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Toyota Prius

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Comments

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    What is different about the 2006 Prius that it was downgraded from 5 star to 4 star across the board? I thought they were the same car.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Their testing is so outdated I dont give it much credence one way or the other on any vehicle.

    The EURO/NCAP test is like the IIHS and the Prius is the same as the Passat. Why the IIHS hasnt tested the Prius in 3 yrs+ is surprising to me.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    There was only one change in the NHTSA ratings--the driver frontal score went from 5 to 4. There must have been some changes to the Prius for '06 that affected the crash safety, otherwise the NHTSA would not have retested it. It didn't test the '05 Prius, for example.

    As for why the IIHS hasn't tested the current Prius... Toyota can pay for a test any time they want to. For instance, Honda asked the IIHS (paid the IIHS?) for early tests of the '06 Civic. And based on the results, we know WHY Honda did this. This is one frustrating thing about the IIHS tests--it can take forever for them to test a vehicle. At least the NHTSA keeps up pretty well with the testing of popular models.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109598

    TOKYO — After nearly two years on sale, Toyota finds it still can't crank out enough versions of its smash hit Prius hybrid to go around. Production at the main plant building in Japan is set to double this summer, up to 120,000 units a year, according to a Japanese newspaper report.
  • nw_vikingnw_viking Member Posts: 11
    I took delivery of my Seaside Pearl package 8 Prius almost two weeks ago (paid MSRP). In a good mix of city/highway driving, I'm getting 45.7 mpg per the computer, 45.97 mpg based on mileage (415) divided by number of gallons (9.07) on the first fill-up. Since I'm still in the break-in period, I have been taking it easy on the acceleration. Even so, I'm more than satisfied with the performance. Does it accelerate as well as my '98 Explorer 4.0L V6 SOHC 4x4 -- of course not. But my Explorer averages 17 mpg, and I don't use a lead foot when driving it.

    One of our more frequent posters is highly critical of the Prius for being slow because it takes a half-second to a second too long to get from 0 to 60; he even calls it unsafe, at least in Houston traffic. I lived in Houston from April of 95 to Nov of 97 -- one could argue that it's unsafe to drive in Houston period -- people drive quite fast and have the habit of running stop lights (the rule in Houston is if the car ahead of you goes thru the light, you can also go thru it too, even if it has changed to red).

    Most people don't floor the accelerator to get maximum 0 to 60 performance -- ever. In my Prius, I can get from 0 to 60 in the same amount of time that the majority of other drivers get from 0 to 60 -- if I so choose. Occasionally, one needs to tromp it a bit to merge into traffic. The Seattle area is full of short on-ramps that merge directly into traffic. In most cases, the Prius accelerates sufficiently to accomplish the merge successfully. In a FEW instances, I elect to slow down and wait for a larger gap before merging -- in these same cases with the Explorer, I sometimes elect to tromp it, but sometimes I slow and wait for the gap. The trick is to become familiar with the capabilities of your vehicle and drive accordingly. When traffic is really heavy (i.e. small gaps), it is also slow so acceleration is not an issue.

    Regarding the Consumer Reports article, I have some problems with it. First, they compared the Prius with the Corolla only. I think they should have also included a comparison to the Camry. Second, they stated that hybrids depreciate faster than non-hybrids. I don't believe this to be true. In the same issue, the Prius gets a big red circle (best) for depreciation while the Corolla has a clear circle (average). They also penalized the Prius because owners are more likely to got to Toyota dealership for service. Certainly I will do so for some types of maintenance/repair, but I do the same thing with non-hybrids. I let Firestone or Les Schwab do tire stuff, maybe oil changes, etc. For major stuff, I like to go to dealerships because they have the expertise.

