2005 Toyota Prius - Light years ahead of the competition
We bought a 2005 generation 2 Toyota Prius used in 2009. It had only 50k miles on it and had been well taken care of by an elderly couple who used it as a winter car in Arizona when they would come down as snow birds. We needed something more fuel efficient than our large SUV's we had. It has been a great car, with little to no issues and only minor maintenance. We have driven it across country and frequently take it on long road trips due to gas mileage performance. The vehicle is great for big city driving due to it's great performance in tight spaces....It has been a life saver in parking garages in the Seattle Metro area. The car also handles very well in the snow when we travel up to the mountains, with it's low center of gravity and heavy battery basin, the traction is great. The... (more)
We bought a 2005 generation 2 Toyota Prius used in 2009. It had only 50k miles on it and had been well taken care of by an elderly couple who used it as a winter car in Arizona when they would come down as snow birds. We needed something more fuel efficient than our large SUV's we had. It has been a great car, with little to no issues and only minor maintenance. We have driven it across country and frequently take it on long road trips due to gas mileage performance. The vehicle is great for big city driving due to it's great performance in tight spaces....It has been a life saver in parking garages in the Seattle Metro area. The car also handles very well in the snow when we travel up to the mountains, with it's low center of gravity and heavy battery basin, the traction is great. The car has 120k on it now and we anticipate it going to double that in our ownership of the vehicle. For the price we paid 14k I can not think of a better deal on a longer lasting vehicle than what we got with the Prius. We have recommending this vehicle to many friends and some have even ended up buying their own. Newer models though, which makes us think it's time for his and her Prius in the driveway.
One of the best times we had was when we drove it out to Seaside, Washington, where you can drive right into the water if you wanted. We didn't of course, but were able to back it up and pop the hatchback and have a picnic on the beach with the kids. All the awesomeness of the beach, but also convenience of having your car and belongs with you. The hatchback also was a nice shade cover.
One of the best times we had was when we drove it out to Seaside, Washington, where you can drive right into the water if you wanted. We didn't of course, but were able to back it up and pop the hatchback and have a picnic on the beach with the kids. All the awesomeness of the beach, but also convenience of having your car and belongs with you. The hatchback also was a nice shade cover.
The Prius has many great things to say about it, it's world renown for it's gas mileage of course. When we first bought it we got 55 miles per gallon and not that has dipped to about 46 miles per gallon but we live in a more hilly location now which uses the engine more than prior when we lived on a flat desert. The car is super quiet to, which is nice when leaving early or late to not wake up kids or neighbors, dogs etc. The interior is super spacious for the compact size of the vehicle, and when the seats are folded down you can sleep in the back as it sports 6 feet of length space. It h... (more)
The Prius has many great things to say about it, it's world renown for it's gas mileage of course. When we first bought it we got 55 miles per gallon and not that has dipped to about 46 miles per gallon but we live in a more hilly location now which uses the engine more than prior when we lived on a flat desert. The car is super quiet to, which is nice when leaving early or late to not wake up kids or neighbors, dogs etc. The interior is super spacious for the compact size of the vehicle, and when the seats are folded down you can sleep in the back as it sports 6 feet of length space. It has an interior fan filter to which is nice for people that live in dusty desert areas like we do, really cuts down on cabin allergens over other cars we have owned. The car also has a nice integrated user interface for the control system, it was weird to learn at first but now makes driving cars without it seem lacking. I love being able to adjust everything in a visual manner instead of just knobs. Also the steering wheel controls make changing the screen easier since you can just glance over and not have to play around with the screen while driving.
There are some negatives about the Prius, especially being the second generation that we have. Many of the issues that were brought to attention with our model have now be remedied on future models, which makes us even more likely to purchase another Prius in the future, albeit a newer model. The biggest issues were with the heating in the winter. It takes a long time for our car heater to heat up since it doesn't typically use the engine when you start it up, so no being able to idle the car in the drive to warm up. Also the engine has to run for the heater to work on our model so you use... (more)
There are some negatives about the Prius, especially being the second generation that we have. Many of the issues that were brought to attention with our model have now be remedied on future models, which makes us even more likely to purchase another Prius in the future, albeit a newer model. The biggest issues were with the heating in the winter. It takes a long time for our car heater to heat up since it doesn't typically use the engine when you start it up, so no being able to idle the car in the drive to warm up. Also the engine has to run for the heater to work on our model so you use more gas in the winter by keeping the engine always running when you don't need it to otherwise. You can achieve this by turning it on to full blast and doing a button sequence to keep the heat on, it's confusing. Car was better in the heat of Arizona since the AC was top notch. This is changed on the newer models where the heater can be battery operated as well as engine so not a drain on fuel. Road noise is an issue, especially highway driving not sure if this has been fixed but makes for loud talking or cranking up the stereo to overcome it. Also our model has a fin on the back that rattles like crazy as it's held on by cheap plastic pins that break early in it's lifespan. I would like to take it off completely but then it would look funky, they sell aftermarket parts for this issue, and the newer models don't have this fin.
