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"We have been alerted to the fact that some owners might have a problem," Toyota spokesman John Hansen told Reuters. "We are going to go back to our service records to find out what owners have had a problem like this and how many."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-05-16-prius_x.htm
while Edmunds.com, a popular vehicle-information and shopping site, has had 13 individuals post complaints in a Prius forum. Some of the cars that shut down had to be towed to the shop before they could be restarted.
The newspaper quotes an official from Toyota as saying the stalling problem is due to a software glitch in its sophisticated computer system.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/16/Autos/prius_computer/?cnn=yes
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=8506801§ion=new- s&src=rss/uk/technologyNews
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/223392_gemissions09.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=9-
kirstie_h
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-05-18-toyota-recall_x.htm
http://www.bls.gov/cew/state2002.txt
The inflation-adjusted income of the nation's median household fell slightly in 2003, from $43,381 to $43,318 (though the decline was statistically insignificant), according to today's report from the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_econindicators_income20040826
"...considering the average income for a Hummer family tops $175,000 a year and they typically have at least two other cars or trucks in their garage."
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Business/Headlines/03BusinessBIZ010501- 05.htm
How do you propose that they "target mass car buyers" other than regular advertising? Flyers posted on the walls in apartment complexes? I see TV and newspaper ads all the time, several a week, in Phoenix, for Hybrid cars. They are in the car ads. They are on TV. They advertised the Prius during the SUPER BOWL for gosh sake, 200 million viewers !! How is that NOT targeting the "mass car buyer" ?????
And that Honda dealer who only special orders hybrids is just being foolish. They for SOME REASON must think the cars will sit on the lot for a while or something. That's part of the "backward thinking" that is slowing the Hybrid Revolution - dealers who are old fuddy duddies and who cannot understand that Hybrids are mainstream now, not some fad or novelty.
Well, Honda's Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid aren't actually selling that well. The Civic Hybrid sales are down big over last year. And the Accord Hybrid doesn't have a waiting list either, I think. ANd the Insight is basically dead.
Toyota has done a much better job designing and marketing the Hybrids, and it shows in sales figures.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-03-2005/00035396- 42&EDATE=
That includes the best ever month for Honda Civic Hybrid: "5,579 including all-time record sales of Civic Hybrid."
Accord Hybrid had "sales of 2,023 Accord Hybrids, the best month since its
December 2004 launch."
Hybrid sales for Honda are what they are for these reasons:
1. Accord Hybrid is new, so the word is just now getting around. Many people think the hybrids "still have to be plugged in" so the word of new hybrids has to get around.
2. Civic Hybrid is "long in the tooth" and a "lame duck" model because the new, completely redesigned 2006 Civic comes out this fall. That situation, in EVERY CAR, leads to slower sales because people justify "waiting" for the new model.
3. Insight has NEVER been a big seller - it's just too pigeonholed into one good use, which is "high mileage one or two person commuting" and NO CAR like that (which was not a convertible or a high speed sports car) has EVER sold that well in the USA.
So with the most Hybrids ever sold in one month in April, I think you can say Honda's Hybrids are holding their own....
http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-buyer-profile.html
Absolutely not. I am interested in high mileage vehicles, 40-45 mpg plus. They are available world wide except the USA. The hybrid started out that way and has gone the same route as all the rest of the cars. Performance first and if we gain a few miles to the gallon hoorah for us. What started my quest were two guys that drove from the tip of South America to the Arctic Ocean in a Ford Ranger Crew Cab. It had a 4 cylinder diesel with a 5 speed manual transmission. They had averaged for the trip just under 45 MPG. I wanted one and still want one and that was 6 years ago. Here in the USA only 3 cars are in that ballpark. So I will keep ragging until I get what I want. If it is a hybrid PU that gets 45 MPG without doing all the hypermiling, I will go for it. If hybrids do not succeed it will be the fact they cannot be built cheap enough for the average car buyer to justify or afford.
Backy:
A $15k hybrid should be a winner! There are some decent cars that can be bought in that price range.
I see GM has improved too. I really hope the next few years brings prosperity to them. I also hope they can compete in the hybrid market as well. There's plenty of room for everyone to be successful.
