I'm thinking about buying a Prius, WHAT?! Options

[Hartmann]

My wife's car is a 1996 Honda Accord and it has well over 100k miles and has a few things that need to be overhauled, including the air conditioning system. It runs great, but I think the costs are going to build up over the next year or so.

We've been looking at different options and test drove the Honda Insight and Civic last night. The Insight is a neat little car, but you can tell it's version 1.0 of the sedan model. You can physically feel the engine shutting off at lights, something I've never felt in a Prius. The 53 mpg is a great little tidbit. The EPA rates the car at 48 mpg but that's in standard configuration. In the "ECO" mode, the thing gets 53 mpg on the highway.

So, now I'm leaning towards the 2010 Prius. The Civic is a good car, but the gas mileage is nuts in these hybrids and the cost of the battery replacement has gone way down ($1,300 after 80k miles).

Anyone have a Prius? What do you think of them?

I'm not green, I just like saving a lot of money on gas.

[Spectatrix]

I don't have a Prius, but I have seen a lot of commercials for the Insight lately. Was thinking of giving it a look-over in a few years when I'm looking to trade in my Echo.

[Hartmann]

I don't have a Prius, but I have seen a lot of commercials for the Insight lately. Was thinking of giving it a look-over in a few years when I'm looking to trade in my Echo.

I liked driving it. My only issue outside of feeling the engine kick off, was the blind spot near the rear quarters of the vehicle. I'm used to having zero blindspots there, so it threw me off a little.

[cmac]

I'm not green, I just like saving a lot of money on gas.

thanks for clarifying

[Hartmann]

thanks for clarifying

No problem.

The reason I put that in there is that in the Insight, you get "rewarded" after every ride that you complete that is "green". It shows a little icon on the dash and after so many, you're "promoted". It's a lame attempt to make someone feel good about "saving the earth".

[impala454]

How much do these things cost? I'm almost afraid to ask..

[Hartmann]

How much do these things cost? I'm almost afraid to ask..

Walk out for the Insight was $19k-20k

[cmac]

the Insight, you get "rewarded" after every ride that you complete that is "green". It shows a little icon on the dash and after so many, you're "promoted". It's a lame attempt to make someone feel good about "saving the earth".

whaaaaat..? yea, that's the dumbest thing i've ever heard.

[Mommy]

I desperately want a '10 Ford Fusion Hybrid

[Spectatrix]

The reason I put that in there is that in the Insight, you get "rewarded" after every ride that you complete that is "green". It shows a little icon on the dash and after so many, you're "promoted". It's a lame attempt to make someone feel good about "saving the earth".

Haha, really? That's silly.

[Hartmann]

Yeah, watch the demo: http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybri...ture=eco_assist

Just too much information for me.

[impala454]

undoubtedly there's people out there posting online bragging about their "score"... lame

[impala454]

Walk out for the Insight was $19k-20k

for the size of the thing, that just seems really expensive to me

[Psykopath]

I desperately want a '10 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Mega MPG on those. Will be good competition for the Prius.

[Mommy]

Mega MPG on those. Will be good competition for the Prius.

Yeah, and I believe it's a size class up on the Prius, but I could be wrong. It would make a good family car.