I would love to hear from any of you that drive this car, have tested it, etc... we are very seriously thinking of buying one and would love to know your thoughts.
Thanks
Replies
158
Beach Fanatic
Ok you all,
I am interested in the Pruis for a multitude of reasons and could not care one hoot about whether it is or is not a status symbol - holds zero appeal to me and if that were one of my motivations I would be looking at a BMW, Mercedes, Jag, etc... and like I have said (and those who know me can vouch for this!) I actually care a lot about the environment and also am interested in beautiful things and think that many cars look more attractive than the Pruis.
Having said that, I am leaning more and more towards it because I have heard now from a lot of people who have bought them and who love them (like several others on this board). I am DEFINITELY motivated by buying a more sustainable car and count me firmly in the column of those who believe that gas prices will start inching upwards and I have ZERO interest in paying $40-50 every time I fill my car - period - full stop - as simple as that.
Nonetheless it has been tremendously interesting reading everyone's thoughts on this - so thanks for all of you who took the time to answer and to direct me to interesting sites!
Paula: you will need to let me know what you decide - next time you are here and you want a ride in a Pruis you may need to call me!!!
We'll be checking out the Prius as well, though safety will over-ride the gas issue for us because our kids are so close to driving age. One of the owners near us in SoWal works for Honda so I'll get his opinion regarding Civic or Accord or whatever else and I think he'll be honest because he's a good guy. He'll have a bias toward Honda, though, I'm sure. We're not in a real hurry now, but I want us to have a nice used car within the next 6 months ideally. And we'll have coffee one of these days... We'll be in SoWal in August and will look you up. And maybe we'll get a nice ride in a Prius.
Those of you who are misbehaving on this thread -- it's starting to sound like one of those real estate threads... :nono1:
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
We'll be checking out the Prius as well, though safety will over-ride the gas issue for us because our kids are so close to driving age. One of the owners near us in SoWal works for Honda so I'll get his opinion regarding Civic or Accord or whatever else and I think he'll be honest because he's a good guy. He'll have a bias toward Honda, though, I'm sure. We're not in a real hurry now, but I want us to have a nice used car within the next 6 months ideally. And we'll have coffee one of these days... We'll be in SoWal in August and will look you up. And maybe we'll get a nice ride in a Prius.
Those of you who are misbehaving on this thread -- it's starting to sound like one of those real estate threads... :nono1:
Paula,
When you go to the Honda dealer please ask them if they are going to discontine the Accord Hybrid - we were told this by dealer in Panama City who kind of whispered it and I have no idea if this is true or not.
BTW: I totally understand your concerens about safety - if my kids were about to start driving it would be my top priority!
Beach FanaticAuthor
...you rock chickypea!!! Post pics when you get it!
Will do and thanks
- I like you!!!!Beach Fanatic
Paula,
When you go to the Honda dealer please ask them if they are going to discontine the Accord Hybrid - we were told this by dealer in Panama City who kind of whispered it and I have no idea if this is true or not.
BTW: I totally understand your concerens about safety - if my kids were about to start driving it would be my top priority!
I read in the Wall Street Journal that they were going to discontinue the Accord Hybrid at least in North America because it wasn't selling. Prius really seems to have the market. But I'll try to remember to ask the Honda guy.
hmmmm......can't remember
Ok you all,
I am interested in the Pruis for a multitude of reasons and could not care one hoot about whether it is or is not a status symbol...
Yay for you, with all your reasons. If they're good enough for you, they're good enough! I'm glad you managed to glean SOMETHING useful here!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Yes - I know quite a few people who post and I value their opinion!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Beach FanaticAuthor
6thGen is right.
Chickpea, I don?t know you from Eve, but I?ll wager that you were a mediocre student now pecking away at a mindless 9-5 job and desperately trying to find a way to crawl herself up the social ladder. And the Prius just seems like an easy way to earn the respect of those Hollywood types you so desperately want to impress. Let me suggest that you spend less time trying to impress, well Ted Danson and more time applying yourself to this great capitalist system that we call America.
