Why do people think the Prius should be cheap?

Lemme guess ...

GM

and their numerous car brands - GMC, Chevy, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Cadillac, Buick,

Can't name them all, makes me tired.

 

Unless the advertiser is violating federal law, those ratings must be EPA numbers. The test cycles are fixed, so they can't baby it.

Average PCers will do better because they are leaving the ECO mode engaged (not allowed in EPA tests), and are driving more like the few folks who can easily beat the old optimistic EPA numbers, not like the common stomp-and-go leadfoots that have forced the EPA to downgrade the ratings scale at least three times over the past thirty years. This is called a 'selection bias'.

 

Tell them you hate comparing a Prius to any sedan, so compare it to a Matrix automatic that starts at $19,319 w/ CF.

Pri II only $3,631 above that. Not too bad.

 

The people that think it is costly are thinking about fuel savings alone. The fact you get size/tech/comfort above another car doesn't register. My dad was saying I should buy a Honda Fit as it got good milage and I'd take a very very long time to recoupe the cost difference from the Prius to the Fit.

They don't think apples to apples when they are thinking fuel economy only dollar savings. I'll take the room and comfort with better fuel economy for a few xtra bucks.

 

Anyone?

 

Try this angle if it happens again,
"Yeah I know, I couldn't get over how little it cost for such a fantastic, well equipped car either!"

 

Some people may not like this answer. But some of the non Prius owning world think people who buy Prius are buying it to save money on gas, so they think the owners are cheap and therefore, the car must be cheap. It didn't help that earlier generation hybrids had a lot more compromises, like smaller cabin size and weaker engine. So Prius never really built a reputation of being a muscle car like a Ford Mustang or a luxury comfort car like a Lexus. Even if you get the Package V now with ATP, it is still not a Lexus, sorry. You are just not going to impress the superficial crowd who judge you by the price of your car.

We Prius owners usually generate three common first impressions to the non Prius crowd; we are either tree huggers, geeks who like new technology, or we like to save money at the gas station. And there is nothing wrong with being any of those

Of course, in reality, Prius owners come in all areas of society and demographics. We are doctors, lawyers, students, artists, soccer moms, unemployed, jerks, etc. Just like the rest of the world. We all have a common reason to own the car, we like it for whatever features we wanted in a car. That's good enough reason to be proud of your car.

There's no need to defend your car choice with any critics. But if you must give them a response, just say, "My car is fast, comfortable, reliable, and it makes less pollution than your car." (except to the Tesla owners). Then give them a warm smile and walk away.

 

It's based on interior volume index, which is equal to seating space PLUS cargo area. From what I could find, to the nearest whole number, the 2010 Corolla has 92 cubic feet for seating plus 12 for luggage, a total of 104. Compact cars are 100-109.9. The 2010 Prius has 94 cubic feet for seating plus 21 for cargo, a total of 115. Midsize cars are 110-119.9.

 

Americans in particular have always associated length with price and luxury. Luxury is a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac DTS (both shorter than some of my earlier cars!). Anything less than 16 feet long just can't be a luxury car.

However, I think the younger generation is beginning to see that a 15 foot BMW 3-series sedan compares well to a DTS in luxury and works better in parking lots and traffic jams.

When Detroit builds a compact, it's an econocar. The idea of building a 15-foot long luxury car escapes them still. GM builds a compact, it's worried about losing money because it's so cheap/inexpensive. BMW builds a compact or a subcompact, it's expensive and they make plenty of money. Try gussying up a Mini sometime (Build Your Own) at www.miniusa.com- the Prius V looks like a pretty good deal.

 

Exception to your argument is the Ford Contour and Jaguar X-Type. Ford seemingly couldn't give away the $14,000 Contour, but gussy it up as a Jag, price it at $35,000, and they sold a ton around the Washington, D.C. area.

 

That is correct.

 

The US market has always associated high HP or beefier engines with higher cost which results in more luxury. Smaller displacement engines often were shunned and mated wtih smaller econo cars. The Prius totally went against that mold and is just beginning to win over other minds in the current market. Minds will change, we're all considered early adapters..... I personally feel the Gen III is probably a late adapter in the Prius market but definitely the 1st Prius that couples what I feel a good balance between fuel economy, comfort, luxury, and tech that would really start to pull over some nay sayers.

 

GM didn't so well with the Cadillac Cimmaron. I'm sure that's the car GM execs talk about at meetings talking about small luxury cars. Too bad because they could do it if they chose to do so.