In with the Prius out with...MR2 or 4Runner? =( Sad day

[98OzarksRunner]

Love the Prius bashing. Whatever you guys need to do to make yourselves feel better. Lots of misinformation here, but it's not my job to convince anyone. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

Not bashing the Prius - great cars. Just always makes me think of that movie. If I were driving that many miles each day I'd get one too (or something like it). When I was driving 200 miles a day round trip to work I got the most fuel efficient car I could find back then - a Nissan Sentra.

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

I don't know if it has been said yet, but what about the dogs?! My dog loves my 4Runner and I'm pretty sure she'd accept nothing less!

That is a good point, my dogs are my life. Except for the fact that I have both my rottweilers up north with my folks as I just moved to LA for a career change. Will bring them back down once I figure out my living situation (lots of apartments here do not allow rottweilers or pitbulls). Prius does carry the rotts nicely but not as comfy as the 4Runner with the window down!

Love the Prius bashing. Whatever you guys need to do to make yourselves feel better. Lots of misinformation here, but it's not my job to convince anyone. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

As least theres one other prius supporter on this forum!

The points in this thread are valid for the most part. Lots of humor, I love it!


Just a reminder of my conditions and more details:

1. Audi Q5 is lease and is the business car, can't do too much there. You guys ask what she is giving up? Well those that are married know, happy wife = happy life.

2. 2010 Toyota Prius- I got a crazy deal as my uncle works for Toyota. I would be driving this car for pretty cheap if not get the full amount back if I sell it in two-years thats including maintenance and depreciation. Yes, I did an excel spread. TDI is a great car, if I were spending over $20-$30k I would consider.

3. How is everyone getting over 18+ mpg for the 4Runners? I know the simple mods to improve but also I guess thats the way I drive. My commute each day is 40 + miles, mostly in stop and go LA Traffic. I hate LA for this reason.

No joke I am this guy: http://youtu.be/GKlDBi0cyIA <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GKlDBi0cyIA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

4. MR2 has no power steering and commuting with this is a pain in the butt. That is the reason why I am leaning towards this more. But I have attachment issues. I don't think I will be able to find an MR2 with these miles and in this condition ever again :cry2:

 

[fish0281]

I'd still sell the MR2, it's practicality isn't getting any better and when a sports car fits in with your lifestyle again, you can hope that life will have been good to you so you can afford a ... more substantial(?) sports car.

 

[Royisme]

40 + miles, mostly in stop and go LA Traffic. I hate LA for this reason.

Well that is the hybrid strong point...

MR2 has no power steering and commuting with this is a pain in the butt. That is the reason why I am leaning towards this more. But I have attachment issues. I don't think I will be able to find an MR2 with these miles and in this condition ever again :cry2:

If you do decide that the time has come to part with the MR2, I'd have a slush fund going in case you come across one in similar condition... with a turbo!

How is everyone getting over 18+ mpg for the 4Runners?

It's a shame that XL Hybrids (xlhybrids.com) isn't quite ready yet... or The Kit That Turns Any Car Into A Hybrid | This Could Be Big - Yahoo! News

The XL one is installed like a divorced transfer case, minus 2nd forward shaft and seems pretty promising for conversions. I'm not sure how the second one would work out for rwd/4wd/awd though.

 

[SCRunner12]

I'd say keep the Prius, Audi and 4runner.

Prius: Great gas mileage and COMFORTABLE. The MR2 would get somewhat good mileage, but with no power steering, manual (I'm assuming) and being a 1993 it will not be the most comfortable commuting car. It will do fine, but sitting in LA traffic you don't want to be constantly shifting and fighting the wheel to get into the next lane. The Prius will be much more comfortable to sit in for long periods of time, the Fiance will approve of it and not give you her piece of mind every time you have to take the MR2. Plus, in the end you'll probably start a family and you don't want to deal with a MR2 and a carseat.

4runner: Pretty obvious, but it can be your camping, wheeling, snow and beach vehicle. It will hold the dogs and provide the fun and hauling needs you may have.

Audi: Simply because it's hers. The last thing you want to do is convince her to get rid of it for something you want her to have. You will never hear the end of it. I'm currently trying to convince my Fiance to get rid of her Jeep GC, but I won't do it till she is ready. You are defensive about getting rid of one of your 3 cars, she definitely will be defensive about her 1 car.

