Toyota Prius

[alfablue]

Re: Toyota Prius

There's a reason the European carmakers have largely stayed away from hybrids. Diesel technology has improved remarkably over the past few decades to burn cleaner and deliver more power, while also providing solid MPG. Audi regularly races diesels at LeMans and other races, and often wins with them. Moreover, I would suggest the current diesel technology is much more refined than hybrid technology at this point.

It also helps that
a) gasoline is much more heavily taxed in the EU than diesel.
b) the ACO wrote the rules for LeMans (and was followed by ALMS) to heavily favor diesels.

It's true that they've gotten a LOT better, but I also know that over the next 6 year, they are going to have to get quite a bit better than they are now for them to survive. At least in the cheaper end of the car market. Between the EU, CARB, and EPA- the emission rules, particularly particulate matter regulation, is getting a lot tighter. It's already below visible smoke, and will be 30% of the current US standard across the two markets by the end of the decade. Really tough to do.

While internal combustion engines will not be going away anytime soon, the next 10 years will be very interesting.

As for the prius- whether you buy new or used, be honest with yourself WRT cost- will the premium for the hybrid be enough to justify or not? They do have their compromises, although the later the car you get, the better. Also consider the Civic, Camry, and Fusion hybrids for less compromise, if that is the direction you really want to go.

Remember, right now each $1000 will get you 300 gal of gas, and that becomes a lot of miles to make up when you are talking even 50mpg vs. 30mpg.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Toyota Prius

Also, with my driving style, the batteries never seemed to regain full charge... They would be 75-80% full all the time... Not sure what this means in the long run... It just left the impression that I was slowly draining the batteries...

I don't think that's your driving style - that's part of the design. The batteries have to have storage capacity available to accept energy from the regenerative braking, so the management system makes sure they're never fully topped off. It's not designed to have an all-electric mode, so it doesn't need full batteries to get the range.

 

[French Rage]

Re: Toyota Prius

I don't think that's your driving style - that's part of the design. The batteries have to have storage capacity available to accept energy from the regenerative braking, so the management system makes sure they're never fully topped off. It's not designed to have an all-electric mode, so it doesn't need full batteries to get the range.

Yeah I've never seen it at 100%, 70-80% is usually the range it stays around.

 

[Hammer]

Re: Toyota Prius

Remember, right now each $1000 will get you 300 gal of gas, and that becomes a lot of miles to make up when you are talking even 50mpg vs. 30mpg.

And when you run the numbers with the upcoming Volt and a Chevy Cruze, you're looking at a payback somewhere in the 200,000 mile range.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Toyota Prius

I thought about it myself until I read in Consumer Reports that in cold weather climates, the hybrid system doesn't work nearly as well

One of my father's coworkers in Maine has a Prius. He gets well under 40mpg between December and March.

 

[walrus]

Re: Toyota Prius

One of my father's coworkers in Maine has a Prius. He gets well under 40mpg between December and March.

Tons of Prius in Maine, they're everywhere. I'll bet they're great in snow

 

[Kepler]

Re: Toyota Prius

FWIW, I test drove a Prius yesterday, did not like the ride, and decided not to get one.