid $31,150 + Tax + License = $34,282 OTD for a CT200h Premium. I've read people paying ~$29k OTD for the base CT200h (with $1k college grad / military discount).

Having both, I can honestly say that without a doubt, a base CT200h is much more comfortable/desirable than any trim of Prius C. With 2 fill-ups each, both my wife and I get practically the same MPG, ~46 - 47.

[nookandcrannycar]

Got my wife's Prius C (one = base) for $19,935 + Tax + License = $22,017 + change OTD. That was MSRP too. Since the car is so "Hot", I don't have any real evidence that people are paying under MSRP sticker now.

At $31k, I'd rather buy the Lexus hybrid, which I paid $31,150 + Tax + License = $34,282 OTD for a CT200h Premium. I've read people paying ~$29k OTD for the base CT200h (with $1k college grad / military discount).

Having both, I can honestly say that without a doubt, a base CT200h is much more comfortable/desirable than any trim of Prius C. With 2 fill-ups each, both my wife and I get practically the same MPG, ~46 - 47.

I'm sure there are enough differences to justify the price difference between your two cars, but some people don't think those differences are valuable. I can see where you would because you have kids. I rarely drive more than one other person around. Re driving with four people or more, I can see wanting the extra room. My aunt has a non-hybrid RX and we drove about 2,000 miles on a vacation with 2 other people. She had me do all the driving and it did make the trip more comfortable to have the room that vehicle affords the occupants.

[david_827]

Clean slate is one way to look at it. There are some pretty slick/sic looking sedans out there. A primary example is lowering the car. If you think that the LB looked better lowered then take a solid look at the sedan...makes it a totally different look. :thumbsup:

+1 :clap:

[bronsin]

My aunt has a non-hybrid RX and we drove about 2,000 miles on a vacation with 2 other people. She had me do all the driving and it did make the trip more comfortable to have the room that vehicle affords the occupants.

Ha! I drove my Yaris NJ to Ak last summer 10,400 miles in 17 days. St Paul MN to NJ 1400 miles in ~18 hours.

I was perfectly comfortable. Having no hood to look over added greatly to the drivability.

[tooter]

Clean slate is one way to look at it. There are some pretty slick/sic looking sedans out there. A primary example is lowering the car. If you think that the LB looked better lowered then take a solid look at the sedan...makes it a totally different look. :thumbsup:

Even though I'm not a big fan of lowered cars, the sedans do look really good when they're lowered with nice wheels. :smile:

[b20vteg]

Even though I'm not a big fan of lowered cars, the sedans do look really good when they're lowered with nice wheels. :smile:

just curious, how come?

[bentjazz]

I like the appearance of the 2012 Yaris, myself. I really haven't seen the interior in person, but I like the aesthetics of the exterior, for sure. Be that as it may, I'll be driving my 2010 Yaris until it croaks.
I don't know how I feel about all these hybrids. The thing I really like about my Yaris is it's minimalist orientation, so I don't need luxury, nor do I want high end goodies. Basic transportation is all I need, combined with reliability and decent fuel economy. The Yaris is perfect for my needs. As such, I'd personally be very reticent about spending big bucks on a hybrid vehicle that will need battery replacement down the road. No thanks. But for those who do want hybrids and who do see their value, more power to you.....

[tk1971]

I like the appearance of the 2012 Yaris, myself. I really haven't seen the interior in person, but I like the aesthetics of the exterior, for sure. Be that as it may, I'll be driving my 2010 Yaris until it croaks.
I don't know how I feel about all these hybrids. The thing I really like about my Yaris is it's minimalist orientation, so I don't need luxury, nor do I want high end goodies. Basic transportation is all I need, combined with reliability and decent fuel economy. The Yaris is perfect for my needs. As such, I'd personally be very reticent about spending big bucks on a hybrid vehicle that will need battery replacement down the road. No thanks. But for those who do want hybrids and who do see their value, more power to you.....

From the information you've given, the Yaris is a perfect fit for your needs.

