Considering that the Green HOV Stickers appear to have run out, I thought it would be interesting to generate some statistics of PriusChat Prius Plug-in owners to get an idea how the end of this incentive will affect future buyers. If you are a California Prius Plug-in owner, please indicate whether you would have bought your PiP without carpool lane access. If you are not a California PiP owner, please indicate that to compare how many non-CA owners we have. As awesome as my PiP is and as happy as I am with it, the honest reality is I would not have purchased this model without the carpool lane sticker, and I'm curious as to how many others that would have applied to.
I voted yes. But the poll should have had more choices. Such as, the HOV was the #2 reason, #3 reason or didn't matter at all. Mike
I purchased the PiP for HOV access for my 53 mile one way commute. I would've purchased a Mazda 3 otherwise as I thoroughly enjoyed my friend's and coworker's Mazda. As I was getting a hypermiled 45 mpg on my plebeian Civic, I figured Mazda's Skyactiv engine would net me an even 50 mpg. I detest the Prius look then and I detest it now. The driving dynamics is pitiful. My sister had a Gen 2 Prius and I hated it. I drove miserly and only achieved 57 mpg. I'd rather have the Mazda. Now that I've owned a Prius for 40,000 miles, I can't see myself ever going back to standard ICE vehicles. I achieved 66 mpg a few times when I forgot to plug the car in overnight. That's a big enough difference that I cannot ignore and coming from a larger more refined and more powerful engine than the Gen 2 is what amazes me. I would not have discovered this had it not been for HOV decals. iPhone ?
I voted "YES" but......., I also got the $1500.00 rebate as well as the HOV stickers. Without those two benefits, I would have been on the fence and it's 50/50 whether I would have waited to buy the next generation plugin (2015 model year) or the 2014 model which I got. Either way - I was intent on getting the Toyota Prius Plugin (vs. other makes/models).
I agree with Mike, there could be more choices. I liked the idea of a plug-in, but my '06 had plenty of life left, so the HOV stickers definitely influenced my decision. I considered waiting a couple of years for more choices in plug-ins, but the stickers won out. I have #00012!
My only reason for purchasing a new vehicle was the stickers for the carpool lane. I used to carpool and enjoyed the lane for years until i had it no more. I set out for a vehicle that could give me that back, otherwise, i had no use for a 3rd vehicle in our garage.
In a perfect world (of plenty of green stickers and Cali rebate money), I'd have waited for the 2015 redesign. But having a new 30 mile commute that will benefit from HOV lane usage, I traded my 2011 Five w Advanced Tech for the '14 PiP. I love the PiP in that it gets at least 10mpg more than the '11, and even more for my non-commute days knocking around town. While it essentially cost me another two years of payments, the discounts and rebates (soon to go, too) were likely not to be around when the '15s roll out.
The rest of America thinks you should still have a passenger. My PiP has the "Green Pass" for NY, which only gets solo drivers into the HOV lane on the Long Island Expressway (LIE, or I-495). And that is only restricted during weekday rush hours anyhow. So the stickers (four of 'em you have to apply) are mostly a badge of environmental honor for drivers that don't commute to NYC from Long Island. I wish neighboring states like CT would honor them.
I voted No because I never would have even considered the PiP without the sticker. After all the tax credits and rebates though, I've found, from the versatility of the car over its anticipated usage for the next 5+ or so years, both during and after the green HOV period, that the benefits have begun to stand out on their own now, enough to reach the point where I'm slightly chastising myself that I wouldn't have considered it without the sticker. All of the incentives combined to lower its effective price to that of the regular Prius without incentives.
I voted no because I would have gotten the Prius V if there were no sticker. I love being in the carpool lane but am bitterly disappointed that there is no way to extend the sticker, rather you have to buy a new car to continue that benefit. I also really hate that the Prius turns into a snow plow with more than about 2 inches of snow so chains can't even get you out of Tahoe. All that being said, I love my car for everything except the camping/skiing aspects. (too low for dirt road camping if not a very good road)
I got the car because of the sticker, I could've have lots of options/feature on a regular prius for the same price as my plug in. I figure I would spend extra money to save me time in traffic. Time is the one thing you can't get back
this thread really highlights how potentially few plugins there might be in california without the perks.
We never put the sticker on the vehicle. My commute thus far has not required freeways. Work was 1.5 miles away in 2012 when we got the PiP and 1.5 years ago went up to 3.5 miles away. When we use the freeways it is almost always with family so get to use the HOV lanes anyway. Suspect we may be the exception.
