Featured Automakers Should Market Electric Cars As Fun-To-Drive, Quiet, Responsive

That noise is just to make sure people on their riding lawn mowers know he is in his driveway working on his bike so they don't run into him

 

A large part of the 2016 demo drives involved running 3rd and 4th gen Prius through a slalom course, illustrating the cornering ability improvement. I just keep thinking of that scene in Peggy Sue Got Married: "I happen to know I will never need algebra".

 

i rarely see ev ads, especially compared to gassers. what 'marketing' are they talking about, internet?

 

From the 2001-03 Prius on, the price-performance of the Prius has been outstanding. The product of the internal volume times miles per gallons gives good stuff, (miles * ft{3}), divided by operational expense, gallons. Dr. Hogan introduced this fairly simple yet effective metric years ago and it remains a simple, single metric that beyond anything else gives merit to the Prius family.

Actually the honorable competition has noticed and over time, started to make effective competition to the Prius. Initially, like the early Prius, relatively expensive but 2-3 years later, used versions are available at reasonable prices. Toyota has moved forward at their own pace. But the pragmatic Prius people apply the same algorithm:

(good_stuff) / (expense_bad_stuff)​

What has been maddening is seeing Toyota USA+Japan deliberately denying 'good_stuff' known to be available in Japan and Toyota Europe. The earliest was the fold-down, rear seat back in the 2001-03 (I've been around for a long, long time) and the EV button in the 2004-09. The 2010-15 Prius had the first generation TSS-P but by jacking up the price $8,000. Now the 2016 has again been released hobbled by Toyota USA+Japan.

Prius people are first pragmatic but we can be alienated by this anti-customer hostility by Toyota USA+Japan. In my case, Southeaster Toyota region also takes delight in pissing-off pragmatic people … note the absence of 'Prius.'

By their actions, Toyota USA+Japan+Southeast follow a business model that seeks new customers by sheet metal art, modest handling improvements, and some MPG improvements while refusing to sell product already designed and manufactured. What they got from automotive press was mixed reviews and often back handed comments (i.e., 'Prius s*cks less'.)

Taking a couple of seconds off the 0-60 time and other value-added options that have already been engineered and are in manufacturing remains a stretch too hard. Even to 2017 universal TSS-P option waits another year and only exists because NHTSA is forcing it like the former, optional backup cameras.

I congratulate those getting the 2016 Prius, especially the Level 3/4 with TSS-P and know they will do well as the USA version is an improved Prius. The 2016 Level 2 ECO is also an excellent ride in spite of Toyota keeping it free from an important safety option. The 2016 Prius is a step up and the Prius sales are showing growth but not the kind of explosive, 'hair on fire' that would have already blown through 10,000 units per month and might have led to waiting lists and Prius premium pricing.

Bob Wilson

 

To add to what Bob said, I'm still baffled by their claim that nobody in the US wants AWD functionality in the Prius as to why they won't sell that feature here. Anyone living in a snowy region, aka the northern half of the US, and occasionally the southern half, would probably disagree with Toyota on that statement.

My guess is that either the AWD function on the Prius is vastly underpowered, which the Japanese and maybe Europeans can put up with, but the average American will probably try to sue Toyota over on "false advertising" when they get stuck trying to drive their Prius through really deep mud or packed snow.

Or that it would add thousands to the price of the car, and with people (in the US at least) already leery of the "hybrid premium", having to shell out even more money for it would probably turn some customers away.

That said, I would love to see a foreign review of the AWD capabilities of the Gen 4 Prius being tested to see how functional and practical it is.

 

What drives me nuts is there are only a few Prius assembly lines. I strongly suspect the same line that makes our North American, option-starved Prius adds the very options we (ok, I) want to the European and Japanese versions. As the body is assembled, the scheduled wiring harness shows up and that defines the options.

Bob Wilson

 

also, gen 3 got the 100 volt inverter in japan, but after all the testing, we are still not getting it on gen 4. or a tow rating.

 

My first test of the Prius gen1 was in the mountains where it should have been a disappointment. Once you know how to use the regenerative breaking you can get a lot of torque out of it. It takes a few tankful a before it knows who you are and when to use the volts but it's not been a disappointment, I consistently pass guys getting 1/3 my gas mileage ❤️


iPhone ?

 

On reflection, my personal requirements should not be treated as universal. I am not here to throw water on the enthusiasm of new, 2016 Prius owners and wish them the best!

The 2016 Prius is a good car and if it weren't for the 2010 Prius we already own, we might have gone another way.

Bob Wilson

 

does the i3 have the 120v inverter output?

 

I'll probably describe the modifications in a BMW i3 forum. I try not to 'piss in someone else's sandbox.'

Bob Wilson

 

i don't think the wind would affect the direction in this thread. emergency power would be another good marketing tool.

 

Just be sure to post a link here for the curious.

 

Which most of us are.

I don't know Bob, I've heard rumors ... on another diesel forum - their sandbox doesn't smell too good. Who Could That Be

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I just wanted to make sure they had facts and data about the 2016 Prius ... public service since some of them may be getting new rides soon.

Bob Wilson