You do realize that a well-maintained 2010 Yaris can last you 15 to 20 years depending on how many miles you drive?

Can you stand it THAT long w/o buying a new car? A lot can happen in 15 years.

I thought I'd be driving my 08 LB until my boys hit high school, then I'd teach each of them how to drive stick with it. But alas, I got stuck in really bad traffic (back to school traffic) and my hip gave out for a weekend (that's my excuse.. err, story anyway). Time to give up the clutch for a day-to-day commuter.

After driving it for a while, I find the Prius C very Yaris-like. Size, comfort, feel... all very comparable. Aside from the tail lights, I think they look fairly similar too.

Still, the Prius C has a digital speedometer and a nice TFT display with enough feedback to help the driver maintain efficient driving habits. It's very clever.

As for the battery, there are 1st Gen Prius' out there approaching 15 years and many hundreds of thousands of miles. There are even YouTube videos on how to track down individual bad cells on the battery pack for replacement. IMO, I think the technology is pretty well vetted now.

[nookandcrannycar]

Ha! I drove my Yaris NJ to Ak last summer 10,400 miles in 17 days. St Paul MN to NJ 1400 miles in ~18 hours.

I was perfectly comfortable. Having no hood to look over added greatly to the drivability.

You are preaching to the choir. I agree with you 100%. I love driving around in a small car (my Yaris, and before that my Swift) by myself on long trips. I had traveled to just under 30 states before getting my Swift and (since then) In my Swift or Yaris I've driven to all 'lower 48' U.S. states (not AK, you lucky devil!) and every province (haven't made it to any Territories) in Canada. I've been VERY comfortable on EVERY trip, and the Swift was smaller than the Yaris -- Swift = great all across Canada. The point I was trying to make in my reply to tk1971 (and I obviously didn't make it very well) was that each person's different needs, how important (for whatever reason) extracting dollar value from their car an environmental value from same is, plus their current personal relationship circumstances, are going to effect what they want in a car, and what they think is a waste of money and what isn't.

If a guy is in a long term relationship or is married he has to respect the attitude of his wife or girlfriend re cars (among many other things, of course). Her attitude might TRULY be (re cars) for him to 'do what you want' and that may fit their circumstances and lifestyle perfectly and he can act as if single re buying a car..and both of them can be extremely content and happy with this approach. A different woman might want them to make the decision together and even bring the kids (if they have kids) in on the decision (a LITTLE bit) if all of them are going to be riding around in the car together. In this latter example, her content husband's wants and values (re a car) will mesh with hers and hers will mesh with his. I'm GUESSING that tk1971 MIGHT be close to the latter example. I think the CT200h is a waste of money, from my perspective as a car to own -- for me (and I can afford a CT200h). When spending money I seek to extract the maximum amount of value per dollar I'm spending -- by how I define value. The points of value that the extra 12k that the CT200h cost over the Prius C one are 90+% a waste of money in my book. I put this percentage at less than 100 because I would, if I chose a Prius C, get the Two instead of the One that tk1971 bought. The Two adds the 60/40 folding seat, the Tonneau cover for behind the rear seats (to shield from prying eyes looking into the hatch), and Cruise Control. The Tonneau cover and the Cruise Control would be cheaper as aftermarket choices, but I don't think it would be realistic to try to do the 60/40 seat aftermarket in a cost effective manner.

As I stated, most of the points of value for the extra 12k the CT200h cost tk1971 over the Prius One are a waste of money in my book....but that is the point -- in MY book. My value parameters projected onto his situation would probably = the Yaris + Prius C situation he used to have. He (tk1971) has a different perspective re the CT200h for his particular use and value parameters and our different perspectives are of equal value.

I will probably eventually replace my Yaris with a Yaris like Tooter's (except a 2013 or 2014), but I REALLY like the system in the Prius C that suggests how to drive to increase MPG. It is probably only item that is even remotely 'nanny state-like' that I would actually welcome.

