What are the disadvantages of owning and operating a Prius, long and short term?

Question

What are the disadvantages of owning and operating a Prius, long and short term?

Answer 1

Prius costs a lot more than a small 4 cylinder car, some $21-23,000 for a basic model. You could buy a Civic for 16K, or a Camry 4 cylinder which was on sale for 16K in my local paper.  

Save gas money?

The difference in price will cost you about a $750 difference in gas every year (15,000 miles at $5 gas). The difference means it would take  6-8 years to gain the benefit of greater mileage.

If you buy to own that long you will be ahead, otherwise you're behind.

Upside, the resale value is higher for a Prius.

Winner: Prius for long term buyers (assuming gas goes higher)

Answer 2

Disadvantage, you will become smug and smell your own farts.

Answer 3

the $ 4,000. battery

Answer 4

The battery doesn't cost 4k and it is under warranty for 125,000 miles anyway. Don't you think if there was a problem with the battery that we would have heard about it in the last 9 years?

The cost of Prius is more than others in the class, but the resale value is much higher as well. Here in San Antonio, a 2005 Prius #2 sold for 25k at auction. That is wholesale value. Crazy.

I just can't think of any real disadvantages long term, but short term your initial cash outlay is higher.