Prius Killer - Hybrid Honda Fit?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 14 2006, 06:20 PM) [snapback]255385[/snapback]</div>

Ahh yes you are correct, the 300 did laps for a cpl of years and was brought back for short spurts as collector item buys..
Same would hold true for the Imperial I love the 1970- 1975 Imperials with the 440 magnums I used to own the 74 Imperial Lebaron Crown Coupe that was as plush as any caddillac or lincoln .
and it got 20mpg on the hwy. This is simaler to mine body wise Mine was dark metalic brown w/brown landu top.
Man I miss this car:

The '74 Crown Coupe's official title was the "Imperial LeBaron Crown Coupe Anniversary Edition." Only 57 Imperials were manufactured with the Crown Coupe package in 1974, making it one of the rarest of all Imperials. The main difference between other Imperials and the Crown Coupe is the treatment of the vinyl top. For the Crown Coupe, the vinyl top covers the forward three-fourths of the roof, with a special "opera glass" treatment of the rear side glass.




Same would be said of the thunderbird..

I didnt know on the prowler...

The impala/caprice never really left just a name change the impala was the base model and the caprice was the high end model.

Same goes for Ford/ Mercury Ford is the base model , Mercury is the high end side of ford

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(plasm @ May 13 2006, 03:38 PM) [snapback]254816[/snapback]</div>

Then compare Fit to Yaris. What if Toyota brings Yaris HSD? I am sure it can get higher mpg than Fit hybrid (maybe 60-70 mpg). With hints about one of the goal for the next generation HSD is to reduce the cost by half. Then the difference will be $1,800 vs. $2,500 which is $700 more for HSD. Many ppl will pay $700 for EV mode, smooth, responsive e-CVT, electric A/C, etc... advantages that HSD offers over IMA.

I am saying comparing Yaris HSD to Fit IMA hybrid will be like comparing 2009 Prius to 2009 HCH. I still see the HSD superiority gap.

Dennis

 

That would be wonderful if it happened, Dennis.

My guess though is that Honda will be quite a bit more successful than Toyota in cutting the cost of the hybrid component. I'll be very happy to be proven wrong.

The Fit hybrid might be a 2007 model. That would give them quite a lead time on Yaris hybrid, even if Toyota pulls off the hoped for cost cutting.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ellisfam2 @ May 12 2006, 08:36 PM) [snapback]254471[/snapback]</div>

That's why I went with a 2006 HCH instead of a Prius; the HCH isn't as fuel efficient or as fast, but it's more fun to drive. And every review, professional or otherwise, of the Fit has commended it for being very fun to drive, so a Fit Hybrid would definitely be popular. But I don't know how they'd make the hybrid components fit without compromises; even the regular Fit needed to relocate the gas tanks to the front seats (instead of the rear) to increase cargo room. So where would the battery go?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(offersk @ May 12 2006, 08:01 PM) [snapback]254534[/snapback]</div>

20 inches longer!! As a city dweller, I'd get the shorter car--it's easier to find street parking.

 

The Honda Fit is NOT available as a Hybrid.

 

You cannot go wrong with a Honda. Excellent company, excellent quality. However, the Prius is much more car than the Fit, with a much more sophisticated hybrid drivetrain.

If you need a good economy car, and the Fit fits you needs, go for it. But you will be buying much less car than the Prius.

It's a question of your personal needs and finances. Different cars in totally different classes with very different features and very different prices.

If you can afford the Prius, get it. It's far and away the better car. If you can't afford it don't buy it: no car is worth going into debt for.

 

The SO's Fit sure handles way better than my Prius. Man, the thing just turns on a dime! Of course, there's a vast difference in weight.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cooljw @ May 14 2006, 03:14 PM) [snapback]255289[/snapback]</div>

I do agree with this in that if the cost truly is lower, say $15-18K range, then the HFH (?) has a good chance to stand out and appeal to clients who would like a ultra efficient vehicle while spending less than $20K. IMO it will not affect the Prius sales in the least since most are clients looking for the full package so to speak and are budgeting $25-30K.

These are two entirely different demographics.

With the demise of the HAH soon Honda needs another boost of good publicity. An affordable hybrid for the masses might sell very well but it won't be competition for the Prius. The Corolla and Yaris and Sentra and Elantra definitely.

A capable HFH could be sold out like the Prius was.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DeadPhish @ May 15 2006, 06:17 PM) [snapback]255957[/snapback]</div>

And they'll get it.

But a single vehicle won't support the entire company in the long-term. What else will they sell?