...and one of the best things about the Yaris is not having to look over a hood!

[nookandcrannycar]

From the information you've given, the Yaris is a perfect fit for your needs.

You do realize that a well-maintained 2010 Yaris can last you 15 to 20 years depending on how many miles you drive?

Can you stand it THAT long w/o buying a new car? A lot can happen in 15 years.

I thought I'd be driving my 08 LB until my boys hit high school, then I'd teach each of them how to drive stick with it. But alas, I got stuck in really bad traffic (back to school traffic) and my hip gave out for a weekend (that's my excuse.. err, story anyway). Time to give up the clutch for a day-to-day commuter.

After driving it for a while, I find the Prius C very Yaris-like. Size, comfort, feel... all very comparable. Aside from the tail lights, I think they look fairly similar too.

Still, the Prius C has a digital speedometer and a nice TFT display with enough feedback to help the driver maintain efficient driving habits. It's very clever.

As for the battery, there are 1st Gen Prius' out there approaching 15 years and many hundreds of thousands of miles. There are even YouTube videos on how to track down individual bad cells on the battery pack for replacement. IMO, I think the technology is pretty well vetted now.

I didn't see this post until after posting my previous post. This post makes some of my previous post moot.:biggrin:

[nookandcrannycar]

From the information you've given, the Yaris is a perfect fit for your needs.

You do realize that a well-maintained 2010 Yaris can last you 15 to 20 years depending on how many miles you drive?

Can you stand it THAT long w/o buying a new car? A lot can happen in 15 years.

I thought I'd be driving my 08 LB until my boys hit high school, then I'd teach each of them how to drive stick with it. But alas, I got stuck in really bad traffic (back to school traffic) and my hip gave out for a weekend (that's my excuse.. err, story anyway). Time to give up the clutch for a day-to-day commuter.

After driving it for a while, I find the Prius C very Yaris-like. Size, comfort, feel... all very comparable. Aside from the tail lights, I think they look fairly similar too.

Still, the Prius C has a digital speedometer and a nice TFT display with enough feedback to help the driver maintain efficient driving habits. It's very clever.

As for the battery, there are 1st Gen Prius' out there approaching 15 years and many hundreds of thousands of miles. There are even YouTube videos on how to track down individual bad cells on the battery pack for replacement. IMO, I think the technology is pretty well vetted now.

.........feedback to help the driver maintain efficient driving habits....I like how you put that. If I replace my Yaris with a Prius C rather than another Yaris, it will be for that reason.

[nookandcrannycar]

I like the appearance of the 2012 Yaris, myself. I really haven't seen the interior in person, but I like the aesthetics of the exterior, for sure. Be that as it may, I'll be driving my 2010 Yaris until it croaks.
I don't know how I feel about all these hybrids. The thing I really like about my Yaris is it's minimalist orientation, so I don't need luxury, nor do I want high end goodies. Basic transportation is all I need, combined with reliability and decent fuel economy. The Yaris is perfect for my needs. As such, I'd personally be very reticent about spending big bucks on a hybrid vehicle that will need battery replacement down the road. No thanks. But for those who do want hybrids and who do see their value, more power to you.....

My orientation re cars (and most other things -- houses, clothes, etc.) is minimalist like yours...but I do love gadgets...especially ones that INCREASE future value during use...and that 'driving for max MPG prompting' is enticing. I wish that feature and a hybrid engine and drivetrain could just magically appear in my current fairly spartan Yaris.

[edmscan]

.........feedback to help the driver maintain efficient driving habits....I like how you put that. If I replace my Yaris with a Prius C rather than another Yaris, it will be for that reason.

The "economy screens" as I call them in the Prius C are really pretty cool and give you probably way more information than you really need. In fact I kinda see it like my ScanGauge .. as I have to concentrate at looking at the road and not look at the ScanGauge (I know my bad .. ). But as a passenger .. they are really pretty neat.