If for even one second I thought you were for real - and you are not - I would love to do a wager with you.......
Beach FanaticAuthor
I read in the Wall Street Journal that they were going to discontinue the Accord Hybrid at least in North America because it wasn't selling. Prius really seems to have the market. But I'll try to remember to ask the Honda guy.
Thanks - read that as well and have to say that ride in Honda hybrid was not as nice as Pruis (and I am a HUGE Honda fan!).
SoWal Insider
The Accord Hybrid was discontinued because Honda strapped the hybrid system to their v-6 253hp engine and then touted the 31k car got better performance. While that works for Lexus, Acura buyers, it doesn't play with folks who aren't buying for conspicuous consumption reasons. It's why the new '07 Toyota Camry hybrid has a four cylinder engine. It's all about conservation. Hear that Honda? That's why the Civic hybrid is selling.
Beach Fanatic
6thGen is right.
Chickpea, the Prius is a status car.
How do I know this, -well as everybody with half a brain knows the whole environmental movement was fabricated by a consortium of One World Government Socialists and an advertising agency out of Hollywood, probably run by homosexuals.
It is nothing more than a fad and an international conspiracy wrapped up in a celebrity endorsed package.
We all know how every mindless teeny-bopper wants to be just like Paris and Brittany and clearly environmentalists are just slightly grown up versions of the same mentality. Do not fall victim to this too.
Chickpea, I don’t know you from Eve, but I’ll wager that you were a mediocre student now pecking away at a mindless 9-5 job and desperately trying to find a way to crawl herself up the social ladder. And the Prius just seems like an easy way to earn the respect of those Hollywood types you so desperately want to impress. Let me suggest that you spend less time trying to impress, well Ted Danson and more time applying yourself to this great capitalist system that we call America.
Hard work will get you to where you clearly strive to be, and then you too can drive the only cars in America that are above the demeaning term ‘status cars’. You know, cars like Bently, Ferrari, or a Hummer. Anyone who is rich enough to drive these doesn’t need to buy a symbol of status since, self evidently, they already have status.
Good luck, work hard, and happy Hummer driving!
:funn: Chickpea, needing status? Me thinks not. Those of us who know Chickpea are impressed with her work, what she has accomplished (not only for herself but for others), and her commitment to environmental efficiency already.
By the way, I have no idea what Chickpea's grades were (I suspect they were pretty darn good), but there's plenty of research out there that mediocre students are just as likely to be more successful in life than A students because grades in school don't predict things like hard work, integrity, planfulness, mindfulness, goodwill and supportiveness to others, proactivity, reliability, the development of an expertise (e.g., being at the top of one's field), a lifelong desire to learn, emotional intelligence, and other characteristics. "A" students have more of a tendency to over-rely on their analytical abilities and assume those abilities are most of what it takes to be successful/happy/ethical. Not.
As for 9-5 jobs and moving up the social ladder -- these seem to be decent choices to me. For many people, moving up the social ladder means getting more respect (sadly, many people don't treat people in certain jobs/social categories with respect so it's no surprise someone would want to get out of those categories). And many (perhaps most) 9-5 jobs aren't necessarily mindless, it's the people in them who can choose to do them mindlessly or not. And whether someone feels they have some control over how they do their job is more important than whether it's a 9-5 job or not. Anway, even though you're just having some fun with words, I'll note that it's a contradiction to be poo-pooing people who have 9-5 jobs and who want to "move up" and at the same time present oneself as supporting capitalism. Even more interesting is that the contradiction suggests some very elitist assumptions.
