Why Priuses annoy me

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 03:15 PM) [snapback]259799[/snapback]</div>

I would bet it has much more to do with the way you started the thread in what appeared to be an attempt to just have an argument rather than not being part of the club. Most people have patience with those that have thought out arguments, most don't respond patiently to those appearing to be trolls.

Something to think about your cost comparison: How is a 2007 Fit going to save you money on gas over say a used (2002 or 2003) Civic? It's not always about the money saved on gas.

I don't know what the base options are on the Fit, but through a quick search, I found the Fit was listed as subcompact and the Prius as compact. A better comparison would be the Fit vs the Yaris.

 

"The smug remark was all South Park. Of course hybrid drivers are not all smug! It sure did get a lot of ya though in a tizzy!"

Does that mean we have "Smugma?"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(micheal @ May 23 2006, 02:57 PM) [snapback]259824[/snapback]</div>

I know, whenever I read this thread I have to check to make sure I'm not in Fred's The trolls must be getting bored over there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 23 2006, 11:28 AM) [snapback]259808[/snapback]</div>

Good point. All of the Prii WOULD have been sold anyways.

But, I think you may be ignoring the Theory of Scarcity. Tell people they can't have something - the value and demand on that item goes up. All of the Prii will still be sold, but some are willing to pay a higher price, be it monetarily or time waiting. Meanwhile, the increase in demand for the Prius will/has cause(d) Toyota to manufacture more - and more (all) will be sold.

Look at the Honda Insight Hybrid. The HOV/hybrid access laws increased their demand, but it wasn't enough to save it from being discontinued – they weren't scarce . . . but now that they ARE going to become scarce, demand and price will go up. At the very lest they will become a collectors item worth having.

I would like to see a collation study between the number of hybrids sold per capita and local air pollution conditions . . . that may help prove many people purchase hybrids to help the environment, not for access to HOV lanes or because of high gas prices.

 

I drive a 2004 Prius and I love it.

But I think giving any kind of perk or tax consideration to buyers of Prius does not make sense. If there were Priuses sitting unsold on car lots for more than 5 minutes it would make sense to take measures to encourage people to buy this clean, fuel-efficient car. But with Toyota unable to make them fast enough, all these perks do not put one additional Prius on the road. Every one Toyota can build get sold and driven almost immediately.

I'll take whatever they give me. (No HOV lanes near where I live, and no hybrid/HOV consideration in WA.) But I'll argue against them.

I think the purpose of the HOV lane should be to reduce congestion by encouraging people to leave a few cars at home and pool. All the HOV/hybrid thing does is increase competition for a car in limited supply.

Bluntguy: Don't hate the car or the people who drive it. Hate the politicians who pass stupid laws.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 23 2006, 12:26 PM) [snapback]259854[/snapback]</div>

The same argument could be made against using “Diamond Lanes†for carpools only.

The more people are convinced to leave their cars at home and carpool, the less congested the freeways become. The less congested the freeways become, the less demand for carpooling and mass transit. “Why take mass transit when I can get there quicker on the now less congested freeway? . . . thanks carpooler! â€

The more the populations increase (and they will), the more the strain on the freeway systems. Me personally, I would rather have a freeway clogged with hybrids and ZEVs than what we have now.

Make the “Diamond Lanes†high mileage/low polluting Hybrid and ZEV only. THEN you would see hyper-increased demand for hybrids, ZEVs, AND mass transit! The current laws allowing hybrids into diamond lanes may just be that first step.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 01:18 PM) [snapback]259765[/snapback]</div>

I don't know the direct answer to your question. In CT, we do have a couple of HOV lanes, probably amounting to a total of about 20 miles to/from Hartford to the north and to the east. There is no provision for hybrid use of the HOV lanes at the time, and, even if there were, I don't commute on the highways that do have them, so the perk would be of no consequence to me.

However, in CT, the sales tax on a new purchase of a qualifying hybrid is now waived, has been since October 2004 and will continue until 2008, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's a great incentive, but it's an incentive that actually impacts state tax revenues whereas the HOV lane perk does not.

So, not only have I already taken advantage of the sales tax free perk, I will be taking advantage of it again when I take delivery of my new 2006 Prius.

