Anybody here own a Toyota Prius that could share personal experience?

[Dover]

Just wanting to hear personal impressions. My vehicle is on its last legs and I may be in the market for a new car this year. I know there are other hybrids due out in '04, but just wanted info on the Prius for now. THANKS.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Dover we are looking into teh Ford Escape

Why?

More power... adn we did comparison of all that is in the market

The Prius is atractive price wise, but has NO POWER, which is a safety matter

We decided on the Honda Civic and the Escape and will test drive both when and after my knee is out of the cooler, aka surgery, what have you.

And yes my poor Honda is in its last legs too

[Dover]

4. Have there been no improvements regarding the power issue

in the '04 model? And are you referring to it's speed and pick up power, or power on hills...?

Sorry to hear about you knee....sounds like you are literally on your last leg!

[arcos]

2. This year or next year?

2003 only has 12 days left... unless of course, you already feel in 2004, or are using it now to get used to it. I don't blame you, I feel like in 2004 already! :hi:

[Dover]

3. thanks

I corrected my mistake.

[RebelOne]

5. I don't own one, but a co-worker does and she loves it.

[patricia92243]

6. LOVE MY PRIUS

Mine is an '03 and I have never had any trouble with the power - and I live in the mountains.

Some of the other hybrids are so ugly and I don't know anything about their power`

If you get a prius, i think you will be very happy with it - it;s a good car and a great conversation piece.

Good Luck

[RobertSeattle]

7. I agree - no problems with the "power" issue

I've got 16K on my Prius including trips in the Rockies well above 7K in altitude and have never had any issues with "power". I've always thought the power issue was some kind car salesman tripe.

[farmbo]

8. Go with the Prius!

I've had mine for about 2 years now and absolutely love it. The 2004 looks to be even better.
BTW...it's great in the snow!

[radwriter0555]

9. Check out Edmunds.Com for seriously reliable info on the car you like..

I used it to outstanding, accurate results when hunting for my last car.

Thorough, thorough, thorough.

[Dover]

10. Thanks!

So far no negatives.....

[brook]

11. A friend of mine...

loves hers. Never heard her say anything negative regarding it. She's had her Prius almost 2 years, I believe.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

12. Driven the 04

and it's great! Much roomier (IMHO) than earlier models. Only "issues" are the headroom in the rear if you're on the tall side, the digital display below the windshield if you're on the very short side, and that computer graphic display showing all the arrows and power flows and wheels turning, etc, looks like a serious driver distraction until you get used to it. My two cents...

[WoodrowFan]

13. Is there aq hybred SUV yet?

I need an SUV* but refuse to buy one until I can get a non gas-guzzler. Is there a hybrid out yet??



*I am a metal-detector relic hunter and need room to haul stuff in the vehicle and be able to go down some bad dirt roads.

[hatrack]

14. Toyota's planning Lexus and Toyota SUV hybrids in 2004

The Lexus (as if I could afford one!) is supposed to be out some time early in the year, the hybrid Highlander probably in the fall.

Ford's hybrid escape is now scheduled for late summer/early fall 2004. This assumes, of course, that they won't delay release yet again, and that they can get the system bugs out. Ford decided to go cheap and outsource different hybrid components to different companies. Now, not surprisingly, they're having all kinds of problems, particularly with the regenerative braking.

And (more of a response to the original post), I've had version 1.0 of since the summer of 2001, and it's been a great car. Driving through the Rockies and the Utah desert in August was no problem last summer, and I've averaged 40-45 mpg in winter and 47-53 mpg in the summer.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

16. Ford is working on

an SUV Escape scheduled to be out next fall.

[hatrack]

15. Check Yahoo Groups for the Toyota Prius

I'd post the URL now, but I can't get to Yahoo, for some reason.

The last time I looked there were about 65,000 posts from owners all over the country on every possible Prius-related topic.

[Gringo]

17. I've heard that magnetic fields in these cars are a health risk

Some people who've bought them came down with unexplained maladies, general listlessness that got better when they ditched the car.

All those batteries must create hellatious EM fields.

Besides, there are pure combustion cars that get the SAME gas mileage as a hybrid. I used to drive a Geo Metro that got over 40 mpg, and I had a friend who drove the Honda CRX that got 50+ mpg.

I'm more inclined to make do with a high-mpg combustion car, until they've got the hydrogen thing perfected.

[Sir_Shrek]

18. My VERY REPUBLICAN uncle....

...loves it!