I realize you were just fooling around with words; it was a good opportunity for me to fool around with words, too, and lay out some of the research on what predicts success and clarify any misguided assumptions about what predicts success -- and what is (and isn't) classy.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
6thGen, you are probably right. I bet Chickpea is just looking to buy a status symbol. Her primary interest mos likely has nothing to do with the idea that she wants to try to do what's right for the environment. I bet she is just trying to pump the Japanese economy by looking at the Prius. Everyone knows she should buy a ... remind me again of which American-made car gets 50 mpg. :scratch:
So since you can't win the argument based on what I've actually said, you'll win it by making things up, and you'll put up a poll for people to vote for you based on their disdain for me. The post above is the straw man of straw men. Like I said, the fact that the Prius is a status symbol, an environmental status symbol, has nothing to do with whether Chickpea is buying a Prius because of the that. The fact that you have a few friends who bought them for other reasons does nothing to change the fact either.
And while I'm rolling here, yes, I think Chickpea wants other people to know how much she cares about the environment, and she knows the Prius will show that on a daily basis. She has already proved that she wants other people to know that she is well-traveled and that she doesn't hang out with people like me. She said that she doesn't care that people call her a snob. She likes riding on a high horse. The fact that Chickpea believes she, burning a whopping 60 gallons less per year, flagellating herself by driving a car that is inferior in most every other respect, is going to save the planet from people like me makes me believe that she is not only smug, but a liiiiiitle self absorbed. Chickpea, I admire you so much that I'm going to skip the trip to Atlanta this weekend that I had briefly thought about making. I just saved 60 gallons of gas, and matched your yearly contribution without even having to dispose of a huge battery. I sent myself an ecard from you to honor my contribution.
needs to get out more
another thread completely shredded by 6thgen, the right's self proclaimed voice of reason, and naysayer of anything green or left. remember, conservative means to conserve.
is it too hard of a stretch to think that Chickpea may just want to put her best foot forward with regards her own footprint and try to make her tank of gas last a little longer? yes, the hybrid is not the end all, but it is a start. when will you be announcing your new technology in response to our dependance on the non-renewable resource?
both of my vehicles have their carbon offset, so you can say you know "of" someone on a liberal message board who does it. SoWal Beaches Forum
is it too hard of a stretch to think that Chickpea may just want to put her best foot forward with regards her own footprint and try to make her tank of gas last a little longer? yes, the hybrid is not the end all, but it is a start. when will you be announcing your new technology in response to our dependance on the non-renewable resource?
both of my vehicles have their carbon offset, so you can say you know "of" someone on a liberal message board who does it. SoWal Beaches Forum
hmmmm......can't remember
Chickpea, I admire you so much that I'm going to skip the trip to Atlanta this weekend that I had briefly thought about making. I just saved 60 gallons of gas, and matched your yearly contribution without even having to dispose of a huge battery. I sent myself an ecard from you to honor my contribution.
Chickpea,
My heartfelt thanks. Atlanta's full up on crazy already; we didn't need another one.
SoWal Expert
Penn and Teller did a good bit on this on their Showtime show. They basically concluded that it gets about as good of milage as a Corolla, Civic, Mini, etc, but does not perform near as well. And you don't have to dispose of batteries with the non-hybrids. The Prius is more of a brand name or status symbol than a serious alternative if you put it on a pro/con list.
6th Gen, I thought Penn and Teller were comedians, not trade writers for auto magazines and blogs. I guess if you ever took the time to sit in the back seats of the Prius, Corolla, Civic and Mini, you would know the difference. Sure there is a difference in price. There is also a difference in size and room. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
If for even one second I thought you were for real - and you are not - I would love to do a wager with you.......
Nothing entertains me more than when my mischief runs off in unpredictable directions.............I will be gigling about this all weekend!
Chickpea, look at 30-Amen's sig line.
hmmmm......can't remember
Nothing entertains me more than when my mischief runs off in unpredictable directions.............I will be gigling about this all weekend!
Chickpea, look at 30-Amen's sig line.
Please don't judge me just because I'm a straight conservative Christian...;-)
Beach Fanatic
Please don't judge me just because I'm a straight conservative Christian...;-)
Hmm well; the conservative Christian part we can work around....but you and I are going to have to have a serious talk about the whole straight issue.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Nothing entertains me more than when my mischief runs off in unpredictable directions.............I will be gigling about this all weekend!
