Test drive

[den]

I test drove a Prius today.



I want one THIS INSTANT, dammit.

Comments

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

Get in line :) It's been on my list since I test-drove one two years ago. Aren't they cool?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I loved it! bloody silent in town, and a fair amount of grunt on the open road.

AND TECHY TOYS!

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's the techy toys that really push it over the top for me - the one I drove had the GPS unit in the dash :D

[dancinglights.livejournal.com]

I will be a happy, happy elfling whence I can get a used hybrid. I am slightly too broke an elfling to buy one new this instant.

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

One thing to remember: If you buy a USED hybrid (depending on how many miles it has on it) you're substantially closer to the time when you'll have to buy a replacement battery---which can cost over $3,500, depending on the brand/model vehicle.

I work for a dealer that sells hybrids---I've had the factory training in presentation and sales, and been in classes on their unique service needs. Ford---for example---is VERY careful in instructing us NOT to sell our hybrids based on monetary savings...because there IS none. The price premium to buy it will NOT be offset by the savings on fuel, and there IS that "issue" of replacing a horribly expensive battery sometime after the vehicle passes 100K-150K miles, at which time, depending on the state you live in (which determines the length of the special hybrid component warranty) the vehicle will be TOTALLY the owner's financial responsibility.

[dancinglights.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning. It's more an environmental concern than price for me, and I do like the way they drive. What I'm hoping is that a barely-used one will be available when I get closer to being able to afford car replacement (or it becomes necessary whether I can afford it or not). Many people in my area (Wash D.C.ish) have a rather disgusting habit of trading in their cars after two years and few miles for something trendier, at which point most of the warranty still stands, so I've got a chance of it working out.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

How are the batteries disposed of?

Over here the only hybrid on the market is the Prius. Honda is talking about it but Ford and GM are silent. I think they're waiting to see how the sell elsewhere. (That, and it takes up to 3 years for models to filter across the pacific.)

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Supposedly they'll be recycled. Most are "packs" of D-size nickle-metal-hydride cells, along with cooling, heating and other environmental control devices IN the pack itself. The technician (who has to have VERY special, VERY safety-specific training) simply removes the pack (in the Ford vehicles) and plugs in an entirely new (or "remanufactured") unit, and after he buttons the tail of the vehicle up, the owner is free (after he pays a choker of a bill...) to go about his "green" way. The other side of the argument is that, the E-CVT (Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission) has (in the Ford, which is very similar to the Prius) two heafty electric motors in it, as well as a planetary gear set. No "regular" transmission gears at all, and no belts and pulleys as are found in conventional CVTs (as used by Audi, Nissan and Ford Volvo-based mid-size cars). Lots of electronics in the vehicle, as well as a conventional 2.3L gas engine designed by Mazda. There's simply more to "go wrong" in a hybrid---LOTS more! Both the Toyota and Ford drive GREAT, and Honda's partial-hybrid systems---while not as complicated as Toyota's and Ford's---also doesn't give as many "benefits". Honda's partial hybrid system gives better mileage on the highway, mainly through the use of a slightly smaller gas engine, which is "boosted" by the "helper" electric motor when needed. OTOH, a full hybrid gets better mileage in the city, since at low speeds, and for short distances, a full hybrid can run ENTIRELY on the electric drive system, and at low speeds only runs the gas engine long enough to recharge the battery pack; then it shuts down. On the highway, in a steady cruise, it's relying on the gas engine to feed power to the electric engines, which actually MOVE the vehicle, but since the gas engine is having to work a bit harder (and by feeding power to the electric engines, it's actually LOSING a bit of efficiency; also, it runs at various speeds not directly related to how fast the vehicle is going) it gets LOWER mileage than it does in the slower city driving.

The kicker is, there are now several GAS-ONLY vehicles that have the SAME emmisions rating as the hybrids! I know; I drive one! (A Ford Focus wagon, which has a PZEV rating.) The exhaust on such a vehicle is actually CLEANER than the air in some cities; that is, driving the vehicle in a "polluted" city will actually CLEAN the air of pollution. Sounds nuts, but it's true. And while I don't get as high an overall mileage rating as a Prius or Escape hybrid, my little wagon didn't have the price penalty the hybrids (and greedy dealers) impose, nor will it cost as much to service over its lifetime.

I personally think the hybrids are "neat" (Level Head's wife, The Lady Anne, has one and LOVES it!), but I also feel they're still too complicated and expensive. Some people feel the complication and cost factors will get better in time. I hope so!

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I usually wait for a few iterations of a new vehicle before I look at buying one, just to see what bugs need working out and the overall cost of the things lifetime.

The Prius I tested uses a 1.3litre motor that either charged, charged and assisted, or drove and was assisted by the electric motor, depending on the speed.

I liked the low emmissions AND the 4ltr/100km consumption. My Camry gets 8ltr/100km, and now that fuel is touching $1.40 it looks less of a hit to the weekly pocket so I can save up for battery replacement. I drive on average 100,000+km (60,000 miles) so I can expect a battery replacement in 3 years. On the plus side, the Prius is stuffed with TECHY TOYS!

I wonder if The Lady Anne can tell us about the batteries.

