Motortrend this issue Prius comparo really P'd me off!

To the OP - don't get flustered. These folks are backroads burners and no Prius is made for that. I don't think eCVT's and smaller LRR tires make for carving up hills and twisty roads.

Motortrend will like - Mini's, most VW's, Mazda3/speed3, WRX's, etc...

 

That's why I've never considered VW or Audi. I do have some relatives in Austria that have Audis and have good service there.....but I have yet to see anyone here in the states that can keep a VW/Audi for over 5 years.

 

I understand, I just bought the magazine yesterday and and they compaired the new CR-Z, Golf TDI, and the Prius. It seems they only chose the TDI because it was a diesel. The TDI even got first over the CR-Z, even though the CR-Z had the same 0-60 time, and the CR-Z was faster in the 0-30, but the Golf does have a back seat. I don't know, but the Prius should have beaten the Golf in my opinion.

 

Hi P.D.,

Be glad you do not live in Chicago, and see this Jim Mateja's articles in the Tribune. He is even worse. He is even behind the Car magazine people in his attitudes.

Surfsup...the reason P.D. is probably mad, is because he has to deal with the attitude on the road these BS artists promote.

 

Thanks for the warning. I don't read Motor Trend and I'll just not read it again this month. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

In the end, isn't that the most important thing? Forget the "reviews" because, apparently, nobody is paying much attention to them.

Using only round numbers, it looks like Toyota outsells VW: 4 to 1. I think those were early 2010 numbers, so I have no idea what the true numbers are, or the number of Priuses sold vs. the VW TDI. But I'm sure it's close.

Dumb Mike

 

It's just an opinion. I don't agree with it, but my opinion is biased, very biased.

To each his own, the car does have values and i'm sure it fits the needs of a lot of people, just as the prius does

 

What annoys me is how obsessed with horsepower the car mags are. I bought a new 1986 Honda Civic Si back in the day, and that car was quite spritely with only 91HP. It wasn't even compared to others in its class when they tested them because of the "low" hp. Ironically, it was MUCH faster than the 126HP Civic EX that replaced it. To get back on topic, I just read a review recently that called the Prius's Eco mode too sluggish to be usable in stop and go traffic. It isn't, obviously. These people just keep using the "more is better" standard, and in part because of that the manufacturers put most of their engine efficiency gains into more power instead of better economy. They would probably think an MGB was a Yugo if they rode in one blindfolded...

 

The new 2015 Prius gets a thunbs up from Motortrend.

I can't say how much improved the new model is. The new v-8 is a great improvment over the outgoing motor. It's worth the 30mpg that you loose. We got 21mpg with the new car and it's worth every penny we spend on gas. Were so glad that they got rid of the electric motors and the battery. Now you get the loud v-8 grunt idling at lights. We don't know why it took Toyota so long to get things right with this car. The new ride is stiff and makes you sore over bumps and pulls .9g around the skidpad, YEP we love it!!! They removed 30% of the storage room and make the rear hatch smaller to allow for the extra large dual tailpipes. Motertrend gives the new prius a 9/10

 

I think this says it all (p.4, I think): "The Prius's problem is that ain't us."

You *are* reading a car mag, whose emphasis is on performance and handling. They're not buying one to live with for seven years, and they have an expense account to cover out-ot-warranty stuff.

Other than the occasional mockery of the Prius (and by way of that its owners), though, the article didn't irk me, and, having driven (seriously considered) a Jetta TDi, I agree with much they say. But as an earlier VW owner, well, let's just say I only have room in my life and physical space for one car, and I can't be sitting around waiting weeks for diagnosticians to figure out the problem, and more time for the part to arrive from, um, Mexico. If VW could build an electrical system with at least a 1980s level of reliability, I'd seriously consider owning one--let's be honest, they are great-driving cars. But, trouble is, you have to live with them. And no car mag keeps any car for years, or even long enough to experience most of the gremlins an owner would, and quickly.

Just the way it is--write a letter if it makes you feel better (and I know from experience that it can), but don't expect anyone's mindset to change at M/T, R/T, C/D or most others.

The Motorweek clip almost goes overboard in the opposite direction--they took Mom's "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything..." advice a little far, IMO. I mean, gushing about the prowess of a Smart on the interstate? C'mon. Perhaps "not as atrocious as we had feared," but, really.

 

GACK! Made me look!

