Is The Prius Losing Its Purpose?

I think tires ought to be checked about once a week. I keep a 7 gallon airtank in the garage for topping off the tires. With this Accord, not much topping off required. Uncanny how well Accord tires hold air.

I always found it a hassle to go to gas station in morning to check the tires. With an air tank (which is cheap setup, $20 or so from WalMart), you fill the tank once in a while, then top off the tires.

Subcompacts gaining on Prius? You mean a Ford Fiesta which might eeek out 35 MPG average, but is teeny weenie on this inside?

Fit, Fiesta, Mazda2, Civic, Mazda3, Corolla, etc, etc.... they all have less interior room than 3rd gen Prius. I'll bet you'd have to get lucky to have a 38 MPG average tank with one of those.

 

I think you are right. The prius is losing it's purpose. That is why everybody on this forum gets close to 50mpg all the time and you consistently get 42-43. There is no value to the prius so you might a s well just junk yours. Really?

 

The Critic is alright. He is just voicing his thoughts. I don't see a need to attack him. It's not like he is a random noob or troll who is trying to start trouble.

 

We've had our Gen III -IV Prius for 6 months now, and usually see 45ish MPG - no air, hasn't been that hot yet this year, but we do like the sunroof open.

It's an OK car, and easy to drive around town. On long trips, we take our 1 ton Ram truck @ 24 MPG on diesel.

The Prius is an econobox, with so-so comfort. Don't try to make it into something it's not. We bought it as an econobox. The only hybrid that I've ever driven that was fun to drive was a BMW 7 series hybrid in Germany. Unfortunately, it's not available in the US.

Now, of course, we are going to be taxed for having one - because we don't pay enough in gas taxes. Yes, really.

 

CleanMPG, - Garage An authoritative source on fuel economy and hypermiling
(just one example)

 

Please post your question in a Gen 2 area. As I said, I'm pretty sure that even touchscreen (aka nav equipped) Gen 3s don't have any trip computer functionality on the touchscreen. It's all part of the hybrid system indicator displays which are located higher up and operated via a few buttons.

 

There is a revolution going on towards fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, and smaller cars. Every marketing team is making fuel efficiency the number #1 tagline. Heck, even full-size pickups are battling on tv ads over who uses the least gas. Any manufacturer that wants to stay in business in 15 years is investing huge sums in R&D towards making not only their automobiles more efficient, but their entire production line as well. Toyota did it first. Now everybody is doing it. Losing its purpose? Nah. I think it's just getting started.

 

Ooooooh boy !!

You are lucky our resident Prius V AT kool aid drinker has been suspended for a month or so, because you'd sure get an earful saying blasphemy like the above.

For the record, I completely agree with you. The Prius is a great car, but it is an econobox no matter the bells and whistles and technology you equip it with.

Some try to make you believe it's a luxury car just by virtue of having a few tech features.

Tha said .... it's a great economy car ... I've been averaging 48+MPG overall with a brand new engine bought in the middle of the winter. I'm super pleased.

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:nod:

 

Right on!ound::thumb:

 

Just curious, with the numbers people are throwing out: is this calculated, or what the car is saying. It bugs me that the car's numbers are off, on the rosy side, but close enough that it's easy to just slip into quoting them.

A quick and dirty calc I use that's pretty accurate is take the liters/100km the car tells me and add 0.3. I believe the mpg equiv would be to subtract around 3.

 

My MPG equivalent correction is to subtract 1.7 - 2.2. So .... subtract roughly 2.0 from the computer's guess.


REV

 

My MPG equivalent correction is to subtract 1.7 - 2.2. So .... subtract roughly 2.0 from the computer's guess. This is over 10K miles and 29 fillups.


REV

 

And fuel savings is not the ONLY reason to drive a Prius! It's the cleanest car on the road (apart from all EV) and that is reason enough to buy a Prius... It's not just all about one's wallet!

 

It was for me ..... and about 92% of respondents to my poll a few weeks ago.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/94986-why-did-you-buy-prius.html

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It's also, in my opinion, a really good "car" regardless of the MPG. Compact exterior, midsize interior, hatchback, lots of tech and amenities, cheap insurance (will vary), looks great (imo)etc.

We are really happy with it as a family daily driver/commuter car. The fact that it gets mid-40's+ MPG every tank is icing on the cake.

 

What about short trips and driving slow, slightly wider mpg gap?

 

There are a few guys getting over 50mpg calculated tanks in Fiestas. They would probably get 70mpg in a Prius, but that is another matter entirely.

...the more you know...

 

Nice. Two options only? This is relevant how?

 

No to mention a badly phraseed question that would get tossed out of any survey class.