That's what I would do if I were you. The MR2 sounds fun, but your in a career, living in LA and engaged. You probably don't have the time for all the toys or to drive all 3 cars in a given week.

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

I'd say keep the Prius, Audi and 4runner.

Prius: Great gas mileage and COMFORTABLE. The MR2 would get somewhat good mileage, but with no power steering, manual (I'm assuming) and being a 1993 it will not be the most comfortable commuting car. It will do fine, but sitting in LA traffic you don't want to be constantly shifting and fighting the wheel to get into the next lane. The Prius will be much more comfortable to sit in for long periods of time, the Fiance will approve of it and not give you her piece of mind every time you have to take the MR2. Plus, in the end you'll probably start a family and you don't want to deal with a MR2 and a carseat.

4runner: Pretty obvious, but it can be your camping, wheeling, snow and beach vehicle. It will hold the dogs and provide the fun and hauling needs you may have.

Audi: Simply because it's hers. The last thing you want to do is convince her to get rid of it for something you want her to have. You will never hear the end of it. I'm currently trying to convince my Fiance to get rid of her Jeep GC, but I won't do it till she is ready. You are defensive about getting rid of one of your 3 cars, she definitely will be defensive about her 1 car.

That's what I would do if I were you. The MR2 sounds fun, but your in a career, living in LA and engaged. You probably don't have the time for all the toys or to drive all 3 cars in a given week.

well said my friend...you and I are thinking alike not just mods selection but in this case as welll hahaha thanks!

 

[Dark Lord]

I'd say keep the Prius, Audi and 4runner.

Prius: Great gas mileage and COMFORTABLE. The MR2 would get somewhat good mileage, but with no power steering, manual (I'm assuming) and being a 1993 it will not be the most comfortable commuting car. It will do fine, but sitting in LA traffic you don't want to be constantly shifting and fighting the wheel to get into the next lane. The Prius will be much more comfortable to sit in for long periods of time, the Fiance will approve of it and not give you her piece of mind every time you have to take the MR2. Plus, in the end you'll probably start a family and you don't want to deal with a MR2 and a carseat.

4runner: Pretty obvious, but it can be your camping, wheeling, snow and beach vehicle. It will hold the dogs and provide the fun and hauling needs you may have.

Audi: Simply because it's hers. The last thing you want to do is convince her to get rid of it for something you want her to have. You will never hear the end of it. I'm currently trying to convince my Fiance to get rid of her Jeep GC, but I won't do it till she is ready. You are defensive about getting rid of one of your 3 cars, she definitely will be defensive about her 1 car.

That's what I would do if I were you. The MR2 sounds fun, but your in a career, living in LA and engaged. You probably don't have the time for all the toys or to drive all 3 cars in a given week.

Although I personally wouldn't buy a Prius for any reason, I think SCRunner12 said it best. I personally wouldn't have bought the Prius in the first place though. I just don't really see how those cars are worth buying. If I needed a commuter car, I would've just taken about $2-3K and bought a beater Civic or something.

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

Who wants to drive a beater Civic?

Not me.

 

[IanB]

Who wants to drive a beater Civic?

Not me.

Having had 3 different Acura 1.6EL's in the past (glorified civic), I would. They are fantastic little cars. Who would pay new car money to drive a prius?

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

Having had 3 different Acura 1.6EL's in the past (glorified civic), I would. They are fantastic little cars. Who would pay new car money to drive a prius?

Not me either, I am getting used 2010 Toyota Prius.

 

[SCRunner12]

well said my friend...you and I are thinking alike not just mods selection but in this case as welll hahaha thanks!

Not a problem, I definitely could relate and understand. A beater civic would be cheap, but it would get old and the Prius is more than just a commuter. Good luck with the decision and I really hope the 4runner doesn't go. I would be very tempted to sell mine and buy yours if you did sell it because I really like what you've done to it.

 

[Dark Lord]

Who wants to drive a beater Civic?

Not me.

Haha! Well I would find a nice cheap Civic, not a POS! Either way, that's a little off topic. I say keep the 4runner and ditch the MR2. If you want a Toyota classic go buy a Supra MKIV. I don't foresee the MR2 holding any serious value in the future, but I may be wrong. Plus, I've never really liked ow MR2's look, but that's coming from a former S2000 owner. I don't know a lot about Toyota cars, I've always preferred Hondas.

