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Prius a good first car?

6 messages,  Last post on May 26, 2007 at 7:55 PM

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#2 of 6 1st car by gurple May 20, 2007 (8:24 pm)
If $22,000 is affordable for your family for a first car, then yes a Prius is economical to run, reliable, safe-if you get one with all the airbags.
#3 of 6 Other ideas by k4thrynnn May 20, 2007 (8:39 pm)
Yeah, my mom wants me to get a good safe and reliable car for my first instead of some dinky used thing from some random dealer or something. I was also looking at the Jetta and the Civic as well as the Altima. This one just stood out the most. Jetta is not a hybrid though so thats the only downside to it, but I like all the features it has and its look. My aunt has an older one and it does well for her and gets better mileage then expected so I was looking for a new Jetta..   I just know nothing of cars and neither does my mom I'm just going on looks, MPG, and airbags Replies to this message: pathstar1 (May 21, 2007 6:05 am)
#4 of 6 Re: Other ideas [k4thrynnn] by pathstar1 May 21, 2007 (6:05 am)
Replying to: k4thrynnn (May 20, 2007 8:39 pm) If you stick to Honda, Toyota, and a few others you can't go wrong. VW has had a few reliability issues lately.   The Prius is more expensive initially, and as long as gas is less than $10/gal a non-hybrid Civic will cost less in the long run (up to 8 years or so). A hybrid Civic and a Prius are close in price in the US, but the Civic is a "small car" and the Prius is a "mid-sized" car. More cargo room mostly.   Camry and Altima are in the next class up, with higher fuel consumption and more luxury. Prius is in this category as well without the higher fuel consumption. Mid-size cars.   Do take each out for a test drive, don't go just by looks. You will find one "fits" you better than the others, and I'm not just talking about the seats. Ability to see well, reach storage compartments, use the radio/CD system - these are all important for you to be "comfortable" with your decision.   If you can afford a Prius it would be fine as a first car. It will probably spoil you, however. When you go looking for your "next car" after you're done with the Prius (perhaps in 5-10 years?), you may be wondering why the engine runs when you are at a stop light in most of the cars you look at.   I suspect dinosaurs will still not be extinct.
#5 of 6 Prius= Great first car by mulligan672 May 26, 2007 (6:13 pm)
k4thrynnn,   A Prius would be a great first car. I, too, am 5'0" and fit in the Prius very comfortably. My husband is 5'10" and he's comfortable behind the wheel, too. Not that you want your friends driving your car!   The transmission is quiet and very easy to operate. It took me about two days to get used to turning it on. If you do decide to get one, the safety features are very important. I'm not sure how the 2007 models do it but in my 2005, I bought one with package 4. It has vehicle stability control, front and rear airbags and side airbags. I feel very safe.   I spent about $23K on mine but that was back when they was a waiting list. Now, they are building more of them which means you should have a better inventory to choose from. I've been in banking and finance for 14 years and I've purchased my fair share of vehicles so here's by "buying" advice: Do not pay the retail sticker price. I would imagine your parents will do the haggling for you but in case you get to throw in a word or two, I wouldn't go above the invoice. If you're on Edmunds.com then you're resourceful so I'm sure you'll do just fine!   Traditionally you can't go wrong with a Toyota or Honda. However the Civic is smaller and all of the amentities (extras) you'd be looking for is a la carte (you pay extra for each little thing). When I purchased mine, the Prius had better scores with Consumer Reports and satisfaction and feedback on Edmunds. 2007 may be different...   Good luck with your search!
#6 of 6 Thanks! by k4thrynnn May 26, 2007 (7:55 pm)
Thank you very much for your responses Its really at the top of my list now. My "dream car" is the VW eos just because it looks so awesome, but realisticly I don't think I can afford it yet So I'm probly going to go with a Prius or a Civic. I really like the look of the Nissan Altima as well. I've been seeing the newer ones on the road lately and they look very nice.   Thanks for your help! My birthday is only a couple months away and I should have enough money from my afterschool job to afford half the car payment (moms helping). Hopefully I can get the car I want.

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