Hybrid goodness

[den]

I wandered down to the Toyota dealer and picked up some Prius literature. They got a Prius in on Saturday as a demo vehicle, so I nicked down there this morning to check it out and maybe do a test drive. They sold the car on Saturday to the first bloke to test-drive it.

The engine is a 4cyl 1.5ltr giving 57Kw@5000rpm (76.5HP), and the electric motor gives another 50Kw (67HP)+ 400NM of torque. It means you can drag off a Porsche for 15 metres. 0-100kph in 11 seconds isn't too bad.

According to the stats the petrol/electric system has the same performance as the larger 4Cylinder cars, but also gets 1000km on a 45litre tank. Which is nice. I'd heard a rumour that Toyota are so pleased with the hybrid system, they're thinking of adding it as an option to their whole range of cars.

I'd love the "I-Tech" pack: internal Bluetooth, satellite navigation, stability control, and a very cool "smart key." The smart key means you only have to carry the key. The car unlocks when you get 1.metre from it (or locks as you exceed 1m from it) and you only need press the start button to turn the motor on. No keyholes for arseholes to break. The I-Tech pack adds nearly $10k to the price, bringing it up to AU$48k.



But I'd also like a Monaro.

Comments

[makovette.livejournal.com]

But I'd also like a Monaro.

I knew your bloke gene wouldn't let you go too far astray ;-)

Prius is a nice, if pricey for what you get vehicle. It's a fine driver/commuter car. Some US states offer tax rebates for buying one too, which helps.

You are *totally* dependent on the dealer for maintenance however. I dunno what a change out of the battery pack will run you when the time comes, but it's likely to be "a lot". This will hurt resale value significantly I think, but other than those economics, it's a fine product that is doing well here Stateside.

CYa!
Mako

[http://users.livejournal.com/killjoy_/]

Heh, heard about a lot of Honda Insights showing up for sale when their batteries were in need of replacement... something like 5k for that, IIRC, though the batteries are a much larger volume in those things.

Really though, seems like it'd be enough power to get out of it's own way, and of course, the economy. The I-Tech thing sounds really neat, but I don't know how trusting I am of such things.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

A long time friend bought a Prius a few months ago. He's been fairly happy with it, but noted that the fuel mileage is only about 60% of that advertised.

That matches my experience with a Honda CR/V as well.

===|==============/ Level Head

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

the keyless entry stuff seems a little dangerous to me.....
i'm a bit paranoid though.


my carputer is installed, still having problem with GPS though - can't get a signal.

[arcturax.livejournal.com]

I may be mistaken but I know with some cars with keyless entry, you can use the key to open it like a regular lock in case the keyless system fails for some reason.

My roomie works at a gas station and he said that one lady had her keyless system batteries die in the key fob thingie. She was like, "OH NO I CAN'T GET IN MY CAR AND MY BABY IS IN THERE!" He asked to see the key, walked over to the car and opened the door manually and she stood there gawking at him as if he had just performed a miracle.

Prius

[ursuscal.livejournal.com]

My 86 year-old father, known to be a skeptic about new things, bought a Prius and so adores it that when a hit-and-run driver scratched the bumper, he ran to the dealer to have it repaired. }:xD

I was enamoured by the LCD status display. For some reason, he got an income tax deduction for buying it. Something about an "alternative energy source" vehicle. All I know is that it's virtually silent and very smooth running.

Re: Prius

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

We don't get the tax deductions here. There's no incentive to go low emissions, apart from the conscience.

[camstone.livejournal.com]

Just rode in a Prius for my first time yesterday, and have to admit, I liked it more than alot of small econo cars I've been in. Solidly built, and good on the roads and on hills. Both in terms of power, acceleration and handling. The keyless system isn't 100% keyless, (as you do have to have that "fob") but it does work well. I also agree that battery lifetime would make me opt for any and all protection programs that I could afford - as they will most likely be *VERY* expensive to repair or replace.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

It uses a NiCad that will cost AU$520 to replace. That's not so bad.

[javarod.livejournal.com]

Well, I can toss in a few bits and pieces. In the US, the Prius gets you lots of goodies from the government as far as tax breaks and other allowances, such as using the commuter lane solo. Why? Because its very environmentally friendly, and not just in mileage, after all, you can actually get close with a diesel VW in mileage, the thing is the soot and other pollutants from the diesel.

As to the battery, I suspect that it'll get better in the future, but right now, the cost isn't the labor, but the batteries themselves, look at the price on a good car battery, and then imagine this thing needing just six of those, and you get the picture, since its likely quite a bit more(an electric Ford Ranger pickup in a book I've got on electric cars needed around 24 car batteries). This of course assumes that Toyota wasn't stupid enough to integrate any of the electronics into the batteries. Having worked in auto parts, the industry will offer a dealer alternative once the market is there, and consider the acceptance of hybrids, that'll likely be less than five years.

Will Toyota put the hybrid drivetrain in more vehicles? Yes, currently production is up, costs are down on the new Prius as they learned a lot from the first one, in fact, supposedly its cheaper and easier to build one of these than a gas powered car, just the electric parts cost a lot more. Also they're working towards making it possible to replace the regular drivetrain with a hybrid, which really isn't hard in a front drive car, since the engine and transaxle are already installed as a package, so it'd be a matter of installing a different package. The rumor I heard said that they'll offer hybrid versions of their next generation small to medium cars, although bigger cars and most trucks'll require an uprated version of this drivetrain.

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Do they have the 4 door Honda hybrids there, too? Not just the 2 door Insights?

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's a conventional-looking Civic 4-door, just with the hybrid drivetrain. Motoring press claims it's MUCH more "user-friendly" than the Insight, but the Toyota is still ahead, with an overall better package.

Both Toyota and Ford will offer hybrid SUVs in 2004, and GM is also working on hybrid SUVs and pickups, mainly to improve the dismal SUV/pickup truck fuel mileage.

The next few years should be INTERESTING---!

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Ford Australia and GMH aren't talking about hybrids at the moment, but Toyota Australia ARE talking about hybrid as an option right across their range. I get all bouncy just thinking about it.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

We don't have a 4-door Honda hybrid here, which is something Toyota have picked up on. The Prius is more "user friendly" according to Toyota. Honda appears to be trying to sneak into the market with no advertising. It's odd.

[beki.livejournal.com]

A lot will depend on what you are looking for in a car. Mike drives roughly 180 miles one way to work. We have been looking into how much a hybrid will cost. Mike's research was that the Prius was a better option for him gas wise as he mostly does freeway driving. In the states Honda has a hybrid, but I forget what it is called. The Prius' batteries kick in after a certain speed, I forget what it is.. maybe 40 miles an hour? The Honda hybrid was better for city driving as it uses its battery below 35 mph iirc.

Just a little FYI :)

[arcturax.livejournal.com]

My older brother owns a Prius and loves it. He got the navigation package too :)

A pretty good car if you are looking for something which is environmentally friendly :)