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Comments
as I said, I've had a car with leather before. I
found it very uncomfortable (freezing cold in
winter, scalding hot in summer). I find cloth
seats much more comfortable. And they are much
easier to clean and take care of.
Given the choice of farms for cloth seats, vs.
farms for feed crops for leather seats, I'd take
the lower acreage for the direct method of plants -> seats
over the indirect plants -> cows -> seats.
The studies I have read is that there is actually
less petrochemical usage to make vinyl seats than
to produce leather.
But, the Prius comes with cloth seats. So I guess
the choice arguement of cloth vs. vinyl vs. leather
is kinda pointless.
if you want to be minimalist, you'd just buy some
nice walking shoes and walk everywhere, and grow
your own food at home or buy direct from a neighbor.
if you need a car, might as well get the cleanest
that meets your needs. take a look at greenercars.com ,
and epa.gov/greenvehicles/
as far as buying from a local vehicle plant vs.
one overseas, don't forget that not all auto plants
are created equal. Some plants are much greener
than others, in emissions and waste matter. (I
recall reading that some auto plants recently
announced that they don't throw out any trash -
everything at the plant is recycled. Just an
example.) sometimes even after shipping you can
still be ahead of another plant.
What about -
Wildlife habitats destroyed?
Innocent rodents murdered?
Cows slaughtered in their prime?
MILLIONS of gallons of diesel fuel and pollution?
...and let's not forget the meat that is probably in the lunches of the factory workers!
Bottom line: Let's avoid making each other the topic of this discussion. It's okay to take issue with someone's comments; however, our Member Agreement guidelines requires that you use civil debate and stick to the subject of discussion. Feel free to email me (revka@edmund.com) if you have any questions/comments regarding this matter. Please do not address this with me here.
And now, back the subject of the 2004 Toyota Prius. Thanks!
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
internet connection, you can download the Owner's
Manual, the Passport maintenance guide, Electrical
diagrams, and I forget what else, from Toyota.
So far, the Navigation Owner's Manual isn't online.
A one-day pass is $10, and definitely sounds worth
it if you need your 2004 Prius fix.
http://techinfo.toyota.com/
(The site also has owner's and repair manuals and
TSBs for a large number of US-destined Toyotas and
Lexus models as well.)
Anyone know if the 2004 Prius will share front seats with another Toyota that's currently available? Reason being is that my wife has lower back problems and we'd love to be able to test out the seat before ordering one. I know they'll be showing up on dealer lots soon but we wanted to get a jump on things.
Many Thanks!
Jethro
What quanties are going to be produced for the U.S. A.?
Do you think dealers may even stock a few Prius?
Dupie61
anyone know at this point what I would have to pay for a 2004 Prius (with these options: VSC, Trac, ABS, side-curtain airbags)?
Thanks!
Side & Curtain airbags are $650. They can be added all by themselves, a package isn't required.
VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) is very much a luxury option, since so few vehicles offer it currently. Hopefully someday though, it will be a required safety option much like front airbags are now. $2,255 is the price of the least expensive package (#4 aka "AM") that offers VSC. The other features included for that price are: Rear window wiper, Side & Curtain airbags, Smart-Entry, Smart-Start, HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, and Foglamps.
That would make your final sticker price: $22,250
JOHN
(1) Can I assume that to get this car (given the demand vs. supply) I'd have to pay sticker price (no possibility of discounts for a while)?
(2) Anyone have a handle on tax credits for hybrids? If you buy a Prius this fall, is it that you get to deduct $2K off your taxable income when you calculate your 2003 federal income tax, or what?
Thanks again!
Considering the high demand and low supply, many of us are thankful there aren't any markups. That is a common practice for vehicles in the same situation.
> tax credits for hybrids
Only certain states offer credits, like MD, OR, CO, NY, ME. Each of which has a different approach and value. The federal benefit is a $2,000 deduction. For me, that only equated $280. A few have got as much as $600.
The EPA rating of 51 MPG Highway and 59 MPG City should provide some investment comfort.
JOHN
Toyota's initial sales target for the Prius '04 is 36,000 per year. Almost double the annual sales of the last generation.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Actually, that number is for the first production cycle, not year. It turns out that a second cycle will begin early next spring!
And to really impress, keep in mind that Toyota will also be supplying hybrid systems for both the Lexus RX400-Hybrid and the Ford Escape-Hybrid at the same time. In other words, they are getting ready to handle the larger scale production of hybrids.
JOHN
www.nytimes.com/2003/08/24/automobiles/24auto.html
It looks like the new 2004 Prius has started cruising the roads and freeways of Southern California. Hopefully, I could spot one before they officially come out in the market.