Chickpea, look at 30-Amen's sig line.
Darn, I feel foolish but definitely had a good laugh at my expense!!
Giggle away - you deserve it!!!
Beach Fanatic
Here's a link about the honda civic and teens.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/07/autos/teen_cars/index.htm?postversion=2007060810
I sent an email to the Honda guy this morning to get his opinions.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/07/autos/teen_cars/index.htm?postversion=2007060810
I sent an email to the Honda guy this morning to get his opinions.
Beach Comber
I didn't have time to wade through all 4 pages of status symbol vs. great car bull$%#, but I just thought I'd post as an actual hybrid owner. I don't have a Prius, I have a Toyota Highlander (had to have a large car because I have to haul stuff around for work) and I ADORE it. Best car I've ever had. I had a Toyota minivan before which I still own - apparently it will never die, 150,000 miles and going strong - but the Highlander Hybrid is an awesome car. My sister bought one like mine after she heard me rave about it. She says she's never had a relationship with a car before but she'd rather lose her house than her Highlander! 
BTW I get 30MPG - not bad for an SUV.
BTW I get 30MPG - not bad for an SUV.hmmmm......can't remember
Hmm well; the conservative Christian part we can work around....but you and I are going to have to have a serious talk about the whole straight issue.
C'mon now--I even have some lesbian friends who say they'll support my straight pride parade. (My flag is black and white.) It's about tolerance, you know? Live and let live. I was born straight. Both my parents are straight. I can't help it.
;-) 
(Do I have to say something about a car here? I have a car with a straight shift. It gets great mileage, but I've already admitted that I bought it because it's a status symbol.)
SoWal Insider
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aLgC0WipDWaI&refer=home Honda Accord hybrid miscue
Beach FanaticAuthor
So since you can't win the argument based on what I've actually said, you'll win it by making things up, and you'll put up a poll for people to vote for you based on their disdain for me. The post above is the straw man of straw men. Like I said, the fact that the Prius is a status symbol, an environmental status symbol, has nothing to do with whether Chickpea is buying a Prius because of the that. The fact that you have a few friends who bought them for other reasons does nothing to change the fact either.
And while I'm rolling here, yes, I think Chickpea wants other people to know how much she cares about the environment, and she knows the Prius will show that on a daily basis. She has already proved that she wants other people to know that she is well-traveled and that she doesn't hang out with people like me. She said that she doesn't care that people call her a snob. She likes riding on a high horse. The fact that Chickpea believes she, burning a whopping 60 gallons less per year, flagellating herself by driving a car that is inferior in most every other respect, is going to save the planet from people like me makes me believe that she is not only smug, but a liiiiiitle self absorbed. Chickpea, I admire you so much that I'm going to skip the trip to Atlanta this weekend that I had briefly thought about making. I just saved 60 gallons of gas, and matched your yearly contribution without even having to dispose of a huge battery. I sent myself an ecard from you to honor my contribution.
Like I said in a previous post - we have nothing in common and look forward to running away from each other as fast as we can....
Beach FanaticAuthor
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aLgC0WipDWaI&refer=home Honda Accord hybrid miscueBob,
Thanks for posting a helpful and informative story.
Beach FanaticAuthor
I didn't have time to wade through all 4 pages of status symbol vs. great car bull$%#, but I just thought I'd post as an actual hybrid owner. I don't have a Prius, I have a Toyota Highlander (had to have a large car because I have to haul stuff around for work) and I ADORE it. Best car I've ever had. I had a Toyota minivan before which I still own - apparently it will never die, 150,000 miles and going strong - but the Highlander Hybrid is an awesome car. My sister bought one like mine after she heard me rave about it. She says she's never had a relationship with a car before but she'd rather lose her house than her Highlander!
Thanks for posting - again, helpful to read and on a completely unrelated note: love your tar (been paying much closer attention to these!)
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