Once you go black...
Yeah, I know the first thing that pops in your head when you hear that phrase: Once you go black. Summer in South Florida can be brutal. Over the years, I had one white car and usually the others were silver. The one I bought a year ago is a dark graphite color. Depending on the lighting metallic charcoal. In the middle of the day, it's as good as black because you cannot touch the exterior without burning your hands. Mazda didn't offer silver in my model. They did have white and that would have been my second choice, but the feature package (for what they had in inventory) was a step down and didn't have leather seats. I would have to wait 6 weeks to order one and the dealer made the right price for the one I bought.A friend has a black Honda and it gets so burning hot you can grill steaks on the hood!
I'm already shopping for a new car and thinking of returning to Toyota. Last year, they had a wait as long as 4 to 6 months for cars, depending on the model and were taking non-refundable deposits to order one.
Things are returning to normal and deliveries of dealer orders are arriving weekly.
Do I need a new car? No
But the 2024 Prius is their 4th generation hybrid and I've seen a few videos about it being Toyota's best mechanics and technology they offer. The Prius was always designed as a hybrid, unlike a Camry or RAV4 where they added the hybrid features to and existing model. This information came from a few YouTube videos where mechanics who often post new car reviews all had the same opinion about the Prius.
My finger is on the trigger... doing research and comparisons.
It's a 2-liter engine and I'm currently enjoying the power of a 2.5-liter engine that has a longer wheelbase to ride like a larger car. I won't know if the ride of the Prius can compare without a test drive.
Silver being my preference... I'm thinking white could be the best choice.
Comments (12)
I'll easily lose $5,000 in the trade up and interest rates aren't favorable right now.
I'm guessing a quality paint job to be in the $4,000 range and you have to deal with the 2-tone remaining when you open the door and all the surrounding parts weren't painted down to the rubber gaskets. It's an ugly appearance and my car would actually lose value when I trade it.
Vinyl wrapping the roof would be a consideration... except it's got a tinted sun roof and that's partly where the sun beats down making the interior get hot.
They would do a 'meet & greet' after each show to take photos, sell shirts/CD's and things. The drummer Frankie is in one of my profile photos.
Nothing more than regular maintenance...
We drove to Jacksonville in her car for my grandson’s wedding...
It was not very comfortable..I felt like I was in a Fred Flintstone car...Yabba Dabba Doo...
I owned a Hyundai Veloster... that was a horrible hard suspension. I had to crawl over speed bumps for fear it would jar internal organs. Taller and wider tires completely changed it's personality.
Before that was a Toyota Celica I had for 13 years. Basic poor mans sports car. I wish they would make an updated version.
My Corolla hatchback was nimble and hugged the road but the seats were for someone shorter.
The Mazda 3 has a longer wheelbase and rides like a larger car. The Prius has similar specifications.
Maybe the older ones had a shorter wheelbase. I know over the years, some of the Toyota models got longer. RAV4 was a good example. 20 years ago it's proportions was that of a smart-car and unstable on the highway.
Fred Flintstone car...
In the 1960's my dad had a car where the floorboard rusted out. We had pieces of wood over the holes so your feet didn't drop through the holes!
It was not a comfortable ride...meaning bumpy and not comfortable seats...I do not like cars that are low to the ground...just an opinion...
Some good financial advice...keep the car you have....
Cars depreciate...especially in the first few years that you own them...
I used to do project management and would drive 30,000 miles per year, so changing cars every 3 to 4 years became normal. I never needed a mechanic as the cars were traded just before the problems started to happen.
I've said this a bunch of times... the Toyota Celica was my favorite car. I changed jobs close to home so my mileage dropped. I did beat that car up daily and I don't remember it stranding me on the side of the road. There was a mechanic who specialized in Honda & Toyota around the corner from the wood shop, so he did the brakes, clutch, rebuilt a/c and routine maintenance. After 220,000 miles, it was time for another car.
I traded my Corolla Hatchback at 3 years and 45,000 miles. It was starting to develop some vibration issues more than a year after a truck in front of me blew a recapped tire recap and the shredded tire went under the front of my car and tore out the bumper and skirting around the wheel well.
Used car prices were had peaked and it was the best time to trade.
A friend had an old Mazda Miata in need of repair. Someone wanted it to restore and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
The Prius is on my wish list to try out.
I've seen a video about the Toyota Venza and the guy doing the review stated it's very similar to a Lexus NX. Both are out of my price range.