I currently drive a Honda CRV but am considering a Prius. I welcome your thoughts + / -
Hybrid Cars: Opinion Needed
- Thread starter Mendel
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I have a Prius v, the slightly larger hatchback one. I have no major issues with it. Gets great mileage as you'd expect - I average 43. I fit in it quite well, better than my Honda Pilot & I'm 6'3". Power is lacking, so you're not going to win any drag races, but that is the sacrifice you make for the high MPG.
Prii seem to be one of those polarizing things - people either love theirs & can't shut up extolling their virtues, others hate it & just dog on it relentlessly.
Prii seem to be one of those polarizing things - people either love theirs & can't shut up extolling their virtues, others hate it & just dog on it relentlessly.
I like the look of the new Prius variants.
Drove a hybrid Yaris in Britain a couple of years ago and it felt like a normal car rather than the Prius of the time.
If you don't like Prius, there's always the Camry, Sonata, Focus options......
Drove a hybrid Yaris in Britain a couple of years ago and it felt like a normal car rather than the Prius of the time.
If you don't like Prius, there's always the Camry, Sonata, Focus options......
Prius are a cult, are you ready to join? 
To me they are a complete appliance, totally boring, but very appealing to people who hate to drive.
From a $ perspective, hybrids only make sense under 2 conditions.
1. Gas is at least $5 US per gallon.
2. You drive at least 20,000 miles per year.
For most people a Prius is a "touchy, feely" purchase, not one based on a rational examation of the economics.
My cousin bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid 2.5 yrs ago. He drives about 40K per year, so has just turned 100K on his 2010. Its running fine, but for grins he called the Ford dealer to ask how much the replacement batteries would cost- $3,500!! The warranty on them is for 100K, so he figured it would be good to have an idea.
(I told him to either buy another Corolla- his 2003 had 275K miles when it thru a rod thru the bock. But nooo, his wife convinced him to pony up the big $ for the Hybrid Fusion.)
He also is not getting near the mileage the EPA sticker predicts. He says when its really cold in the winter, the mileage really drops.
I say get either a Honda Fit and save $10,000 or spend a few thou less than a Prius and get a VW Jetta Diesel.
To me they are a complete appliance, totally boring, but very appealing to people who hate to drive.
From a $ perspective, hybrids only make sense under 2 conditions.
1. Gas is at least $5 US per gallon.
2. You drive at least 20,000 miles per year.
For most people a Prius is a "touchy, feely" purchase, not one based on a rational examation of the economics.
My cousin bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid 2.5 yrs ago. He drives about 40K per year, so has just turned 100K on his 2010. Its running fine, but for grins he called the Ford dealer to ask how much the replacement batteries would cost- $3,500!! The warranty on them is for 100K, so he figured it would be good to have an idea.
(I told him to either buy another Corolla- his 2003 had 275K miles when it thru a rod thru the bock. But nooo, his wife convinced him to pony up the big $ for the Hybrid Fusion.)
He also is not getting near the mileage the EPA sticker predicts. He says when its really cold in the winter, the mileage really drops.
I say get either a Honda Fit and save $10,000 or spend a few thou less than a Prius and get a VW Jetta Diesel.
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Teslas are pretty monstrous cars, even compared to gasoline sports cars. They're sleeper supercars!
I'm not crazy about the Prius in terms of looks. I would much rather have a hybrid Camry or Accord if I was going that route.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-bmw-activehybrid-3-first-drive-review
I agree with the idea of a Hybrid Camry.
What kind of driving are you doing? If you are on the highways often and aren't spending a lot of time in city traffic, the hybrid may not make much of a difference.
What kind of driving are you doing? If you are on the highways often and aren't spending a lot of time in city traffic, the hybrid may not make much of a difference.
As a 2008 Prius owner, I would not recommend it. Got it because the now exwife wanted something that got good gas mileage.
We would have saved $ if we had bought a MUCH cheaper Honda Civic, which gets really good MPG.
My employer just put in a CNG station. I wish they had done it before, I would have bought a CNG civic. Drove past it this morning, fuel was $1.99/gallon
We would have saved $ if we had bought a MUCH cheaper Honda Civic, which gets really good MPG.
My employer just put in a CNG station. I wish they had done it before, I would have bought a CNG civic. Drove past it this morning, fuel was $1.99/gallon
- Thread starter
- #9
Outstanding feedback. At the end of the day, I might find it difficult transitioning from my Honda CRV back to a car. Be that as it may, the VW diesel option is intriguing.
That's what i'd go with too. But mainly because you can easily get a LOT of power out of it with a few hundred dollars in mods.
When we were in France I rented a Citroen diesel. The car handled great and I got incredible gas mileage out of it. Wish that car was available in the U.S.
You Know...I would take a look at what your city/state can provide..here in SoCali..at least where I live not many fuel stations with electric chargers and other fuel filling alternatives than 87/89/91 Octaine..so...
I have been driving those Citroen diesels for quite a few years now. Currently driving a Xsara Picasso 2.0 Litre HDi. I get around 55mpg from it. That's Imperial gallons. Works out about 46mpg for your US Mini gallons!
Gareth
Turbo diesel is a much more affordable option, if you are looking at total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle. The main complaint that I have is the car mfgr aren't making them available to the US market.
You can get an inexpensive diesel from Ford or VW in Europe, but here in the US you have to purchase from the luxury brands to get the exact same drivetrain.
I will be making a purchase in 2014, I hope that there are some affordable AWD diesels available by then.
You can get an inexpensive diesel from Ford or VW in Europe, but here in the US you have to purchase from the luxury brands to get the exact same drivetrain.
I will be making a purchase in 2014, I hope that there are some affordable AWD diesels available by then.
BTW: new Jetta Hybrid just came out....
- Thread starter
- #17
Will someone please inform brianw that I might have TWSBI build me a vacuum powered car based upon their 700 fountain pen series technology.
Prius drivers are an enigma to me. The point of getting the car is to be green and save some money on gas, but Prius drivers always seem to be the ones whizzing past me at 10+ over the speed limit (might just be NC).
VW has had QC issues for the last decade or so. I'd get another Honda.
The overall quality of all cars manufacturers has been spotty at best, at the same time the prices have risen dramatically.
My wife's Accord is burning a qt of oil every 1,500 miles; which Honda says is within spec (class action underway). Before that it was the brakes recall. Toyota has been rocked with recalls and lawsuits, the complaints on the rest are up as well. Some of this is due to better consumer information sharing thanks to the Internet and some is due to the use of cheaper lighter materials which aren't as durable.
I have a Tiguan and over the past four years it has been problem free. That doesn't mean that the Khama wheel won't swing around, but so far so good. Do your research, make your pick and from there......
My wife's Accord is burning a qt of oil every 1,500 miles; which Honda says is within spec (class action underway). Before that it was the brakes recall. Toyota has been rocked with recalls and lawsuits, the complaints on the rest are up as well. Some of this is due to better consumer information sharing thanks to the Internet and some is due to the use of cheaper lighter materials which aren't as durable.
I have a Tiguan and over the past four years it has been problem free. That doesn't mean that the Khama wheel won't swing around, but so far so good. Do your research, make your pick and from there......
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