toyota prius or honda hybrid

[historian]

does anyone here own any of these two cars? Id like your opinion and experience with them if youd be so kind. thanks

[jsamuel]

1. prius

many reasons, but I haven't had a single issue with it yet.

Highest MPG, luxury features, side impact air bags standard, 4 doors. Has a hatch back which is invaluable for moving things. It has the most interior space too. May cost a little more but you get more.

[historian]

2. im just concerned about one thing

what happens when the battery pack dies?? it will probably cost a fortune to replace or am i worrying about nothing?

[jsamuel]

4. has an 8 year warranty and is supposed to last for at least 10 years

I haven't heard of a single prius owner having to replace one yet. The cost is est. $1800.

[Rhythm and Blue]

5. From the warranty:

The hybrid battery pack on the 2004 Prius is included in the Hybrid Vehicle System warranty, which is 96 months (8 years) / 100,000 miles.

If you live in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, or Vermont, the hybrid battery pack is covered separately under the added California emissions warranty. The Hybrid Battery Warranty in these states is 120 months (10 years) / 150,000 miles. That's according to the "2004 Toyota Prius Owner's Warranty Information" booklet, PN 00505-T2004-PRIUS, page 6.

Toyota also estimates a 10 year life on their batteries. Estimated replacement cost is $1,800.

[jgraz]

3. I'm holding out for this

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

[Initech]

6. I sooooooooooo want one of those!

I'll stick with my Altima for now.

[Initech]

7. If you can afford an Altima or Camry hybrid, go for one of those.

I like the Prius but it's too small for me. I looked at a Civic hybrid extensively (test drove one a couple of times) but I liked the Altima better.

[still_one]

9. The problem with that is the cost is significantly higher than a Prius

and the mileage isn't that much better than a non-hybrid civic

[jsamuel]

10. exactly my opinion as well

Plus, the prius has a lot of room.

[still_one]

12. I agree. It could be argued that the backseat might be difficult for a tall person

but the front seat should be no problem

[Initech]

11. Price isn't too much different.

Altima runs at $32K fully loaded (and gets 42 MPG) , while the Camry runs $33K fully loaded (and gets 45MPG). Prius runs $27K fully loaded. All three cars use pretty similar technology.

[still_one]

15. 5K is significant,

You can buy a non-hybrid civic for 15K or less, get 35mpg. Even at 3 dollar plus gas price it would still be difficult justify a standard prius, yet alone a 30K car.

The prius or the civic hybrids would take at least 7 years to justify the extra 5K savings from gas verses a non-hybrid, and there is even less justifcation with 30K hybrid.

However, if you are only looking for a clean car for environmental considerations, than then it doesn't matter, though an electric or even natural gas car would provide the cleanest alternative

[Drifter]

28. If you buy a Hybrid ...

to save money ... you are doing it for the wrong reason.

Do it to us less fuel.

I would gladly pay a bit more (overall) for a car that uses less fuel (and very low emissions).
You are also investing in the technology to make it better in the future, instead of giving it to the oil companies.

Cheers
Drifter

[DFW]

16. I'd love a Camry hybrid

With gas at $8 a gallon here, it would be nice except for one
minor little detail: you can't find one here. The German auto
industry is very protective of its domestic market share, and
has cronies in the German government make it near impossible
to get a decent foreign car here in Germany, much less one that
is as good as, or far better than, the local makes. My guess is that
until BMW, Mercedes and VW come up with a hybrid that works as well
as the Japanese makes, that it will remain about as easy to find
a good one for sale here as it is to find some one quoting Thomas
Jefferson and Stephen Breyer inside the Bush White house.

[still_one]

8. I have two Prius cars and am very happy with them

As far as the battery, the way it is designed is that you don't have to replace the whole battery just individual cells from it

I think the waranty on the hybrid components is 7 or 8 years

If you have to replace the complete battery it is around 5K

You should test drive both cars, but if you are concerned about the battery, then look into a non-hybrid civic or small toyota. They would give you around 35 mpg verses the Prius or civic hybrid around 45 mpg. Don't believe the EPA values

I believe there is still a tax credit up to 2K for either hybrid car you mentioned

You can also by an extended waranty, which should run you about 900-1200 dollars more if you are concerned

Just my thoughts

[msongs]

13. civic hybrid is a crappy little car with high tech hybrid system....

just got rid of mine, uncomfortable seats, uncomfortable ergonomics (right leg fatigue after just 30 miles, and pain after 60), full of rattles and vibrations of parts that were not fastened properly, but it did average 45 mpg over 8 tests.

