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IMHO, Ftizmall is an anomoly. AFAIK, their pricing scheme never is even close to MSRP for hot sellers. Besides, they only affect their area. A dealer in Boston may not care what the car is selling for in MD.
The initial swarm has been going on for almost a decade now.....
The initial development costs have been absorbed and the improvements should now more cost effective to produce.
Yes, the Prius will have to compete more with other cars but many folks like the idea of the hybrid system in comparison with electric only (range anxiety), diesel (dirty reputation) or more efficient gasoline engines (still relies 100% of fossil fuels).
Since Toyota is expanding the line - and probably into it's own brand - it'll still be a successful endeavor IMHO.
And yeah, they've been around a decade now, so the early adopters got 'em long ago.
The gas bubble started crimping supplies a bit and then the earthquake really hammered production. Now that gas is easing, demand (and prices), may ease too. But there is a bit of excitement over the bigger v version.
The Prius requires 100% fossil fuel minus the ethanol we all get to live with. In my opinion the hybrid is still overly complex. When people start comparing a non hybrid that gets 40 MPG and costs $10,000 to $15,000 less, it will require someone really wanting to make a statement. I don't think with gas at $4 per gallon the Prius is cost effective. A nicely equipped Camry with 4 cylinder auto will have a lower TCO than a comparably equipped Prius.
Prius Two 4dr Hatchback
(1.8L 4-cyl. Hybrid CVT Automatic)
MSRP from $23,520
Fuel economy: 51 city/48 hwy mpg
True Cost To Own* $34,219
Camry SE Sedan
(2.5L 4-cyl. 6-speed Automatic)
MSRP from $23,965
Fuel economy: 22 city/33 hwy mpg
True Cost To Own* $37,776
Assuming that's a reasonable comparison, the Prius has a better bang for buck.
For the IC engine but not for the batteries hence it's total fuel requirement is not 100% fossil fuels.
Now let's go to the next step - let's put those new more efficient gasoline engines into a hybrid system. That's would even be better.
When people start comparing a non hybrid that gets 40 MPG and costs $10,000 to $15,000 less, it will require someone really wanting to make a statement.
Can you show me a non hybrid getting 40 MPG for $10K-$15K less than the base $25K Prius??
Not that this is even remotely in the same class but...
Smart Fortwo
I think this thing is pretty sweet but others may hate the design. :shades:
Naaah. Back in 2003 Toyota forum people were telling me that Toyota and Honda never had to discount their cars with rebates/incentives.
Things must have changed.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You have to look beyond your own biases as well. Prius shoppers for the most part care about the image they project. They aren't going to buy a base accent.
The guy cruising around in a minivan and a wagon looking for his next ride may just be going for that bang for buck and decent mpg image when he shops a Prius.
Even before the disaster the Prius had dropped off in sales. May sales were off from the previous year by 47%. That in spite of high priced gas over the last year. The current model Prius has lost its pizazz. Will the 5th gen Prius help regain the momentum. Time will tell. Looks like we won't know until 2012.
No details or confirmation from Toyota that I really see in the story though.
As Rivals Unveil Hybrids, Toyota Boosts Prius
Recent news stories that 75,000 Prius deliveries would be coming the US this year were in error. Toyota is now saying 36,000 deliveries over the summer, but they can't confirm numbers beyond then. (Reuters)
Initial Quality rankings
As far as Lexus models go, I still like the IS and I think it is probably one of their most appealing models, even after being around for 6 years. If I lived in a place that didn't have snow, I would probably be interested in the CT hybrid as well.
Is that the one involved in that lawsuit for the floormats?
I don't think it's unique to Lexus. Almost all dealerships are like this. You know that the service writer is often commissioned?
I found out the hard way a decade or so ago when I naively took our Mercury Villager in for a major (60K?) service to the dealer. I told the service writer I wanted the 60K service. Well when I got the car home after the service I happened to open the hood and noticed that the plastic coolant cap on the overflow tank was still taped with masking tape where I had taped it a month before when the cap had cracked. The dealership was supposed to change the coolant, so I'd figured they'd take care of the cap. The coolant level was low and the cap was untouched. So then I checked the air filter and it had not been changed! On the receipt it didn't itemize those things, it just said "major service". Yet they managed to charge me extra for some other value-added service I don't remember that was not on the 60K schedule! I was really p$ssed.
I learned that day that when you go in to any dealer for service, you explicitly itemize what you want done. Copy it right out of the manual. It keeps them from modifying the services. But the best route is an independent mechanic unless it's something that absolutely requires the dealer.
Or if you have the capability, do it yourself, then you know it's done correctly.
The only time the dealer works on my vehicles is if it's a warranty issue.
Some people don't like to have an independent mechanic service their vehicle, or do the work themselves for fear of voiding the warranty.
