For the price of a Prius...

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by why?

they discuss it because it makes them feel better about what they bought

It's the same way with Yaris owners around here. Things are said that make one feel better about what they bought. You'll find that on any auto forum.

[tooter]

Originally Posted by Billiam

It's the same way with Yaris owners around here. Things are said that make one feel better about what they bought. You'll find that on any auto forum.

Exactly.

Everyone believes they've made the best choice.
That's why they chose it.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by why?

they discuss it because it makes them feel better about what they bought, plus the odds of finding a prius owner on here is slim at best.

Why? I usually agree with you, but not on this one. On this forum alone, think of how many people list 3 or more cars they own. While they might have large families and need those cars and can only afford a Yaris or similar the choices they have made for the other cars they list, I think, tend to discount that possibility. All of the members of my extended family can easily afford a Prius, yet a vast majority of us choose to spend less than the cost of a Prius when purchasing a car.....and I know people outside our family with a greater degree of wealth who go to far greater extremes when it comes to frugality re their cars......I know....I know.....anecdotal evidence. I do, however, agree with you that very few, if any, Prius owners visit Yarisworld.

[teddy]

Wow I'm surprised at the amount of hate for the Prius. It's not even in the same class as the Yaris, it's not an apples to apples comparison.

sub-compact=Prius c/Yaris
compact=Corolla/Matrix (for the sake of including the class in between)
mid-size=Prius/Camry/Prius v

The Yaris is a cheap econobox (which I happily own and would happily buy another). The Prius, across the line is a much more refined vehicle, IMO. For someone that does significant city driving and little highway driving it'd be easy to pick the Prius c over the Yaris both because of fuel savings and refinement.

The Prius across the line is a quieter, roomier car which is better on gas to boot. The Prius v just improves on all of that, this will be a strong contender for my next vehicle hands down.

Not everyone drives for the "driving experience" either. The HSD simply cannot have a manual transmission due to the nature of the drive, whereas the Honda hybrid system (like the CR-Z) can because the gasoline engine is always engaged in movement. Heck the Prius isn't even really a CVT, though it is classed as an e-CVT when required.

I love my Yaris, but I also love the Prius. If the Prius c were around when we got ours it would have been a tougher decision. Having a family now I can see us in something bigger, the Prius being a strong contender.

[Volcano]

Hate is - maybe - a bit of a strong term............ I certainly do dislike most of the prius owners. Attitude I guess.

Apart from that, I do not see in which area the prius really is the superior car. Its bigger, sure thing. The interior quality is certainly at a similar level, just had a chance to compare today. Anyway I am adding a review of the Auris Hybrid, built in the UK btw. :-) certainly not avail in the U.S or Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hm9JFtj2ac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25V3m...eature=related

[12 yaris]

Thats it! Tomorrow I'm tradin' the Yaris for a Prius.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by teddy

Wow I'm surprised at the amount of hate for the Prius. It's not even in the same class as the Yaris, it's not an apples to apples comparison.

sub-compact=Prius c/Yaris
compact=Corolla/Matrix (for the sake of including the class in between)
mid-size=Prius/Camry/Prius v

The Yaris is a cheap econobox (which I happily own and would happily buy another). The Prius, across the line is a much more refined vehicle, IMO. For someone that does significant city driving and little highway driving it'd be easy to pick the Prius c over the Yaris both because of fuel savings and refinement.

The Prius across the line is a quieter, roomier car which is better on gas to boot. The Prius v just improves on all of that, this will be a strong contender for my next vehicle hands down.

Not everyone drives for the "driving experience" either. The HSD simply cannot have a manual transmission due to the nature of the drive, whereas the Honda hybrid system (like the CR-Z) can because the gasoline engine is always engaged in movement. Heck the Prius isn't even really a CVT, though it is classed as an e-CVT when required.

I love my Yaris, but I also love the Prius. If the Prius c were around when we got ours it would have been a tougher decision. Having a family now I can see us in something bigger, the Prius being a strong contender.

See your paragraph 5-----Okay, I'll stop shouting about the 6 speed manual given your eloquent explanation that it isn't possible.....Rats! (re impossible)

[Slasher]

I have to laff!!!

Yeah I coulda bought a lot more car too... But as a commuter car (100 miles a workday) The Prius C didn't make sense.... and yes Prius has a lot more features... Yes it gets better mileage... I even test drove the C model... but the two cars are night and day...

