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My Prius Review: I HATE THIS THING!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by digital_griffin, Aug 10, 2009.

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  1. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I'm still scratching my head over this one . . .

    What the heck are you getting at?

    So the Prius sold "only" 19,173 units in July 2009 out of 554,527 cars sold in America during July? It is still more cars than Kia sold in July. Not more of any one Kia model, but all Kias sold. It also is more than every car sold by each of the following auto makers: Mazda, Mercedes, BMW, and Subaru. It also is only about 1,400 fewer cars than sold by all of Volkswagen! (And, fewer than 1,000 less than all cars sold by Chrysler during July.)

    And, it IS more cars sold during July than the COMBINED TOTAL of the following manufacturers: Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Mitsubishi, Mini, Rolls Royce, Maybach, Smart, Suzuki, Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati.

    OK, now, that takes care of more than 138,000 cars made by 20 manufacturers (not counting Toyota), so that leaves room for all of the cars sold by GM, Ford, Toyota (including the Prius), Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai. That amounts was 428,841 cars, of which, the Prius was only 4.5% in total sales volume. Of course, when you consider Midsize cars, that sales number shows the Prius accounted for sales of nearly 8% of all midsize cars.

    That is a whole lot of numbers, but what does it really mean? That the Prius isn't anything other than one of the most-popular and best-selling cars in America. Forget that the Prius sold more units than did the Fusion, Malibu, Impala, Elantra, Sonata, or Jetta. . .

    . . . What were you saying?

    Data from www.motorintelligence.com
     
    #81 a priori, Aug 12, 2009
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  2. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

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    Umm.. doesn't the Corvette have a horribly cheap interior for a 40k plus car? Don't get me started on the Sebring. A true driver's car. That alone should tell you what type of scmuck we're dealing with here.
     
    #82 djasonw, Aug 12, 2009
  3. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

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    Umm.. doesn't the Corvette have a horribly cheap interior for a 40k plus car? Don't get me started on the Sebring. A true driver's car. That alone should tell you what type of schmuck we're dealing with here.
     
    #83 djasonw, Aug 12, 2009
  4. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    He needs a old camery
     
    #84 Sandy, Aug 12, 2009
  5. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    My showroom 54K vette was the biggest piece of garbage ever...nothing worked right rear seal blew at 22K miles....nightmare
     
    #85 Sandy, Aug 12, 2009
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Dang, I mean baaaaaaa

    I was looking forward to some hot cross-dressing action ....
     
    #86 jayman, Aug 12, 2009
  7. digital_griffin

    digital_griffin New Member

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    What I'm getting at is that hybrid technology has been around since MY 2000. In nine years it has reached < 1% of Global sales.

    If you compare the Civic Hybrid sales to the regular Civic, or Camry hybrid to the regular Camry, or Escape Hybrid to the Escape, the old fashioned pure ICE always outsells it's comparative Hybrid version by a considerable amount.

    After 9 years, hybrids are a general failure to the general public because they ask people to sacrifice too much. If parallel hybrids were so great, then most cars would be hybrid based, not the <1% it is now. The Prius is a hybrid pushed to it's limits. A serious technological advancement? Yes it is. But is sacrifices way too much. Some serious advancements need to be made if hybrid technology is to succeed.

    BTW: Your argument about people paying over MSRP for a Prius during the car crisis was a perfect example of people being penny wise and pound foolish. People just can't do simple math to figure out how many miles they would have to drive to break even on cost. Over it's driveable lifetime, the prius is a break even cost wise with gas at $3.75/gallon->$4.00/gallon. If gas is less then that, then you are LOOSING money. You have to pay more for a hybrid up front. Theres batteries, motors, and serious electronics.

    A Scion xD which gets 30 MPG combined cost only $15,320. That's $6,680 LESS than a prius. It has a more powerful engine and feels sportier. And $6680 is a ton of gas, even at $4/gallon. That's 1670 gallons of gas! Or 146,284 miles to break even! Add in additional tire wear, and battery replacement at (150K->180K miles) and it's a break even!

    If you want to save at the pump, or end our reliance on foreign oil, the prius probably is the greatest thing since sliced bread to you. But for Joe Q public, it's still a failure. Failure of mass adoption proves this.

    When Joe Q public is forced to purchase hybrids through new CAFE requirements, there will be a serious backlash. That is unless you make some serious serious improvements.

    Pretending the Prius is perfect, and NOT addressing it's short comings is just asking for trouble.
     
    #87 digital_griffin, Aug 12, 2009
  8. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    If I only had $15K to spend on a car, I'd look for the best car I could buy for that amount.

    If I had $25K I'd do the same; I definitely wouldn't buy a cheaper car instead and boast about how much I'm saving.

    The Prius fit my budget and requirements to a T. That's why I bought it. Not because I could save a few bucks by buying a Scion xD or whatever.
     
    #88 zenMachine, Aug 12, 2009
  9. UGC

    UGC Member

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    This is probably the BEST way I have seen this "feeling" of driving a hybrid expressed.


    I now drive a Honda Civic hybrid (2003) that is really "a brand new car" because I have replaced everything on it (no joke),...I really want to buy the 2010 Prius, but my pocketbook can't afford it right now, so all I can do is read about the car and wipe the drool from my mouth every few seconds ..lol.
     
