Why do so many people spend so much of their time and money buying old sports cars, and restoring and taking care of them? Because a classic sports car is like an old tune, a vintage wine or a black-and-white photograph--timeless, priceless and nostalgic. A classic sports car is a 'classic' because it traces its lineage to the first or second generation of sports cars and is at least 30 years old. Cars from the 60s are especially popular due to their flamboyant design and trademark engine roars that call attention to their power. Classic sports car collectors either lovingly restore and drive their cars or simply keep them in prime condition in their garages. Many love to show off their cars in shows and win trophies. These handsome cars are the epitome of style. If you plan on buying a classic sports car, it is advisable to go for a car that's reasonably priced and is simple but nevertheless interesting. American cars offer great value for the money when compared to cars from Europe, in terms of availability of spare parts for restoration. Most American classics come equipped with power windows, air-conditioning and power steering. On reliability, too, American cars tend to score better, as they require lesser maintenance and do not need frequent servicing.
A revised Prius was shown just a few weeks ago, and the first cars will reach dealers in the spring. For the first time ever there will be a four-wheel-drive option, as well as better smartphone connectivity and a light exterior refresh. Which one should I buy? The entry-level Active trim on the regular Prius offers 15-inch alloys, LED headlights, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control and electrically folding door mirrors. Business Edition adds wireless phone charging, a blind spot monitor, heated front seats, upgraded trim and a colour head-up display. Business Edition Plus features self-parking and 17-inch rims, while Excel brings leather trim and an upgraded JBL stereo. If you want a hybrid that isn鈥檛 a plug-in, two worth considering are from within the Toyota fold: the C-HR and the Lexus CT 200h, both of which use a powertrain similar to the Prius鈥檚. C-HR looks hi-tech and is a great car that鈥檚 let down by a lacklustre transmission.
Don鈥檛 fancy a Toyota? The Hyundai Ioniq looks more conventional than the Prius and is a little cheaper, although its hybrid drivetrain isn鈥檛 quite as sleekly integrated. Other rivals include the biggest-selling PHEV in the UK: the Mitsubishi Outlander. It鈥檚 an SUV, so sits in a different segment from the Prius, but it does the same job in that it鈥檚 a five-seater family car with PHEV technology. Blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on all models, with the exception of the entry-level Active. Every Prius has a space-saver spare tyre as standard, but a full-size wheel can be made to fit if you would like the added peace of mind. Useful features such as auto high beam, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control are standard across the range. When Euro NCAP crash-tested the Toyota back in 2016, it declared it the safest large family car available to buy.
The dash design is certainly interesting, but is somewhat confusing initially. The quality is good rather than excellent, although it must be said that refinement levels are superb. Cabin space is good overall, but the Plug-in model has just two rear seats, and headroom comes at a premium because of the sloping roof. Boot capacity is pegged at 502/1,633 litres, or 360/1,204 litres for Plug-in models. You can buy a nearly new Toyota Prius for between 拢18,545 and 拢28,995 on our sister site BuyaCar. Whether your Prius is a Plug-in or a regular hybrid, it鈥檒l require maintenance every 12 months or 10,000 miles. The initial sequence is Intermediate (at 拢185) then Full (拢335), but at 60,000 miles and then again at 100,000 miles the car needs a Full Plus service, which costs 拢395. At five years old, a Prius qualifies for Silver (拢120) and Gold (拢200) services, under Toyota鈥檚 Essential Care discounted maintenance programme for older models. There鈥檚 no cambelt fitted, but at 100,000 miles or 10 years the coolant needs renewing, with fresh brake fluid required every two years or after 20,000 miles. The cost of these is included in the relevant service. The Prius Mk4 has been recalled four times; the first in November 2016 was for a potential parking brake failure on 4,617 cars. A week later, 691 models were called back over a front passenger airbag issue. In December 2017, three cars were recalled over a faulty hybrid powertrain capacitor. A final campaign last September addressed a potential fire risk in 32,000 UK examples of the Prius and Prius Plug-in, as well as the C-HR hybrid. An impressive fourth place in our Driver Power 2018 new car survey shows how supremely accomplished the Prius is. It notched up quite a few top-five places - including for its engine and transmission, safety, running costs and reliability - while ride and comfort were also highly rated by owners. The lowest score the car received in the poll was for practicality.
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