Msongs
Riverside CA

[sellitman]

14. Looks wise I like the Civic

But the Prius gets better mileage and is probably better made.

You win with either one though.

[Greyskye]

17. Love our Prius.

Best car I've ever owned. There is a lot more room inside then you might think. Tons of storage as well. There is a hidden area under the hatch floor that we always keep camp chairs in. Two additional side compartments back there. Quite a bit of miscellaneous storage areas in front as well.

[DFW]

18. My brother in law owns a Prius.

As he lives in a hilly area with steep winding roads, he finds its size ideal.
He absolutely swears by it, and the few times I have driven with him, I can't
say I fault the car for anything. If the larger hybrid Camry is as good, and if
they become available in Germany, I think I will look into one for my next car,
Germany or not.

[emilyg]

19. My daughter has a Prius. Loves it.

[Ms. Toad]

20. Honda Insight

You would have to buy used (they don't make them anymore), and it may take a while to find one... but it is worth it.

I'm currently getting about 60 mpg :)

[DemoTex]

21. I have a 2007 Prius

Best car I have ever owned (including a '78 Porsche 911SC and a '65 Porsche 356SC). I drove the Prius to Texas last month, 2200 miles, and averaged 54 MPG at an average of 65 MPH. My Prius now has 6000+ miles. They say that the mileage gets better after 15,000. There is nothing that I don't like about my silver Prius!



Coming: HPEV! Hybrid Plug-In Vehicle. 100+ MPG!

[mod mom]

22. Prius- I just went for my 15,000 mile check up today. I love my car and have

had NO problems. I usually get just ~ 50 mph unless the weather is real hot and I have to use AC all the time-then it shrinks to 42-43.

[AndyTiedye]

23. We Like Our Prius a Lot

Like Dr. Who's Tardis, it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

I can even fit my long-wheelbase recumbent bicycle INSIDE it.

If you need an SUV, the Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV you can get hereabouts.
(union-made in the USA too, imagine that!)

[DemoTex]

25. " ..bigger on the inside than it is on the outside .."

Indeed! My mother-in-law thinks she is in a Rolls-Royce in the back seat. She says: "So much ROOM! So QUIET!" Correct on both counts, for a change!

The Prius has almost the same room in back as my Subaru Outback wagon (which I kept! I love that for kayaking), with the back seats down. The Prius' back seats split, which means I can carry M-I-L Dear and Nick-Nick in his kennel cage.

Love my SilverFish (Prius)!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. We have a civic and we love it

but the prius has a better MPG

in fact in a couple of years, we will be looking at those two again before deciding... we need to replace our 14 year old truck

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. Either one is a GREAT car. I drive a Prius. I LOVE it.

It's very roomy, gets great mileage, they offer every option known to man (Bluetooth, Navigation, XM Radio, heated mirrors, back-up camera), they're very reliable, no pollution. I fill up the tank about every 4-6 weeks. I haven't had one problem with the car and I've had it for a little over a year. You can carry just about anything you need to, except large appliances. The rear seats lay down so you have plenty of cargo space when needed. I've carried a screen door in mine before. It has a very cool interior. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my little on-dash stick shift....very different. You don't need a key when you start the car. You just need the fob with you in your pocket or purse. It also has an M3P auxiliary plug. The ONLY thing I don't like about my Prius is the lack of floorboard lights at night! It's VERY dark from the chest down. If you drop something on the floor at night, Forget about finding it until you park and turn on all the overhead lights.:)

Honda makes a GREAT car too, but I've never driven their Hybrid. I would have bought one had they had one in stock when I was ready to buy, but they didn't. I found my Prius in stock at a dealership in Rockford...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay North of me, so I bought it....over the phone, sight unseen.

[Drifter]

27. Depends on what you are using it for ...

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a great family car.
The Toyota Prius is a great couple car (or small family).

Prius will tend to get better milage.

Either way, you will use less fuel with a Hybrid.

Cheers

BTW I have a Civic Hybrid, and I love it.