    I test drove a Camry the same day I drove the Prius. It's a little bigger, a little quieter, and a little smoother, but it gets much less mpg. For about the same $$, I elected to go with the Prius that will save me $$ on fuel and lead to overall lower ownership cost.
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    http://familycar.com/RoadTests/ToyotaCamry/

    "We also had a chance to drive the Hybrid on the race track. With 192 horsepower on tap from the combination gasoline motor and electric motor, acceleration was more than adequate for daily driving with Toyota claiming a 0-60 acceleration time of 8.9 seconds. That is a lot better than the lethargic Toyota Prius. (of course, it doesn't get the Prius' gas mileage of 60 MPG city and 51 MPH highway, but hey, you can't have everything)"

    I am not the only one who says a Prius is too slow,

    MidCow
  • looking4priuslooking4prius Member Posts: 53
    >"We also had a chance to drive the Hybrid on the race >track. With 192 horsepower on tap from the combination >gasoline motor and electric motor, acceleration was more >than adequate for daily driving with Toyota claiming a 0->60 acceleration time of 8.9 seconds. That is a lot better >than the lethargic Toyota Prius. (of course, it doesn't >get the Prius' gas mileage of 60 MPG city and 51 MPH >highway, but hey, you can't have everything)"
    >
    >I am not the only one who says a Prius is too slow,
    >
    >MidCow

    Slow acceleration? Yes. Slower acceleration than the Camry? Yes. Too slow? No...they didnt say that. And by the way...it doesnt have a manual tranny, either.
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    Defintiion : Lethargic:

    1. tired: physically slow and mentally dull as a result of tiredness, disease, or drugs

    2. causing lethargy: causing a state of physical slowness and mental dullness

    3. tired: physically slow and mentally dull as a result of tiredness, disease, or drugs

    4. causing lethargy: causing a state of physical slowness and mental dullness

    5 : abnormal drowsiness

    6 : the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or indifferent

    7. lethargic - deficient in alertness or activity; "bullfrogs became lethargic with the first cold nights" "Prius are lethargic cars, i.e. they accelerate very slow"
    unergetic

    8. inactive - not active physically or mentally; "illness forced him to live an inactive life"; "dreamy and inactive by nature"

    Cheers,
    MidCow

    P.S. -Looking4Prius you are right, The lack of a manual transmission is another deficiency to be discussed at another time and place.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Since I drive 63 on average for 90% of my drive and 65 is a ticket... lethargy is good. :shades: Since it's me and 6 troopers/police cruisers on the road most of the time I have absolutely no incentive to go any faster.

    OTOH on the Interstates I am the passer ( @46 mpg :P ) to most of the sensible Accords inhabitting the middle lane.
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    Out of curiosity MidCow, what's is your feelings on the H2, H3, VW Beetle, VW Golf, VW Golf TDI, VW Jetta TDI, Pontiac Vibe, and Suzuki Forenza? According to pricegrabber, all of these vehicles have slower 0-60 times than the Prius (listed at 10 sec).

    No one is disputing that the Prius is slower than many vehicles, but there are several other models who are slower. Are they too slow? Are you going onto the Hummer threads and calling it too slow? Just wondering.
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    I agree kdh. If a person is always driving the speed limit or slightly below, you pretty much never have to worry about getting a ticket. Or don't have to hit the brakes and soon as you see a Highway Patrol. It is very liberating.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    ...if we could just move away from this topic.

    Mid - your opinion is noted...and noted...and noted...and noted some more. We got it. Most of us disagree with you. No minds are being changed here, one way or the other. Could I suggest giving it a rest for awhile? Unless and until something really changes? You don't want a Prius, have said so repeatedly, and that's fine - there is a whole universe of people, including this hard-core car nut, who believe it's a viable alternative. Vive la difference....
  • mithrandirmithrandir Member Posts: 28
    Never drove a Prius but I am an owner of a 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon 4cyl MT. I believe the 0-60 on the Subie is in 10.5-11 range, which is reasonable given that the 166hp car weighs just north of 3400 pounds and has power going to 4 wheels all the time. Sounds like the Prius has similar performance.

