mpg numbers are shown on website for 2016 Prius

While listening to an older episode of Autoline After Hours I learned that of all the world's car manufacturers, Toyota is one of the bottom two in R&D money spent in relation to revenue. Toyota uses and builds on their past research to improve their products. They're not reinventing the wheel. The 2016 Prius will be a success.

 

I bet you might have already read the previous car and driver article.
Drag Queens: Aerodynamics Compared – Comparison Test – Car and Driver

Of course being a bigger car Sonata frontal area is going to be higher ( so overall CdA is going to be little higher), but remember it is Cd that determines design. If you make Prius as big as Sonata, its CdA is going to be higher too(see Camry Hybrid).

No, I do not own any of these car stocks, neither Toyota, nor VW. Did you ever see me mentioning anything great about VW? Nope, it is most unreliable POS IMHO. I would take a Kia over VW any day.

Also, Prius is not only the car Toyota makes, in total volume its cup in bucket(not a drop.. ).

But if you are betting so high on Prius that is it going to dictate Toyota future, maybe you should buy whole load of Toyota shares and become a multimillionaire.( I bet even if Toyota shares go up, it is not going to be because of Prius)

But, buying VW stock may not be bad idea it seems. I see stock came down and again it is gaining for some reason. My guess is, VW finds easy ways to patch with Software(despite not good solution) and may get away with it. Infact, VW dealer have least stock despite bad reputation.

FYI, in last 2 year span, I sold total 7 Prius to friends. Literally, I select models, talk to dealers, friends just sign and pick the car.(2015 2 cars on good deal, 2014 3 cars, and 2in 2013, mostly Prius III). Lot of friends and colleagues in my circle reach out to me when they want to buy a car. (FYI, I do all my repairs on all my cars including my PITA BMW repairs).

I really wanted Gen 4 Prius to be great successor, but I wholeheartedly can't recommend G4. So, from my end I can say at least 5-10 cars that I would have recommended normally, are going toward other models/brands. I bet there are lot of folks like me who are very unhappy about how Gen 4 turned out to be.

 

Hubris is anyone claiming they know if a car will be a success or not. I'm still amused by the anti-Prius auto reporters of whom many used to write glowing articles about any TDI. It is probably better to list individual ranking:

Not a surprise as model changes have often found folks who preferred the older model(s) over the new. But like many things in life, it is a mixed bag.

GOOD NEWS

• Stiffer, stronger chassis
  • better crash resistance
• Better rear wheels
  • camber and toe adjustments?
• Improved seats
  • electric adjustable top line models
• More interior space
• Traction battery improvements
• Active air inlet shutters
• Transaxle and electric power improvements

BAD NEWS

• No tow rating for USA cars
  • Never stopped us in the past, ~1,500 lbs
• No 1.5kW AC power USA cars
  • Never stopped us in the past
• No rear-wheel, e-drive USA cars
  • Hard problem, will the Canadians get them?
• 0-60 times could be a shade faster
  • Target Golf or Golf Sportswagon TDI speeds, a second faster would be nice
• TSS(p) only on some models in release year
  • Show stopper for now
• Legacy 12V system still 'lead' stupid, no solar tickle charger
  
  • We can fix
• Existing sensors are not integrated in 'dash-cam' system/option
  • Dash-cams are cheap enough
• No 'free-wheel' coasting
  
  • Shift to "N"

Since we have a perfectly fine 2010 that already has a tow bar, dash-cam, and 1 kW inverter, no real issue. The value add of the 2016 over the 2010 is not high enough to make me anxious to get one. So I am not surprised some are happy with the older 2004-09 and in a few minutes I'll commute in our 03 Prius. Having gone through the infantile problems with the 2010, it makes sense to let the model mature and take another look at the 2017-18.

As for sales, it looks like what happened pre-2010 release. Once the new models arrive, dealers will be more reasonable about selling the 2015s.

Bob Wilson

 

at least the new 12v battery might hold up better after sitting on dealers lots all next year.

 

That's a two-edged sword: think I'd rather have a totally dead 12 volt battery, so there's less quibbling about replacing it before you buy. I say "less" cus of our experience, with Open Road Toyota in Port Moody. When we showed up for a test drive, they had it in "ready". This car (as I noticed later) had a manufacture date AUG09, and now it was Nov, 2010.

We went for our drive, loved it, got back, went in to chat. Then for some reason, I think to check the odometer, we went back out and tried to start it again, and then the jig was up.

 

Another vote for a solar tickle charger:

Of course the PiP owners are sitting smug and don't see the 2016 as being a step up. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

There's a VW dealership in our neighbourhood, I noticed they had little solar panels on dashes of cars on the lot. Don't see them lately tho, maybe good idea but fell through for some reason?

 

So much speculation leading into the first sales after the first of the year. I'm looking forward to some PC members buying a 2016 and giving us feed back after they've owned it several months. Also, rentals will become available for those that wish to take a multi day test drive.

I think most people will give positive remarks. At the end of the day, one needs to touch it, drive it, feel the comfort of the seat and handling, and take in the visual aspects of the interior and instrument panel, and more.

Let's give this some time before we berate the new 2016 Prius.

Bob, I agree with waiting for the 2017-2108 model years. My plan is to buy a 2018 in 2020 (used).

 

To be fair, it is easier to lower cD on a longer car.

 

Be fare? What a noncense! A bunch of cars now have Cd in .25-.27 range, shorter, and the don't look weird too.

 

yes, but a 'normal' car battery isn't susceptible to deep discharge damage like a prius battery. so it depends on what they are using.

 

Can you give examples?

 

I fail to see the contradiction and agree to the first one.

 

Everything on the Gen 4 is LED Except the turn signals. Wonder why?

 

The Sonata is roughly 15 inches longer than the Prius. That extra length allows for longer and shallower tapering to the front and rear of the car to reduce cD. It takes more effort from the designers and engineers to get the same cD in a shorter package.

There is an actually easy way to lower cD on the gen3 Prius. Just extend the Kammback down to a point, but that adds several feet of length to the car.

 

Looking forward to the first Gen 4 mpg comparison reviews from some of the folks here who also have the Gen 3 and keep meticulous stats of their commutes.

This will probably give us the best apples-to-apples percent improvement in mpg, using the same real world test cycle.


Sounds like a good add on accessory project for a hyper-miler. Probably not much to gain from a city commute, but would be cool for long range highway road trips.

Wonder about road legal issues, though. It's really an Eco-geek thing and would likely cost more than one would make back on fuel savings. Haven't looked around, but have to imagine someone has tried this on the Gen 3 Prius.

 

It has been done with a Civic.

Aerocivic - Honda Civic modifications for maximum gas mileage - aerocivic.com

The owners lives in South Carolina, IIRC. A state without regular safety inspetcions. Not that I think the car is unsafe, it is much less hassle for such heavy mods.

The guy in this thread has build an aero trailer for his pick up. My T-100 aero cap... - Fuelly Forums

 

Sounds like to get any significant gains in highway mpg, these boat tails have to approach 1/2 the length of the vehicle.

Found one for the Gen 2:
Prius Boat Tail For Sale - Increase Your MPG! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

These guys get an A for effort and economy. But, oh how the eyes hurt!

 

Motorburn | 12 of the most aerodynamic cars in production right now

with respect to cheap short car with good aerodynamics Mitsubishi Mirage is 0.27 and it is almost a foot shorter than Prius C (~29" shorter than Gen4).