Anyone willing to be interviewed?

sedan.

 

i have to say a combo of gas prices and competition. the question is: how are alt fuel vehicles doing overall?

 

Exactly, Beyond that, there is the siren song of the SUV.

Rember how smitten the press was with Kia's design team, and the Optima in particular? I see a trend...

 

yep. but watch the press claim that prius has lost its luster.

 

It's certainly NOT a turnoff to me. It's what turned me on, in fact. While at a Toyota dealership test driving a Rav 4, I saw a cute little red car in the corner and asked to test drive it. Once I actually got inside the car and drove it, I was totally unequivocally in love. These statements are coming from someone, who before the Gen 4 had never considered a Hybrid, nor even been in one. Now my beautiful Hypersonic Red, Gen 4 Prius, with Advanced Tech Package, makes me smile every time I look out the window at it. Several Gen 2 and Gen 3 Prius owners where I work think it's a beauty, and are very surprised to hear about all the technology and impressed with the 80MPG round trip I took to a nearby city about 30 miles from here. I have nothing against Teslas but even if I could afford one, my cute little Toyota Gen 4 Prius is the perfect car for me and as they say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Love my Pri!!!

 

I think that the Toyota Prius is the more intelligent purchase whether you have the $$$ or not.

 

We're in a cheap gaso market where CA buys 3x the per capita of hybrids and 5-6x the per capita of Plug-ins compared to rest of USA. Obviously CA heavily pushing plug-ins takes some of the hybrid market, which is un-subsidized.

 

Guess I missed this one ... being one who 'decided no to.'

Looking forward to the story.

Bob Wilson

 

it's going to be very superficial.

 

Well I am not a fan of the Gen. 4 re-style. I think the rear end is especially bad looking. Plus in the southeast there is no rebates. If I did have to get a new Prius for some reason I'd be more apt. to look at a very low mileage 2015.

 

I love my 2015, but if the 2016 was available with similar discounting when it was time to purchase, I would hands-down prefer the 2016 -- better mileage, especially better winter mileage, more safety features, nicer seats, and fully independent suspension.

Bisco, wjtracy, and others here nailed it - hybrid demand is inversely proportional to gas prices.

Only turnoff on the 2016's to me is the lack of a Four with no sunroof and a spare tire (a combination I have in my 2015)...

 

I was thinking the same, and was looking into 3T (with added Home Link mirror), but then I realized I would miss some very cool and useful technology. Blind spot monitor and cross traffic alert, just to mention a few. Then I found a thread on this forum in 'Modifications' how folks add a spare donut to Prius 4. I decided if I buy a car for 10 years, it is not that much of investment to buy a donut and install it.

 

Here is a copy of rhe article on Wardsauto.com

Be sure to click to th second page to read reference to Priuschat and see quotes.

Prius’ Best Days in Rearview Mirror? | Alternative (EVs, HEVs, FCVs) content from WardsAuto

 

Problem is that you shouldn't have to do all those modifications. The top of the line was suppose to be all about safety. That is not what I see with a lack of a spare tire. If you want to tear a part a new car, by all means, do so. Wonder if it voids some of the warranty. When I helped my sister buy her new car, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai decided to put the spare back on the 2017. They realized it was a mistake to take away it from their models, which they did the last few years. Hopefully Toyota will reverse course soon enough.


iPhone ?

 

Here is a quote from the article's author that made me chuckle:

"The new Prius’ look, described kindly as awkward thanks to its cow-horn-shaped headlights, has been decried by many in the industry."

 

Learned a new word:

Holdridge brushes off the notion aggressive styling may be negatively impacting Prius sales.

“We don’t think so. As a matter of fact that car has clinicked very, very well.”​

"clinicked" - tested in style-oriented focus groups.

The premise of the article is the importance of style. Fortunately, I have no such concept:

. . . and would have it removed if it ever showed up.

Bob Wilson

 

I understand that Prius owners (or owner of any other model/brand) will be somewhat bias about the car they own. As for me, not so much. Yes I think the Prius 4th gen is butt ugly (and also older gens). Why I bought the 2016 Prius three? Well I totaled my car and don't want to spend $100k+ at this time to get a replacement. I'm pumping all my money paying off my mortgage and should be done by the end of next year. Why Prius then? It's reliable, cheap ...that's it. Yup, I'm putting up with it for a couple years until I get my financials in order and will get a better car. I may give it to my mom after that. I def don't see myself rolling with it long term ...hopefully not. Lol.

 

IMHO two trends have affected the Prius sales.
1. Low fuel prices and related:
2. Traditional cars as a whole are losing sales. As SUVs And Pickup Trucks Surge, Which Automakers Sell An Inordinate Number Of Cars?

 

For what it is worth:

 

headline as more click bait. how did i know?

chevy malibu hybrid? really? how many have they sold?

can someone post volt sales please? i see she intentionally left them out.

tesla has not had any effect on prius sales? but chevy malibu and volt have?

people buy a tesla for the styling, and not the power train? oh, good grief.