Yeah, saving gas money is such a liberal nutjob thing.

I just traded my 2008 Prius for a Mazda5 several months after we had a second baby. We only have one car and the Prius just wasn't big enough with two carseats and a medium-sized dog. We couldn't get a third person in the back seat--my poor mother wedged herself in there a couple of times, but having tried to get myself in there, I felt awful and vowed never to make her do it again. That said, I miss the Prius. I miss the great fuel economy--we averaged about 40mpg in about 8 miles of city driving per day, compared to just over 20 in the Mazda--and the back-up camera. I miss all the storage compartments. It was not the most exciting car to drive, but it was great for how we used it. I never felt unsafe, on the highway or anywhere else.

I really wish the Prius V sold here had a third row like it does in Japan.

I drive one and am not a left wing loon.

in addition to the long long time it takes to recoup the extra purchase price via gas savings, there's also the "hidden" issue of the huge cost to dispose of all the Prius batteries.

thus, while my profession is environmental protection, I am skeptical of the actual real-world conservation that results from hybrids.

I love mine. I've had it for 6.5 years now, about to hit 100k miles. I drive a lot.

It isn't a thrilling vehicle. I'm not a "left wing loon".

An article said it takes years to make up the money from gas savings that it cost you in a premium to buy the car because it's more expensive than other cars in its class.

Also, when I see someone driving one, I assume they are a left wing loon. Usually they are. But if you are crazy far left, then it's befitting.

I love, love, love mine. I've had it 2 years and not one problem. I had a VW prior to that and that thing was always in the shop. I actually find it spacious for a small car and you can fit a surprising amount of things in the truck.

If you in any way derive pleasure from the feel of a responsive car and get the joy of driving, you won't get any of that in a Prius.

It's about the least engaging vehicle I've driven.

OTOH my cousin has one he's driven for 4-5 yrs. and says he's had no problems.

They don't get the best safety ratings from IIHS.

We purchased our Prius new in 2009 and we love it. We get 50 mpg only have to fill the tank every 2-3 weeks (and not wait in line for the pump as often), and it only takes 8-12 gallons to fill. We save $800-900 per year on gas without changing our driving habits. We like that for a smaller car, it has a ton of storage and hauling space, because it is a hatchback and the full back seat can fold down instead of some stupid little fold down window. Also, there is a ton of storage space up front. With two roomy glove compartments, a big console storage space, and a smaller storage space under the radio, plus two good sized door pockets, there is no lack of storage space for whatever the driver needs. Since I keep a lot of extra junk in the car, that's helpful. One pet peeve is that the A/C recharger powers off when the car is turned off, so if you are charging your phone, when you turn off the car, it stops. Love the bluetooth built into ours so that I can use the phone hands free in the rare instance that I used the phone in the car (about once/week). I love the various controls that I have on the steering wheel. I can control environmental, radio, etc from the steering wheel.

We find the car quite roomy for a small car, but then YMMV depending on what you are comparing it to. This replaced our Nissan Sentra and is far more comfortable and roomy than that car. Also, the storage capacity is much better (the Sentra had the little half-window fold-down which was pretty useless unless you were carrying skis or plain 2x4 lumber). We have two Britax Roundabout 55 car seats for twins in the back of this car in the outboard positions (using LATCH) and I can still push the driver's seat all the way back (I adjusted the angle of the car seats using a pool noodle as per instructions in the car seat manual). Works great as our commuting car and all four of us commute together to work/daycare. I even have a big double stroller in the trunk.

Would you recommend Prius for a family of 4 with 2 in car seats? We want to get rid of our gas guzzler, and our other car, an Accord doesn't get THAT great of gas mileage, so we want to do better than 30 mpg highway and keep it under $20k (used).

I bought a new one last year and I'd say I'm 95% happy with it. I love how it handles, I feel safe in it on the highway, I love how it only needs gas every three weeks and I've gotten totally used to the instrument panel and the small back windshield. The only thing I don't like about it is there is not much legroom or space in general. Every weekday morning when my DH and my two kids get in and I'm in the front passenger seat I have to sort of wedge my way in if I'm bringing more than just my work bag with me (i.e. snacks, files, etc.). And then if DH and I both have coffee, using both cup holders means sliding the middle console back into the back seat which makes things a little tight for my kids. But that's a very minor complaint and I see it as a insignificant trade off for what otherwise is an awesome car.

I don't like the instrument panel, the way it curves makes it hard to see. I find it hard to park and hard to manouver.

I like the mileage and it seems to go for a while on battery when gas is low.

You have to watch out, if you let it sit for a week, it keeps trying to sense the battery the whole time and you can come home to a car that won't start.

Frankly I don't like it enough that I would buy one now without the benefits of using it on 66 in hov.

I have a 2008 model

easy to park. love the back up camera. good back seat leg room. can run on electric when in slow dc traffic. very reliable car. no problems.

cons, although safe for its class of car. i worried about overall safety in an accident due to compact size. but likely ok when driving just in dc...long road trip on the highways made me nervous

I borrow one and love the way it drives, although it takes getting used to. The braking is different, tighter, which has probably saved some trouble in DC traffic.

I wonder about the eventual battery failure possibility, but the gas savings will make up for it.

Seriously considering purchasing a pre-owned Prius and would like to hear from folks who either own or have considered owning one. Other than great gas mileage, what are other pros? And what are the cons to having a Prius or other hybrid?