Insight - very nice looking, logo looks good on it

Prius - also looks nice, good for the environment, higher gas mileage, Smart Key

RAV4 - no

Scion - always did like this car, but it looks a little too cute for an IT company car

Your best bet would be to invest in the used vehicle, just have it checked out good...Toyota makes a great car. I have a very smart (and wealthy) friend who says that buying a new vehicle is a waste of good money - because they depreciate as soon as they are driven off the lot - he preaches making wise choices in spending money. So, my pick would be the Toyota RAV4: $6,000 - $10,000 (used). Love you...Donna

i also would go with the rav 4. for 2 reasons.....it's cheaper, and it seems to have more hauling space. just think of of when you were carrying everything you owned up to dallas. hehe. oh, and it's cheaper.

In case it's helpful here's a bit more direction in the question: If you were a business person who did not know much about IT but used the services of IT consulting companies like mine, which of these IT company vehicles would you say would (1) catch your eye and (2) communicate positive things about the company?

prius or scion. i go for looks. they're both geeky. prius more earth and oil conscious, especially for all the gas texans chug. gas will not be cheaper anytime soon.

Toyota Rav

If they are looking at your car to tell how good you are...something is messed up. I think you can pull it off even if you rode up on a bicycle. Love ya...Donna

That messed up something is an unfortunate reality. My response to it is that I don't mind satisfying anyone's first impression parameters as long as satisfying those parameters don't conflict with buying what is also a good, practical sensible business vehicle that has a minimum negative impact on the environment.

Some people might frown on a business spending extra for a Hybrid because it "doesn't really provide all the mileage it says it does (which can be true, depending on how it is driven)" and "the gas savings don't pay for the extra money spent on the car" (which can also be true, depending on both how it is driven and the price of gasoline).

But another consideration, in my business, is that the time saved by refueling a car just once a week, instead of several times, might more than make up the difference in the additional cost of the vehicle. This extended time between fillups also makes my business very likely to be interested in a fuel cell vehicle when they become practical. Since my business also alternatively experiences very busy weeks and not very busy weeks, the importance of every minute in the jam-crammed very busy weeks increases.

As for my fun motoring ... Hybrids just aren't there yet, but at least my hot rod gets 26-33MPG.

A Honda CRV would give you room for a bigger logo and more stuff. We bought ours new for 23000. It's also more comfortable for passengers when the other family car isn't available. You can also charge stuff with the power outlet in the back. We get 25-30 mpg.

Another thought on the CRV. As a fellow self-employed individual out in Houston traffic, it's much safer to see around and ahead of big vehicles instead of under them. We used to have a Sentra. Also, the air is filtered, cutting out construction dust, fumes, pollen, and mold spores. This has greatly reduced allergy and sinus problems for me and my family.

As a fellow car lover, fellow business owner, and fellow fellow, I like the Rav 4. I like the look, I like the fact that it has some substance, and I like the fact that it's much cheaper. The Prius & Insight are nice, but the logo looks better on the bigger car. I says "I'm ready for whatever you need me to do", not "If I can save a few bucks on gas & save the environment, I'll be a good guy". Just my take. If you were coming to service my puters, I would be more impressed with the Rav 4.

It does kind of make that statement, doesn't it ... do you think the Scion Xa makes a similar statement?

More so than the Prius or Insight, surely.

Hmm ... so maybe if I just get totally overcome with the hybrid bug I should buy a Civic hybrid and take all the hybrid labels off it.

My situation has changed anyway, I don't need a company car for another 6 months or more now. But I'm keeping all these comments and stuff for consideration later, it's all very helpful.