    #89 UGC, Aug 12, 2009
  10. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Are you claiming that convertibles are a failure, since they have been around for over 100 years and have such a small niche market? Are you claiming that manual transmissions are a failure, since they have been around for over 100 years and have such a small niche market? Judging the Hybrid after 10 years seems premature. (I am willing to admit the Wankel seems to be a niche engine)

    To be fair to the hybrids, one should only count market penetration in markets they are offered in. World wide percentages would be applicable if they were sold world wide, but they aren't. That no one buys a Prius in markets Toyota does not sell the Prius in is a given, but not a sign of failure. If Toyota is going after the most lucrative markets first, who could blame them?

    This article seems to indicate Toyota is selling all the Prius it can. Toyota Exec: Prius Supply Low Due To Clunker Program - Automotive * US * News * Story - CNBC.com
     
    #90 JimboPalmer, Aug 12, 2009
  11. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    So how pound foolish is someone who buy's a Corvette? Could you please show me the math for payback time for a New 'Vette? Thank you.
     
    #91 efusco, Aug 12, 2009
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  12. Kablooie

    Kablooie Member

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    That's what I was thinking. The Sebring is a frustratingly chugging drive. I rented one and loved the convertible aspect but it's power really dragged next to my old Camry.

    Trade in the Prius and get a Tesla and let us know what you think then.
     
    #92 Kablooie, Aug 12, 2009
  13. digital_griffin

    digital_griffin New Member

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    I love the threads that try to counter attack by attacking my choices in automobiles. We are addressing the Prius's short comings.

    The reason people were buying the Prius over MSRP was because they were paniking about the price of gas. They were trying to save money. (Utility purpose) When in fact they were loosing more money then if they decided to keep your partially paid off SUVs, or a comparably equipped regular ICE for less money.

    You don't buy any sports car to save money. You buy it for the emotional experience.
     
    #93 digital_griffin, Aug 12, 2009
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  14. fred garvin

    fred garvin New Member

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    One doesn't buy a prius for the emotional experience. Ones buys it for one's own reasons, none of which apparently resonate with YOU, so go away already. You know who else drove a Sebring? Michael Scott. Enough said.
     
    #94 fred garvin, Aug 12, 2009
  15. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Again you simplify the reasons and make huge unfounded assumptions displaying a huge ignorance of the diverse population of Prius owners and drivers.
    While many people did want the Prius when gas prices were at extreme highs it wasn't to save money that most bought them it was to save GAS. To buy less gas when things were clearly spiraling out of control price wise and our dependence upon ME oil was huge.

    While there may well be a few stupid lost souls that thought they were "saving money" I think a quick survey would find them few and far between.

    And I'm not attacking your choice of cars, I'm attacking your simple minded dollars and cents arguement. I bought my prius for a large number of reasons...around 10th down my list is saving money on gas. I'm not buying a Tesla to save money either, in case you're wondering.

    And for your other arguements, while you're correct that it is reasonable to discuss shortcomings in hopes of future improvements, you're about 5 years late to the party since the 2010 was released a couple months ago and many of your concerns have already been addressed. Further, many of the things that you see as "problems" many of us see as benefits or at least acceptable compromises for the other features that we desire.

    Just as a with a 'vette you compromise passenger and cargo room, in a Prius you sacrifice accerative performance and handling to some degree.

    You've simultaneously complained about the fact that you have to drive carefully to get exceptional gas mileage, and bragged that you drive conservatively and get 50-60mpg...but then listed this as a problem with the car and gave it a poor grade in that area. Do you not see that contradiction at all?

    Look, criticism is fair, necessary, and even welcome here. Without it we'd still not have height adjustable seats in the 2010. But you're just screaming at a wall at this point griping about a car you've had for over 100k miles when it's a previous generation car and it isn't even your own daily driver. Clearly your wife would give it a far different grade as well.

    What do you think you're going to accomplish complaining about things now when there's already a new and improved version out?
     
    #95 efusco, Aug 12, 2009
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  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    [​IMG]


    :rolleyes:
    :p
     
    #96 hill, Aug 12, 2009
  17. jestoy7

    jestoy7 New Member

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    He's bitching here because his wife probably doesn't care nor listen to him afterall, it is HER car!
     
    #97 jestoy7, Aug 12, 2009
  18. digital_griffin

    digital_griffin New Member

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    I think you would be mistaken. If people were truly that altruistic in their car purchases, they wouldn't have bought SUV's in the first place. Although I will grant you my wife purchased hers from the onset to reduce foreign oil dependence. She is far outside the norm however.

    During the 70's gas crunch, everyone rushed to compacts and smaller engines. They didn't give a rats tail the Arabs were restricting flow because of support to Israel. Once the supply resumed, and prices fell, we went back to our old ways and then some!

    I would love to hear your other reasons however for purchasing the Prius. It might find a redeeming value for this car.
     
    #98 digital_griffin, Aug 12, 2009
  19. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    1) Promotion of advanced automotive technology for a better future
    2) Burn less gas
    3) SWEET luxury features--one of the first cars ever with built in bluetooth, smart key, voice nav/radio/etc. controls/
    4) Low emissions
    5) Quiet
    6) Fun to drive
    7) Cool/unique looking
    8) Fun to have new technology
    9) Stick it to big oil
    10) Save money on gas

    That's pretty much it.
     
    #99 efusco, Aug 12, 2009
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Thanks, I am sure your upgrade will really be worth it when the time comes.
     
    #100 usbseawolf2000, Aug 12, 2009
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