But as my other 2 vehicles are a 4x4 Crewmax Tundra (TOWS 10,500 lbs) and a Harley, I must say that the Prius actually does have a stigma that doesn't really suit me... Don't believe me....

click here
http://youtu.be/qP-tyvBGla4

or a better reason I don't want to be seen driving a Prius, Click here
http://youtu.be/1ZWtmuwNgcg

Sorry... Just public perceptions...

[12 yaris]

Boy,for the money I saved buying the '12 Yaris,I could buy another Yaris....
Maybe I"ll just invest the savings,and double my money.....

[Slasher]

Originally Posted by 12 yaris

Maybe I"ll just invest the savings,and double my money.....

Well when investing, use the rule of 72!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_72

Gee at many of these rates it'll take a long time to double your money...

Go to vegas and put it on Red!!!

[why?]

Originally Posted by Billiam

It's the same way with Yaris owners around here. Things are said that make one feel better about what they bought. You'll find that on any auto forum.

Sort of what I meant. I do agree there is nothing wrong with it. It does seem though some have a preoccupation with the Yaris.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

LOL! I don't like the Prius either. It is too big and (given its cost) should be a more inspiring drive in many ways, one being IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (I know...the CVT = best MPG for most people and supposedly compliments this incantation of the engine best). Even given all of this, THE WORST THING ABOUT THE PRIUS IN MY MIND IS THE FEELING I GET WHILE SITTING IN ONE. Car and Driver referred to the first US produced VW Rabbits as 'THE MALIBUIZATION OF VOLKSWAGEN'. They weren't referring to Malibu, California directly, they were referring to what had happened to the Chevrolet Malibu.....how it has become generic, numbing, stark, and devoid of sufficient design personality, respect, common sense, etc........not being a driver's car. However possibly illogical, this is what I think of when sitting in a Prius. I also feel that coming out with a PRIUS 'WAGON' shows that people who feel as I do aren't targets for these cars.

I disagree. The Malibu was a totally ugly and indistinguishable car. The Prius is unique and easy to pick out in a crowd. And the Prius is not aimed at people who like to drive, it is aimed at people who want to get good gas mileage, and unfortunately has been adopted by the eco crowd.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Perhaps most of the Prius owners in PA are women (or emasculated men?), but this isn't really the vibe in the SF Bay Area...where many people feel as though people (female and many male buyers) are making an intentionally politically correct statement (and an intentionally smug one) buy buying a Prius...and many buyers (one can tell by querying them) know next to nothing about the car.

Probably true. Most people I've talked to buy it for the political statement, or for the unfortunate and incorrect hatred of the oil companies.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Why? I usually agree with you,

Ok, give me a minute to get over the shock of that. Oh wait, you live in Texas. I so need to move there. Seems like a really good place to be.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

but not on this one. On this forum alone, think of how many people list 3 or more cars they own. While they might have large families and need those cars and can only afford a Yaris or similar the choices they have made for the other cars they list, I think, tend to discount that possibility. All of the members of my extended family can easily afford a Prius, yet a vast majority of us choose to spend less than the cost of a Prius when purchasing a car.....and I know people outside our family with a greater degree of wealth who go to far greater extremes when it comes to frugality re their cars......I know....I know.....anecdotal evidence. I do, however, agree with you that very few, if any, Prius owners visit Yarisworld.

I'm not sure where you are coming from. I do think people think their choice is the correct one for them, but I do not think it has anything to do with what one could afford.

The Prius is sort of the punching bag for Yaris owners, and it has been so from the beginning. And the math easily shows why. If you go on the math alone, the Yaris is a much better value.

Yet the math does not tell the entire story. The Yaris is extremely spartan, and while that works for some, it does not work for a lot of others. For many people a car without the usual luxuries is not a car they will ever own. I can understand that perspective. There is something to be said for buying a car from the factory with everything you could want. Heated seats, nav, leather interior, full moon roof, etc. Some people want a car to have it all. You can't get that type of stuff in a Yaris.

It seems some people on yw don't like that perspective, which of course, is their choice.

Originally Posted by Billiam

"Snobs", "emasculated men"....Really? Man you guys are very judgemental. I'd gladly own a Prius or Prius V (and certainly could) and I'm neither snobby and most certainly not emasculated.....and not even a tree-hugger for that matter.