While I'm all for reduced emmissions and cleaner air, etc., I am even more concerned about US dependence on foriegn oil imports, and, given a choice when I was in the market for a very reliable, loaded 4 door mid-sized car that would be efficient for a 76 mile a day round trip commute (I consistantly do about 28K miles a year), my choice for a Prius was completely obvious. There are many other factors in addition to the perks and the environmental impact.

 

Ok, I'll bite....I checked out the Fit, it is not in the same class as a Prius, more of a Yaris or Matrix.

Same 'ol, topic "Why pay more for ...x, y or x" It is a preference thing, no conrete logic like better resale value , tax credit, better gas mileage but more like cool technology, neat gadgets, and fun. Everyone makes their own call.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 01:26 PM) [snapback]259774[/snapback]</div>

The difference between the Honda Civic EX and the Civic Hybrid of $3,690 is largely mitigated by a current estimated tax CREDIT of $2,100. In CT, additionally, the 6% sales tax would be waived, which for the EX would be an additional $1,107 savings, making the actual initial cost difference only a mere $483 more for the hybrid version.

Granted, the Prius is a unique vehicle and does not have a non-hybrid version, but when a comparison to another non-hybrid is to be drawn (and it happens all the time), it certainly isn't fair to compare the current Prius midsize to a compact Corolla.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(micheal @ May 23 2006, 02:57 PM) [snapback]259824[/snapback]</div>

The 1st generation Prius was a compact. The current 2nd generation Prius classifies as a mid-size.

 

Not everybody wants a Prius...which is OK with me, since not everybody wants a Hummer, too. In any case, we all have to share the road together, and believe me, some SUV drivers can be just as 'smug'.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 02:15 PM) [snapback]259799[/snapback]</div>

You've gotta wonder though about someone who will walk into a crowded room, effectively call everyone there a bunch of idiots for purchasing a vehicle that you don't care for, then tell them that you hate them and their car. Would you go to a biker bar and call everyone there names telling them that they should have bought at Honda or a Yamaha because only a fool would buy a Harley. Would you really expect have a reasonable discourse after that? Do you even deserve to?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 05:24 PM) [snapback]260012[/snapback]</div>

Well said!!! I love a discussion. I want more discussions here, there, and yes in Congress!! Bring it On!!! I am ready. I will express my opinion, and I hope I will try to listen to others. One of my favorite quotes is from H. Beem Piper " And when someone makes a statement you don't understand, don't tell him he is crazy. Ask him what he means...."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bluntguy @ May 23 2006, 08:24 PM) [snapback]260012[/snapback]</div>

You're right, it's not a bar. Would you have the nerve to say what you did if there was a chance you might have to defend yourself? It's pretty easy to be 'blunt' when you are anonymous.

If you don't care what other's think, then why are you here? (Other than to provoke.) All I did was state that you've been rather general in your characterizations of people who own a Prius. My choice from this point is to ignore you as I should have done from the beginning. You know, don't feed the trolls and all. I doubt that I'm alone in this regard.

Cheers,

-- Ian

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ May 23 2006, 12:58 PM) [snapback]259886[/snapback]</div>

There already is hyper-demand for hybrids. Or at least, for the Prius. And that's my point. It accomplishes nothing to create incentives when you already have hyper-demand and limited supply.

And there's even less reason to create incentives for ZEV's when you cannot buy one.

Mass transit is another issue. Since mass transit is pathetic in most of America, only people who cannot afford cars use it. So there's room for incentives to work there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 23 2006, 02:26 PM) [snapback]259854[/snapback]</div>

That's an astute (and funny) observation. The only thing I can think of that it doesn't address is the "rubbing your nose in it" or "are you a have-not?" aspect: the hybrid privileges are on display for everyone who drives something less efficient. It's a strong (though obviously also divisive) effect. People are motivated to not continue to drive whatever guzzler they currently have, and that will pay dividends for years to come.

 

If you really want to hate some people, you should direct that anger to people who throw cig butts out their window. Or else, people who don't use their turn signals while changing lanes (but they will use them if its a left turn or right turn lane). Isn't that more logical? Why don't you speak up against them. While smugness doesn't hurt anyone, cig butts out the window HAVE killed people. think about that