Need + practicality + comfort= WIN

 

can you explain the math? i don't get it.

30kmi. / yr
let's say mpg on non-prius vehices is 15
2000 gallons, right?
$3 gallon
$6000 in gas cost

let's say mpg on prius is 40
30kmi. is 750 gallons
$2250 in gas cost

"savings" = $3750

or about $300/mo.

buying a 22k car (prius) is more than per month that on a loan and that doesn't factor in registration/tax, insurance, maintenance costs, etc.

i've tried to make the math work for myself to get a hybrid INSTEAD of the vehicle i currently have and it still doesn't work, so ADDING a hybrid vehicle certainly doesn't work.

so in O.P.'s case i think he bought a boring, uncomfortable (for him) car, and pays more. what am i missing?

 

If he was taking the LX470 to work, I think he would get less than 15 as he stated he drives fast

In this scenario of 10 MPG

30k mi/year
3000 gallons
$3 gas
$9,000 a year in gas for the LX
versus that $2250 for the Prius, it could be worth it to get a Prius depending on what he was getting on the LX, as that difference would be about 562 a month by getting the Prius

 

im surprised in this thread only one other person has come up with the same solution as me.

go buy an aftermarket seat or swap out the prius seat with some other compatible toyota seat. It'll save you a ton of money, allowing you to keep the prius as a DD (gas economy and you wont lose money by selling the prius)

and if no seats are possible out there, it only takes so much money to retro fit a seat into a car. you can buy an ISF seat and with enough money it can be fitted into a prius

 

Shoulder room is hard to buy or mod.

 

good post, thanks. driving an LX470 for 30K miles vs. driving a Prius for 30K miles though are two VERY different driving experiences! i think after 30K in a Prius i'd be ready to drive off a cliff.

 

Went to see a 2010 Prius package 5 tonight.

The car had plenty of power to shoot up the ramp. When in power mode, we were doing 52 before merging onto the freeway. I was truly impressed. However, I didn't get a chance to witness how quickly it can speed up to pass cars while on the freeway.

The gasoline engine was loud when we were in the parking structure, and screaming on top of its lung when on the freeway. I actually got entertained by it, as if it's the only musical outlet the car's able to express its faux go kart vitality. Go vvvvvvtak!

The tech is parallel to star-trek: IPA (intel parking asst. aka "auto park"), LKA (lane keep asst.), dynamic cruise control, big nice nav screen, ipod/ USC jack, dual layer display, leather heated seats.

Headrest is non-adjustable, seat adjustment is manual, upper lumbar pushes outward-- not the most occupant-hugging type.

Shoulder room is not enough for me. When I moved my butt and lean against the door side, elbow on the window side, however, the car became comfortable and very spacious. But I don't foresee any one can tolerate that kind of incorrect body mechanics too long. Not worth trading a sleeping hamstring over some elbow room.

Rear visibility is not the best kind either, probably due to the small rear view mirror. Or maybe it was just really dark out and I haven't got used to looking at that thing.

HID is not automatic-leveling, and perhaps not aiming at the right level. The headlights felt dim, not strong enough, almost reminiscent of a 2002 Lexus ES loaner I had driven.

Toyota Finance is offering a 3-yr no interest financing option to qualified buyers, for anyone who truly NEED a transportation device, the third generation Prius V is worth a second look.

This is a nice 3rd car to have as someone wise in this thread has already expressed. Personally I love my convertible (that's already paid off) and don't wanna be struck with a recurring monthly car payment. After all, seeing one more round of midget mud wrestling is never too much.

I told the sales person I will go back again to test drive again. This thought quickly vanished the moment when I approached my pearl white solara and was greeted by its sexy buxom rear bumper.

Verdict: Prius' got the tech brain to do everything well and it can help you save a few lean mean gasolean bucks. It is a car that you can grow gray and old with, but with the present giant economic shoestorm, the solara remains my ultimate mercury mistress.

 

tzu911 - thanks for the great review!

cliff notes: prius V is geek-cool, but geek-weird too.

 

Nice review!
One thing..the Prius doesn't have HIDs available.
Does have the LED headlights with auto leveling.
0% financing for 60 months available in my area.

 

uh, didn't you have a Miata? the 3G Prius in much much much more comfy than that....mine is a DD and I have zero complaints...very comfy - so comfy I can easily find myself dozing off on a certain stretches where the speed limit is 45mph...that's where I crank up the 600watt sound system!

also, I think if he drives 70mph, mpg in the mid to hi 40's in the 2010 in do-able.

yep, I hear the LED headlites aren't as bright as HIDs, mine came with halogen projectors and I added a $99 5000k HID kit =

 

*read page 1 but not p2/p3 comments*

I really dont know if anyone suggested this yet, it appears you have money, isf/lx470 and you have been spending buko bucks on gas... so~ why not buy some new seats for the prius? something more comfortable for you, you can easily modify it for comfort. Jus something to think about

 

For some of us, the allure of the Prius is not the gas savings but rather the ability to drive in the carpool lane without carpooling.

I like edgeucated's idea of throwing in some Lexus seats.

 

Good point. I had forgotten about that one, even though we have HOV/carpool lanes in our area. Hybrids can also, in some cases, bring tax credits.

 

it's so good because in many cases, it actually makes a difference in your fuel expenses.

it's so bad because it's so freaking dorky.