Since some of you seems quite worried about people's perception of you if you drove a Prius, you do understand that you drive a Yaris, right? Many of the "non manly" adjectives that you've used to describe Prius owners can be used to describe Yaris owners too. But you'd have to add "cheap" and/or non-affluent as well....because, outside of YarisWorld which accounts for a tiny portion of actual Yaris owners, most people's perception of the Yaris and the people who drive a Yaris is that it's a cheap, tin-can, econo-car and it's all the person driving it could afford.

I promise you that the "Yaris cool factor" that we like to tout around here is almost completely nonexistent out in the rest of the world.

Oh...for the record...by far, woman out number men, I'd say 10 to 1 as Yaris owners around here anyway. Maybe you guys could hang some of the those big truck-nuts from the back bumper of your Yaris and people might not notice what feminine little shit boxes you drive.

So true, with the exception that getting 40mpg is becoming cool to many people. And a drive in a Yaris and most people realize it is fun to drive, and nothing like what the auto journalists seem to think it is.

Personally I'd go with a Highlander Hybrid, because even the Prius V seems a tad on the small side. Of course I have no reason for either vehicle right now.

Originally Posted by teddy

Wow I'm surprised at the amount of hate for the Prius. It's not even in the same class as the Yaris, it's not an apples to apples comparison.

sub-compact=Prius c/Yaris
compact=Corolla/Matrix (for the sake of including the class in between)
mid-size=Prius/Camry/Prius v

The Yaris is a cheap econobox (which I happily own and would happily buy another). The Prius, across the line is a much more refined vehicle, IMO. For someone that does significant city driving and little highway driving it'd be easy to pick the Prius c over the Yaris both because of fuel savings and refinement.

The Prius across the line is a quieter, roomier car which is better on gas to boot. The Prius v just improves on all of that, this will be a strong contender for my next vehicle hands down.

Not everyone drives for the "driving experience" either. The HSD simply cannot have a manual transmission due to the nature of the drive, whereas the Honda hybrid system (like the CR-Z) can because the gasoline engine is always engaged in movement. Heck the Prius isn't even really a CVT, though it is classed as an e-CVT when required.

I love my Yaris, but I also love the Prius. If the Prius c were around when we got ours it would have been a tougher decision. Having a family now I can see us in something bigger, the Prius being a strong contender.

well said. Although Honda's system is sort of the exact opposite of Toyota's.

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by why?

Sort of what I meant. I do agree there is nothing wrong with it. It does seem though some have a preoccupation with the Yaris.



I disagree. The Malibu was a totally ugly and indistinguishable car. The Prius is unique and easy to pick out in a crowd. And the Prius is not aimed at people who like to drive, it is aimed at people who want to get good gas mileage, and unfortunately has been adopted by the eco crowd.


Probably true. Most people I've talked to buy it for the political statement, or for the unfortunate and incorrect hatred of the oil companies.

Ok, give me a minute to get over the shock of that. Oh wait, you live in Texas. I so need to move there. Seems like a really good place to be.

I'm not sure where you are coming from. I do think people think their choice is the correct one for them, but I do not think it has anything to do with what one could afford.

The Prius is sort of the punching bag for Yaris owners, and it has been so from the beginning. And the math easily shows why. If you go on the math alone, the Yaris is a much better value.

Yet the math does not tell the entire story. The Yaris is extremely spartan, and while that works for some, it does not work for a lot of others. For many people a car without the usual luxuries is not a car they will ever own. I can understand that perspective. There is something to be said for buying a car from the factory with everything you could want. Heated seats, nav, leather interior, full moon roof, etc. Some people want a car to have it all. You can't get that type of stuff in a Yaris.

It seems some people on yw don't like that perspective, which of course, is their choice.




So true, with the exception that getting 40mpg is becoming cool to many people. And a drive in a Yaris and most people realize it is fun to drive, and nothing like what the auto journalists seem to think it is.

Personally I'd go with a Highlander Hybrid, because even the Prius V seems a tad on the small side. Of course I have no reason for either vehicle right now.



well said. Although Honda's system is sort of the exact opposite of Toyota's.

Well spoken.

[tooter]

Originally Posted by why?

The Prius is unique and easy to pick out in a crowd.

Where I live... Prius is the crowd.

[tooter]

Originally Posted by why?

The Yaris is extremely spartan...

Yes.