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

The prices for both the vehicles and batteries are *predicted* to come down, but nobody can say how much, or how long it will take.

Our local county government has a first-generation Prius, used by one of the offices to run errands to/from the city. To my knowledge, they're quite happy with it, and in that useage it actually saves the taxpayers money. It'll probably be traded in before it needs a new battery pack, and as a side benefit the county government gets to proclaim how "green" it is. *heh!*

The Lady Anne loves her current-generation Prius (from what I'm told), and if she can't answer your tech questions (she probably can---she's SHARP!) I'm sure her hubby, Level Head, can.

BTW, while the current-generation Prius is classified as a compact car OUTSIDE, inside it pretty much has the room of a Camry.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Yes, Lady Anne will be able to tell me more than the Toyota salesman could. The way he spoke the car would last forever and not cost a cent to run.

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Car salesmen, camel dealers and rug merchants---

They're the same breed world-wide, it seems...

(And I speak from personal insight about one of those "professions", remember. *grin*)

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I know. I empty Lake Eyre when I apply salt to your writings. 8)

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Now-now... While I work in the car biz (and have done my share of sales), I've never "roached" a customer, and sleep far better NOW than my last 5-8 years in the news biz.

But I'm quite familiar with the "car salesman" breed, and, sadly, MANY of them are still practitioners of the rug merchant/camel dealer moral philosophy...

Prius

[ursuscal.livejournal.com]

I drive my parents' whenever I visit them and I love it! They get 58 miles per gallon, too!.

[azhreia.livejournal.com]

whenever I see "prius", I always read it as "priapic".

call me weird.

but it certainly made me do a doubletake on _that_ posting. ;-)

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

"You're Weird"

Just you wait until I turn up at your place in my new Priapic.

Nice way to start the SPRING season!

[penpouring.livejournal.com]

If you buy one - will it fit big boxes in the back seat or will your 'various animals and reptiles' get to ride up front?

Lucky ducks (or eagles, seagulls, beagles etc...)

Re: Nice way to start the SPRING season!

[level-head.livejournal.com]

It's a hatchback, with a reasonably sized back seat. My lady_anne just came back from a 9,000 mile trip in her Prius (six weeks) that started out with two people and boatloads of boxes and packages. While it is no minivan, its storage capacity is similar to my Cadillac STS. Legroom is, too.

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

Re: Nice way to start the SPRING season!

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Stacks of leg-room, not that a short fat bastard needs much. I think it'll hold more than my Camry, so the beasties still get to ride in the boot.

[beki.livejournal.com]

Prius' are great vehicles. Due to family issues, I would like to get a Highlander. It's the minivan version :) You need to test drive one of those and report back. I would also like to know if I can fit two wheel chairs in it :)

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I don't need an SUV so it's unlikely I'll test one. The rep said there were rumours that the Camry would also be released with a hybrid option. I wonder if the Tarago will come with that.

[beki.livejournal.com]

I dont need an SUV either. I need to be able to haul my sister once her MS gets so bad she is in a wheel chair, and the therapsts are talking about getting Jason a wheel chair for long distances. Try to haul them and a car full of groceries and I will be tying my sister to the roof rack :)

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

The Highlander will be a "partial" hybrid (if my information is correct), getting better gas mileage on the road than in town. Since it's classed as a "mid-sized" SUV, I'd think that it would easily hold two folded wheelchairs, plus groceries.

If, however, you're talking about motorized wheelchairs---no, it would have a problem carrying even one.

If it reaches the point when you have to carry two motorized chairs, I'd suggest getting a small trailer. MUCH easier to load/unload motorized chairs on that than into an SUV or minivan, and would allow you to drive a smaller, lighter vehicle. Virtually all vehicles *other* than hybrids can tow at least a 1K pound trailer. The Highlander hybrid, since it'll have a V6 gas engine (like its Lexus mechanical twin) should be able to tow a modest trailer, too.

Good luck!

[beki.livejournal.com]

At this point, my sister's MS hasnt progressed enough for her to have a motorized scooter yet. My son is still small enough that he can fit into a stroller, although that probably wont last much longer. His therapists are looking into something that will better fit him. Right now, they are pulling him around in school in a wagon. It works, but I would rather he have something that folds up for long voyages.

[chriswheeler.livejournal.com]

Bastage!

[kythrain.livejournal.com]

I'm still waiting to see a decent hybrid pickup. The only one they've got out now over here is a hybrid engine stuffed in one of the full-size pickups, so it gets no better mileage than the pickup I ended up buying. We'll probably seriously look at hybrids when my wife sorcia is in the market.

I love my Prius

[lady-anne.livejournal.com]

but that's no secret. I've had mine for less than a year and have already put 20K miles on it. 9K in less than 2 months.

My average mileage for the trip was over 48 mpg. The car was comfortable for MIL and I going out (driving only during the day) and I slept in it 4 nights altogether after I left her house.

When I'm doing long distance driving by myself I tend to stay in motels only half the time.

Personally - I wish there was a little more headroom in the back seat, but neither L_H or I ride back there very often, so it works out just fine. And most of the time it's just me in the car so it's plenty big for my purposes.

I love telling people about the car and I had lots of opportunities to do just that from one end of the country to the other.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.