2009 Toyota Prius - Best purchase especially in a bad economy
While I always found the idea of hybrid cars interesting, I was never truly passionate about them until purchasing this Prius. Not only is the car sleek and serves its purpose comfortably, but the gas mileage it can achieve is phenomenal. On a cross-country move with my husband and two cats, we made literally half the amount of stops for gas that we had to make previously with a different car, and the stops we DID make took less money to fill-up. That's not to mention how nice it was to have a comfortable front seat to sit in with plenty of room for boxes, bags, and two large cat pens all to fit wonderfully. As a "fun-sized" person, the fact that the driver's seat can adjust to suit my height needs makes me love this car more than any I have previously owned.
While I always found the idea of hybrid cars interesting, I was never truly passionate about them until purchasing this Prius. Not only is the car sleek and serves its purpose comfortably, but the gas mileage it can achieve is phenomenal. On a cross-country move with my husband and two cats, we made literally half the amount of stops for gas that we had to make previously with a different car, and the stops we DID make took less money to fill-up. That's not to mention how nice it was to have a comfortable front seat to sit in with plenty of room for boxes, bags, and two large cat pens all to fit wonderfully. As a "fun-sized" person, the fact that the driver's seat can adjust to suit my height needs makes me love this car more than any I have previously owned.
The cross-country move my husband, myself, and our two cats had to make was entirely miserable in every aspect EXCEPT the car and the actual driving. It was nicer for us to stay in the car for our meal breaks even, and the quiet, non-jostling interior of the car helped keep the cats calm.
The cross-country move my husband, myself, and our two cats had to make was entirely miserable in every aspect EXCEPT the car and the actual driving. It was nicer for us to stay in the car for our meal breaks even, and the quiet, non-jostling interior of the car helped keep the cats calm.
I really do love the interior design and adaptability. I'm a big proponent of items we use in our day to day lives should be able to adapt to fit our needs. Not only can the front seats adjust to fit how short I am, but the middle seats can fold down to extend the storage capabilities of the back (and by fold down they ACTUALLY fold down flat, not the 45 degree angle stuff some cars claim). The climate control adjust quickly and easily, which is vital as we move between one of the warmest states and one of the coldest.
I really do love the interior design and adaptability. I'm a big proponent of items we use in our day to day lives should be able to adapt to fit our needs. Not only can the front seats adjust to fit how short I am, but the middle seats can fold down to extend the storage capabilities of the back (and by fold down they ACTUALLY fold down flat, not the 45 degree angle stuff some cars claim). The climate control adjust quickly and easily, which is vital as we move between one of the warmest states and one of the coldest.
Really the only cons I have are really 'nitpicks' - small details that don't REALLY matter as a whole. For example the radio on/off button sticks sometimes. There is also the small noise the engine makes while you're stopped at a light or street sign as the gears switch over to power conservation, but it's such a quiet nose and you quickly get so used to it you hardly notice it.
Really the only cons I have are really 'nitpicks' - small details that don't REALLY matter as a whole. For example the radio on/off button sticks sometimes. There is also the small noise the engine makes while you're stopped at a light or street sign as the gears switch over to power conservation, but it's such a quiet nose and you quickly get so used to it you hardly notice it.
2007 Toyota Prius - Great Overall Car
Great vehicle known for it's excellent gas mileage. I love the 40+ MPG. It drives smoothly, and is very durable, not requiring maintenance that often. I also enjoy the fact that it is a hybrid car, which means it is better for the environment than a gas guzzling car.
Great vehicle known for it's excellent gas mileage. I love the 40+ MPG. It drives smoothly, and is very durable, not requiring maintenance that often. I also enjoy the fact that it is a hybrid car, which means it is better for the environment than a gas guzzling car.
Going on a road trip with it.
Going on a road trip with it.
The gas mileage, durability, comfortable seats, easy to drive, eco-friendly. My favorite feature is the gas mileage, because it saves a ton of money on gas.
The gas mileage, durability, comfortable seats, easy to drive, eco-friendly. My favorite feature is the gas mileage, because it saves a ton of money on gas.
The look, not a lot of trunk space, key costs a lot of money if lost, key costs money once battery dies in key.
The look, not a lot of trunk space, key costs a lot of money if lost, key costs money once battery dies in key.
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