24th Apr 2006, 00:29
Wow!!
After reading about ten of these comments, I think I'll ditch my plans (for now) on buying a hybrid. I'll stick to my large, cheap to maintain, 23mpg, dependable 03 Impala.
Maybe I'll look back into it in a couple years, maybe...
19th May 2006, 00:28
Wow guys. Did you not know the Prius is for city driving? High compression diesels will do best on the highway. However, as many people have mentioned, American diesels are very dirty and substandard, not to mention loud compared to the Prius.
I know a lot of people have insisted they know of cars than can "easily" get 41+ mpg with 4 passengers... frankly I find this hard to believe. Especially when the example on offer is a Neon?? I mean I'm sure its technically possible with the right car, the right passengers, the right highway, the right driving style; but as a general rule I think 40+ mpg with 4 passengers is just about the upper limit of mileage in the US.
The point is the original poster acted like 41 mpg on the highway with 4 passengers is a bad showing for the Prius, and this is just not true. The Prius specializes in city driving, which is where the majority of miles accrue. 41 mpg with 4 passengers is more mileage than I would have expected out of it. The Prius is also a mid-size car, not a compact or subcompact like a Geo Metro. The new Neon, for example, has a few cubic feet less space in it than the Prius, yet gets 35 mpg on the highway tops.
The original poster's experience with the window shattering is so obviously a fluke that I don't see how it can reflect badly on the Prius. More substantial negatives to the Prius are things like it's lightweight, low durability feel, the odd steering, the (probably) costly to repair powertrain, lack of towing ability, problems installing customization/stereo equipment etc.
The reason you buy a Prius isn't to save money in the long run, you could do that better by just buying old Corolla's or, god forbid, a geo metro. The reasons are: High-tech look, high-tech features (regen braking, cool display), near-zero emissions, environmental/progressive statement, built-in-Japan pride-of-Toyota build perfection (this is a very important car for them), hatchback utility, and, very important to me, a super-quiet ride. And of course, if one did enough city driving, and gas creeps high enough, the car might actually pay for itself.
19th May 2006, 13:13
"However, as many people have mentioned, American diesels are very dirty and substandard, not to mention loud compared to the Prius."
You're thinking 1970's. Cars like the VW TDI and Mercedes E320 CDI prove you dead wrong.
19th May 2006, 14:53
Finally someone who gets it.
Yes, if you have four people aboard your Neon and are heading downhill and aren't hitting the gas you could maybe achieve 41 mpg, but that's about it.
The point is the Prius, obviously, gets that mileage on a consistent basis. And it doesn't pollute as much as even modern diesels, although theoretically that is changing with Mercedes's BluTech technology and similar.
30th May 2006, 00:20
Didn't read all of the comments, but of course had to throw my bits in.
First, diesel cars have to burn as clean, if not cleaner than gas cars. Emission standards are standards, not guidelines. They have to be followed, and diesels are no exception. I've driven a few TDI's before, and personally like the low end torque a lot more. Not to mention 46 MPG from the Jetta and 30 from the Passat. And another thing. Why the crap is diesel more expensive than gas? It's lower on the refining chain!! Stupid oil companies.
Second, the Prius I got to drive was interesting. 03 with 44K miles. On the highway at 65 MPH, I'd get about 44 MPG. Not too bad, not great either. BUT, at 90 MPH (took a while to get there) it read 81 MPG. I never stayed at that speed long enough to test it out, but that's what the fuel computer said. I hope I don't encourage anyone to test a Prius at 90. I made it to 117 (with a tailwind), but the computer said 31 MPG. I think I was at 5000 RPM also, but I don't know because it doesn't have a tach.
Third, there are a few cars with EPA ratings that get into the 50 MPG range that nobody hears about mysteriously. Check out fueleconomy.gov, and look under Honda Civic HX 1992, or Honda CRX HF 1986. It's true, I had an HX and it did get 50 MPG. Where are these cars now, and why do Civic's get such "bad" mileage now? Gas mileage is a screwy subject.
7th Jun 2006, 14:52
It seems that most of the people posting about the prius don't have a prius, other than the original poster. I have had a 2004 since June 2004. I have 46K miles on it. I have saved every gas receipt since I bought the car.
I drive a 75 mile round trip commute per day. The elevation change from my house to my work is 1000 feet. My commute is 95% highway, at speeds of 65 -75 mph, and the rest at 30-40 mph city driving.
In the winter (upstate NY), I have gotten a low (for 2 tanks) of 39mpg. In the summer, I have gotten a high of 56mpg (on a full tank). I don't know why the driver was getting such a poor mpg - was he going 80 mph? Speed kills any mpg in any car.
Maintenance? Every 5000 miles, I get an oil change and tire rotation. That's it. The hybrid battery is warrantied for 8yrs/100K miles in most states and 10yrs/150k miles in the low sulfur gasoline states, such as CA, NY and maybe 6 or 8 other states.
Tires? The originals, while low rolling resistance (LRR), were not very good. I replaced them before last winter because they had no traction on steep, unplowed hills. I put Nokian WR tires on the car and have had no other traction problems. This particular tire is not called out as LRR like some other Nokian models, but I have seen no decrease in mpg with them and they are much more durable than the OEM tires (which were also prone to flats).
Finally, I don't compare my MID-SIZED prius to economy cars. I am tall, long-legged and claustrophobic and I have no issues in the prius. Have you ever been in one? I live in a state where new diesel cars are not allowed to be sold. When I looked at the prius the same dealer also sold volkswagens, and told me I could no longer get a TDI. BTW the TDI was slightly more expensive and SMALLER than the prius. Plus, they still stink - just drive behind one with your vent on. I don't know why people have to justify the prius based on price. The only cars people buy for price are economy cars - all the rest are sold because the people like the style, attributes, or utility of the vehicle. BTW, with the high miles I drive, and the cost of gasoline today, I save about $4,000 per year in gas costs over the 21 mpg lifetime mileage of the minivan I used to drive.
23rd Apr 2006, 11:49
1) The US government does not tax SUVs unless you consider consumption tax to be that tax, but it applies to all vehicles. The FACT is SUVs are SUBSIDIZED by the taxpayer since they pay no gas guzzler tax, get tax breaks if used for business, and the corporations who build them get huge tax breaks to make them.
2) Ethanol is not the end all, be all solution, but there is ample farmland to produce the crops. Trouble is, the main contributors are oil and chemical companies so they have a big incentive to make ethanol as "non green" as possible.
3) Diesel is still very expensive in America, not a 1/3 less as in Europe vs. gasoline there. The Caliber is yet another mediocre American small car (just read all the auto reviews of it) which will ultimately turn on its owners as it breaks down.