Yesterday I traded my 2006 Prius for a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. It was a difficult decision, but one I believe was right for me. Financially, getting the Prius was idiotic -- car payments when I had had none. At the time, I know it was unwise, but I was able to make the car payments and have basically everything i wanted or needed, so I just racked it up to the cost of being stupid. And the amount of pleasure I got from driving the Prius was absolutely worth it. But times have changed, and for several months, I've found myself making choices I didn't want to make -- nothing major, just enough to ne not so comfortable. And I realized that this might be a good time in terms of trade-in value, although I had no idea how good. I got a newer car with lower mileage and more warranty. The gas mileage is respectable (38.3 mpg on the 70 mile trip home), and my insurance will decrease some. Plus -- it has new tires, while I was going to have to have new tires for the Prius soon, and it is up-to-date on maintenance, where I was going to have some bigger maintenance stuff (beyone oil and filter changes) in the next few months. And (insert drum roll here) I went from a $350/month car payment to NO car payment. I actually got more on trade-in than I originally paid, plus I got the entire tax cerdit. All things considered, I think I did quite well. Apparently, I cannot even screw up correctly. The Cobalt is not a wonderful car, but it is adequate for my needs. It checked out fine with Consumer Reports, Carfax, and Kelly Blue Book online. There are some things I really dislike (poor interior storage, for example), but for the most part, the features that matter most to me (cruise control, anti-lock brakes, etc) are there. To be honest, the biggest trade-offs for me was the "cool" and "smug" factors -- and truthfully, I wasn't getting as much pleasure from that as I had. That is not to say I won't miss the Prius -- especially at the gas station. Since driving my new car, I've developed a deeper appreciation of the Prius design. It is one great car! And some day, I may have another one -- probably a used one and hopefully, a plug-in! So although I no longer drive a Prius, I hope I will still be welcome here at PriusChat. I love it here and really appreciate the friends I have made. Peace -- Marjorie.
Hi Marjorie... congrats on your new acquisition. Sounds like you got a steal of a deal, and I'm sure the extra money will come in handy. You can save a lot of money towards a plug-in over a couple of years while you enjoy your no-maintenance new car. Glad you're still sticking around, but I guess it's time to change your signature and profile
It sounds like you made a pretty good deal. How you managed 38 MPG on your way home I have no idea. I wouldn't expect to get much more then about 30 MPG (which is still above EPA estimates) out of it though realistically. Still you made a good deal if you were struggling to make the payments, you can control and cut back on your driving and still end up even on your gas costs.
Of course you're still welcome at PC Marjorie. But a couple of months on it would be good to hear how you are getting on with your new car, and any reflections you have on how it compares to the Prius you had.
Thanks for sharing your story. As a lucky recipient of a used '08 with 7,000 miles on it, I have always wondered why my car's original owner gave it up. I just can't imagine ever giving up my own Prius. Despite my love for this car, I guess it's not for everyone.
Congratulations! I'm sure this wasn't an easy decision for you but it's better to go with peace of mind and financial security for yourself. It's too bad you won't have the Prius anymore (for the time being) but - of course - you'll always have the next best thing - PriusChat.
Enjoy the Cobalt -- but you better not heed Don McLean and drive your new Chevy to the levee -- b/c it sure ain't dry! Let us know if Cobalt owners are as much fun as the Priite tribe arty: Happy Trails ! :deadhorse:
Hi Marjorie, Have fun with that new car and don't fret about having to give up the Prius. The important thing is to have dependable transportation that is affordable. And you're always welcome here.
If you look at the price of used Priuses on Autotrader ($30-32K for 06s and 07s!), there is certainly money to be made selling yours. But you have to be in a state of panic over gas to pay these prices.
Good luck with the new car! Sometimes the tough decisions turn out to be the best ones for that moment in time
Hey, no way we can't have an ex Prius owner hanging around. <joke> Hey Marjorie nice people are always welcome aren't they? Tis better to have loved and lost and all that crap. Keep coming in and keep us informed how the chev is holding up. here's hoping the gas gods choose to put free fuel in while you sleep.
Congrats! I also just picked up a 2007 Laser blue Cobalt SS. It's gonna be my daily driver. it has 7,000 miles on it. it's pretty quick and fun to drive. I'm even thinking about racing it at the dragway.
Thanks guys, for the support and even more for the chuckles! After driving the Cobalt in town for a day, the average for this tank of gas dropped to 31 -- still better than I expected. Of course, it drives differently (not in a good way) -- when I touch the accellerator, it lurches forward as if I had floored it. Will take some getting used to. Along those same lines, this car INSISTS that I put it in Park before removing the key! And I cannot tell you how many times I've turned on the hazard lights -- the button is right where the power botton was on the Prius!!! Last but not least -- yesterday I walked up and down the parking lot at the grocery trying to find my car. Started making headway when i realized that a silver car does NOT look red in big parking lots just to make it easier for me! Peace -- Marjorie.
Those little reminders -- Like when I occasionally stomp on a phantom clutch pedal while trying to shift our 'by-wire' knob into 1st gear ... even months after the old J.Wrangler went off to pasture A bit wistful, like The One Who Got Away ... ... Fare thee well !
Glad to hear that you got a car that you don't have payments on. What color is the Cobalt? I will have to look for you around town.
Sounds to me like you did the right thing for yourself, Marjorie. After buying a half dozen or so vehicles during my life, I have learned a couple of things. First, it's always fun to be able to buy what you love. For me, the Prius fits that catagory. Second, car payments stink. I avoid them like the plague. That's why I tend to keep my vehicles for an average of about 12 years. In the long run, with vehicles, paid off is far better than fun.
Probably because the Prius taught her how to drive "smart". I hope she'll be able to keep it up without the MFD screen.
