Sold the 2009 sportwagon bought a Prius

[dieselpony]

My GenIII Prius always gets better highway fuel mileage than my '09 TDI ever did. For example, it's about 440 miles one way to my brother's house. The last time I went down there, the Prius got 61mpg going down and 56 coming back (strong winds the whole ride back). The best tank ever on the TDI was 51.

Yes, the Prius not getting good good highway fuel mileage is misinformation. We've taken both of our cars cross county on Hilary trips and the Prius averages between 3 and 6 mpg better. Prius will get 46-51 highway, tdi will get 40-44. Granted, it's a little better since my rocket chip tune, but the Prius still edges it in the mpg department.

As to which car we prefer driving, no matter how long or short the trip? TDI, no questions asked. The Prius is reliable and economical transportation and a very well built. But we'll likely replace it with another TDI someday.

Everyone likes something different.

 

[totitan]

My GenIII Prius always gets better highway fuel mileage than my '09 TDI ever did. For example, it's about 440 miles one way to my brother's house. The last time I went down there, the Prius got 61mpg going down and 56 coming back (strong winds the whole ride back). The best tank ever on the TDI was 51.

I'll bet that if you were to pick up the pace to the 80 mph range the prius would not compare so well in mpg to a TDI. I typically set the cruise at 78 and it pulls hills effortlessly while getting 38 mpg. Prius's dont like going fast or going uphill....lol

 

[slamhouse]

I'll bet that if you were to pick up the pace to the 80 mph range the prius would not compare so well in mpg to a TDI. I typically set the cruise at 78 and it pulls hills effortlessly while getting 38 mpg. Prius's dont like going fast or going uphill....lol

Most of us stay within our legal speed limits...

Most people who own a prius stick to the speed limits. Once in a blue moon I see a prius scooting at 80+ and shorty after pulled over

 

[WutGas?]

When I was on my way back from Florida, a black "custom" Prius and I kept together doing anywhere from 80-100 through Arkansas. I say custom as it was one of the only ones I have seen that had been personalized. It was black with black BBS wheels. All the emblems were blacked out. We had a good time and it had no issue keeping up.

 

[El Dobro]

I'll bet that if you were to pick up the pace to the 80 mph range the prius would not compare so well in mpg to a TDI. I typically set the cruise at 78 and it pulls hills effortlessly while getting 38 mpg. Prius's dont like going fast or going uphill....lol

Posted today by one of the guys on Prius Chat.

Drove down to Torrance to visit my parents for New Year's. Rough trip outline was as follows:
–Fuel economy at a steady 81 mph (by speedo, =79 mph by GPS) on flat road was 42 mpg
–Fuel economy at 76 mph was around 48-49 mpg
–Due to this car's smaller gas tank, I actually now need to stop for gas on this trip. At 42 mpg average, 400/42=9.5238 gallons, while the tank is 10.6…that's a little too close for comfort for me and requires ignoring the low fuel light for nearly 50 miles…
–Car has no problems keeping speed going both up and down grades while on cruise control (the Tejon pass is 1,499 ft at the north, 4,144 ft at the top, and 1,362 ft at the south). Because the downgrade is very gradual, I was only able to regen 0.6 miles of EV (cruising speed 76 mph), which were immediately used up in HV mode at the foot of the slope.

 

[totitan]

Posted today by one of the guys on Prius Chat.
Drove down to Torrance to visit my parents for New Year's. Rough trip outline was as follows:
–Fuel economy at a steady 81 mph (by speedo, =79 mph by GPS) on flat road was 42 mpg
–Fuel economy at 76 mph was around 48-49 mpg
–Due to this car's smaller gas tank, I actually now need to stop for gas on this trip. At 42 mpg average, 400/42=9.5238 gallons, while the tank is 10.6…that's a little too close for comfort for me and requires ignoring the low fuel light for nearly 50 miles…
–Car has no problems keeping speed going both up and down grades while on cruise control (the Tejon pass is 1,499 ft at the north, 4,144 ft at the top, and 1,362 ft at the south). Because the downgrade is very gradual, I was only able to regen 0.6 miles of EV (cruising speed 76 mph), which were immediately used up in HV mode at the foot of the slope.

