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Which is it? Is vehicle price more important or is using less fuel more important?
People choose the Prius because it is bigger, more comfortable, quicker, safer and more feature-laden than an Echo/Yaris.... plus it gets 30% better fuel economy.
Yaris/Echo = abt 2.85 gpc ( 35 mpg )
Prius II = currently I am at 1.96 gpc ( 51+ mpg )
The price difference is simply because the Prius has more to it than it's two smaller siblings.... and it gets better fuel economy. That's a nice combination.
I think we may have lost perspective. Even at $10 per gallon it is less of my disposable income than it was in 1961 when I went into the job market. Gas was 35 cents a gallon and I made $1.25 per hour. Now gas is $3 per gallon and my package when I retired in April was over $50 per hour. So gas could go to $15 per gallon and not be as big of a burden as it was in 1961. Plus my cars back then were lucky to get 10 MPG. At least my PU is about 15 MPG. I also commuted 21 miles to work in 1961. I would not give up the safety and comfort for so little gain as the Echo/Yaris sized vehicle offers. Give me a little electric car to run my errands and leave plugged into the wall and I will consider buying one.
I agree with kdhspyder that comfort is more important to most people than fuel economy. With the TCH or even the Prius you can have both.
You say false economy??? The Prius gets better FE than either the old Echo or new Yaris. How is that false?
Your arguments seem to flip from saving fuel ( the Prius and HCH are certainly better ) to buying at a lower price ( the Echo and Yaris fit that bill ). Both are obvious.
So which do you prefer? Save resources? Spend less to own transportation? From your posts you seem to prefer to spend less to own transportation, yet spend more in fuel in order to purchase other means of transportation - the motorcycle - for fun. That's a good choice.
My mom just ordered a 2006 Prius. Amazingly, we got a Package 7 for a near-MSRP price of $28,221. According to CarsDirect.com, that's just $186 over MSRP, whereas most dealerships we visited wanted anywhere from $2,000 to $4,500 over MSRP.
Anyway, now that the thing is ordered, I was wondering if there's a way to track it as it's built and shipped to the dealer. I did this with my Jeep Wrangler and it was great fun watching the progress. Please let me (and other new Prius buyers) know!
Mike
You see, taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which a car manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th qualifying vehicle. Once a manufacturer sells 60,000 qualifying vehicles, the tax credit begins to phase out; first to 50 percent, then to 25 percent, and finally -- no credit is allowed after the fifth quarter following the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold. ... Toyota and Lexus hybrid purchasers at the least will be able to claim the full credit until the end of the third calendar quarter, September 30, 2006.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/money/06hybrid-tax-credit.htm
TMV in San Diego for a package 1 Prius is $24,879. As was pointed out. It cost a lot of money to save a few bucks at the pump. Oh, and a Package 8 is $31,119. No bargains on hybrids in CA. At least till the HOV passes are all gone. Also many of us do not qualify for the "Tax Credit" because of the "alternate minimum tax" which you will not be able to calculate until we get the tax code for 2006. I paid 9 grand AMT for 2005. It will hit many in the hybrid demographic this year.
Seems like it when you go out on the highway. I wish I was in Hawaii about now. We have had about a month of high 90s weather. It feels like Florida with no rain.
You are a slick salesman alright. I have a question. You should be able to do well selling closer to home. I believe I would slit my wrists if I had your commute. Especially when the weather back there gets nasty.
The previous company I was with just became the largest steel company in the world ( acquired ).
So if you are about to bring up a problem with your Prius, or want to discuss your mileage performance, please check the discussion list to find the appropriate discussion. If there isn't one there, please feel free to start one up!
I'll be going back through this discussion and pulling some of the threads that have developed on specific issues as starters for new discussions, so you may find some posts you've already made in place like:
Toyota Prius: MPG-Real World Numbers
Toyota Prius: Accessories & Modifications
Prius Brake Issues
Toyota Prius Test Drive:What Do You Think?
to name a few.
Thanks in advance for your help with this. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to click on my username and drop me an email!
Prius Safety & Crash Test Ratings
Toyota Prius Dash & Instrumentation Questions
Toyota Prius: Audio System Questions
Toyota Prius: Basic Care & Maintenance
Getting the Most Out of the Toyota Prius: Driving Tips
I know old habits are hard to break, but I'll be here to gently nudge you in the direction of the right discussions as we go along
Your splitting of the messages to separate topics is great, but will you be able to re-order them so they appear in time/date order? They're kind of a mess right now.