    I place myself within the aggressive/fast genus of driver types and I've been able to "live with" the Subaru's performance over 3 years of ownership. Being a younger, single person I certainly didn't pick a mid-size wagon out of necessity and I knew going in that I was buying something that was slow relative to other new cars.

    It's pretty well known that slower cars tend to calm the driver. I used to own a V6 MT Contour and I drove that thing into the ground, basically, doing one stoplight run after another (it's fun for sure). I think I'd end up in trouble eventually. The Prius probably serves as an excellent calming device for those of us predisposed to spirited driving.

    If you want a car for burning up the back roads on the weekends, well, the Subaru and the Prius won't float your boat. But the typical Accord/Camry V6 buyer rarely uses the 200-275hp under their hood. Oh yes, highway merging. Whatever. That's what manual trannies are for: hold the car in gear and take it up to redline if need be. I don't have a problem with power. Sure, more power may be more fun, no doubt about that, but with my lifetime 22.1 mpg from the Outback, I don't need a larger engine to guzzle even more gas. Cripes!

    I'm going to test drive the Prius soon, if I can. I think giving up the MT would be the hardest part, not the 0-60 performance.
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    Hey Jrct9454:

    Okay , let's move on what good input can you provide or have you provided on the Prius? Being a really hard-core car nut, I guess I just follow a lot of technology, trends, and cars. I like the new 2007 Camry Hybrid. I thin it is a better application of the HSD technology.

    Again, you being a hard core car nut, what are your thoughts and opinions? What kind of car/s do you drive?

    Cheers,

    MidCow,

    P.S.- TDI is good ( sad to hear VW isn't going to import TDIs after this Year :cry: ), even though TDI 0-60 acceleration is slow in seconds, it is quick off the line because of high diesel torque at low rpm; I guess in a way the Prius is somewhat similair with MG1 and MG2 acting as Ms. I would never touch any of the H cars; trucks and SUVs, minivans, and othe big lumbering vehicles are not my thing! I had enough driving a huge "duece and a half" truck in the Army.

    P.S.S.- Toyota Designers look at Edmunds and this Prius column in particular. If I give them one thought or one future idea that they consider at all, whether of not they implement it, then I will consider my rantings successful :)

    Moving on ......... :P
  • looking4priuslooking4prius Member Posts: 53
    Several.

    Miles per Gallon. So far, after one tank (which I know isnt representative, but it does show a trend), I am getting 44.3 mpg. Yes, there are other cars that can get similar or even better mileage, but being a computer programmer who is used to pressing a 'Start' button in the morning at work (a certain operating system, not a car), it appeals to me.

    Parking brake is a foot brake, not a hand brake. Now, this may seem odd, but my father (bless his soul) at 85 years old always kept hold of the handbrake while he was driving with me. When he wanted to make a point while we were talking, he would pull the brake. No more.

    A clean emissions car. As I have said before, my job is monitoring smog generated by powerplants in my area and reporting the results to the federal and state governments. So I am quite aware of the laws and rules that exist regarding smog emissions. If the environmental folks in the government in our area had the authority to say that only hybrid cars could be used on the roads, they would, but they cannot.

    A rather large trunk space. When the rear seats are folded down, there is quite a bit of room in the back for storage. This is partly because of the design of the hatchback.

    Roomy seating. I have a brother who is 6'8" and a dad who is 6'7". They fit fine.

    My wife likes it. She really likes the idea that the engine does not run when at a stoplight. It doesnt bother her at all, and she has no problem driving the car.

    What would I change? Well, I still think that the display is distracting...I have turned mine off. It still comes on for the backup camera and when I need to set the A/C, but otherwise I dont need the screen on all the time. That should be software selectable.

    And, to be honest, I still am concerned about Neutral. From what I have been told, to shift into Neutral requires power to the system, and even so, it is not a true neutral where the transaxle is completely disconnected from the engine/motor/planetary gear set. I would rather have a true, manual neutral should the car get into an accident such that the system could not be turned on. Not a clutch, mind you, but simply a setup so that the transaxle could be manually disengaged.
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    What does Prius mean? some say "to go before" That would make it a vehicle to Alpha of Beta test HSD , Right. Which everyone generally agrees is successful and has been completed.