The only thing on the Prius C I don't care too much for .. are the lights in the back, but I know why they did it. It is exactly like a Hyundai that I saw today .. the lights are up higher so that they are "in your face" much more than the lights would be if they were lower down and if it prevents accidents then they have done their job, no matter how ugly they may be.

[nookandcrannycar]

The "economy screens" as I call them in the Prius C are really pretty cool and give you probably way more information than you really need. In fact I kinda see it like my ScanGauge .. as I have to concentrate at looking at the road and not look at the ScanGauge (I know my bad .. ). But as a passenger .. they are really pretty neat.

The only thing on the Prius C I don't care too much for .. are the lights in the back, but I know why they did it. It is exactly like a Hyundai that I saw today .. the lights are up higher so that they are "in your face" much more than the lights would be if they were lower down and if it prevents accidents then they have done their job, no matter how ugly they may be.

Which (do you think) overall (day in and day out) would be a combination of easiest to use and extracting the most re MPG increase ---- your ScanGauge'd Yaris (if it=an automatic to make it more like the Prius C) or an "economy screen'd" Prius C?

[nookandcrannycar]

I'm sure there are enough differences to justify the price difference between your two cars, but some people don't think those differences are valuable. I can see where you would because you have kids. I rarely drive more than one other person around. Re driving with four people or more, I can see wanting the extra room. My aunt has a non-hybrid RX and we drove about 2,000 miles on a vacation with 2 other people. She had me do all the driving and it did make the trip more comfortable to have the room that vehicle affords the occupants.

That vacation was a rare time with more than two people in the car. My aunt and uncle used to have a Lexus ES sedan and an Acura TSX. They would always take the ES on their many long driving trips. It would fit enough clothes and golf equipment. Then they traded the Acura TSX in for the Lexus RX SUV. Now they always take the RX on their trips. Do 2 people need an RX to be comfortable on a trip...of course not...but it is what makes them comfortable.....and my aunt can bring more clothes:biggrin:.....and I remembered to use italics instead of caps:biggrin:.

[nookandcrannycar]

The "economy screens" as I call them in the Prius C are really pretty cool and give you probably way more information than you really need. In fact I kinda see it like my ScanGauge .. as I have to concentrate at looking at the road and not look at the ScanGauge (I know my bad .. ). But as a passenger .. they are really pretty neat.

The only thing on the Prius C I don't care too much for .. are the lights in the back, but I know why they did it. It is exactly like a Hyundai that I saw today .. the lights are up higher so that they are "in your face" much more than the lights would be if they were lower down and if it prevents accidents then they have done their job, no matter how ugly they may be.

I've never seen the Prius C "economy screens" in practice on the road (in person). I've only seen the related videos the Hershey has posted links to.

[edmscan]

Which (do you think) overall (day in and day out) would be a combination of easiest to use and extracting the most re MPG increase ---- your ScanGauge'd Yaris (if it=an automatic to make it more like the Prius C) or an "economy screen'd" Prius C?

I think that the Prius C shows more of what the car "is really doing" for example (depending on the screen you are on, as there are multiple screens you can view) ... whether it be running on batteries or gas. So .. if anything I would have to say that you have to be careful to not treat it like a movie that you should be watching (as that can quickly turn into a driver distracted issue). I really like the display of the cost of your trip .. which is kinda neat that when you go across town and the car will show your fuel economy (like 3.7L/100 KM for your trip) and for example that it costs you 18 cents for the trip. So .. you really can see what sort of mileage and costs you are experiencing. Of course .. I am referring to a Canadian model car.

But to answer your question .. I really like my ScanGauge for my purposes right now (as obviously the Yaris (2007 Year) doesn't have any of the built in fuel displays like the more modern vehicles).

The ScanGauge shows me my instantaneous fuel economy (which I love) .. and my average for the trip I am on. So I can easily see how things (like changing gears) make a difference in my quest for better mileage. I think overall the Prius just shows you (if you desire) more information, but as far as ease of use, I would give it to the ScanGauge, but the Prius wins in the cool category. (I have the ScanGauge E which is really really simple as it only shows 2 items on the screen).

