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Why Are There Not More Prius Cs in Los Angeles?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by afrowalking, Jan 24, 2014.

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  1. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    It's been nearly two years since the Prius C debuted; I bought mine a year after that and am baffled by how few I see in Los Angeles compared to the omnipresent Prius liftback, a moving mass of multicolored sameness.

    What variables are driving the choice of the liftback over the C in Los Angeles? Is it about needing significantly more space or being associated with the iconic representation of the Prius or is it that more of the population can afford it or are the deals more attractive or is it simply a superior car? What? Given the initial momentum around the C, I'm surprised.

    I'm not knocking the liftback; its prevalence is a good thing. However, I find it a bit disconcerting that such a wide swath of Prius folks in Los Angeles are seemingly choosing to go bigger which at face value contradicts the notion of being environmentally conscientious. I think an integral part of such awareness is increasingly about finding effective ways to live with less and be fulfilled.

    Let's please mix it up, Los Angeles. More Cs, Smart Cars, Fits, Sparks, Fiats, Leafs and the like ... (yes, I read the latest crash test results) ... biking, walking and public transportation for extra credit.
     
    #1 afrowalking, Jan 24, 2014
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  2. DtEW

    DtEW Active Member

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    Well, perhaps people are looking beyond the "face value" of "bigger = less-environmentally-conscientious", and actually at the EPA MPG ratings to realize that the Liftback is probably more efficient than the C for the substantial freeway driving that defines the LA commute (due to the more-difficult-to-sort-out aerodynamics of a shorter car).

    Now, in the tighter metropolis of SF proper, I do expect more people to opt for the C over the Liftback. And there is indeed a good proportion of them. But people opt for smaller cars here more for parking advantages than enviro-conscientiousness, much less enviro-asceticism. (The enviro-ascetics here don't drive at all.) Parking is living hell in many parts of the 7x7. And you can't hug the earth when you've circled the block for half-an-hour looking for parking for you to fit in.
     
    #2 DtEW, Jan 24, 2014
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  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    The CARB warranty on the Hybrid Battery for the Liftback is 150,000/10. For the c, only the 100,000/8 Federal warranty applies. That alone may be worth the difference in price, in CARB states.

    PIPs, which will look like Liftbacks, also get solo carpool privileges, which can help in states with carpool lanes.
     
    #3 JimboPalmer, Jan 24, 2014
  4. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    Yes. Excellent points. The tendency to use more freeways in LA (in the absence of sufficient public transportation albeit improving) is a contributing factor and MPG over environmental conscientious is clearly evident. Maybe it's the bigness of LA that I'm getting at, literally and metaphorically, and that the prevalence of liftbacks seems to contribute to that perception.
     
    #4 afrowalking, Jan 24, 2014
  5. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    Hmmmm. I hadn't given that a thought, anticipating that my driving patterns will keep me in safe distance from wearing out the battery.
     
    #5 afrowalking, Jan 24, 2014
  6. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

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    Crap, I didn't realize the C did not get the CARB warranty. Anyone know why??

    Actually the C is probably better for LA freeway driving than the liftback. I would like to know when during the week you can get to 80 with all the traffic lol
     
    #6 PriusC_Commuter, Jan 24, 2014
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    If the manufacturer want to get AT PZEV certification, they have to offer the CARB warranty. But with car pool lanes no longer available to any car with AT PZEV, why would the manufacturer want to achieve it?
    Partial zero-emissions vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Toyota has enough vehicles that are AT PZEV and the Prius PHVs are the even more stringent TZEV.
     
    #7 JimboPalmer, Jan 24, 2014
  8. prioki

    prioki Member

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    While I myself have a Prius C, I will admit that it is SMALL. Especially if you have children and need to have a carseat in the back, it is very tight.
     
    #8 prioki, Jan 24, 2014
  9. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    I hear you. However, an overwhelming majority of Prius liftback drivers I see in Los Angeles have no passengers or one other. Curious what a statistical survey would reveal.
     
    #9 afrowalking, Jan 25, 2014
  10. Snowball

    Snowball Junior Member

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    I see C's everyday in Los Angeles. There are at least 2-3 other C's that park on my floor of the parking garage. Perhaps the people who would drive/buy a C already own a liftback and it will take time for those cars to turnover before we see more C's on the road.
     
    #10 Snowball, Jan 25, 2014
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  11. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    Encouraging.
     
    #11 afrowalking, Jan 25, 2014
  12. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    looking at the 24/7 traffic jams i think the C would do better then the liftback.
     
    #12 Flying White Dutchman, Jan 25, 2014
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  13. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Plenty C's in Southern California, not as many as the liftbacks, but they have the advantage as they have been around for years. I would like to know what color C is the best selling color?
     
    #13 orenji, Jan 25, 2014
  14. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    Size matters.
    ;)
     
    #14 DianneWhitmire, Jan 25, 2014
  15. TC400

    TC400 Active Member

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    #15 TC400, Jan 26, 2014
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  16. Fauxknight

    Fauxknight Active Member

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    Status matters. A lot of wackos buy the liftback strictly as a status symbol, with it's comparatively new release the C is less known/recognizable, and thus less desirable to purchase.
     
    #16 Fauxknight, Jan 27, 2014
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  17. afrowalking

    afrowalking Junior Member

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    In LA? Summer Rain?
     
    #17 afrowalking, Jan 27, 2014
  18. SwhitePC

    SwhitePC Active Member

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    It's simple, regular prius has like a kajillion year head start on the prius c, it'll take sometime for the C to show up more in force...

    There's 4 Prius C in my apartment complex here in norcal and 0 regular prius, so I guess C is winning in my neck of the woods =D
     
    #18 SwhitePC, Jan 27, 2014
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  19. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Bumper! Had though all Hybrids go 150k miles.
     
    #19 priusCpilot, Jan 29, 2014
  20. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Does anyone's c warranty book mention 150,000/10?
     
    #20 JimboPalmer, Jan 29, 2014
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