Featured February 2016 Dashboard

Looks like a Bricklin.

 

February 2016 was a leap month, too.

The DSR for prius is down 14%. Pretty bad considering there's the fresh new model in 2016 vs. the aging version in 2015. No, gas prices between now and last year didn't make a difference.

The Accord is still outselling the prius in CA. Given that fuel economy has gotten so good on "normal" cars, I suspect most people would rather have the nicer handling, one-notch-up Accord. The prius is still an econobox with a $3000-extra drive train. $3000 buys a lot of interior quality and improved suspension.

Heck, even in the econobox class, the Mazda 3 is nicer inside and drives much better than the prius. And with 41mpg it's an easy choice.

There's no compelling case for the Prius anymore given its shortcomings. Expect declining sales to continue. The geniuses in Toyota marketing are still trying to sell on image. Look how well that worked for Scion.


[Let's see how long this post stays up before it gets deleted by priuschat staff as my others have been.]

 

California Prii/Toyota hybrids selling like hot cakes.
I think 40% of hybrid market is possible for CA this year. Certainly 35% seems likely, up from 20% a few years back. As far as Gen4 Prius, too early to say as Dianne Whitmire just got her her full amount this week.

 

Post says a lot more about you! @UsedToLoveCars, speaking of drivetrain, did you get a chance to watch this about drivetrain?

 

Wow, 130,000 miles in just over 2 year! Impressive number of miles.
Also nice that everything (up to 15 minutes when I stopped watching) were free fixes and done very quickly (same day mostly).

But yes, bummer that the early cars had so many issues. Just imagine where the "would buy again" numbers would be if these issues didn't exist.

There have been lots of advances in the design over the years.
Later cars don't have nearly the number of issues.

 

I've seen no evidence of this. Everyone wants plugins/EVs because you can take them in the HOV lanes. But what do I know - I only live here.

I haven't seen a single new prius in the wild.

 

I saw 3 yesterday. Ok 2 were not wild, they were at a prius sponsored event during sxsw. 1 was on the road though and not part of the event. The rear view is kind of fugly with the taillights, but they may look better at night. Side view looked good as I passed ;=)

On reading the next item, yes I don't think dealers here have many gen IV to sell. They keep sending me emails about how much they will discount gen IIIs.

 

The gen4 hasn't been around long enough to reach all the dealers yet, and the sales figures are for cars delivered. So the numbers may not reflect all the orders already in place.

It is simply too early to make any judgements on the success or not of the gen4.

 

Are there any new Prius owners on the thread?

I'm sure we would all like to read owners early impressions of the new Prius. Not so much the appearance, we all have opinions, but reports on handling, comfort, power, quietness, and naturally, fuel efficiency.

I had my TAH serviced yesterday, and there were 2 new Prius at the dealers.They both had a colored tray over the "urinal white" cup holders. Maybe most will be built that way.
IMHO, the rear view is the poorest. It certainly is not attractive. It is 'choppy,' without a "design theme" that ties the various components (rear bumper, back panel, lower rear glass, and spoiler) together into a coordinated design. I agree with austingreen the tail-lights will look better at night when illuminated, but in the day-light, they are just weird.

 

they are in the gen4 area.

 

Mazda 3 is smaller, and 41MPG does a lot of difference when gas prices are, as Europeans about 6-7USD a gallon.

Scion is/was a brand, that held good while traditional Toyotas were little emotional. Prius image has 19 years (very good indeed, still lately some carmakers try to leap it, with limited success). Drawing the future is a tricky task, but you seem very well at it.

[Finally, your post (quoted) will last in Priuschat because noone is going to delete this]

 

But....we have to consider the amazing effort in the Mazda Axela hybrid...(3 named in Japan)
Mazda doing great!!

(of course it system is HSD rightfully copied, thank you Toyota)

 

Prius liftback outsold the mazda 3 by about 7000 units in north ameria last year, and I would expect it to again. The 3 probably has a better value proposition for americans but it has much higher competition with the civic, jetta, elantra, focus, etc. Toyota must have thought the mazda fromula was pretty good, as it is using the mazda 2 as its sicon ia.

The prius is a fairly unique value proposition, and with the redesign. I should hope that will get the people that want the best milage, and the new suspension should help it compete better with the 4 for handling. Its tough to compete on price though, unless toyota discounts the gen IV like they have the gen III.

 

Hmm, the overflow lot at SF toyota on Geary is stuffed with them. I'll take a pic next time I drive by it.

Still no sign of the new prius on the streets of san francisco.

 

Still waiting to see my first gen4 out here on the East Coast.

 

Prius-pt Community has already 2 4Gen owners.

 

I work not too far from a Toyota and I've yet to see one.