Should I buy a Prius?

Question

Ok, so I don't really need a car but I'm going to buy one. I work and live in San Francisco so my commute (round trip) is approximately 5 miles, 4 days a week. On weekends I would use it to go out at night but no major drives. Many of you will say if you don't need it don't buy it but the thing is, I'm going to buy a car. Should I buy a Prius or get another brand? Are they really good for the environment? Really I would love to have the Hydrogen-powered BMW but I don't think it is out yet and god only knows how much it would cost. I owned a beat-up 1983 BMW 320i and I loved it. I wouldn't mind owning another BMW 3 series but I want to do my part for the environment. I would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Answer 1

Buy a smart car if you need something small. They are safe reliable and fun to drive.

Answer 2

We have three 2nd generation Prii in the family: two 2007s and a 2006. They are the same generation as the 2008 and 2009. They are very reliable, easy-to-own cars. Many have been traveling over 300,000 miles with only regular maintenance (and on their original high-voltage battery packs). The reliability ratings have been excellent. Fuel economy depends on how and where you drive, and many other factors. Those who drive without paying attention to fuel economy typically average 45-50 mpg. Those who do pay attention to fuel economy and "hyper-miling" techniques average 55-65+ mpg. I usually fill up every 400 miles or so (which takes me about a month and a half--I don't drive much) and the fill-up is about 7 gallons. There have been a few trouble areas (every car has them) but they're not too bad. The engine water pump tends to start leaking on some of them. It's easy to check for--just open the hood and look down on the left side of the engine. You'll see the water pump pulley. If the pump is leaking there'll be some pink crusty stuff inside the pulley and it may start to form a line on the bottom of the hood and the top of the underpan. The engine water pump costs about $350-400 to replace at a dealership but I replaced mine myself for about $100 in parts and supplies. The optional HID headlamps (the really bright, white ones) have been a little problematic. Sometimes they go out. They're pretty expensive to have a dealership replace them but you can also order them online and replace them yourself for not too much. The lower trim lines don't have the HID headlamps--they have conventional, more yellowish ones that I've never had any trouble with. There is a small, 12v auxiliary battery on the Prius (not the big, high-voltage pack) that should be replaced every 5-6 years or so. It costs about $120 from Toyota but many people (myself included) have been replacing it with the Optima Yellowtop instead, which costs about $175-200 but lasts 8-10+ years). When it's going bad, the red triangle dash light may come on briefly when turning on the car and the interior dome lights will be dim until the car is turned on. When the aux battery is very low, the car may not turn on at all. I'm not too familiar with the Ford Fiesta, specifically, but Ford's fit & finish and reliability ratings have not been very solid, even though the new designs showed promise at first. Also, the Prius is a much roomier car that delivers better real-world fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions than most sub-compacts like the Fiesta. It's amazing to think that the mid-size Prius gets better fuel economy than a Mini Cooper, Smart Car, or nearly all motorcycles but it has a lot more space.

Answer 3

I own a Prius, and truly, the shorter your commute the lower your fuel efficiency. I asked my dealer why this is and he said the engine needs time to get to its most efficient state. Or something like that. This is a car that says in the owners manual, "If you don't drive it for two weeks something bad could happen." Okay, that's not a direct quote, but the car does need to be driven on a pretty regular basis. Therefore, I'm not sure it's your best bet. There are some small cars out there that are just as fuel efficient like the Mini Cooper because they are so small--so you may want to go for that. Don't get me wrong--I would personally not drive a different car, esp. when it's getting 60 miles to the gallon and the gas prices suck--but it doesn't sound like its the best choice for you considering your circumstances.

Answer 4

do you already have a family of your own? if you have a small family, like a 4 or 5-person family, its okay to buy a Prius, considering that you are only driving 20 miles. but your Prius could experience major problems if you just drive 20 miles a week. your car could be under-driven and it could get old a lot faster than you think. so i say that you increase your mileage every week, say up to 40 miles a week. that way, you could go up to 200 miles a month and 2400 miles a year. but if you have a big family, a 6-person family or more, i say that you buy a van, an 10-12-seater van. but if you are just single or you are just married, then buy the Prius. it will be good for your starting life.

Answer 5

You don't mention why you are considering the Prius. If you are only driving 20 miles a week, does it really matter what you drive?

From your question, I gather you are trying to help 'save the environment' with your purchase. Fact of the matter is, your car isn't going to be warmed up enough by the time you get to work to have any environmental benefits. And warming it up before you leave for/from work is going to negate anything gained in the drive.

I suggest you buy what you can afford to purchase and insure, and leave saving the enviroment to those whose driving is going to make a bigger dent.

Considering your commute, you are going to pollute the enviroment no matter what you drive.

Answer 6

No. Buy the BMW, and sign up with a carbon trust scheme, who'll plant trees to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by your exhaust. Better for the environment than the halfway-effort that a Prius is, and you get a nicer car as well.

Answer 7

I think the Prius is one of the ugliest cars out there. Yes it is better for the environment than gas only cars but wow. I would get the Honda Civic hybrid. It is all a Prius is only it looks good too.

Answer 8

okay just hear me out, environment...sure its in danger and we need to pretect it...but the thing is gas-running-cars, arent where to point fingers at, not the smoking factory, but the house hold items, detergent, FRIDGE!!!, and those foamy plastic container crap chinease resturnant carry out uses...but back to the gas runned cars are faster, its well known technology, its been here for long as i can remember, but this hydrogen abd better cars are NEW, something have to go wrong, then u put money in to fix it and that coast more money, AND gas prices are CHEAPPPP compare to other countries, i went to south korea once, and gas prices are twice, TRIPLE times there than it is here...with that said, u should get something sporty cars, like one i have 01 mitsubshi eclipse, i dotn drive alot, but when i drove around, people are always looking at me and my car, beat that environment!!!! and do ureally think only ONE person can stop the global warmming? NO!!!! so just get something used car man, and prius are the uggliest car i have ever seen after corolla

Answer 9

on a five mile run honey i don't think that a prius is going to make a different. i live in pa and work in NYC and my round trip is 150 miles.. but i put safety first and a prius is a little car.. a tiny car. i drive a lincoln LS and i know it use's way more gas than a prius but its safer. i get 16/24. for a short run like that get a volvo or something. bye sweety

Answer 10

The prius is a good car.. I would buy a Honda Civic Hybrid though as far as "green" cars.

Answer 11

I have yet to drive one, but my boyfriend drove one for a while and now a friend of mine drives one too.


They are really great cars and the way you can watch how it goes between battery and gas while driving on the in dash monitor is very cool.

I would say get one. Test drive it first though. It is a little different in terms of putting it into drive and park.