 

[Kalva]

You should keep all three.
1. Are you leasing the Prius? If so, you will sooner or later prefer to not have a car payment and when the lease is over then fall back on the MR2 for a work car.

2. I'm going to assume you have no car notes on the 4runner or MR2 so you’re only paying insurance and gas. What is more cost effective? The the Prius payment, + insurance + gas or just gas and insurance in the other cars?

3. Your three cars total monthly expenses don't add up the same cost of an Audi Q5 so why must you compromise what you drive. Believe me she will most likely get the best car in the family and you'll always be driving a commuter.

4. I was raised it’s not what you drive to work but what is your weekend car is that counts. Keep the Mr2 & 4runner as you have a connectiom to them and enjoy them.

I sold my MR2 Spyder do to having child and regret it, we didn't really need the money but I convinced myself it was right thing to do. Now I drive the 4runner and whenever we go out as a family we always take the Camry so long story short I could have kept the Spyder and picked up the 4runner and still have the same life style.

Just my 2cents:sobbing:

 

[jrm]

Analyzing the duplicative properties of each vehicle against each other

lose the MR2.

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

You should keep all three.
1. Are you leasing the Prius? If so, you will sooner or later prefer to not have a car payment and when the lease is over then fall back on the MR2 for a work car.

2. I'm going to assume you have no car notes on the 4runner or MR2 so you’re only paying insurance and gas. What is more cost effective? The the Prius payment, + insurance + gas or just gas and insurance in the other cars?

3. Your three cars total monthly expenses don't add up the same cost of an Audi Q5 so why must you compromise what you drive. Believe me she will most likely get the best car in the family and you'll always be driving a commuter.

4. I was raised it’s not what you drive to work but what is your weekend car is that counts. Keep the Mr2 & 4runner as you have a connectiom to them and enjoy them.

I sold my MR2 Spyder do to having child and regret it, we didn't really need the money but I convinced myself it was right thing to do. Now I drive the 4runner and whenever we go out as a family we always take the Camry so long story short I could have kept the Spyder and picked up the 4runner and still have the same life style.

Just my 2cents:sobbing:

Great breakdown and questions.

1. Not leasing the prius, just buying it with wads of drug money. jk! not really

2. That is an interesting way to look at it. I previously was insurance Agent so there are a lot of combos to "work" your insurance depending on the cars you have. Not sure what the breakdown comes out to...

3. True statement cost of 3 used toyotas < Audi Q5, its not the number of cars per say, its the space. I currently live in downtown los angeles, no driveways or 3- car garages for that matter.

4. I want both as weekend cars- thats my problem that I share with you...hope I dont make the same mistake but it looks inevitable.

You should really go find a spider so you can complete your Toyota suv, sedan, coupe line up!

 

[4R99JB]

I feel your pain. I too have a two seater & 4Runner. But I have plenty of room out here in the woods of East Texas.

The only sale I've ever regretted was my 10 year old corvette in 1983. ( yep '73 Stingray ).

I would suggest finding somewhere to store the MR2 for a while; Parents, Grand Parents etc. So that when you realize that you should have never let it go you can just go get it. You should be able to suspend the registration for a small fee. It was $10 i think back when I lived in CA.

The 4Runner beats the MR2 hands down for versatility, but don't underestimate how much you'll miss either one.

Good luck, :hiding:

 

[Stick Figure]

If you only rent an apartment why don't you move closer to work and save the headache of the drive in any of the cars. Life is way too short to spend that much time every year sitting in a car not moving.

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

If you only rent an apartment why don't you move closer to work and save the headache of the drive in any of the cars. Life is way too short to spend that much time every year sitting in a car not moving.

work is in the ghetto literally...I have bums smoking joints every night outside my warehouse!

 

[004wd]

Can you dump the fiancé!? Lol I jut parted with my mr2 to afford my 4runner and I loved my 91t with a v6 swap to peices but the 4runner is just so much more practical I really want both. Screw the Prius keep em both or move like previously noted

 

[Kalva]

work is in the ghetto literally...I have bums smoking joints every night outside my warehouse!

I guess your Prius gives you a lot of street credit around them.
I Drove a 93 teal green corolla when i worked in East NewYork.

Winter is coming drop off the MR2 at a friends and rotating the two so your parking is the same.