I personally believe that there is ALOT of false information out there when it comes to the Prius. In particular things like the need to replace batteries.

If you want to see a review (from an owner) of a Prius C . . here is a pretty good video (and it DOES show you some of the "economy screens") :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RqbPiilUnE

Fortunately, I have a very close source of very reliable information on Toyota vehicles. My brother in law is a manager at a large Toyota dealer and has until recently been the service manager (for close to 20 years) .. so if I really want the truth about ANY Toyota vehicle ... I just have to ask. It was also a very big factor why I replaced my Accord with a Yaris.

I knew that I could bring my Yaris in for servicing and I would get the truth about what I really needed and not some bs from a dealer that was just trying to add to the bottom line. When I need something on my Yaris .. I know that I will get the truth from someone that has seen the Yaris since birth (and knows what issues each Toyota vehicle has)

[nookandcrannycar]

Just because it is cheaper doesn't make the Yaris better than the Prius. It is not always about the money.

I personally don't like the 2012 Yaris at all ... I think it is pretty fugly looking. But the Prius is better looking from the front .. and well from the back, it has a little bit to be desired.

The Yaris Hybrid also suffers from the Fugly syndrome.

IMHO .. the nicest Yaris' are the 2007-2011 Years in the Liftback configuration, sorry Sedans you are also just too plain looking to make the grade.

It should also be noted .. there are 4 versions of the Prius C (Prius City) .. and they range from the 1 version (cheapest) to the 4 version (most money). So unless you know what model you are looking at .. it is tough to make a comparison.

I like our 2007-2011 eggs best as well. My second favorite is the 2012 5-door....however, I'd want it to be White and with hand crank windows and a manual transmission. The manual transmission and hand crank windows are more important to me than the better looks of the 5-door....and, as one poster recently described 'trying to find a 5-door 5-speed would be like trying to find the last Dodo bird'......and that last Dodo bird would end up having power windows!

[tk1971]

So....

Did the OP buy that Smart car with the manual tranny for $13k?

On a side not just for comparison, I saw a Fiat 500 at the mall fairly well equipped. It had a sticker price of $17,800.

That alone tells me how much of a bargain the Yaris is.

[bronsin]

So....

Did the OP buy that Smart car with the manual tranny for $13k?
s.


The OP is not in the market for a car now...unless his sons goes flooey.

It would depend on a lot but for $3k less than a Yaris its something to think about.

I need only personal transportation not a social statement.

[bentjazz]

tk,

I don't drive that much, actually. I've got around 13,000 miles on the Yaris now, and I've had it since Dec 2010. And yes, if it keeps going for 15-20 years, I'll keep driving it. I hope it lasts that long. I hope. I hate to spend money, and buying a car for me is a necessary evil. I really don't want to do it again for a long time. This was a big purchase for me.

Hey, I'm so glad you're liking your Prius C. I saw a white one on the road the other day, and I must say it's a very attractive car. I envy your gas mileage, that's for sure. I got 37.91mpg on my fill-up today, but would love to get what you're getting with your Prius C. As for the battery packs, hey, I could be wrong on that one. As long as I wouldn't have to replace the packs every so many years, or if I could do-it-myself and replace the packs, then I wouldn't hesitate in buying a hybrid.

[bentjazz]

I hear ya, nook.....

[nookandcrannycar]

I think that the Prius C shows more of what the car "is really doing" for example (depending on the screen you are on, as there are multiple screens you can view) ... whether it be running on batteries or gas. So .. if anything I would have to say that you have to be careful to not treat it like a movie that you should be watching (as that can quickly turn into a driver distracted issue). I really like the display of the cost of your trip .. which is kinda neat that when you go across town and the car will show your fuel economy (like 3.7L/100 KM for your trip) and for example that it costs you 18 cents for the trip. So .. you really can see what sort of mileage and costs you are experiencing. Of course .. I am referring to a Canadian model car.