I think that whoever posted that was embellishing things a bit. We have a prius in the family (wifes sister) and I can tell you from personal experience that the prius doesn't like going fast, doesn't like corners, has dodgy brakes, and doesn't like hills. Oh, and they are about as much fun to drive as an old Chrysler K car. If a person can tolerate all that then by all means they should buy one. Interestingly enough, whenever I spot a left lane bandit holding up traffic, 90% of the time its a prius driver self righteously going 60-65 when the rest of the cars are going 80.

 

[Bob S.]

I understand the decision and swap completely. You will enjoy the Prius. I like my wife's. My only dislike is, IMHO, it is a bit noisy and light for long road trips. I find that when I am on the road for much more than 30 minutes, it gets on my nerves and I get a bit fatigued. But, I do prefer the Prius for anything less than 30 min. It is almost as good as the New Beetle for running around (I like the NB's large doors and front seat space). You will enjoy the Toyota reliability. The 3K OCI interval and indicator light is a PITA. When you need new tires, make sure you purchase low rolling resistance tires. The Prius takes a big MPG hit with normal radials.

With stock tires, my wife's Prius, in "Eco" mode, achieved better fuel mileage than any of my TDI's by a couple of MPG's. Out of the "Eco" mode, the ALH's cars surpassed it. But, the Prius was still had better MPG's than a BRM 5spd. (& the BRM gets better MPG's than the Jetta CRs). But, factoring, the price difference between RUG and Diesel, the Prius wins hands down on cost per fuel mile.

 

[El Dobro]

I think that whoever posted that was embellishing things a bit. We have a prius in the family (wifes sister) and I can tell you from personal experience that the prius doesn't like going fast, doesn't like corners, has dodgy brakes, and doesn't like hills. Oh, and they are about as much fun to drive as an old Chrysler K car. If a person can tolerate all that then by all means they should buy one. Interestingly enough, whenever I spot a left lane bandit holding up traffic, 90% of the time its a prius driver self righteously going 60-65 when the rest of the cars are going 80.

Year, model? The poster owns a 2012.

 

[chiro05]

We were given a 2012 prius to while our 2011 sienna door was repaired and I can tell you from my wife's mouth "I don't like that car at all, it doesn't have any power". She isn't a lead foot like me, but I warned her not to pull out in front of anyone or it would be bad news.

The car had some nice features and I think it had comparable space on the inside. It DID NOT like the curves and hills I drive to work everyday on the backroads. Sounded like it would fly apart.

I told the guy at the dealership I was interested to see how it performed compared to my tdi that was 6 years older and I can tell you in my opinion it wasn't even close. I would take the TDI any day over a prius and even my wife agreed. SHe doesn't love my TDI, but certainly loved it much more than the prius.

 

[upsbroke]

Prius

I like great mpg as well as the next guy but the reason I'd never own a Prius is because IT'S A PRIUS!

 

[totitan]

I like great mpg as well as the next guy but the reason I'd never own a Prius is because IT'S A PRIUS!

Amen!

 

[attyjeff]

I thought the same and to each his own. But now at almost 2000 miles I really love this car. Now lets see how it does long term.

 

[Crankous]

Hey to each his own. What did the dealership give you for the tdi in trade and then what did they take for the Prius?

 

[D-Cell_Mekanick]

Hey to each his own. What did the dealership give you for the tdi in trade and then what did they take for the Prius?

If i recall correctly, he sold the Jetta he didnt trade it in.

 

[attyjeff]

I sold the car, the person that bought it is a tdi club member. I paid 26,000 for the car it has leather heated seats, nav, back up camera and all the controls for temp, phone and radio are on the steering wheel.

 

[DubFamily]

Most of us stay within our legal speed limits...
Most people who own a prius stick to the speed limits. Once in a blue moon I see a prius scooting at 80+ and shorty after pulled over

You might want to qualify that with a "in my area" or something .

Around the DC area Prius drivers are some of the fastest, most reckless, jackass drivers you'll ever see...

 

[tdiatlast]

...sob...my best friend just bought a Prius...claims he got 51mpg returning to the No. Va area from Cleveland in the Dec. 30 traffic, cruising at 75...what a liar he is...our friendship is over...

