thinking of trading in for Civic Si

The Prius isn't the answer for everyone. I saw an article that may be the answer to your problem. Honda is coming out with the "CR-Z" it is a two-seat gasoline/electric hybrid sports car. Honda expects to bring it to the U.S. market in 2010(if you can wait).

 

As an alternative, you could always customize your Prius a little if you're bored with it (if you haven't already). I had a plain-looking 2000 Dodge Stratus that I fixed up and customized a bit (no "over-bling") that made it look new and unique until such time that I had to get rid of it. It's cheaper than trading for a new car and gives you something to do with your current vehicle to renew a little interest in it.

 

+1

E.g., the people here who have put all of TOMs braces on their Prius suggest that their Prius now handles almost as well as a Mini.

 

I see that someone already suggested a motorcycle. Nevermind.

 

Three miles to work, RUN to work. You will live longer, sell the car and buy a sailboat. Wind is free! Joking aside get something fun or even a clunker, spending this kind of money to save money is not going to work if you drive as little as you do. The car will rot before it is worn out. I bought mine to make a conscious effort to live a Greener life and drive it until the wheels fall off in under five years.

Neddleton

 

That was exactly the problem I had with my WRX (Saab 92X technically). At 2500 rpm it was probably slower than the Prius. At 5000 rpm, it was a lot of fun. On the highway I'd almost always keep it in 4th even around 70-75mph, as in 5th there was no power on demand. You definitely don't get EPA if you live entirely between 4000 and 7000 rpm. Driving it so as to get EPA or better completely negated any fun to be had in the car. I loved the WRX, but couldn't live with the mileage and emissions any more. Trying to drive it sensibly made it less fun than the Prius for no where near the benefit, so we sold it. Finding out the 30,000 mile service was $800 was another nail in the coffin. If you need the adrenaline fix every once and a while I think you're much better off with a bike or a project track car to run on the weekends. There's definitely something therapeutic about wrenching on your own machine, and then taking it out and thrashing it once and a while

Rob

 

You might consider a small project sports car (MG or Triumph for example) that is a 2 seater convertible. Something to rev up, and drive on a sunny weekend with abandon. TR6, I'm thinking......

Of course, you need to have spare $$$ to buy the vehicle, continually work on it, insure it, etc etc etc.

 

If you want even more excitement, get married then tell your wife while being intimate together that her sister is better in bed than she is and hang on!!

How can you be bored with a car you only drive 6 miles a day?
Sell private, buy an old collectable sports car.

 

Bicycle to work. You're so close and it will be the best thing for your health in the long run.

Then for your fun vehicle for weekends, buy a motorcycle or a used older sports car.

You could get one of these in good shape for about $3 or $4K.

 

No, no, no -- the proper advice here is that if you say this, let go and run, as hanging on will likely prove fatal. Even more interesting and dangerous -- make the same comment about her brother...

Seriously though, I can't really say much, since I've "bequeathed" my Prius to my son and bought a TCH, but keep the car, that's really the best choice. Unless, of course, you get a TCH (then selling is OK). The more you trade, the more you lose.

 

This. :rockon:
An older S2000 might not be a terrible choice if you wanted a roadster/convertible type, some of the older ones run about $12k.

Good luck with the motorcycle even though I think that if you want a rush, you should go all the way get a sport bike.

There's a list of training programs here:
Training Sites Across the USA (Motorcycle safety through training and knowledge)
I was really surprised how relatively inexpensive it was to get trained and licensed even using their loaner bikes. My friend did the lessons and licensing for like $250 total.

If you still want to trade the Prius, I don't think you should settle for anything short of an Elise.