Toyota Prius

[hawkeye08]

Anyone have any experience with the new to the US high mpg diesel BMWs?

 

[houstonscott]

From what I have heard, one decent BMW repair bill would be more than my '06 Civic is worth. That's really rolling the dice on total cost of ownership just for repairs, let alone the purchase price.

I have owned four BMW's from new. No failures in any of them. The 335d I drive now is an extraordinary car. I have seen 43.7mpg, and if you understand real cars, not not first car, starters, you know what 425 fort pounds of torque at 1700rpm means. HS

 

[Spindifferent]

I drive my Prius for most everything, my Tacoma when necessary, and my John Deere for fun.

 

[dave1949]

I have owned four BMW's from new. No failures in any of them. The 335d I drive now is an extraordinary car. I have seen 43.7mpg, and if you understand real cars, not not first car, starters, you know what 425 fort pounds of torque at 1700rpm means. HS

BMW: 1 in 45 engine failures ranks 7th worst.
German cars lose out in reliability survey - Telegraph

The best three:
1. Honda (failure rate: 1 in 344)
2. Toyota (failure rate: 1 in 171)
3. Mercedes-Benz (failure rate: 1 in 119)

Don't be so cheap, at least get Mercedes. LOL

High HP and torque mean nothing to me, there is nowhere around here to make use of it and stay out of jail, or go airborne off our really bad roads. Cars don't make good tree ornaments.

 

[houstonscott]

BMW: 1 in 45 engine failures ranks 7th worst. German cars lose out in reliability survey - Telegraph The best three: 1. Honda (failure rate: 1 in 344) 2. Toyota (failure rate: 1 in 171) 3. Mercedes-Benz (failure rate: 1 in 119) Don't be so cheap, at least get Mercedes. LOL High HP and torque mean nothing to me, there is nowhere around here to make use of it and stay out of jail, or go airborne off our really bad roads. Cars don't make good tree ornaments.

I guess if performance, and handling mean nothing to you I understand the Honda, Toyota purchase. In the real world, of all the cars I have owned there has been four engine failures, three Chevrolet, one Toyota, that's my personal experience. Your link never says what denotes an engine failure, I wonder? HS

 

[dave1949]

I guess if performance, and handling mean nothing to you I understand the Honda, Toyota purchase. In the real world, of all the cars I have owned there has been four engine failures, three Chevrolet, one Toyota, that's my personal experience. Your link never says what denotes an engine failure, I wonder? HS

The only engine failure I've had was 1963 Pontiac with the slant-4 engine (half of a 389 V8). A rod broke and the crank journal used it to cut a notch up the cylinder wall. Of course I abused it. :laughing: Got a replacement engine from the junkyard, swapped it in and sold the car.
Pontiac Tempest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I understand performance and handling. I lived in Germany over nine years and drove the autobahn. We had three vehicles while living there: a plain jane VW Golf, a VW Jetta, and VW Golf GTI. Even the GTI is a low performance car by German autobahn standards. I could be running the GTI flat-out around 115 mph and an Audi or Mercedes would go past like I was standing still.

Sure it was fun, in large part because the people you shared the road with actually knew how to drive and followed the rules, the roads were designed and maintained for those speeds, and they have more vehicle safety inspection requirements, but it's not the same here.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a friend who has a early Prius (04?), which they bought new. Well over 200k miles now and still going strong on the original batteries. They had to replace the 12v battery at 4-5 years, but otherwise they love it.


It depends on if you do the work, or take it to a shop...
My current car and its two predecessors are Volvos ('89 740, 93 940, 97' V90). My parents have had several 850/S70/V70 cars, my siblings have had several S70 or 740 series cars and (other than my current V90 which only has 130k miles) all have gone to 150k+ with just normal maintenance. VWs are similar (Dad had a '03 Jetta TDI which was great till we sold it with 205k miles as long as he kept hamfisted mechanics from working on it) as are many Hondas (my little sister has a '89 Civic with close to 200k miles on it that is still going strong).
My inlaws have a '97 Dodge 1500 pickup which is at 197k miles with just normal maintenance.

Aaron Z

Heck our 2000 Impala has 190K on it. Only issues have been a water pump and an intake manifold. Did those myself. The only reason we're replacing it is because of rust.

 

[MossRoad]

Other advantages to a Prius, to name a few:

Constantly variable transmission, engine always runs at optimum RPM for efficiency.
Headlights are self-leveling.
Programmable smart key system.
Touch screen control for heating and air, audio, GPS, more.
Large digital readout speedometer.
Hatchback with rear seats folding flat and inside tie downs.
Hidden trunk under the trunk.
Traction control.
15" alloy wheels.
Full center armrest, rear center armrest.
Inside lights come on when you approach the vehicle.
Same interior space as the Camry.
I could go on but you're already bored...

I am bored... in a Prius. :laughing: They are boring to drive. No guts.

 

[houstonscott]

1986 Chevrolet Blazer 2.8
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 5.7
2009 Chevrolet Suburban 5.3
1979 Toyota Land Cruiser

All had engine failures requiring opening up and in the 2.8 Blazer total replacement. The 5.3 was covered under 100k drive train warranty.

1 Alfa Romeo
2 Fiat's
4 VW's
1 Ford
1 Toyota
4 BMW's
1MB, currently at 180k

All never had wrench on the engine, each exceeding 100k.

HS

 

[txdon]

I am bored... in a Prius. :laughing: They are boring to drive. No guts.

Da, it's a machine, you want guts get a horse.