Financed luxury is a waste of money...

...while owned cheapness is fiscal responsibility.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by why?

Sort of what I meant. I do agree there is nothing wrong with it. It does seem though some have a preoccupation with the Yaris.



I disagree. The Malibu was a totally ugly and indistinguishable car. The Prius is unique and easy to pick out in a crowd. And the Prius is not aimed at people who like to drive, it is aimed at people who want to get good gas mileage, and unfortunately has been adopted by the eco crowd.


Probably true. Most people I've talked to buy it for the political statement, or for the unfortunate and incorrect hatred of the oil companies.

Ok, give me a minute to get over the shock of that. Oh wait, you live in Texas. I so need to move there. Seems like a really good place to be.

I'm not sure where you are coming from. I do think people think their choice is the correct one for them, but I do not think it has anything to do with what one could afford.

The Prius is sort of the punching bag for Yaris owners, and it has been so from the beginning. And the math easily shows why. If you go on the math alone, the Yaris is a much better value.

Yet the math does not tell the entire story. The Yaris is extremely spartan, and while that works for some, it does not work for a lot of others. For many people a car without the usual luxuries is not a car they will ever own. I can understand that perspective. There is something to be said for buying a car from the factory with everything you could want. Heated seats, nav, leather interior, full moon roof, etc. Some people want a car to have it all. You can't get that type of stuff in a Yaris.

It seems some people on yw don't like that perspective, which of course, is their choice.




So true, with the exception that getting 40mpg is becoming cool to many people. And a drive in a Yaris and most people realize it is fun to drive, and nothing like what the auto journalists seem to think it is.

Personally I'd go with a Highlander Hybrid, because even the Prius V seems a tad on the small side. Of course I have no reason for either vehicle right now.



well said. Although Honda's system is sort of the exact opposite of Toyota's.