Now for EVs the government was actually giving a credit, which totalled $9000, so you could consider that a discount off the price of the car.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04prius.htm
Neither of those reviews goes into too much detail about the driving impressions, but I guess they were short test drives.
Thanks!
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/100488/articl- e.html?tid=edmunds.h..reviews..18.*
Think I also read somewhere that some of the options that include being able to keep the key in your pocket and push a button to start the car are grouped as a pkg...which could add 4K to the price.
We looked at the civic hybrid last year and liked it but I wouldn't buy it bkz it just didn't have enough zip for the entrances here on I 95. These incentives may make us look again this year.
"Business Expenses", chapter 12.
Prius qualifies for the Clean-Fueled vehicle tax
deduction (see http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/prius_tax.html ),
but you'd be taking a chance if you took the EV
tax credit instead... (You can only take either
the credit OR the deduction, not both.)
The deduction is currently $2000 for a NEW vehicle
purchased in calendar year 2003. It goes down to
$1500 for a purchase in 2004. Expect only a few
hundred dollars off of your taxes, depending on
your income bracket. I don't know what the amount
is for the credit.
Some states offer tax credits, either on sales
tax, or on your state income tax. Off hand, I
think that ME, MD, NY, OR, and CO are in this
category.
Some states allow you to carry over the federal
deduction onto your state taxes. I know MA, and
I've heard of others.
Some states or localities will give you a grant, if
you file before you purchase. PA, and some areas
of CA or TX may fall under this.
In the UK, there's a 1000BP Powershift grant available
for the purchase of a hybrid.
Some provinces in Canada also have tax advantages...
shipping charge is $480 to most of the US, non-negotiable
so, in reality, base price is $20,475
The current administration has shunned foreign hybrids since day 1. And when the domestic automakers requested better incentives so they could offer affordable hybrids, they were given the cold shoulder too. They felt the money could be better spent on delivery of a product for our children rather than solving the problems we have today... hence the $1,700,000,000 given to fuel-cell development.
Focusing solely on a solution that isn't even expected to be available until 16 years from now is sad.
It would have been much better to support both efforts. Instead, they are phasing out hybrid incentives entirely and gambling on the future.
Those of us suffering from breathing related problems and worried about our reliance on oil aren't exactly pleased with that decision.
JOHN
Anyone else happen to read about this? Is it coming to the U.S.?
However, will they require XL loading rating and low-rolling resistance design like the earlier models?? The Bridgestone RE92 175/65R14 XL-load tires are pretty expensive to replace, and I'd like to be able to use more "conventional" 185/65R15 tires on the 2004 Prius when the time comes to replace the original tires.
Standard 185/65R15 tires already meet the weight requirement. So an XL version isn't NOT needed.
JOHN
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Thinner is actually better in my particular case. It digs into the snow better.
JOHN
In that case, the Prius could use some better tires like the Bridgestone Turanza LS-T or LS-H tires, both of which have been highly-rated by customers on TireRack.com.
> need the assistance of special tires... anymore
It never did!
My 2001 Prius has used Non-XL, Non-LRR tires for over 26,000 miles now.
The most recent 5 tanks of gas have all yielded a calculated value of over 50 MPG. Clearly those tires (also Goodyears, very similar to what will be on the 2004) work well on a Prius.
JOHN
Thanks! Can't wait to get one of these!
jim
I went to a Toyota dealership today at Cleveland, OH area and asked if i can order a prius 04, they said yes and will assurre me if I do it today I will have it in mid_Oct.! I am kind of puzzled and surprised, since from reading here, indicating that Toyota dealership only take order for previous Prius owners? Do you think the dealership "BS" me? BTW, they only have 3 option packages 1) Base + Rea Wiper= $20175; 2) Base + Rear Wiper + Side&curtain AirBags + Smart Entry&Start + HID/Fog/VSC = 22250; and the last super package is $25245. Not include DPH of 485. Is this price is about right?
Thank a bunch.
Antz
I went to a Toyota dealership today at Cleveland, OH area and asked if i can order a prius 04, they said yes and will assurre me if I do it today I will have it in mid_Oct.! I am kind of puzzled and surprised, since from reading here, indicating that Toyota dealership only take order for previous Prius owners? Do you think the dealership "BS" me? BTW, they only have 3 option packages 1) Base + Rea Wiper= $20175; 2) Base + Rear Wiper + Side&curtain AirBags + Smart Entry&Start + HID/Fog/VSC = 22250; and the last super package is $25245. Not include DPH of 485. Is this price is about right?
Thank a bunch.
Antz