The order that the discussions apear in (for the most part) is that the discussion with the most recent post is moved to the top of the list, so the discussions that are active are not buried down the list. If you have a suggestion for a way to order the discussions, that link that I just gave is the place to do so.
IRS has yet to provide guidance on using credits to reduce alternative minimum tax liability
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid_new.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_5VfwihIpo
It is also the best evaluation i have ever seen of a prius. Besided the side by side comparison between the Prius and the VW TDI done by edmonds.
"see the trees smile at me as I go by."
"see the children run out in front of the car because they cannot hear the car"
"slow and cheaply made"
This "review" is a BASHING, full bore.
Worthless as anything I have seen.
"slow and cheaply made"
It is cheaply made... as a 2+ year owner of an '04 Prius, I will attest to that.
That's funny - I have seen posts from hundreds of Prius owners in various web forums over the past two years, and I cannot recall anyone saying that before.
What parts in specific do you consider cheaply made? You have had things break because they are cheaply made?
That's funny - I have seen posts from hundreds of Prius owners in various web forums over the past two years, and I cannot recall anyone saying that before.
Oh really? I suggest checking out PC and looking at the 'dash warping' topic. Or the many posts where people talk about disassembling their dashboards to fix rattles. Or the complaints about the seats (which seems to be universal).
And FYI, yes, my rear seat latches have broken. Because they were cheaply made. My dash hasn't warped, yet, but give it time.
I've removed the last couple of posts to cut this off early.
General rule of thumb, if you think you have to use the word YOU, or you just have to make a personal comment about other users, it's a good idea to not make that post.
The car has turned on itself three times. Twice when the key was nearby, once when the key was not. Took car to dealer today who said he'd never heard of this happening.
?????????
Your opinion is noted but not taken seriously.
I for one appreciate your honesty. I think it is a trend in the automotive industry. I'm not impressed with most of the new cars I see. That includes my current PU truck.
MG1 = Motor - Generator Number 1
MG2 = Motor - Generator Number 2
The Prius has MG1 and MG2 in its CVT planetary transmission.
You will find it interesting that most of the experts on this forum do not own Priuses!
That is except John1701A and sometimes his answers are his personal forum to make addtional arguments/points.
LOL,
MidCow
Welcome!! Your opinions and input are just as welcome as anyone elses. One of the key reasons, people get a Prius is to save money and you are correct the Echo is a good economical car and it fits right in the discussion.
Backy and Gagprice do not own Priuses and are just perennial car-lookers and very rarely actually buy cars.
Thanks for your input and fresh views,
YMMV,
MidCow
Oh yes forgot about Kdhspyder. Sorry Kdhspyder! He does own a Prius and is very knowledgeable about the Prius and the the Toyota vehicles.
Cruis'n,
MidCow
As for the Prius, I ordered one in November 2003 and would own it today had it not arrived two months after the lease expired on my van. How many Prius have you purchased or ordered?
P.S. I've purchased or leased 8 vehicles in the past 11 years. Is that enough for you? If not, I really don't care. LOLHIYF.
P.P.S. Let us know when you have some fresh views on the Prius to share, instead of attacks on people who post here.
and (oh yes) "MPG's". Last point to be taken here. I remember,some time ago,several naysayers boldly saying that the Prius was way overpriced and would never hold its resale value. How totally untrue. Am I a happy camper...oh yeah!!
Railroadjames (so glad to have made the move 2-1/2 yrs ago)
I know this does not relate to any topic on the forum, but I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE SAID. LETS TALK HYBRIDS
Now with 24000 miles in 8 months it is as the two prior posters mentioned everything I expected.
The Goodyears are OK but I'm waiting to 40K to switch to Michelins. Running front and back at about 42 psi with no problem.
50 mpg on average now in warm weather ( 48+ mpg overall ). 85% of my driving is on the highway at about 60 mph.
I have several clients with '04's who are now reaching 100K miles who are chomping on the bit to see what the next Prius will bring ('09 due in late '08 ? ). Satisfaction seems nearly universal. One couple has bought 4 Prius' since Dec '03.