Prius III or C-Max Hybrid? (vehicle, MPG, mileage, buy)

[BigDGeek]

I cannot for the life of me decide between these two cars. They're about the same price after rebates/bargaining ($23-$24k).

Prius Pros:

• Reputation & reliability
• Higher resale
• Better gas mileage

Prius Cons:

• Slightly more expensive
• Interior is not as nice as the C-Max
• Annoying "flying buttress" console
• Built in Japan
• Smaller than the C-Max

C-Max Pros:

• Much nicer interior/features
• Bigger than the Prius
• More fun to drive
• Built in America

C-Max Cons:

• Ford badge is less reliable than Toyota (though the '14 C-Max has the same reliability score as the '14 Prius)
• Untested model only in its third year in the US market
• If Ford decides to discontinue it, its resale value goes into the toilet
• Gas mileage not as good as the Prius

HELP!

[Parsec]

Why is being built in Japan a CON if the end result (reputation and reliability) is a PRO?

[Parsec]

Personally, I'd get a 2-3 year old Prius. Those things last forever. Like you said there are too many unkowns with the Ford C-Max right now. Since you were worried about resale it sounds like you plan on keeping it only ~5 years so I'd say go with the Prius!

[Niall-Florida]

Personally I would go with the Prius... But you should go with the C-Max.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Parsec

Personally, I'd get a 2-3 year old Prius. Those things last forever. Like you said there are too many unkowns with the Ford C-Max right now. Since you were worried about resale it sounds like you plan on keeping it only ~5 years so I'd say go with the Prius!

No, I plan to keep it for a long time. But circumstances can and do change.

Originally Posted by Niall-Florida

Personally I would go with the Prius... But you should go with the C-Max.

Why?

[Niall-Florida]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Why?

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Prius Cons:

• Built in Japan

C-Max Pros:

• Built in America

Not trying to be rude... But typically if this is an pro/con to them, they will have more pride in the vehicle built in there country of choice. To me, that rules the Prius out as an recommendation to you.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Niall-Florida

Not trying to be rude... But typically if this is an pro/con to them, they will have more pride in the vehicle built in there country of choice. To me, that rules the Prius out as an recommendation to you.

Well, there's much more to a car buying decision than where it was made. Unless it was made in Mexico or something. I know parts of the C-Max are made in Mexico but its final assembly point is in Michigan. I wouldn't buy a car assembled in Mexico and I should have listed the C-Max's Mexican parts as a con.

[wheelsup]

We have a Prius II w/ 80k on it, were offered $12k AT THE DEALER no strings attached to purchase it when we went looking at another car. I can't believe the resale on these cars, it's unreal. Buy a Prius and never look back. Ford uses the previous generation Toyota hybrid technology, the Prius is a mature, flat out reliable and useful platform. We are getting 52.0 mpg on the current tank (300+ miles into it) FWIW, even with 80k on it.

[MckinneyOwnr]

I'd go with the Prius. It's the safer choice in terms of reliability, resale, gets better gas mileage, etc. It is the standard to which all other hybrids/electric cars in the segment compete against.

[texdav]

No comparison ;Prius. But 12k is likely a trade in price buying another vehicle. Dealers never really give you retail; they are dealing on two vehicles prices wise.