This is a fallacy. As long as as the work is done correctly using the correct materials, then neither the dealer nor the manufacturer can void the warranty because it wasn't serviced by a dealer.
Ooooh yes, I will second that, and loudly! The interior of the current Yaris is so dull and tacky, especially the sedan's.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Toyota Steers Ads To Bring In More Minority Buyers (NPR)
Toyota really is what Buick used to be - doesn't bother me because I like that quiet, smooth ride in the Interstate.
"Prius, other hybrids lose Calif. carpool lane access today"
So much for the smugness of Prius drivers.
They need to buy a Volt: "So trade that old Prius for the likes of a modified-for-California Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric, Nissan Leaf battery car or a plug-in hybrid and jump back into the HOV lanes when you're flying solo."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Here is the list of what passes. I don't think many of them are available to the general public.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm
Personally I think the CNG vehicles have to trickle down from the truck and bus fleet for another decade before people really consider them for passenger cars.
hpmctorque, "Natural Gas - The Next Big Fuel?" #1, 2 Jul 2011 6:03 am
I don't think Japan is wise to try and convert from Nuke to NG. It would all have to be shipped in at high cost. LNG is being shipped there from Australia since the earthquake. I don't think Japan has any NG reserves.
The Toyota Prius Plug-in has an estimated range of 13 miles in electric-only mode. Then, the plug-in Prius switches over to Toyota's fuel-sipping hybrid mode. In the non-plug-in Prius, that system is good for 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, after the Volt switches over to its gasoline-burning mode, most road tests have shown it's not that fuel efficient. In fact, Popular Mechanics found their Volt got just 32 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway.
As we all know, 51 > 32
But it all boils down to price. Stickered with a base price of $41,000, the Volt ain't cheap. Pricing for the Prius Plug-In, though not officially confirmed, is expected to start at approximately $28,000, meaning that it will likely undercut the Volt's MSRP by more than $10,000
I am curious to see what the new Prius C will do for mileage - Toyota has promised that it will be the new mpg leader once it arrives. Of course it will be too small for many folks, given its subcompact size. If it averages 60 mpg or more, though, I think it will find plenty of buyers once gas gets back up to $5/gallon next year.
Too bad there's no stick shift planned.....
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Just like diesels, the automakers don't send them to our SHIFTLESS Society. :P
Things must have changed.
Yeah, the domestics went from offering $1000 cash back to offering $4000 cash back.
So now Toyota has to offer $1000 back to stay in the same price class, at least. They don't live in a vacuum.
Import brands have indeed increased incentives, but so have domestics. I bet the margin between the two really hasn't changed significantly.
The emerging "40mpg Club" of premium compacts will no doubt take a bite out of Prius sales, but Prius has enjoyed sitting on that perch for a long time, so competitors are bound to go after them.
It just so happens that it wasn't another hybrid that did it.
IMHO what will steal sales away are loaded up premium compacts. Elantra Premium has heated rear seats and 40mpg. Or a loaded Cruze, Focus, Mazda3 SkyActiv, Civic HF, etc.
You can get those for low 20s, cheaper than a Prius, and only give up 10mpg or so highway. Many will say "close enough" and pocket the $5 grand savings.
Subcompacts won't do too much damage - remember the Prius just barely eeks in the mid-size range.
Prius may be in more trouble when the Elantra Touring arrives, since it's a hatch. 5 door Focus models should already be taking a few sales away. Subaru will soon offer a 2.0l Impreza 5 door with 35mpg, and that's with AWD. Prius can say goodbye to more than a few snow belt sales.
There's a lot of pressure on Toyota to make more than just evolutionary improvements to justify the added cost since non-hybrids are so much more fuel efficient now.
After the tsunami, what did you expect?
Their single new model has zero supply.
Must've been more than that...
The sales person was less than competent
Perhaps the same guy ordered the wrong floor mats later found in the wreckage.
Bingo.
I bought a used car, and the seller gave me receipts for major service, including all fluid changes.
I changed them again anyway.
Oil was OK, trans was OK, rear diff... A-HA! Not OK. Melted chocolate.
It was right there on the receipt, but they never changed it.
DIY is the only way to be 100% sure it gets done.
Note how secretive GM was about it all.
Edit: Gary beat me to it, Volt not listed.
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110719/OEM04/110719897/1490- #ixzz1SaQbgEtQ
No doubt trying to capitalize on the idea that energy is scarce.
I wonder if the Japanese government will extend that hybrid credit that expired last year? Maybe not since PHEVs are one the way already.
That's a bit of a stretch. Probably more like "hey people like having AC outlets in the car." IIRC, various companies have offered AC outlets in vehicles for years - including Pontiac in the Vibe. Yes I know it's technically a Toyota.
The Avalon had it from 2000 - 2004. The 05+ dropped it.
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