    Other defintions:

    nisi prius (knee-see pree-us) adj. Latin for "unless first," in some jurisdictions it means the original trial court which heard a case as distinguished from a court of appeals, as in court nisi prius. "Court of original jurisdiction" is often substituted for the term nisi prius. (See: original jurisdiction, trial court).

    Nisi Prius Law and Legal Definition

    Nisi prius is a Latin term, meaning "unless the first". A nisi prius court is a court in which as case is first heard by as judge and jury, as opposed to an appellate level court. A nisi prius court is also called the "court of original jurisdiction" .

    Under former English law, an issue was to be tried by a jury from the county of which the proceedings are dated, unless before the day appointed (nisi prius) the judges shall have come to the county in question (which they always do) and there try the cause. Nisi prius court judges became rarer as the travel demanded they travel longer distances.

    pri•us

    Pronunciation: (prī'us), [key]
    —adj.
    (in prescriptions) before; former.

    ===============================

    As in a movie, what is the sequel ?

    "After" : praeter, secundum

    "Next" : tunc, posterus, postremo, porro, deinde

    So i think the Next gen Prius should be called >"Praeter"

    YMMV,

    MidCow
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    Well, I own one. Car number 54 [not black and white] since 1962. It was intended to supplement our '02 MB C240 [another dangerously slow car??], but after a few hundred miles on the Prius, we decided the MB was no longer needed.

    What appeals to me about the Prius are the same things that I observed 2 years ago when the new version was first released: it's a unique combination of REAL room for 4 REAL adults, a hatch, 16+ cubic feet of cargo space, and an honest 40 mpg.

    I wanted the MB B-Class, or the BMW 1-series, but in both cases, the Germans [or more correctly, their American dealers] chickened out and refused to bring either car to this country. [One can buy the B-Class in both Canada and Mexico, but not here]. The Audi A3 was the closest thing, and a real hoot to drive, but too expensive as typically configured on dealer lots, and nowhere nearly as economical to own.

    I hope that's a satisfactory contribution to the forum. As I said, if you don't want one, you're entitled to that opinion...I just get weary of hearing the same arguments repeated, especially on a topic as subjective as performance. The car seems quick enough for me, in one of the more crowded and hostile urban environments I've had to deal with. You disagree. OK.
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    Midcow,

    How about the putting the shoe on the other foot, what good input can you provide or have you provided for the Prius?

    It is interesting how you proclaim the goodness of the TDI's when they are slower than the Prius. You are correct in the good low rpm torque of diesel is the same benefit that the Prius gets with it's electric motor. Specifically it is 295 lb-ft torque from 0–1,200 rpm for the electric motor.

    The fact that you wouldn't touch any of those lumbering vehicles doesn't change the fact that their acceleration is slower than the Prius. Perhaps you need to go to the Hummer boards and give GM some tips on improving their acceleration. You may feel like your rantings are successful, but most on this board feel like your rantings are just that...rantings. Rantings that quickly become tiresome and seem like they are biased attempts at trying to dissuade people from a car.

    Plus consider, for the one or two that say that the acceleration should be better, the overwhelming majority of those in this board say it is fine. Which do you think that Toyota is going to listen to in the end? Honda raised the acceleration considerably for the HAH, and look how well that worked. The fact is that Toyota or whatever the company is that are trying to make hybrids mainstream are going to offer a variety of hybrid vehicles. Some of these will include Prius like, modest accelaration with great fuel economy, Camry's with good acceleration with good fuel economy, etc, etc. One application is not going to fit everyone, just as one vehicle type (or motor size) fits everyone. The beauty of HSD is that in can be used in a variety of different applications to fill all the differents needs and wants out there.

