Second thoughts . . .

I agree with Doc's review, so I won't rehash the details. Driving performance and comfort are big unknowns for me, and will be until I can drive one for some time. I expect and suspect both will be better, but we don't really know.

I too am not ready to rush off and buy a 2010 just because I have to have one. Only Toyota's offered discount will get me to trade up at this time. If I can come out close to even then certainly I will trade up. If I lose too much on depreciation then it's no deal. Last year, with the hot Prius market, it would have been a no-brainer, but this is not last year.

So what am I going to do? I am going to pre-order as they have offered, since there is no obligation. I expect that I will cancel when I find out the discount is not big enough to even out the depreciation hit.

Tom

 

I have both a 2001 and 2007. While I really enjoy the 2007 improvements, and there were many, it was the improved mpg that still stands out as the significant difference.....but it is not a dramatic difference. Going to the 2010 would be the same. It would be a new experience, but after a couple of years, it is the mpg that would matter.

I wonder. What mpg could Toyota have gotten with the 2010 HSD technology at the 2001 weight and size?

 

I admit that I'm seriously considering an upgrade, but there is only one reason: comfort. No matter how I modify mine, (and I've done a lot), I will never be able to achieve what they have done in-house with the 2010 by giving it two features that the Prius II should have had to begin with. But like Tom, it all hinges on the price. I'm going to pre-order the "lowest" package available and do the math when they tell me what it will cost. If it's more that a few thousand out of pocket then no deal.

I still think that the car should be excellent. I deeply appreciate that they recognized the previous car's weaknesses and went a long way toward fixing them: highway FE, cold weather FE, ergonomics, rear disc brakes, the feel of the cockpit, the fuel tank, and a list of other things. These improvements should go a long way toward bringing new owners into the fold as long as they work as advertised. I can't wait for someone to drive one so that we can find out!

 

I think Prius is finally become true familiy car alternative... Increased mpg, power, luxury, space both interior and trunk, features... its all there... as long as price is competitive to Camry/Avensis, it is going to be world changer for Prius brand.

Yeah, i would have liked 70mpg and 160hp, but would I pay 15k more for it? Probably not...

 

Insight, sitting on platform that is 6" smaller than Prius... with 1.3l engine, with 10hp electric motor, and batteries half the size of HCH, weights only 300lb less than 2010 Prius. So I doubt that without going radical (phev/diesel), you can get anywhere close to 60-70 mpg in mid sized vehicle... and using diesel would cancel out so many positives from prius that i just dont see it happening... phev is cool, but again, 15k more cool? Not for me.

 

I did notice, specifically, that the A-pillar blind spot is smaller. I sat in the driver's seat and I LOOKED at it, because that is a serious issue for me.

It's still there, but it's been mitigated a little bit. The fishbowl window is larger, the A-pillar seems a little bit narrower.

The Gen 3 Prius will not replace my Rudy. It may, however, be DH's new car, as he is coming up on a serious need for new wheels ... though he would prefer a pure EV... and we still may go that route, depending on the offer, discounts, and etc.

 

Thank you, Rae Vynn, for checking that out, it's an issue for me too, and it's not just the Prius that has that problem. Consumer Reports, say what one will about it, now includes driver visibility in its auto reviews, so it is a mainstream concern. Glad to hear there's some improvement.

As for the 2010, I'm taking a pass because I'm more interested in a PHEV which I think would be more useful for my commute (7 miles, mostly 25 mph posted speeds) most of the year. I'm leery of going the Hymotion route, for whatever reason I'd rather wait for a stock Toyota PHEV!

Thanks, Jim

 

Me Too,

Although the rear suspension change, and the interior downgrade (and knee knocker console) are the bigger issues for me.

 

I suppose the 180,000 units to sell will be from about May 2009 to Sept. 2010 when the 2011's come in.

Price and packaging will be major issues. Supply and demand will work things out as always though.

 

180k is for 2010 calendar year....

 

Umm, a car that's too small for many people (myself included (have many Americans not become, ah, very large?)), maybe EPA averages 57 MPG, yet appeals to far fewer and sells in much lower quantities than the Gen2 car. Thus, an overall setback in Prius movement.

I tell folks at work 'I average over 50 MPG with my Prius!' Seems they could care less. And this is from folks who drive 20k miles / year!

If an average Joe driver can fill up for any amount under $40, go about 300 miles on that fillup, they seem to be reasonably happy.

I feel confident Toyota will bring many non-hybrid owners into a 2010 Prius.

It's got a sweet facelift (they were smart to give it a little more stout front end). It's a little more roomy.

The driver's seat and steering wheel fix will make an enormous improvement. Hopefully the center console is not obtrusive. Even though I have long legs, I like resting my right leg on an 09 Matrix center console.

As for the power situation - A little more power puts the average, sometimes a little careless driver, a bit more at ease. Say you don't look over your shoulder quite so early on merging onto a freeway and a truck is coming up fast. Many people will like that extra margin of acceleration, just in case.

I often cruise my 09 about 62 ish MPH on the freeway. Sounds like the 2010 might hold 70 mph and perhaps get better economy in comparo.

This 2010 is about increasing the Prius movement, bigger sales, more people turned on to them who would've never thought twice about one.

First of April last year, I walked right past the Prius in showrooms - too expensive, too small, I'm 6ft 2in tall ... nevermind. Fellow motorcycle rider recommended to check one out, test drove one, loved the way it drove, although I noted the funky driver's position from the start.

But, was blown away that it could exceed my 1000cc FZ1's fuel economy that tops out at 45 mpg, highway only.

The 2010 and beyond will exceed the Gen2's stellar achievements.

 

i also agree with Doc mostly. to be honest with ya, i have planned my finances to buy in fall 2010 (have a CD specifically for this purpose that matures july 2010) but i want a plug in.

sure the new 2010 is very compelling, even to the point where i may get one anyway, but with a better package option then the one i was offered on the presale. i already have 2 offers on my 2006 from family members, so i do have options.

now as much i want to wait, i may not have the chance. we will soon be down to only two vehicles as i am selling the pickup. will have the Pri and Zenn only . now the Zenn is great but at only two seats, it can be a pain, also its range, while good for work, can be a major concession for other stuff. in 14 months, have had to make some transportation concessions but still have gotten done everything we needed. but we are lucky in that both our commutes are well within the Zenn's range.

 

Agree completely. But for me, these are not second thoughts. They were my first thoughts all along.

I like the changes. Practically every complaint I had with the Gen II Prius was addressed. And I'm not the slightest bit disappointed by the 10% better mpg (I don't expect seizmic changes or qualitative leaps every 5 or 6 years).

But I'm just not into getting a new car every few years or every new generational model.

Chances are that 10-20 years from now, my current 2007 Prius will still be my only car.

(Hope this doesn't get me disinvited from Prius Connection Detroit II, III or IV.)

 

I never expected more than 55 mpg as the fuel economy 'bump'. As far back as a year ago Edmunds had been tipped off by Toyota on what the new specs would be. I feel that a 10% increase is very very normal. Since I sell them I've seen how conservative Toyota is in technology advances across all product lines. Heck even the G2 was only about 10% better than the G1. It was everything else about the G2 that was astounding. The bump in highway efficiency along with better fuel economy is important to me.

That being said. I'm cheap by nature so at only 100,000 miles on my 05 I estimate that I've still got another 150,000 miles to go. I guess I'll replace mine sometime during 2013. At that time I might be convinced to splurge again... probably for a good used G3 with 30000 mi or so.