Is Prius an Econobox?

I've stopped. Have you? You need to stop slandering my good name. You don't get to l337 priuschat status like I by never contributing something useful. Sure I have my outbursts, but that's only when someone has really provoked me. I get along with a lot of people in this forum, so it shows you what kind of person you are. The first thing I said is that the Prius is an economy car, then I recanted that statement, then you continued to harass me. You're a grown man w/ kids, and I'm basically a kid that does have a lot of growing up to do, so how do you feel?

 

You're off Revigh.

Just this morning in paper, a rep for 16 dealers was interviewed about the small sedans like Cruize now available saying 'these cars come with heated leather seats and satellite radio, so they're definitely not econoboxes'.

btw, Prius V w/ ATP is $34,160 MSRP and I'll bet Thai got his for lot less than that. Try out LKA, DRCC and LED headlamps, they're probably really cool.

 

Hi CD !!

LOL ! I'm pretty sure thai is so deep financially and mentally invested into his car that even waterboarding couldn't make him admit the truth.

I'm not saying it's not a real nice car ... all PRII are real nice cars ... real nice $20K class cars. The issue is .... (other than whether it's an econobox or not, which is a nebulous, undefined term that everybody has a different definition of) ... is it worthy of being so vehemently defended against the rest of the class of $35K cars that are on the market ?

Seriously, could ANY Prius realistically compete in a showdown with other $35K cars in all aspects including handling, performance, interior accoutrements, etc, etc, I think if we're honest we all know the answers to all those questions. Sure it's got some electronic blingage going on, which no serious analysis between cars would put much credence in, when other things such as performance, handling, luxury appointments, quietness, NVH, and quality of ride fall so short of the rest of the $35K class cars.

REV

 

In the words of Sgt. Hulka, "Lighten up, Francis".

 

:grouphug: Grouphug everyone, forgive & forget :hug:

Mike

 

Sounds like you made right choice for you.

I sat in a 2012 Focus hatchback week ago. It had a leather wrapped steering wheel. I distinctly recall that steering wheel wrap looked quite cheap, ok, it was bad IMO.

The Focus hatch is fairly small inside. It does not have nearly the passenger or cargo room Prius has.

Make no mistake, conventional cars will sink your fuel economy right down into the toilet. The Focus hatch with so-called 40 MPG? or whatever, at end of day, will net you not much more than 30 MPG at the pump, maybe under 30.

That TSX sportwagen at its size and heft - you'd be lucky to pull 25 MPG at the pump.

Another thing 2.4L 4 cylinder engines ain't all that. Sure, if they're under 3k lbs, you'll feel some p/w pull. But, much over 3k lbs for car, they rev up kinda like a Prius going up steep hills. Inline 4 engines are just not torquey unless turbocharged, it seems.

 

Well I haven't even sat in a III/3 and I haven't ridden in many different cars. What makes something not "econo" to me is one of two things:
- Power
- Comfort (seat, ride, noise, vibration)

The one thing that passengers have consistently remarked upon about the Prius II is the smoothness on the highway (at 65mph). But other than that there's nothing remarkable about it.

Well, the display's a bit different, but not eye-popping.

The II has A/C, C/C and power windows which you can typically find in 2nd level trim. It has smart key, but that's a convenience rather than a luxury. In fact, since the II only has 1-door smart key, I find I have to use the fob a fair bit (but I'd still miss smart key). Not a stripper, but nothing special.

If I use econobox it's exaggeration, to emphasize that it's not luxurious, it's just a hybrid Corolla. I can't speak for higher trims, but unless they significantly change the comfort and ride for the driver, it's still a sow's ear, even if I happen to find sow's-ear purses really useful.

 

I actually drove a 2012 Focus about a week ago when I had my Prius in for it's 5K free service. The one I drove was a manual sedan, and it was very tight, far more quiet than the Prius, and MSRP on it was $16,995. Even loaded to the hilt, I can't imagine a Focus being much more than $22-23K, although I never really researched them loaded to the hilt. With leather and every option it would probably be a decent car, priced just where it belongs at about $22K or so. I'd think with the eco miser pkg or whatever Ford calls it, you'd get mid 30's as an average MPG. Agreed, it's not 50MPG, but at 15-20K miles per year, if you compare the Focus loaded $23K price and 35 MPG vs a current V ATP at $35K and 50 MPG, it'll take about 20 years to break even fuel mileage wise with the V ATP.

The Focus is a real nice car, and so is the Elantra that I also test drove about 3 weeks ago. That state of the art 6 speed auto trans is pretty impressive.

 

Then 'we' ought to concentrate on filling in the suggestions thread of what we'd like to see in the next Prius. Sounds boring, but there is likely another regular Prius on the drawing board about now.

I want to see a refined interior in the Prius - no too low door armrest, I can spot an off center steering wheel quickly, there's an airbag in there, I want it centered, and it better be positioned without fault (there have been a number of reviewers comment on Prius steering positioning / adjustability) I want better lumbar support in all Prius seats and seat bottom tilt in all trims.

There MUST be more wheel choices in mid-range Prius. It's preposterous the IV gets the stinky wheels with plastic covers and they don't look all that with covers removed.

They will need to up the exterior styling of next Prius - cars are getting character line, assertive looking from all angles. Prius must compete in this too. A tame looking car will never get you into the top 10.

 

Yet another II owner with a need to define Prius as econobox but didn't even tried other trim levels with their gadgets/accessories/equipment...

PS that was meant for ItsNotAboutTheMoney

 

Agreed on all points CD !! The Prius interior materials are just horrible .... acceptable to me because of the mileage it gets and utility the car offers ... but just horrible. Hard plasticky materials, and luckily mine isn't plagued with the rattles and squeaks that some are, so I consider myself lucky on that point. THey could use some ergonomic tweaks as well ... no matter the trim.

REV

 

One thing that can not be argued against a Maybach is in no way shape or form an Econobox. For those that don't know Maybach is the luxury Mercedes brand

 

Just so you know peoples, according to link below, we are just past the start of a big ramp up in fuel economy standards that has been flat for nearly 20 years. Scroll down to see chart in link. What that means to me is there will be many more attractive choices in $20k ish cars with increased fuel economy.

The Prius will need to shape up more in exterior, interior styling, features, refinement, road manners, road feel. 50 MPG is good, they've got that down. Diminishing returns to get hell bent for 60 MPG in regular Prius. Now, it's time to refine, refine, make it more attractive and hold the cost.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy"]Corporate Average Fuel Economy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

Give me a break with the whole II jealousy thing ... I've never been jealous of somebody else's cars or possessions in my life. It's just a stupid car for God's sake .... a material possession that's about as bad an investment as you can make. If somebody is jealous of somebody else's car, that doesn't say much about the person, the same way as somebody who needs to define themselves by owning a certain level car and ridiculing others who don't have the same thing doesn't say much about them either.

REV

 

Now we're talking CD !!! Great points. Emphasis on HOLD THE COSTS.

The Prius .... as great as it is for economy and technology, is an abysmal failure in interior quality. I'd like to know where Toyota got the idea that people wanted virtually their entire interior made of materals that were made from recycled melted plastic milk jugs and soda bottles.

Screw 'green' appearances ... give me reasonable interior materials ... like VW used to have.


REV