They boasted for years about how easy it would be to adapt their design to existing vehicles. But when it came time to finally deliver on that, they couldn't. Apparently, the 4-cylinder engine with IMA is too long to fit within the space available under the hood. Oops!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 15 2006, 09:30 PM) [snapback]256022[/snapback]</div>

Actually, John, they backtracked and are going to use the Civic 4-Cylinder (complete with it's ability to power the car via electric) with the Fit. This was mentioned earlier in this thread, and was on autoblog last week.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DeadPhish @ May 15 2006, 06:17 PM) [snapback]255957[/snapback]</div>

So, the Prius is a mid-class or luxury hybrid? Maybe, but it's also the lowest price hybrid with any storage room on the market, so if one is looking for lowest cost, high mpg, low emissions vehicle, the Prius makes their list.

Case in point: I am a potential Prius owner. Passed on one this summer in order to wait for the next gen Prius. My interest in the Prius stems from wanting very good gas mileage and low emissions. Toyota reliability is another plus, as is the ability to have a few friends along or carry a few computers, etc.

I like that the Prius has nice features beyond those things, but honestly, nav, hid headlights, super-duper climate control, cabin filters, leather interiors, etc. don't make my needs list. So, the upcomfing Fit Hybrid offers an intrigueing option to me. I would hazard a guess that I'm not the only one looking at the Prius for low-emissions, great mileage, and reliability first and foremost. Sure, the extras of the Prius would be nice, but so would banking thousands in car cost I could put to many other uses.

In the end, what I'm intersted in for the next prius is improved gas mileage and EV/plug-in possibilities. I would think Toyota is very intested in my purchase, and similarly interested in the fact that I am also keeping an eye on the Fit Hybrid.

The Sentra and Elantra would not make my list as they have significantly more problems per 100 produced than the Honda and Toyota offerings. The other "competitor's" you offer don't interest me as they might get good mpg (not as good as Fit should or Prius does) and all pollute significantly more.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ May 15 2006, 08:44 PM) [snapback]256029[/snapback]</div>

Not paying close enough attention, eh? The response was in reference to HAH. That's the ACCORD, not Fit.

Only the 6-cylinder engine fits, since the pistons are arranged in a V pattern. 3 side-by-side isn't as long as a straight 4. In other words, the smaller engine is actually larger... hence the problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 15 2006, 09:58 PM) [snapback]256040[/snapback]</div>

Have you spoken to Honda engineering about this?

 

"Civic 4-Cylinder (complete with it's ability to power the car via electric) "

This is VERY limited. 20 HP electric motor. Must spin engine. Honda better come up with a full-hybrid to compete with HSD. I foresee more powerful battery and electric motor, but having to spin the gas engine in EV mode is not going to do it for me. If/when HSD becomes a commercial plug-in (available from Toyota), what will Honda's system be able to offer?

I drove the '06 Civic Hybrid and the most annoying thing was the gas engine kicking on whenever my foot left the brake. NOT an EV mode in my opinion!. And the cone/belt CVT was not as smooth as the power-split device in HSD. Nice car, amenities, ride/handling. But...well, I just can't see it being better than the current Prius. And if the Fit has a similar IMA system...it will not compete with HSD. YMMV, as always.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finman @ May 16 2006, 10:50 AM) [snapback]256238[/snapback]</div>

can sure relate to that. I love being able to keep my foot on the fuel pedal almost all the time, and jsut
regulate the pressure. Since both cars are drive by wire though, I imagine that this is a marketing decision, not due to some fundamental nature of each hybrid's design.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finman @ May 16 2006, 10:50 AM) [snapback]256238[/snapback]</div>

Why bother? The Civic turns in roughly the same mileage (according to the real world database at greenhybrid) with a much simpler and cheaper system.

 

"if/when" Toyota comes with plug-in.... lets wait and see as there is none to begin with. So you still have to buy gas regularly... same as Honda.... for now. The better HSD does not have much benefit without plugin option.

The next Prius plugin is going to be more expensive than the current one. 9 miles PHEV. With estimates of 1 mile per $1000 battery cost. Say the battery is going to need another 7 miles of battery power. That is another $7000. So a strip down Prius is going to cost at least $28k (nicely equip still). I hope Toyota can make it no more than $25k though.

As for better gas mileage with IMA. What if Honda puts in their HCCI engine with the IMA? Toyota Prius engine would look like a gas hog then. :lol: Man.... if only there is a car with Honda HCCI engine and Toyota HSD... :wub:

Besides, experts have already predicted the 2008 Fit (18 months from now) will be redesigned anyways. Since no one really seen the redesign, everything is all guess right now anyways.