I disagree. Of the 10 top selling cars you would be hard pressed to pay $25k for any of them Most are under $20K. You can buy a mid grade full size Impala for $20k right now. That is what the hybrids are competing against. Until they get in that $15k-$20k range they will be only for the wealthy and environmental activist buyers.
Alright. I pulled some *factual* data from 2003. I couldn't find 2004's sales figures but the best sellers don't change much from year to year. Tell me how the average *most of them are under $20K*:
1)Ford F150: 845K units sold
2) Chevy Silverado: 684K units sold
3) Dodge Ram: 450K units sold
4) Toyota Camry: 413K units sold
5) Honda Accord: 397K units sold
6) Ford Explorer: 373K units sold
7) Ford Taurus: 300K units sold
8) HOnda Civic: 288K units sold
9) Chevrolet Impala: 267K units sold
10) Chevy Trailblazer: 261K units sold
Out of this bunch I can only come with the Honda Civic that would be clearly under $20K. And maybe the Ford Taurus and Chevy Impala due to rebates. That's definately not *Most*.
No.
No way.
No how.
IMHO, of course.
http://www.autoextremist.com
Unless ofcourse someone reading these posts is doing a case study on Anger Mismanagement!
Check out the below link:
http://www.autoremarketing.com/ar/news/story.html?id=3546
It says the average transaction price of a new car is $26K+.
I thought you were talking about competition for the available Hybrid cars. Yes PU trucks and SUVs are more expensive and are bigger sellers than cars. I don't see any Hybrids in that category that are competitive either, including the Escape Hybrid.
You keep attributing the statement about wealthy people buying hybrids to me. That is not my statement. I am repeating what many journalists and Toyota themselves stated. I still consider anyone making $100k per year in the upper middle class of this country. I am sure you can find those making less that have bought hybrids. That does not change the demographic significantly.
Where do parts come from?
I consider Japan a third world country and most parts for Toyota and Honda originate there. I am not going to argue that some of the parts are manufactured here. If they are that is a good thing. My point is, the wages of those in this country that are"manufacturing" those cars is not up to the going wage for the industry as a whole. This is not the forum for that and we can agree that everyone has an opinion. I think I will go back to the Diesel board where more tolerance and civility is shown. It is obvious that anyone that questions or brings up dissenting opinions concerning hybrid technology is branded a lowlife.
There are many ways to look at the value of a country. I consider both Japan and Germany close equals. Since WW2 they have prospered financially largely at our expense. They have contributed many good things that we enjoy. They are also being protected by us at no small expense. They may be lovely safe places to live. They are not world powers in the traditional sense.
I don't visit this forum to belittle anyone's choice in vehicles. I enjoy the debate on a civil level, understanding that we all have opinions and many variations on those opinions.
Hybrid technology is in it's infancy as far as mass produced automobiles are concerned. I just don't believe Toyota is being honest about the technology. For example the fellow that is considering trading his 2002 Prius on a new one. If Toyota dealers were interested in furthering the technology they would at least offer the fellow low blue book in trade for a new Prius. They are getting MSRP and making big bucks on the sale. Instead they offer him $5,000 under Low BB. The dealings surrounding the Toyota/Lexus hybrids is too much of a feeding frenzy & media circus to be the good thing, that most people on here consider it to be. It has become way too emotionally charged. They are just cars, that get us from A to B, nothing more. The more efficient the better for all of us.
I hope that you will share any news that you come across.
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
What are they dishonest about? They are sharing their technology with basically anyone who asks them for it, competitors too.....what exactly are they being dishonest about?
Hybrids for a more efficient tomarrow
Railroadjames
Long term repair expense of the added components in the hybrids. I think they know that this vehicle is going to be very expensive to repair after warranty. If these parts were not sooooo expensive I would consider it normal wear & tear. To have to replace sensors & catalytic convertors on vehicles that are 3-4 years old seems odd to me. Maybe these things go out in all new cars. I know in the case of the catalytic convertor it is a lot more expensive for the Prius than say a Corolla. You will not hear about the components that get replaced under warranty. Nobody complains about that. They are happy they are covered. We are already hearing about people unhappy about big repair bills with first generation Prius.
I think hybrids will be expensive to repair after the warranty expires. But then, I think almost all modern cars, with their sophisticated electronics and complex mechanicals e.g. 5-6-7 speed automatic transmissions, will be expensive to repair post-warranty.