 

[OldMan52]

My GenIII Prius always gets better highway fuel mileage than my '09 TDI ever did. For example, it's about 440 miles one way to my brother's house. The last time I went down there, the Prius got 61mpg going down and 56 coming back (strong winds the whole ride back). The best tank ever on the TDI was 51.

Check Fuelly.com for car efficiency (I've done it) and you will see plenty of 2009 Prius doing no better than 2009 Jettas. If your Prius is 2012 then you are not really fair comparing it to a 2009 tdi.
But like you I also tend to believe that new Prius does better overall than new Jettas or Golfs (older tdi's did better than the newer models. My 2001 New beetle AVERAGED 53 mpg during summer months; my 2009 Jetta about 46 or 47).
Mpg is only one part of the equation. New tdi's are much more powerful than older ones. A Jetta will do 0 - 60mph in 8.5 seconds. A Prius is something around 11 seconds. Often, the extra power is handy.

 

[El Dobro]

Check Fuelly.com for car efficiency (I've done it) and you will see plenty of 2009 Prius doing no better than 2009 Jettas. If your Prius is 2012 then you are not really fair comparing it to a 2009 tdi.
But like you I also tend to believe that new Prius does better overall than new Jettas or Golfs (older tdi's did better than the newer models. My 2001 New beetle AVERAGED 53 mpg during summer months; my 2009 Jetta about 46 or 47).
Mpg is only one part of the equation. New tdi's are much more powerful than older ones. A Jetta will do 0 - 60mph in 8.5 seconds. A Prius is something around 11 seconds. Often, the extra power is handy.

The new Prii do better overall than the old Prii, so then by your reasoning the performance of the old Prii shouldn't be compared to the newer TDIs, like other posters are doing.

You're right about mileage being part of the equation, reliability is another part. The last two Jettas were back to the dealer more than any other cars I've owned. The reasons have been documented on this site. That's why I got rid of them. I had better things to do than changing mechatronics units and cleaning goop out of the intercooler hoses and lubing the exhaust flap so it doesn't jam, etc.

I've driven my Prii the same as the TDIs, so acceleration has never been a problem with either. Oh, and 11 seconds was the older Prii, the GenIIIs are quicker.

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

Before getting the JSW, I checked into a Prius with my wife. With a soon-to-be driver who is a teen, I correctly thought I would sometimes be sitting in the back seat of the car. I'm only 5'11' tall, but most of that is above the hips. I could not sit in the back seat without my head touching the roof [not much room for hitting speed bumps] or without scrunching down in a bad posture position. My wife is a PT, so I'm aware of what all that means. Perhaps I'll get in to see if I fit better in the back seat of the new Prii. I'm not that opposed to driving one, but if I will not fit into it, I will certainly not buy one.

 

[totitan]

I've driven my Prii the same as the TDIs, so acceleration has never been a problem with either. Oh, and 11 seconds was the older Prii, the GenIIIs are quicker.

I dont thinks its possible to drive a prius like a vw. Heres some comments from cars.com on the 2012 prius:

"but the aspect where the Prius really falls short is in the driving experience — most of it."

brakes.... "the pedal feel is numb and the effect nonlinear, making the brakes difficult to modulate." "The pedal feels unnatural, and the transition from regenerative to friction braking can be awkward."

"The Prius' handling is also just adequate, with steering that's a little vague and lacks feedback."

Virtually everyone that reviews the prius has written similar comments.

Bottom line...if you like to "drive" car.....dont buy a prius and if you like to "ride" in the car....go for it.

 

[hardcore84]

You might want to qualify that with a "in my area" or something .

Around the DC area Prius drivers are some of the fastest, most reckless, jackass drivers you'll ever see...

YES! Commute Burke to Arlington daily and they are absolutely horrendous.

 

[El Dobro]

YES! Commute Burke to Arlington daily and they are absolutely horrendous.

And on the highways here, it's BMWs and GTIs that drive like real a$$wholez.