Actually I enjoyed the article and don't really see a problem. There are folks for whom 'tossing a car about' is what they enjoy. Others, like me, see driving as something we have to do while getting from point A to Point B while thinking about interesting problems. The Prius meets my needs and then some. As for the sportier cars, I don't begrudge the fun of others. 'What ever cranks your tractor.'

The first car I bought was a 1966 VW MicroBus with a 1500 cc engine. It had a tremendous amount of space, enough for a single bed with space under for luggage. But it also gave 28 MPG and was easy to repair including rebuilding the engine. It drove coast-to-coast and I could carry a 5 gallon spare can to extend the range past high fuel price stations. Small wonder that our alternative to the Prius was a Scion xB.

Bob Wilson

 

Based on Consumer Reports and other articles, my BMW-driving husband was pushing me in the direction of getting a diesel Jetta wagon. He used to own a 1960s VW-Beetle, and it was quite dependable and he had fond memories of it. I had a diesel Rabbit for 8+ years and an old VW bus, and I was much less fond of my experiences and the amount of time I spent getting things repaired. On the other hand, I loved that I could usually diagnose all my problems with the VWs (and even fix/replace things like radiator hoses and fuel line leaks on my own). Still, I just wanted something as dependable as my old Toyota pick up...so, sorry honey...I just had to go with the Prius instead of a VW.

 

That type of letter to the editor often gets printed in the letters to the editor column with a witty or sarcastic response not intended to make the letter writer look good.

 

Power and handling have always been the auto industry's offering to the American consumer. America's open spaces, multi-lane interstates and relatively low cost of fuel actually ignite our big car dreams. I'm convinced we'll need more than a few Prius' on the road to alter our gluttonous automotive style. Fifteen years ago, fuel/enery conscious drivers had very, very few (if any) alternative choices beyond a smaller gas/diesel engines. V8's, 17 inch wheels and 3,500 pound steel frames have made a ton of money for GM, Ford and Chrysler. They're not going to give up all that money without a fight!

Now with all that said, I know for sure that MotorTrend, JD Power and other "rating" consumer publications are inspired by undercurrent payments, advertising, lunches, trips and more for those folks who write this stuff. They're opinions are definitely influenced by manufacturing sources.

Okay, you've been a great audience, but I'm hopping down from my soap box.

tom

 

I don't know how much it happens in the car industry since I'm a techie, but there are many writers who will write rather inflammatory remarks about products with a loyal following because that guarantees lots of hits on their website. (I'd bet it happens just as often, personally.) In the tech world, this leads to things like Greenpeace giving Apple a bad environmental grade a few years ago. (HP was rated higher not because they were better for the environment, but because they had a plan to improve; Apple, meanwhile, had less environmental impact than even HP's goals. Though it did inspire Apple to get even better.) I'll let him have his silly opinions, and just avoid reading a biased magazine.

 

The media industry is hard hit, and print media is in a depression.

Maybe they think reviews like this will generate activity, but maybe there are number of people like me that will conclude it's just BS printed on nice paper.

The average zero to sixty time in 1980 was 15 seconds....that would make the Prius a performance sedan, but no - it's gotta be under ten seconds .... did those s-l-o-w cars back then make America a Third World nation? Zines like Motortrend might suggest that.

 

A few years ago, I sent a letter to the editor of a car mag. I forget the exact circumstances, but my letter said something like "That guy was guilty of a DWI...driving while ignorant."

In the next issue, my little bit of wit appeared ... as an editors comment to another letter! They stole it.

It really told me who I was dealing with.

Those mags are entertainment for selling ads. We haven't had a real car enthusiast magazine in the US for well over 20 years.

Top gear comes close, but even they're slipping more into entertainment with every new episode.

 

I think its odd that a Prius with a 0-60 of around 9-10 seconds is considered slow by today's standards. I guess people have already forgotten how slow Ford Escorts and cars like that were originally. My '88(?) Escort's 0-60 was around 12 seconds or so, it was rather pitiful. Heck, a V6 automatic Camaro back in the day had a 0-60 similar to the Prius - so definitely ppl are obsessed with horsepower these days.

And as an aside, when was the last time you NEEDED a 0-60 of 8 seconds or less (or equivalent 45-65) when merging on your average US expressway? Its just not necessary, at least here in Chicago. Any car these days, if you floor it, gives you plenty of acceleration for entrance ramps if you really need it.

 

MSN has a comparison that may be related to some of these others. I commented(before I bought my Prius) under the screen name: huge dog.
Hybrid vs. Diesel - MSN Autos

I've only put about 50 miles on my Prius so far but I am happier than I even expected to be. This car is amazing!