    In our year and a half with the Prius, we have had no problems and would be another if we could. The longer we drive, the better the performance gets. The first year our mpg was 48 and the last 6 months it has been 50+.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Lat: " to go before" Much a voice crying out in the wilderness; a prophet so to speak.

    From what I understand the Prius will continue to be the launch vehicle for new technology:
    Gen1
    Original hybrid drive concept
    Gen2
    HSD
    BT
    SKS
    PSD
    Gen3 due in 18 mos
    Already in the books just a matter of details now.
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    I can't wait to see what kind of goodies Generation 3 has! When Gen2 came out it was the first non-luxury to have SKS and BT. Then the 2006 added the Backup Camera.

    I look for the next generation to feature more efficient battery with increased performance possiblities (either acceleration or fuel economy). I would also love to see the EV switch standard. Some have surmised that it may have the Lithium-Ion quick charge batteries with a plug-in option. It's hard to tell, since Toyota still seems pretty anti-plugin, but 18 months is a long time. They may be looking for the Camry to really make the HSD mainstream and really go for it (improved fuel economy or completely gas free for many commutes) with Gen3.
  • mithrandirmithrandir Member Posts: 28
    Yes, great point about the HAH. If you just read car mags you'd think that cars need to do 0-60 in under 7 seconds to be worthy of consideration. The HAH flopped because few want to lay out that kind of cash just to go a little faster (and that's IF traffic allows). Damn, Honda, give me something between the 2.4L I-4 and 3.0L V6 in performance and 40 mpg in the city.
  • peraltaperalta Member Posts: 94
    If a toyota camry hybrid engine is put in a prius body I would imagine it will be very interesting. I would like to call it the GT Pius.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    MidCow just had a cow.. :P
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    Thanks for the kudos. I would have been really disappointed if Toyota had went the same souped up V6 route that Honda did. If some people want ludicrous speed, make that an option, just not the only option. Maybe it is too hard to make two different hybrid options in the same car, but this would let the numbers speak for themselves on what people want (and not loading them up with tons of options standard--ala Highlander Hybrid).

    Proof that people are still clamoring for the Prius combination of acceleration and fuel economy is CNN's recent article on the ten hottest cars in the US. Number one is the Prius based on days on the lot, lowest amount of rebates, and how closely to MSRP it sells for. I am not sure if posting a link to the article is okay, but here it is: http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/16/Autos/hot_cars/index.htm
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    No it still won't be manual shift - Prius GT :)
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Maybe it is too hard to make two different hybrid options in the same car, but this would let the numbers speak for themselves on what people want (and not loading them up with tons of options standard--ala Highlander Hybrid).

    Not so much too hard as too expensive. This is the function of the Marketing dept, Toyota's is among the best if not the best in the auto industry, to find out what sells and what the greatest number of buyer want. In the case of the HH it was IMO a 'tagalong' to the 400h which was the first Lexus hybrid with 12000 advance orders. Since the two vehicles are the same except for glitz it makes sense to add some volume to the hybrid SUV platform by making some Toyota product to go along with the Lexus product. Increase volume / decrease costs.

    I think a 2.4L +HSD HH would double or triple sales in the Toyota line but would it be more expensive to produce both a 400h and a 2.4L HH? That I dont have a clue about but it makes sense that it would.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Hi,

    I've read earlier posts and it seems that many people are not recommending the Prius for people who mostly put on highway miles on their cars. Is this really the case? I live in the country, but commute every day (or almost) to the nearby city (about 40 miles away). I really like the looks, praticality and comfort of the Prius, but am wondering if I should be considering another car, considering I won't reaping the full benefits of the HSD.

    Thanks!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You put enough miles on to justify a hybrid. It seems to be doing well out on the highway. As long as you don't drive 80+ MPH on your commute. Why die wondering if you should buy one. If you like it and can afford it.