 

[El Dobro]

I dont thinks its possible to drive a prius like a vw. Heres some comments from cars.com on the 2012 prius:
"but the aspect where the Prius really falls short is in the driving experience — most of it."
brakes.... "the pedal feel is numb and the effect nonlinear, making the brakes difficult to modulate." "The pedal feels unnatural, and the transition from regenerative to friction braking can be awkward."
"The Prius' handling is also just adequate, with steering that's a little vague and lacks feedback."
Virtually everyone that reviews the prius has written similar comments.
Bottom line...if you like to "drive" car.....dont buy a prius and if you like to "ride" in the car....go for it.

How others drive the car is inconsequential to me, it's how I drive it, and it does just fine.

 

[attyjeff]

Well I drove my 2009 jsw 156,000 miles and the prius is better except for the power. So I can say so far I am very happy with the new prius. I don't have to keep convincing myself to keep a car. Not that you do either I'm just saying no need to bash another car. If you like it keep it.

 

[fastalan]

Well I drove my 2009 jsw 156,000 miles and the prius is better except for the power. So I can say so far I am very happy with the new prius. I don't have to keep convincing myself to keep a car. Not that you do either I'm just saying no need to bash another car. If you like it keep it.

Really, the JSW was only better at "power" only? Out of all the characteristics from the JSW, styling, interior, comfort level, handling and driving dynamic, fuel efficiency, range, space and utility, maintenance, the JSW is only better at "power"? Engine power or did your old JSW had other kind of power that we are not familiar with?

 

[ssamalin]

I'm going to just say one reason to pick TDI over Prius: one third, one third of collisions are side impacts, which means no matter how good a driver you are you won't see it coming. That being so, I want an iron tank, not a tin can.

 

[totitan]

Really, the JSW was only better at "power" only? Out of all the characteristics from the JSW, styling, interior, comfort level, handling and driving dynamic, fuel efficiency, range, space and utility, maintenance, the JSW is only better at "power"? Engine power or did your old JSW had other kind of power that we are not familiar with?

LOL...great post. I was thinking the same thing when I read his "power" only comment.

 

[timwagon]

I took a test drive in a 2013 Prius V Three yesterday. The Prius V Three is the model that's closest in price to the current JSW.

As far as I'm concerned, the Prius is a one-trick pony, providing excellent MPG, but falling short in most other areas.

The cloth seats are not nearly as comfortable as the JSW, and the lumbar support is not adjustable, so if it doesn't fit your back's countour, tough. (Toyota does offer better seats on the $30K+ model five). Seats also didn't have heaters, which are standard on the JSW, and all seat adjustments are manual.

Prius acceleration is only fair, with the engine making a considerable racket as the car tries to gain power. The CVT transmission is smooth, but with no torque, you'll need to plan carefully when entering the highway. The car is also fairly noisy at highway speed, although, to be fair, I've never found the JSW to be that quiet, either.

Dashboard layout is awful. Toyota uses the center console display so they don't have to make left / right hand versions, and all the displays are far away, and off to the right, which may save Toyota money, but it doesn't help the driver much.

There's a lot of body lean in corners, and the car doesn't feel "planted", but it's not twitchy or unpredictable, just dull. Steering feedback is very poor, with little sense of a connection to the road.

So, if you want a reliable, roomy station wagon with excellent mileage, and those are your only requirements, then by all means consider the Prius V.

However, if you want a car with those features that you can also look forward to driving, keep the JSW.

P.S. The dealer offered me $18,500 for my JSW without any haggling. That's 70% of original sticker on a three year old car.
Who says these JSWs aren't holding their value?

 

[tdi90hp]

You're comparison is similiar to mine when I traded in my 09 TDI for a 2012 Cruze 2LT RS 6M. Some here felt it was in their best interest to bash me.

Here is it a year later with 15,300 on the Cruze and very happy with it with no problems.

Still I miss the TDI and hope to buy another TDI one day when VW gets it's act together.

I actually you have both chosen pretty good cars....I would not buy the Prius cause it's an automagic (dedicated stick guy) and feels thin to me....and I would have bought the Cruze Eco instead of the LT but I am sure it was a better deal....But hey....we certainly appreciate both your inputs and look forward to seeing your long term costs...hope you will pipe in once in a while with regular reports....