Poll: Are you buying a Plug-in Prius?

I think the HEV Prius works very well for folks with a long commute, like me.

I think the PHV Prius works very well for folks with a short commute who (think they) need infinite range, like my wife.

15 "Free" miles in a 115 mile commute does not save much, since they are not really free. In a commute of under 15 miles, they will have dramatic impact.

(Due to politics, the PHV Prius will be wildly popular in California, as it gets the benefits of being a car pool without the necessity of having to deal with other people in your carpool)

 

I'm on the list and was pretty certain about getting one. However, with the pricing of the Prius Plug-in Advanced, I'm now on the fence. I'm amused that as the poll creator, you didn't create a poll category for yourself.

15 miles of gas saved per daily commute is the same regardless of whether the commute is 15 miles or much more. It just seems smaller percentage-wise, but that doesn't matter. Furthermore, if your commute is less than 15 miles, you actually save less gas.

 

there isn't much money to save if your commute 15mi a day.

The friend of mine just got Explorer.. gas guzzler? yet he puts ~$60 a tank every 3-4 weeks. My Prius gets a $35 tank every 5-7 days.

 

To me, with the high price of the high end package (which is what I already have in a 2010 package 5), and with just the $2,500 credit, it's not worthwhile. I might as well just get a Leaf, Focus EV, or Models S, and go all electric for similar money (well the model s is a lot more money).

A fulltime EV will have a $7500 federal tax credit, so it brings down a $40K
Leaf or Focus EV to the $32.5K range, and full 100 mile EV range, if that works for you.

I don't see a compelling reason to trade in or sell my 2010, as I thought, with the announced pricing. My commute is 17 miles each way, and I could charge at work, so there would be significant gas savings, but not cost savings ever.

 

So far, with my current Prius, it has fit in perfectly with what I'm using it for. Going with the plug-in wouldn't be much of an improvement, so consider me happy with the status quo.

 

All my trips are short, so this is exactly what I need. The question is whether I can afford it in the spring. The only pretty color is the seaglass one. The rest are the usual drab common colors. If I can't work out a reasonable price I will just keep what I have.

 

My 2011 III is doing just fine, price and small savings return on the pluger just not the way for me to go.

 

Was hoping for a level 5 with a plug-in. Disappointed with the price of 40k and less options with ugly 80's wheels.

 

Too early. (I plan on keeping my car for 10 years, subject to significant changes)
Doesn't suit us. (Almost all of our journeys are at least 35 miles round trip).

 

I think the Plug in Prius sounds terrific. I'm going to be jealous of everyone that has one. However, I don't own a home, and have only off street outside parking. This pretty much makes owning one impractical.

Therefore, I await The Prius c, and/or competitors. Personally? I'm just glad to see more efficient competitors arise. The more choices of automobiles that exist that are more efficient the better.

I wish I could own a plug in Prius. If it made sense in my current situation, I'd love to have one.

 

We are approaching 60,000 miles on our Prius. It will be paid off
next month and I don't anticiapate anymore car payments for at least 3-4 years.

I do not believe the plug in Prius is worth us trading in our current Prius.

I would buy a plug in hybrid if it offered at least a 100 mile electric range, a normal size fuel tank, and cargo area. In 3-4 years batteries will be smaller, less expensive, and more efficient. I will wait to then and see what is available in the market place. If nothing grabs my attention we will still be driving our Prius....

 

I'm still planning to buy, but am disappointed that I am forced to take some features that I really don't need or want, such as Entune and nav. But being mostly retired, I find that a good portion of my miles are trips in town and usually 12 miles or less. Plus, I have promised to sell my '06 to my daughter, so I'll bite the bullet and look forward to the fun of a new car with new technology.

 

Need a spot for I'm on the List But my Decision just got a lot harder.

I agree the 32K and 39K prices are a bit much for 15 miles of fun?

Now I have to decade between an all electric Ford, Leaf or a Prius.

I also have to think about 7500.00 Tax Rebate VS 2500.00.

That's a Big 5000.00 difference. Could get a Volt for that difference and 40 miles of fun. . Hmmm Decisions Decisions.

 

when will the ford be available?

 

and that my friend is the crux of the situation. If you are going to spend $40K (or more), there are many choices, with many more soon to be availble. They have priced the PHEV too high, with too little battery, not for just the size of the battery (AER), but for the rebate considerations as well. We all want more AER, and just by upsizing the battery a bit could have had it, and at almost no cost with the larger rebate. Thats what EVNow was saying, and I agree. What we really want is a PHEV with a 40 mile AER, but none of us want to buy a Chevy Volt! We all wanted a Prius, but it looks like we are not going to get it. Where is the 8KW pack (nearly 30 AER?) or 12KW pack (nearly 45 AER), Toyota? Yes I realize with the additonal pack weight it would be a little less. Larger pack = larger Federal credit = lower final cost = happy customer.

I guess we'll have to wait for the Pure EV Prius, if they ever make such a thing. Of course by then, many here will be driving a Leaf, a Model S, or a Focus EV.

Note: I calculated the Federal tax credit based on pack size, which is $2500 for the first 4KW, then $417 for each additonal KW. Turns out that 16KW is the maximum $7500 rebate. How interesting, thats how much the Volt has (of course they only use somewhat more than 1/2 to 2/3 of it), here are the numbers, 8KW or 12KW would have been a more affordable car...

Pack Size / Federal Tax Credit

4KW = 2500.00
8KW = 4168.00
12KW = 5836.00
16KW = 7500.00

 

They say end of 2011 for New York & CA.
2012 all of US.
Hope This helps

 

Delivering 2 models initially, one at the price we've been hoping for all along (thank you) and one with a whole mess of goodies, offers choice beyond one-size-fits-all. Greater variety will follow. But for this first rollout effort (going to the US, Japan, and Europe), what's wrong with that?

As for battery, squeezing 15 miles of capacity into a hidden area without affecting regular cargo storage at all is great.

It's a nice balance of priorities. Of course, by the time I take delivery, it would have been 12 years since yearning for my first Prius. Time to really indulge!
.

 

I'm on the list and going to buy a Sea Glass Pearl Advanced. I am semi-retired with most of my trips to the grocery store, post office, bank, and Home-Depot/Lowes all less than 15 miles round trip. So, I shouldn't use much gas. I thought about buying a Leaf, but the range anxiety of not having the charging infrastructure built-out changed my mind. I'll be able to drive across country (if needed) with my phv Prius. I definitely like the 3-hr 120v charge of a depleted battery. Most of my charging should be less than that.