    One question. Do you drive through a lot of snow? If so I would ask people in your area about the Prius.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Thanks for the reply. I do drive quite a bit, but it's just that the hybrid system isn't really effective after 50 km/h (the gas engine is running all the time)--please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

    I rented out a Prius and really really liked it, but I'm not sure if spending the extra cash for the Hybrid system to be worth the expense, considering the type of driving I must make.

    Yes, I do drive quite a bit around in the snow. I live in Ottawa, Ontario.
  • buckeyelarrybuckeyelarry Member Posts: 15
    Somewhat a personal choice - no real alternatives in the size of vehicle of the Prius to get 46-50 mpg on regular basis. If go with a diesel, in the same price range as the Prius. Yes engine runs most of the time on the Prius at highway speeds - but the eletric kicks in for passing / slight grades / hills to give better performance.

    Only alternative that I'm aware - is to go with Toyota Corrola; about $3K less, about same highway mpg - but smaller.

    I think bigger concern is the reliablity of the technology and available resources to repair once you get away from the dealer. This offset by the reliability of Toyota. The 1.3L engine is a proven workhorse - should get 200K miles out of the gasoline engine.

    The relaive low ground clearance can be issue with snow - as any other vehicle with the same ground clearance.

    :shades:
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Thanks buckeye for that--the reliability of the 1.3L was not yet something that I had considered. You're right, however--there isn't a car out there that combines a 4 door hatch and the roominess of a Camry, with the fuel consumption of an Echo.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    what I found out about the 'snow' question is that in the new models Toyota is allowing the VSC/Trac to 'slip' a little at low speeds in order not to have the situation of going dead when traction control takes over on slick surfaces.

    It's been a question apparently throughout all the Toyota models having VSC/Trac. I think the new Camry is the first to have the 'slipping trac' so to speak. Computer adjustment. And it only occurs when you stomp on the pedal in a slick situation, slow careful accelerations dont seem to induce the trac to kick in.
  • mithrandirmithrandir Member Posts: 28
    Perhaps a Civic or Corolla is cheaper to own overall than a Prius but the problem with these two cars is that Honda and Toyota make them only in sedan and coupe format, ugh. The Matrix is allegedly a Corolla but it doesn't get nearly the mileage and it is slower as well. I mean 30/36 is not bad, really, for the utility but the model is just so dated now. If the Prius didn't have that hatch (a la Gen I) it wouldn't be half the car, frankly. I won't even consider the Civic Hybird because of that stupid 10 point something cubic foot trunk. Useless.

    I was out there with tape measure at the dealership. Prius has 37-38 inches between the wheelwells in the cargo area and at least 60 inches from hatch lid to the top of the rear seatbacks rolled forward. The cargo area is admirably flat and you don't have to tilt the rear seat cushions forward either.

    I'm waiting for the Honda dealer to tell me when they have the Fit in stock. 33/38 and since it's positioned as a Gen Y vehicle (that will be bought by 50-somethings, Echo Redux), it's cheap too (read 14-16K). With the Magic Seats, the Fit can apparently hold a decent amount of cargo too. It's that or the Prius. Big difference in price, yes. Prius worth 10K more? Cannot say.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    I think that you'll find the Fit comparable in a lot of respects, except refinement on the road. Like all Hondas, its Achilles heel is going to be noise, especially road noise. Not a problem for commuting, but a real problem for long trips. We want to get by with just one car for everything, and the Fit and Nissan Versa are real competitors for the Prius on paper, but comfort during 6-9 hour stints on the road is the big question.
  • clethroclethro Member Posts: 22
    Half or more of the miles on my Prius have been on the highway. The posted speed on the expressways outside of the cities is 70 mph in Indiana. I set the cruise at 74. The computer typically indicates around 40 mpg at that speed. Yes, you do lose mpg the faster you go, and 70 is beyond the peak efficiency speed. Still, any other car would likewise be beyond its optimum at that speed. And most any other car would be getting well less than 40 at that speed. Driving into a strong headwind knocks the mileage down a bit. I've had that happen a number of times.

