Buyer's Remorse

Remember, its only illegal if you get caught or so most folks think. A large percentage of the folks in the regular lanes go 10+ mph over the speed limit when possible and think that's okay so moving to the HOV lane is no big deal.

 

Funny, I actually do this on purpose. I like to abide by speed limits, for a lot of reasons, and being "stuck" behind a truck allows me to do this with relative impunity.

 

As someone living in an area where the HOV lanes are functioning very well for their intended purpose -- to reduce congestion by encouraging actual HOV use, not as a perk for rich people with certain special cars -- I would very strongly oppose such a move here.

 

They would never get rid of the hov lanes. Hoping but that would never happen. The hov lanes around my area have converted to fast track lanes where people can pay to use them, even with no passengers. Many times there are very few people on them and the regular lanes are congested. Letting everyone access to those lanes would help tremendously

 

I bought my PiP 2 years ago for the sole benefit of solo HOV use. I think most people underestimate the time savings of a congested slow moving HOV lane. I drive on HWY 80 towards the Bay Bridge into SF. The congestion is so bad, they require 3 occupants in the HOV lanes. I often travel 10 mph in the HOV lane. Do I have buyer's remorse? Heck no! The lane next to mine is moving at 5 mph. That corridor of HWY 80 could potentially take 20 minutes to get to the bridge. I am cutting that time in half for just this length of my commute.

 

It's getting even worse. Caltrans in Orange County wanted I-405 widened with one HOT (high occupancy TOLL) lane, while the county wanted to use funds already allocated for freeway expansion to add free lanes.

When I started driving many moons ago, there were no toll roads anywhere in Southern California; in fact, throughout California only the Golden Gate and Oakland Bay bridges charged tolls. Now, we seem to have moved into a new era where roads must pay for themselves by charging tolls, or adding lanes for those who can afford it to whiz by the troglodytes in the now-hopelessly-congested free lanes. The days of even getting a break for carpools on these HOT and newer toll roads has passed. Solo or with all five seats occupied, the toll is the same.

 

Hmmmm.
I have competing emotions about HOV scofflaws (both types) but there are no HOV lanes in my locale (yet.)
I think I'll just eat my popcorn and let the locals fight this one out.

 

Viriginia is going to the HOT-3 lanes, because private industry is building them.
The new HOT-3 lanes on the Capitol I495 beltway are under-utilized, but we never had HOV lanes there.
Soon we open new HOT3 on I95 where we had HOV...we'll see how it goes.
Hybrids/Plug_ins get no special access to the new HOT-3's in VA.

 

"The days of even getting a break for carpools on these HOT and newer toll roads has passed. Solo or with all five seats occupied, the toll is the same."

RX, I think you have been misled on this issue. From what I have been able to figure out after reading various website info, to drive in the Metro Express HOT lanes everyone needs a FasTrak transponder with a switch to designate how many passengers (1-3). Eligible single occupant vehicles with appropriate stickers are not charged a toll if the switch is set to 3 passengers. A car with five passengers would travel free regardless of whether they are in a stickered Prius or a Hummer, as long as the switch is set to 3. Now as for the "regular" toll roads down your way like the 241 and 73 you are correct, everyone pays a toll based on the vehicle type and number of axles.
From Los Angeles Metro Express HOT Lane websites when they started the test program:
Carpool Loyalty Program
On the I-110, vehicles with two or more occupants per vehicle will be able to use the Metro ExpressLanes toll-free at all hours. On the I-10, vehicles with three or more occupants will be able to use Metro ExpressLanes toll-free at all hours. Vehicles with two occupants will pay a toll during peak hours (5am-9am; 4pm-7pm), but will have toll-free use during off-peak hours. Single occupant vehicles will have the option to use Metro ExpressLanes but will be charged a toll.
The Carpool Loyalty Program automatically enters the Metro ExpressLanes FasTrak account holder into a monthly drawing for a chance to win gift cards when they use the ExpressLanes as a carpooler.
And later:
Effective February 24, 2014, vehicles displaying a DMV issued White or Green Clean Air Vehicle Decal http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm will be toll-free. All vehicles, including Clean Air Vehicles, are required to have a FasTrak® transponder while traveling on the ExpressLanes. To ensure toll-free travel, set your transponder to switch position 3 (3+ person carpool) prior to starting your trip. Clean energy vehicles that do not have a Clean Air Vehicle Decal must drive with their transponder set according to their vehicle occupancy.
Even without a toll, it ain't totally free- seems to me I read somewhere on PriusChat that there is a $3 monthly fee to maintain the transponder. Your government at work- go figure!

 

Hi Barbara,
I commute down the 880S every morning in my Prius, and the commuter lane definitely makes a difference, especially on Highway 237.
What's more, I have 50,000 miles on this car, and I have not experienced a single defect whatsoever. I've done the oil changes every 10,000 miles, and I changed the transaxle fluid at 30,000, ahead of schedule. But not one single thing has broken. Because of the hybrid regenerative braking technology, the brakes have 70% of their thickness left, so the brake pads are likely to exceed 120,000 miles! All I can say is, WOW!
Another great thing is that, if you plug in once or twice a day, you'll buy a LOT less gas than with your last car. You'll go to the gas station about half as often, and when you go, your car only takes 8 gallons.
PLUS, you're part of PriusChat, and how cool is that?

 

Hi Roger,

Of course I'm aware of the HOT lanes on I-110 allowing green-stickered vehicles to ride toll free (with transponder set to "3"). I wasn't aware that this applied to I-10, but this policy certainly doesn't apply to the OC Toll Roads or the 91-Express (the first HOT lane in California).

As to the $3 maintenance fee, it's offset by discounts on every toll (at least on the OC Toll Roads). Anyone using the toll lanes elsewhere for free, of course, will just have to eat the $3. But I note that's still cheaper than a single one-way rush hour toll.

 

Yep your title is bad.

Is it "Buyers Remorse"? or Simply disappointment that your carpool lane experience isn't as glorious as you imagined? Which is really no fault of the vehicle.

If you ONLY bought The Prius for this singular advantage, I think you were setting yourself up for eventual disappointment one way or another.

When I find myself stuck in slow moving traffic, I actually take great pleasure in knowing that I'm in a vehicle that in those circumstance is actually amazingly efficient.

Being stuck on the highway in congested traffic sucks. BUT if you have to be? The Prius in either PiP or regular incarnations is a great vehicle to be riding in.

 

When I am stuck in traffic, I think "look at all those primitive vehicles actually burning fuel while stopped ". On those trips, my MPG and/or EV range numbers go through the ceiling.

 

Bisco, maybe its early and I need more coffee but I'm not getting this - the next buyer can't get those rebates and as a result we've seen numerous examples of a practically new PiP (or any other EV actually) dropping an instant 8k in price. Heck I was happy to get 22k for mine and the dealer still hasn't been able to sell it 3+ months later !
Additionally as another pointed out, she'll need to hold for 3 years to claim her own CA rebate.

This is a losing $ proposition if selling so just bear with it and enjoy when able

 

correct, but cali is a little different than here. that's really the topic. it's not the car, it's the hov pass.