--RE 1st Quote of Billiam and your reply: I don't really get where Billiam is coming from on this as why would 'feeling better about what they bought' enter into the consciousness or thought process of anyone posting to an auto forum, even as a byproduct of some other action. Your (Why?) short reply was insightful and made me laugh. I probably have a preoccupation with what I THINK AND FEEL THE YARIS STANDS FOR...which is mutually exclusive from the however more widely held view that Billiam expressed. --RE 1st Quote of me and your reply: I think the 2nd generation Prius is unique and easy to pick out in a crowd on the outside and is attractive, but as I am seeing mostly the interior when I am sitting in one, I have the feeling I stated and you quoted. The 1st generation Prius was monumentally ugly on the outside and the inside as well as sterile and looked as though a US Government bureaucrat designed it even though it is a Japanese car. The 2nd generation Prius lost the ugly exterior and on the interior lost the ugliness and the 'US Government bureaucratness' but it still feels sterile to me. The interior of the current S Class Mercedes Sedan also feels this way to me, whereas in contrast I think the interior of the current 5 Series BMW Sedan is fantastic. I think the Prius is aimed at people who want to get good gas mileage AND be coddled while they are getting good gas mileage (and I think the coddling is at least as important to them as the gas mileage) If they only cared about gas mileage (and the effects of high gas mileage) they could restore an original Honda Insight (it gets better gas mileage) or restore a Rabbit after converting it to run on cooking grease. While reading this part of your reply I was reminded of a thought I had a few months ago. I was at the St. John Town Center in Jacksonville Florida in April of this year and saw a Prius C that a dealer had arranged to leave on the plaza, away from any cars. I looked the car over and soon realized how loaded with options it was and wondered how the level of equipment would compare to a Prius Liftback Four or a Prius Liftback Five. I checked this out quickly today as best I could today by using the previous sentence re a search and one of the hits was an article I think some might find interesting.....'2012 Toyota Prius c Review - The Affordable 60 MPG Monster' at http://priuschat.com/threads/2012-to...the-affordable and I compared the equipment by level on the Prius C to the equipment by level on the Prius Liftback. I compared the base Prius C Four to the base Prius Liftback Four. The differences seem as follows: 1. The Liftback Four has an 8-way power driver seat with lumbar vs the C Four's 6-way manual driver seat with no lumbar, 2. The Liftback Four has the JBL Green Edge Speakers with amplifier and the C Four doesn't (the reviewer states though that he thinks the sound is better without these speakers)., 3. The Liftback Four as an auto dimming rear view mirror with a Homelink universal transceiver (for the garage door opener) and the C Four doesn't, 4. The Liftback Four has halogen headlights with Auto on/off and the C Four doesn't, and, on the other hand, 5. The C Four has Integrated Fog Lamps and the Liftback Four doesn't.......however, the base Liftback Four costs $5,005.00 dollars more than the base C Four....To me this largely brings the point back to a point I later made that you later quoted about how many people normally ride in a Prius Liftback and that a Liftback is only really needed if the passengers can't be comfortable re their number or size in a Yaris......Also, I look at the C as really a Yaris. In Japan it is called the Toyota Aqua, but in some other countries it is called the Yaris Hybrid. --RE 2nd Quote of me and your reply: The two reasons you stated are also the top two motivations I hear re buying a Prius Liftback. --RE 3rd Quote of me and your reply: Now, Now, be nice. There are some places in Texas that are 'a few centuries back', but those are much fewer and farther between than most people think. I like where I live. I love trees and have many trees around me. If one attempts to start toward Ron Paul's district via Hwy 288 part of that trip looks like a trip to the moon in my view. I have to have greenery around me. The general population fairly near me is predominantly non native (58 percent of the people are from other states and international locales).... and even though Montgomery County is (according to The Daily Caller) the 3rd most conservative county in the U.S., the people in my general area are intelligent and not 'lockstep' on everything. I haven't been here an inordinantly long time. I started looking in 2007 and moved here in 2008. I'm a 5th generation SF Bay Area native who has also lived in other parts of California, but I moved here from Marin County ('Prius and BMW land' LOL, and the 3rd most liberal county in the U.S). I have actually found people here around my new area here in Texas to be incredibly nice and down to earth and much happier with diversity than many people in the SF Bay Area even though many Bay Area people pride themselves on fostering diversity. --RE 4th Quote of me and your reply: I was originally coming from thinking that you and Billiam were both coming from thinking that the owners you were speaking about have the particular views they do because they can't afford a more expensive car than the Yaris and have collective chips on their shoulders re that. I was wrong, after rereading both of your posts I realized that neither of you was trying to say that. Except for the part about needing to save up (I don't), my view is pretty similar to that of Tooter (although if people started to get original Insight like numbers out of the Prius C (see article from PriusChat I mentioned),AND sufficient TRD options + a 6-speed manual were available (6 speed manual never will be), I might consider a Prius C when my Yaris dies. --Re 2nd Quote of Billiam and your reply: I completely agree with your first paragraph and would add that for some reason Consumer Reports seems to have a particular brand of disdain reserved for the Yaris.....and re a personal choice of a somewhat related type of vehicle, I'd go with the 6-Speed Manual 5-Door Subaru Impreza Hatchback. One of my relatives has one and she loves it. --Re 1st Quote of teddy and your reply: I haven't sat in, nor have I driven a Prius C, but I did like the body when I saw one displayed on that plaza in Florida.

[jay cobbs]

The yaris sedan. Its the secrect love child between a camry and a prius. look at 2010-2011 models the features are almost the same( the importain ones ). look in here for real info from owners like me and the real scoop. The sedan is getting harder to find only because the close specs to a prius inside is nicer and roomy too. and YOU CAN drive one free at a nearby Hertz sales lot and look at hertz.com before you get there. make it a easy ride for 2 hours.. you heard me....awesome. they have every toyota,nissan and others. no salesman just you and the car. read the awesome mpg with sedan....read my blogs....toyotas best sedan value and looks like a camry.

[why?]

Indeed. And I read it all too!!

Seriously though I meant the thing about Texas in the best way possible. The people I have met from Texas are the nicest, kindest, most fun to be around people I have ever known. And I totally agree about the diversity part as well. Liberals still think about it, they still group people by what makes them different. It is always seems to be in their minds.

I still don't get that.

Living in Mass and then in orlando I am surrounded by people who were so surrounded by far left ideology they literally could not comprehend someone thinking differently. I mention anything that doesn't fit their worldview and they respond with shock and horror. I remember in college I had an entire class of people staring at me stunned when I made fun of the Kennedy's. I just can't take it. It is to the point where if someone does it I just stop talking to them and cut them out of my life totally.

[Spidermandud]

I agree with why? I've never met anyone from Texas I didn't like.

There's good and bad people of all sorts but I haven't found one from Texas haha