    My overall mpg is at 44 right now. That's for around 5800 miles. The colder temperatures do bring the mileage down some.

    I haven't really driven the car in snow, just slush. For some reason it has hardly snowed around here this year. And the one time it did snow somewhat heavily I drove my 4x4 truck.

    As for reliability, I hedged and bought the 7/70 extended warranty ... just in case. This is for the non-HSD part of the car. Toyota's warranty on the HSD is either 8/80 or 10/100. You'll have to look it up because I don't remember what it is.
  • mithrandirmithrandir Member Posts: 28
    If you drive a Fit like a Prius on the highway, i.e. a relatively slow 65-70 mph, perhaps the road noise won't be so bad. Overall noise in my 2003 Outback wagon is reasonably controlled at or below 75 mph but once you eclipse 75 noise becomes a real, almost this-is-a-design-flaw, issue.

    But what gets me is that $3000 or so federal tax credit because if that's not there, the Prius is basically out of the running. It's limited to 60K hybrids per manufacturer and Toyota probably isn't very far from that today, just 79 days into 2006. So that's another game: Maybe the tax credit will be exhausted before the Fit hits the market in a month.
  • michealsmicheals Member Posts: 27
    I wonder where the whole message about the Prius being inefficient at highway speeds comes from? Most of my mileage isn't highway, but on the dozen or so long interstate trips (400 miles at 70-75mph) we have gotten consistently 45-50 mpg. Granted, most of our driving is in the South so it is usually warmer and not much ice/snow.

    However, one of the benefits of the Prius being a hybrid is that it can have a smaller engine. Even if the gas engine is running all the time at highway speeds, it is still pretty darn efficient (note at highway speeds). Even when it starts to dip below 40 at 75-80mph how many cars get that kind of mileage at those speeds?

    For what is worth, most of the people on Priuschat and other sites (even the CR reports) say you will usually get closer to the highway estimate of 50mpg than you will to the city estimate of 60mpg.

    I would recommend renting one but you already did. Now whether or not it is worth some extra money is hard to say. It may depend on how long you are going to keep the car, what the other car you would get would be (and it's cost/mileage) and other intangibles like the gadgets and neatness of the car.

    It is pretty difficult to justify getting the Prius over a used Corolla (or civic) in terms of gas savings. Needless to say, you get a much better car than either of those, but if you are happy with those, then I would go that route. At extra $5k or more for 15mpg extra on the highway takes a long time to make up the initial cost. As gas prices go up, then it can make up that difference much faster.

    One thing to note is that pretty much everyone I have seen post from wintery climates think the stock tires are horrible and get great performance in the snow with winter tires (aside from the low clearance). A site you might peruse is http://john1701a.com/ as he comes from a northen climate (Minnesota it looks like).

    The prius is very quiet, even at highway speeds. You can easily go 70-75mph and think you are going much slower.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Thanks for the post, and for everyone that answered mine thus far. You're right MichaelS, the Prius is really quiet, and might I add, comfortable--it's not a Camry in terms of comfort, but it rivals it IMO. I just love the Prius, but am trying to rationalize the added expense to get the HSD!

    I usually keep my cars for 6 years or so, but realize that I'd have to keep my car for about 10 years before I recoup the savings on gas. That said, I must admit that I'm a greenie, and loved the fact that my car doesn't keep running on stops or when I'm stuck in traffic. When I rented my Prius, that's probably the thing that impressed me the most. You look at the cars around you that ARE still running and think that all cars should be like the Prius; having an engine running at idle just seems like a crazy thing to do now.

    I've also heard that the stock tires are pretty crappy, and looked into getting Michelins. They do make some, and I was thinking about going with those. They'd probably make the car a bit more comfortable too, if it wasn't comfortable already...