But to answer your question .. I really like my ScanGauge for my purposes right now (as obviously the Yaris (2007 Year) doesn't have any of the built in fuel displays like the more modern vehicles).

The ScanGauge shows me my instantaneous fuel economy (which I love) .. and my average for the trip I am on. So I can easily see how things (like changing gears) make a difference in my quest for better mileage. I think overall the Prius just shows you (if you desire) more information, but as far as ease of use, I would give it to the ScanGauge, but the Prius wins in the cool category. (I have the ScanGauge E which is really really simple as it only shows 2 items on the screen).

I personally believe that there is ALOT of false information out there when it comes to the Prius. In particular things like the need to replace batteries.

If you want to see a review (from an owner) of a Prius C . . here is a pretty good video (and it DOES show you some of the "economy screens") :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RqbPiilUnE

Fortunately, I have a very close source of very reliable information on Toyota vehicles. My brother in law is a manager at a large Toyota dealer and has until recently been the service manager (for close to 20 years) .. so if I really want the truth about ANY Toyota vehicle ... I just have to ask. It was also a very big factor why I replaced my Accord with a Yaris.

I knew that I could bring my Yaris in for servicing and I would get the truth about what I really needed and not some bs from a dealer that was just trying to add to the bottom line. When I need something on my Yaris .. I know that I will get the truth from someone that has seen the Yaris since birth (and knows what issues each Toyota vehicle has)

I agree with you re the battery issue and have discounted that as a factor. Plenty of Prius batteries have lasted longer than 300,000 miles. Thanks for your thoughtful post. It helps clarify important (to me) issues re which (new Yaris or new Prius C) I would choose to replace my current Yaris. I'm going to get a new battery on 9-9-12 (3 year anniversary of my 1 year rated current battery, so that I can easily reference how far I've driven in 3 years). I estimate that a day or two later I'll hit 225,000 miles on my Yaris and will replace the tires. I wanted to make the current set last to that point so that i'd be averaging 75,000 miles per set of 4. My last replacement was at about 140,500 miles, so the current set of 4 will have about 84,500 miles on them at replacement. I'm going to get the same tires again (Firestone FR710s). I'll probably get the wheel bearings checked as well as I want the car to be safe before leaving on a trip. I want to make it to all of the lower 48 states and DC in my Yaris and and make it to the extreme corners (geograhpically) in Maine, Florida, California, and Washington that can be driven to without a ferry.

Re this goal I have Madawaska, Maine - Blaine, Washington, and the NPS Lake Odette (Washington) Ranger Station (parking lot) and the states of ND, MT, and ID to make it to and i'll include these on my trip(s). I've been to Blaine and ND, MT, and ID but not in my Yaris. I also have lots of food money built up on my Hard Rock Cafe All Access Card and I have to redeem it by 9-30-12 as that corporation is changing the whole rewards program after that. I've been to all of the Hard Rock Cafes in the lower 48 except Seattle and the new one at Four Points in New Buffalo, MI so i'll include these as well. I've been to all the MLB parks, except I haven't seen a game at Kaufman in Kansas City since the refurbishment of the stadium, so I'll do that. I've also always wanted to drive the Cascade Highway (SR20) in Washington so I'll do that and I also plan to add some places from my '1,000 Things To See Before You Die USA and Canada' book. I may split this into two trips, but I want to be back from both before the election...so I'll be putting quite a few miles on my Yaris in the next few months. I'd like my Yaris to last to 300,000 miles only replacing the tires, battery and front wheel bearings between now and then, but that isn't as important to me as doing the 4 corners/48 states geographic thing. If my car makes to mid November with my replacing only those three items, I think I can baby the clutch and transmission to 300,000 miles. If my Yaris needs a repair outside the tires, battery, and bearings after early November but before 300,000 miles then I'll evaluate vehicle replacement at that time. If I make it to 300,000 miles with only replacing those 3 items then I'll evaluate where things are mechanically re my Yaris/replacement at that time.