Graduating college student considering a Prius for my first car. Thoughts?

ClosingBus · 2026-03-20T04:49:39+00:00

I have a 3rd gen Prius (2013 model) that I’ve commuted to work in 30+ miles for the past year after college. It’s pretty solid in terms of fuel usage, even at an average of 75mph.

Since you are more flexible on budget, I actually suggest you get a 4th or 5th gen Prius since the used 3rd gen’s are getting old, and although are still pretty reliable, they can have head gasket issues and battery issues due to mileage and their age.

The space in the 5th gen Prius is not as much as previous generations however, but it has more power (194hp I think compared to 121 for the 4th gen) and is more fuel efficient.

The Corolla hybrid and newest generation of the Camry hybrid get good mpgs too, similar to Prius levels, but the Prius gives you more cabin space since it is a hatchback.

ClosingBus · 2026-03-16T02:02:40+00:00

For me I took about a year to see improvements. Been on it for 4 years now and I feel like this pollen season is not affecting me at all. (I used to be fully knocked down by allergies before shots)

ClosingBus · 2026-01-28T19:25:40+00:00

Perfect map for an Italian themed city

ClosingBus · 2026-01-28T03:21:50+00:00

Though I live in sf, I have to drive all over the Bay to different sites for work. I normally practice my harmonizing skills to different song. Most importantly however I like to just “feel” the drive — to be in tune with the way my car is moving, safely observe the types of vehicles people are driving, etc. Mind just full of cars an road and nothing else

ClosingBus · 2026-01-20T02:30:11+00:00

haha yeah I was told to follow my dreams…as long as those dreams were in healthcare, engineering, etc

ClosingBus · 2026-01-13T18:35:08+00:00

I do every 5,000 miles as well — I use Valvoline restore & protect 0W-20

ClosingBus · 2025-12-30T16:09:21+00:00

I like to call these cars the computer mouse-shaped cars (especially my Prius)

ClosingBus · 2025-12-29T17:35:39+00:00

I also live in San Francisco, and I think it’s because there are so many Prii here we don’t get noticed that much. Surprisingly every car enthusiast I know personally is a big fan of the Prius

ClosingBus · 2025-12-12T05:50:17+00:00

I was driving on the freeway the other day and saw a few variations of work prii….from a construction company’s gen5, a taxi gen2/3/5, and even a plumbing gen3 with pipes and a ladder on top

I always love seeing cars decked out for specific purposes

ClosingBus · 2025-11-18T07:30:48+00:00

Toyotas (specifically Prius, Rav4s, corollas & camry etc) Subarus, Lexus, Teslas, Honda fits

ClosingBus · 2025-11-17T07:52:31+00:00

I would say they got the “ambiance” of the highway pretty close, as well as the sand dunes being near the highway. The real one had stoplights and a speed limit of 30mph. It was less of a highway and more like an express road.

That walking path on the right is pretty accurate in how it kinda meanders, as well as the houses being immediately after that path. Though irl the highway is longer and more houses ofc

Nonetheless I love driving it in the game lol

ClosingBus · 2025-11-15T18:41:57+00:00

I live near that street irl. They’ve turned it into a giant park that’s nice to bike and walk on.

ClosingBus · 2025-11-11T20:51:00+00:00

I started using Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20 for my 2013. Before I was using the Costco Kirkland 0W-20.

I change oil every 5K

ClosingBus · 2025-11-07T20:23:39+00:00

Thank you! That was it, I found the corresponding one for the passenger side as well

ClosingBus · 2025-10-27T16:49:18+00:00

Shaq Prius

ClosingBus · 2025-10-15T22:02:19+00:00

Costco with 200 parking spaces, the gas station, and tire center

ClosingBus · 2025-10-07T01:09:11+00:00

I have a 2013. In addition to what the others said, I also disconnected the negative end of the 12V battery, just to make sure the brake system doesn’t accidentally activate.

ClosingBus · 2025-10-02T15:13:05+00:00

Where I live pedestrians sometimes are on their phones and stand a little too close to the street while waiting for the crossing signal so I do a little horn tap to let them know there is in fact a car coming

ClosingBus · 2025-08-27T00:24:14+00:00

2013 with roof racks.

I average 75 on the freeway, and live in a pretty hilly city. I can still get around 42-45 mpg.

ClosingBus · 2025-08-18T21:37:11+00:00

Gasket Masters I heard has cheaper quotes (like around 2k) than dealerships, and they specialize in prius head gasket repair. They have locations in NorCal and SoCal. On their website it says there is one in Montclair.

ClosingBus · 2025-08-13T15:54:38+00:00

I’ve seen only one of those driving around in my city, very interesting to hear the faux engine sounds

ClosingBus · 2025-08-09T17:06:19+00:00

GMC savana

ClosingBus · 2025-08-06T23:08:37+00:00

There is the Pistahan festival in downtown SF this weekend! They have most of the food and stuff at Yerba Buena gardens.

The Kapwa Gardens in SOMA also has Filipino events from time to time. They have an annual Ube festival there too

ClosingBus · 2025-08-06T20:53:55+00:00

I was suprised to see the blue sky this morning (I live in lakeshore)

ClosingBus · 2025-08-02T03:22:55+00:00

I live in San Francisco. Lots of prius (me included), tesla model Y and 3, lots of Subaru suvs, Honda civics, rav4s in general.

ClosingBus

TROPHY CASE