Newbies - Let's See Some Pics!

Here's an update since Sept. 7th (Post #563).
Got a new set of Enkei Racing GTC01 17 x 7.5 +48 Offset (Hyperblack) mounted on 215/45R-17 Continental ExtremeContact DWS XL A/S tires.



Finally getting the side mirrors with LED signal lights mounted this Wednesday.
Parts for the fog lamp installation are on its way.

 

Posted this already over in the GenIII subforums, but here's a photo of our new 2010 Prius V in Sandy Beach Metallic with Bisque leather interior.

 

Picked it up an hour ago!

S3 I-Tech, no idea what that translates to in America, but it has all the fruit except the 17" wheels.

 

For a second, I thought your kid was driving, those RHD throw me off every time. lol.

 

Here's a pic of mine. Since this pic, I've removed the wheel rings. I thought they looked odd, and found out about removing them with a search. Not sure what will be next.

 

I'm very excited - I just found out that the dealer who was looking for a 2008 Prius for me bought two today! There's a red and the dark blue, and it sounds like both are in good shape and have features I wanted. By this weekend I will have my new Prius!

Now I just have to decide which color to take... they're both so pretty. I'll be back to post a picture as soon as I have it, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot here on the forums.

 

Hi everyone,

Picking up my Prius V tomorrow from Longo Toyota. Looking forward to driving it home.

 

Some nice pics of mine...
First one taken on the Black Sea Coast, and second on [ame="http://www.megavideo.com/?v=DG4AOMAN"]Transfagarashan[/ame]
This video is an episode of TopGear, filmed in Romania. There you will se the Transfagarasan, too.

 

Well here's my ol' work horse;

 

Got ours New Years Eve, a 2010 Blizzard Pearl, V w/ Nav, we were the last customers of 2009!

 

Nice pics!!!

Great car.

 

This is an anaglyph (3D image) of my former 2001 Prius. Use Red/Cyan glasses to get the 3D effect:
(larger image can be found on my Flickr page: Flickr: awmyhr's Photostream )

When I get a chance to grab some good shots, I'll make (and post) an anaglyph of my brand new 2010 Prius...

 

Hi everyone,

after my introduction in the general newbie-sction, now - as promised - some pics of our german NHW11.


This photo was taken during our trip to Denmark:




Our Prius waiting in front of a lodge in Denmark:




A VERY rare picture (at least in Germany):
Two NHW11 on one parking lot - and both are blue! This photo was taken at the official german "Prius-friends" meeting in 2008. The left one is ours, the right one came from Switzerland.
Interesting detail: Although the swiss license plates have approx. the same size as in NA, the recess in the decklid is the same as for all other european countries (which have wider plates).




Also at the "Prius-friends" meeting in 2008. A total of 60 vehicles attended.
For the "hybrid-resistant" german market that's quite a lot; but it could have been more, because the "Prius-friends" online-community has over 2500 members...




Again two german Classic Prius; this time in the town of Hamburg in 2007.
We met at a salvage yard to safe some parts of a damaged NHW11.
Strange rims on both vehicles? Well, both cars were equipped with winter tires and (original Toyota) hubcaps at that time.




This photo is fairly "new". It has been taken in June 2009, when our Prius reached the 150,000 km "barrier" (over 93,000 mi).
BTW: Two weeks ago we just passed the 100.000 miles (161,000 km).

 

Thanks for the great photos and congratulations joining the 100K-mile club.

Were you saying Germans don't like to buy hybrid cars? Why?

 

Hi 2009Prius,

it is actually true, that hybrid vehicles are not that commonplace at least here in Germany.
I already wrote the following in another thread:

Here in Germany (and some other european countries) we are in "Diesel-land".
You have to take into account, that diesel fuel is "subsidized" with a 20 Euro-Cent lower taxation at the pump. Consequently a diesel - at least from a costing point of view with a higher annual milage - is more interesting. And about particualtes and NOx emissions most people do not care of.
Also the german automotive industry is very good at reducing the discussion just to CO2-emissions.

But there are more reasons:
Germans are not that open minded to new technologies, at least when we look at consumer products (I consider a car as a consumer product). A lot of people still buy what they are used to.

Another aspect is the way of testing and subsequent argumentation of most car-related magazines:
Since we are among the three remaining countries worldwide (the others are Tibet and some african state AFAIK) with no general speedlimit on the highways - exept when it is enforced by signs - a "realistic" testing method has been established:
A hybrid and e.g. a diesel are pushed at full throttle over the highway. It always turns out, that the diesel consumes less than a Prius. In a recent test they recorded a 22,5 MPG for the Gen. 3 Prius and a 24,4 MPG for the Golf MK VI Bluemotion with a small 1,6 litre TDI (with only 103 HP). Even the higher energy density of diesel and much higher emissions compared to regular gas are sledomly explained in that context. Just the gallons consumed are compared.
These results are always interpreted the same way since YEARS:
"Hybrids are only useful in city and stop-and-go traffic; if you want to travel fast and HAVE FUN, buy a diesel".
People really believe that :der:

Also CNG and LPG are becoming more popular, but just because of the much lower price at the pump. Not because it is sustainable and the next step into the future.
Hybrids are generally not recognized as the logical interim solution towards full electric mobility.

But things seem to change a bit now:
Mercedes Benz and BMW just introduced their "hybrid flagships" - for me just "marketing gags" - equipped with a tiny mild hybrid capable of delivering approx 20 HP. (BTW: these cars are then compared to diesels again, showing that hybrid do not help saving fuel - how should they, with just 20 HP electric power? And most people - and a lot of motor-journalists - do not know the difference between full and mild hybrid resilting again in the conclusion: "Hybrid does not reduce fuel consumption)
The "hybrid-logo" is at least used for some kind of marketing. But NOT by Toyota They know that they have a very good hybrid and are the leaders in that technology, but the marcom budget is still put in the old technology. With the Prius you just make no money in Germany...


Another example is a missing governmental incentive-system for promoting energy efficient vehicles. On the one hand it is true that Germany was the "inventor" of the "cash for clunkers" program, but on the other hand EVERY new car was rewarded. The mileage did not play a role at all. Even SUVs were rewarded! :der:
But looking back this decision was logical: If a good mileage would have been the main requirement, ONLY asian (e.g. with hybrids) and maybe french and italian manufacturers (with their large variety of small cars) would have profited. Our automotive-lobby is very strong...

I hope this exlains the situation a bit...

 

The dealer called on Monday that the car had arrived. Today we have picked it up:

 

Hey everyone.

Been a proud owner of my '07 Prius for almost 3 years now. Currently I have well over 86,000 miles on my car, and it's been worth every mile ( I commute, a lot, and carpool with my wife)

As you can see by both my screen name, and the picture of my car, I am a HUGE San Diego Charger fan, and have been ever since the days of John Hadl, Lance Alworth, and Dan Fouts. The double entendre of "Eat My Voltage" with the Charger lightning Bolt gets both smiles and thumbs up all over town.

Soon this car will be going to my daughter, as soon as she gets her Drivers License, and then it will be on to my next Prius. :thumb:

 

I bought my used 2008 Prius at the end of Dec and so far am loving it! Between reading more of the manual and the wealth of information on these forums, I still have a lot to learn about how to make the most of this wonderful car.