Hey guys,

I've had my TL ever since 2004, and it's treated me so so well. No major technical malfunctions, mileage is about 85000 miles now. I get around 28 on the freeway and I absolutely LOVE it. Also dropped in at least a few grand worth of mods in there now...

My dilemma now is.... I have another weekend car. It's an E90 M3 that I purchased recently. I don't have the need for two four door sedans, so I'm wondering if it's worth selling the TL and picking up a Prius with that insane 50 MPG as a daily driver? How much do 04 TLs go for now? 10-12k? A brand new Prius is 30k if I'm not mistaken? This would be a straight trade in + cash. I'm just trying to justify paying more cash "downgrading" to a prius in a sense.

Any input is helpful guys!

 

I'd do it if you have an M3 now. The Prius is a great car...a few members have them. Check out the Honda Insight also if you're in the market for a hybrid.

I wanna be you at 23 years old.

 

I don't see why you should do it. Assuming a ball park $20k difference between the TL and Prius (which is also a 4-door, so that doesn't make much sense), the amount of mileage you'd have to drive to make that much back in savings is huge.

If your M3 is a sedan, I'd sell the TL and use the M as your DD and weekend toy. No reason it can't be both

If not just keep the TL. I honestly can't see any reason to buy the Prius.

 

Oh, and if you're looking solely for mileage, I think the 1G Insight has the highest EPA rated mileage out there, something like 61 MPG on the old system. You could probably get one for around the same as a TL

 

Yeah I wouldn't be picking up a brand new one, maybe an 08-09 with decent mileage? I've done some research and I think I can straight trade in my TL for like an 07-08 with maybe 40-50k miles before taxes...

 

I commute around 75 miles a day. I get 15 MPG on my M3. No bueno

 

Why not just keep driving the TL on a daily basis for a few more years and then trade it for a Prius then so you can buy a used third-generation (2010+) Prius?

 

I highly recommend test driving a Prius. It is a very different driving experience and you may find it quite sterile (boring) compared to your TL. That's what I found with a Lexus RX400h anyway.....

If it's 40+ mpg you're after, point yourself towards a Golf TDI and give it a whirl. Cheaper than a new Prius and it's great to drive.

-Mirror

 

i'd keep the tl. i don't think resale is that good on hybrids.

 

Keep the TL and sink some money into real estate. Cars are not a good investment ...

 

Pretty sure gas is still cheaper than dropping $30k plus insurance on another car.

Keep the TL and put that $20k that you would put towards a prius and use it for gas.

 

do you have any sort of warranty left on the TL? Payments? What about the new M3?

My suggestion is to hold off on the purchase if your TL is under warranty or you have payments. If the M3 has a year or two left of warranty, I'd suggest keeping the TL as you may end up in something else later on!

If you really do want to trade in cars, my suggestion is to look at a used Prius and save some $$$ and put it to use elsewhere, like gas money for the M3 or some mod money for the M3!

 

this.

 

excellent advice here.

 

I have no payments left on either car. No warranty on the TL and the M3 is brand new so it's got plenty left.

 

i rather drive a tl over any prius

 

Dont see any reason to spend extra to get a Prius, which will then save you money on gas.

Keep both cars. Forget about the Prius.

 

:ibsarlacc:

 

the top of line prius is $30k. i think you can get a base prius for $23k

 

Get the new Jetta SE, 33mpg highway 18K brand-new.

 

I'd say keep the paid off TL.

The ONLY reason I got a Prius was because I was replacing a 16 year old SUV (that I loved) that was starting to need a lot of expensive work and the lease on the prius I negotiated cost as much as my monthly gas bill on the truck...minus the cost of another used truck (minus any maintenance it might need.)

 

save a little longer, get a bmw 335d, and get 40MPG
i'd rather drive that then a prius

 

^Two high end E90s in the garage...that'd be ballin.

 

TDI VW is your answer. hybrids are stupid.

 

I'm with everyone... keep the tl.

 

thanks for the input guys, I guess it would be a better route to go with something compact.

The reason I would be trading in the TL is because I fear of incoming major technical malfunctions... I don't want to be stuck with a tranny or engine failure somewhere down the line, that's why I'm trying to trade into something newer. A Golf TDI would be a great choice but I heard they are not giving ANY discount on them, plus the fact there are no used ones out there yet...

 

, but by the OP saying 75 mile for commuting, you are not really going to save that much gas with a prius, cause where they shine are in stop and go traffic, not highway, which i am assuming the OP does alot more of

 

keep the tl because the only thing its going to the shop for is a timing belt

 

23 w/ a new m3! share your secret w/ us

 

You want to get rid of your TL because you think it'll give you problems down the road?

If it does give you problems, get rid of it then. But it's been serving you well probably ever since you got your license. Nobody has had any major problems with the 3G TL that weren't attributable to bad maintenance.

Point is: Take care of your car, it'll take care of you. No reason to jump ship.

 

A Prius? Yuck.

 

I am in the TL camp on this decision. Besides, it's not as if the TL is a gas guzzler....particularly if its fuel economy is anything like that of my old 07 AV6 which was good for averaging about 25-30mpg.

 

+1. I just test drove one and compared to my friend's Prius, the VW is 10x more fun and better to drive with similar mileage. The torque is nice too. I'm seriously considering one.

 

Is diesel fuel harder to find though? That'd be my only concern about having a diesel.

 

Definately. I've been keeping an eye open lately when fueling just to see what's out there. Around town here it's not that bad. I would say every 3rd station has diesel. I would worry more about road trips into unfamiliar territory. Then again, pretty much any station right off of a freeway is going to have diesel.

 

Eww.. Hybrids.. If you want to save gas, go diesel.

 

just keep the tl as the DD ... doesnt make sense to put money into another car. enjoy the tl as ur DD and enjoy the m3 as ur weekend

 

This.

 

My oldest daughter just bought one of these new a few weeks ago (2010). She loves it. However, when she first asked me my opinion, I suggested getting the gas version. Yes it gets less mileage, but there's no turbocharger to worry about and gas is far more available. The car is feature laden but the handling is not even in the same league as the 3G TL. It's a nice car for what it is, but it is most definitely NOT a sports sedan.