It also gives great value for that incremental cost, if you can afford it. Funnily enough, it wasn't too long ago that some top of the line Prius were being sold for more than the basic Camry goes for today.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Earthling, keep in mind you aren't driving your BMW and your Prius - at the same time.
So you are choosing between fast and slow (..slower).
The key is - "Is the Prius fast enough?" Most people think so. I have the 2006 Civic Hybrid, and it's fast enough for most situations. Admittedly, the Camry Hybrid is CONSIDERABLY faster. And that can mean an extra measure of get-outta-trouble safety. It's just a matter of if one thinks they NEED this extra capability.
I've been used to pretty fast cars all my life (big V8s, Maximas, RX7s, Infinitys, Jaguars, MBs, etc.), and I'm not really missing the power much now. And I do feel safe.
The Prius is the mileage champ; the Camry Hybrid is the speedier, more costly, luxury champ. They're both great cars, I think. You need to drive them both.

Steve

STOP terrorism - Drive a HYBRID

Vehicles:
350 miles a week ------------ 2006 HCH II, Magnetic Pearl, w/NAVI (born on May 25, 2006)
350 miles a month ---------- 2003 Mazda Tribute ES-V6
350 miles a year (for now) - 1986 Mercedes 560SL

Since I own one of each I'll jump in on this one!

The Camry is larger, smoother and quieter. You also feel it's size... parking and tight maneuvers require more attention. The Prius (2007 Touring) is smaller, more nimble and fun to zip around in. Still has get up and go enough to get down the road -- not a huge difference 0-40 miles per hour between the two. It's the 40-60 miles per hour that Camry comes on much stronger.

Strangely enough there are some features on the Prius that are NOT on the Camry: HID headlights, auto-down AND up drivers window & LCD display screen (including backup camera) even on a non-NAV car. But then I wish the Prius had Camry's auto-lock doorlocks and a sunroof.

While the TCH isn't too different from non-Hybrid Camrys the Prius shouts HYBRID and techie from opening the door. The Prius giant LCD speedo way up on the dash, steep front and rear windows, dash mounted gear selector all are a real change from a non-hybrid car. Guess you just need to go drive them each a bunch and decide -- you really can't go wrong and if still undecided just buy both!!

I really like the fact that the Prius was designed from a clean sheet of paper, or should I say a blank CADD monitor screen, to be as fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible, with no compromises. Starting off with those goals in mind is what led to the entire shape of the car, which I think is the cutest thing on four wheels.

If I were to weigh decision factors, in the form of a spreadsheet, giving different weights to different factors such as mpg, looks, price, handling, etc., the Prius would win hands-down according to my weighting of factors, or in other words, in my value system.

Others would weight the various factors according to their own values, which helps explain why people drive different vehicles.

The Prius was the right choice for me.

Harry

I looked at the Prius and the Camry. I decided on the Camry because of the seats. I despised the seats in the Prius (lack of adjustments and leg support). I wasn't willing to put up with that for 2000 miles/month. If I could have put the Camry's seats in the Prius, I would have bought the Prius.

I've been to the local salvage yard that handle imports and looked at powered seats to replace at least the passenger seat but possibly the driver seat too.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

I had 4 ICE Camry's from 1989 to 2005. All took very good care of me and I in turn would recommend them to anyone for any use. When the TCH was announced DING !!!! 'Put a fork in me I'm done' When I saw the pictures of this Gen I fell in love with it.

Then I bought a Prius.

???

First I got a good deal in Nov 2005. I sell Toyota's ( hybrids ) and like everyone else it's been Sticker Price and wait your turn. Well on Nov 30th we had one 2005 left on the lot with the '06's inbound. So says I 'Let me make them an offer.'

Like a lot of others the jump to $3.00 in Aug '05 spooked me and with a 150 mi RT commute even the efficient 4c Camry was going to look expensive. Plus VSC,Trac, all the airbags and frankly the techieness of it appeals to my inner geek.

I have since found that the seating ( for me ) is much more comfortable than any other vehicle I've owned, except our Highlander. alsoI feel it is much better handling than the previous LE Camry's I've had. I find the electric steering more precise in turning and it's nimble in traffic. I see it as a point guard as opposed to the shooting forward that is the TCH.

If I still have the same 150 mi commute in 6-7 years I'll probably get a late model Gen 3 Prius and wish the TCH at that time got as good fuel economy.

Lifetime fuel usage: 2.1 GPC ( 1.99 recent )

Throw in the highlander too. I don't have a prius so i kind of want one ,you know that feeeling. I just worked up the gas milage saveings and heres what i found,If i drive 10000 miles the prius would cost $150. less than the camry and $420 less than the hyhi. On my 3600 mile r/t trip to vegas from mpls,mn. the prius would save me $25, over the camry or $126 round trip over the hihy. Bottom line is that if the camry had moere trunkspace it would easyley be a superior choice overe the prius fom comfort ride quality,power and over all nicer everything, But I think I could get more golf clubs in the prius. bottom line the camry is more fun to drive!!

I drove both a Prius Touring Edition & loaded TCH sameday before buying my TCH in February. As with most things in life there were trade-offs between the two - while I really wanted the higher mpg + flexibility of the Prius' hatchback / fold-down seats I was unwilling to give up the "luxury" of better leather seats, sunroof and relative safety of a larger vehicle with more power to get out of trouble if needed.

I have no regrets so far & we were able to get all of my wife's business products in the smaller trunk, very small pass-through and folded rear seats A-OK - so hatchback-envy is not an issue for us any longer...

I agree with the posts on driving both and considering what you really need compared to what you really want - although - "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you may find you get what you need" - apologies to Jagger & The Stones...

Tom

07 TCH Blue Ribbon Metallic / Ash - w/ light blue/yellow pinstripe
Options: Leather, Moonroof, Nav., C&C package
Added -Toyota: Rear Spoiler, Body Side Molding, Rear Bumper Applique, Camry Mats, Door Sill Enhancements
Added-Other: Sirius Starmate4, BilletAmerica Mirror Chrome Pillars; Color-Keyed Mud Guards



HSD Community Reason #12439
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minis...ids/index.html

Wife's whip - 07 Pontiac G6 GT Convertible - Crimson Red / Light Taupe

We bought a Prius last year and have been really impressed. This year we wanted to add a more comfortable sedan for the family. In comes the TCH. I've been driving it almost exclusively for two weeks and the wife drives the Prius like she always has. We live in Florida were it's warm and flat - two hybrid friendly features. I was able to get over 600 miles on the first tank on the TCH for about 15 gallons. I felt good about showing 42.5 MPG on the TCH computer. The Prius usually hovers around 50 on it's computer. My daily commute is longer than the wife's so it's a little more MPG friendly. Today the wife took the TCH to go out of town (it has the Nav and our Prius doesn't). Using the same driving techniques I used on the TCH, I got 67 MPG on the Prius computer today over 70 miles going to work and running the daughter around town.

CONCLUSION - Prius is BY FAR the MPG champ and has more storage space with the hatch, but the TCH is waaayyy more gucci in it's comfort and features.

RECOMMENDATION - Get one of each!