    When I rented the Prius, I consistently got 50 MPG with the cruise control on set at 72 MPH.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    From what I hear the Goodyear Integrities are kind of mediocre. In 10000 mi since Nov 30th I havent noticed anything bad about them but on all my vehicles I switch over to Michelins at the first opportunity. I find tMic's to be much quieter in most cases.

    ;) Can there be less than zero noise from driving?
  • mithrandirmithrandir Member Posts: 28
    I'm coming off of my "car buying anticipation high" and do not think I will be buying a Prius after all. Reasons?

    -Need package 4 (for the VSC) but dealers seem to have TONS of pkg #6 and a few #3. Not paying for equipment I don't want.

    -Interest rates are high/Toyota refuses to subsidize. My current loan is 2.9%/60 months and I do not want to switch to a 5.95%/60 month. The Prius is too expensive for me to pay off in cash.

    -Cost of ownership questions. With the impending flood of hybrids in the next couple of years you have to wonder if the Prius is going to be such a hot ticket on the resale market.

    -I am afraid to give up Subaru AWD for a FWD with low RR tires. I will not switch to snow tires in winter because we have "too many" dry winter days in Philly and the pricey winter tires will just get worn out.

    -I might regret going from MT to CVT. I really like shifting my own gears.

    -I don't have many complaints about my Outback other than fuel consumption. I think it's more sensible just to keep driving it (only 30K on the odometer).

    The Prius is definitely a neato car and I want it for "emotional reasons" but when I think about it more from a rational perspective I really should hold off. If gas goes back to $3.25 maybe I'll change my mind.
  • seekoseeko Member Posts: 33
    hi prius people. does anyone know how fast a stock 2006 prius will go m.p.h.? seeko :mad:
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    I've done 85 without any effort.. I'm guessing 100-110
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    Canc,

    You are probably right. 50 Km /Hr is equivalent to only 31.075 miles per hour. There are no highways with speeds that low. So maybe rural roads adn back streets are the most efficient places to drive a Prius for hypermileage!

    Cheers,

    MidCow
  • gampagampa Member Posts: 78
    Continuing with more... Second Thoughts.

    Being older and male... my concern is that the car has the attached stigma of being a "chick" car.

    My wife seems to think it is a girl's car... and I am just wondering how many "men versus women" have purchased the car?

    Frankly I never gave it a second thought until she mentioned it, but now it is on the back of my mind... it kind of took the "wind out of my sail"!

    Also, I too have another car that works fine, gets about 22 mpg... I just wanted to jump on the bandwagon like some of you already have and be prepared for when gas rises again.

    Should wait for the Hybrid Camry?

    What do you think?

    Gampa
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    My wife seems to think it is a girl's car

    I don't think so. It is does not seem to be gender specific like say the VW Beetle. It is for folks that like the space ship techno transformer look.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    It's a technophiles dream.. OK that's extreme.

    In SE VA in the heart of one of the largest military installations on earth...
    3 NASA engineers;
    4 Navy nuke engineers;
    Multiple doctors;
    multiple process servors ( all male );
    numerous retired couples on the road between children all the time;
    several real estate agents
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    "3 NASA engineers;
    4 Navy nuke engineers; Multiple doctors; multiple process servors ( all male );several real estate agents"

    Do you mean to imply that these professions cannot be women? Otherwise I don't see how this proves it isn't a "chick's car".
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    I was just reinforcing my first statement which was gender neutral. It's a technophile's auto.

    It was only on the process server occupation that I mentioned any gender spedificity.

    That's an interesting interpretation on your part though.

    Getting into the gender side of it, it's often too edgy to be stylish enough for most women. 'Geek car' comes to mind.
  • looking4priuslooking4prius Member Posts: 53
    'Geek Car' is what I thought, too. Being a confirmed geek, it really appeals to me. But now that it has been mentioned, I havent (yet) seen a woman driving a Prius (other than my wife driving ours). Not that women can't be geeks, but that is a subject for a board far, far away from here!
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Stereotypes only limit us.

    Drive what you want to drive, not what others expect you to drive.
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