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What type of hybrid should I buy?
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Comments
That is good that there have been no NHTSB reports of CR-Vs stalling at highway speeds. Any reports of them catching fire at highway speeds, or did that always happen when they are sitting in the driveway or a garage?
Oddly enough, the reports were at lower speeds, in the city, as I recall. I don't remember any at higher speeds. But a loose oil filter doesn't care what the speed is. The total number was around two dozen or so, out of the 175,000 or so sold since 2002...
However, the issue is known, and is a human error with a definitive solution, unlike the potential Prius software stalling issues. Toyota has identified (and fixed) a problem with the 2004 Prius models, but that doesn't explain the 2005 problems. Hopefully it will turn out to be something other than software, but whatever it is, I'm sure they will eventually find and fix the problem (if it exists).
There are two reasons that hardware problems are easier to fix:
1. They are easier to find. Software code runs to hundreds of thousands of lines (sometimes millions), and it could be just one or two of those lines causing the problem.
2. When one fixes a software problem, sometimes one introduces another problem. There was a wide-scale power outage many years ago that was traced to a couple of lines of software code in a generating plant. The change caused problems all across the grid. The problem went away when they but back the same code. They still don't know why that code had to be there (but I suspect is it still there today). This is just an example of the stuff that can go wrong with a "simple" software code change.
The interconnectivity of software code is the reason we started this discussion. The Prius has to coordinate more code than other cars due to it's dual propulsion system.
Software is complex. I am in the software business so I know that. It is more difficult to redesign a piece of hardware (like a transmission for example) and apply the change to all affected cars if there is a design flaw. Also, both hybrid and non-hybrid cars cars have lots of software these days. So avoiding hybrids is no guarantee that you will avoid problems with software. Ask all the people having problems with automatic transmissions that act up and need to be "re-flashed", or that have problems with ESC programs, or with engine control computers, and on and on.
I'm not sure where that got started. My understanding is the first Prius was sold in Japan December 1997. They did not have a concept car until late 1995. The whole thing got started as a result of the Clinton Administration's PNGV in 1993. The US makers were included and Toyota was left out. Toyota started on their own in 1994 to develop a hybrid. Chrysler had a hybrid ready in 1997 that got 70 MPG. They felt no one would pay the additional $7k and pulled the plug. It was not till August of 2000 that the Classic Prius was offered in the USA. The Current Prius was not offered until MY 2004 with sales beginning in October 2003. So the current Prius, that has been very successful, has not been out for two years yet. The Classic Prius has been in the USA for 5 years this month.
One thing I have noticed with all the problems in the Liberty CRD and the Toyota Prius. The owners still love their car. I don't recall any of them complaining about the noise level in the Liberty. It has it's growing pains for sure. If you want an SUV that you can beat around the back country with I would say it is as good as any of them. What other SUV can you get 27 MPG on the highway and crawl over rocks and through deep mud without having it break? Then tow a 5000 boat to the lake.
Gary, they were "road testing" the car in late 1994, and did not have a "auto show ready" concept car to show off until October 27th 1995. And way long before they can put something like a hybrid drivetrain actually into a car, they spend thousands of "lab hours" developing and testing the hardware.
More details:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/100302.html
How much should a person pay to be an early adopter of a new technology? When I considered the Prius back in 2000, the biggest selling point for me was the 8 year 100k mile B to B warranty. I am not sure how long they offered that. That included ALL service for that warranty period. They did not want any other shops working on the car. The price was $20k plus TTL.
Let's keep this one restricted to more general points and helping folks decide what type of vehicle to buy.
Thanks!
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Honda/review/2005-honda-civic-hybrid-road-test/1381/
Railroadjames( Want World Peace...Use Yer Turn-Signal)