What should I say to prevent Prius bashing?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 21 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

I find that most conversations start with "How do you like your Prius?" and end with my answer of "Fine"

If someone presses the question of "How soon will it pay for itself" I usually answer "Never, all cars are expenses from the get go" "This one gets better gas mileage than a Harley Davidson motorcycle while carrying four people in real comfort and makes less pollution in a cross country drive than you make painting just one room in your house" "Other than that it is just a dependable car."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 21 2006, 10:04 PM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

I just tell people I was going to spend about the same amount of money, no matter which car I picked, so I didn't pay any premium for a hybrid. Since I picked the Prius, everything I save fuel and maintenance-wise is gravy .

Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Nov 22 2006, 03:27 AM) [snapback]352934[/snapback]</div>

That's an excellent response. I get that occaisionally on the BMW forum I'm on, and when asked why we picked a Prius, I simply state that out of all of the nice cars in it's price range, it gets 45 mpg, and that was important.

 

Prius costs less to own and operate than other vehicles of similar capabilities. Within fair comparisons (that is, not against a good 10 year old which has already depreciated out) I believe it is really hard to beat.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 22 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

Why not just turn the table? Ask them why they are inquiring about whatever they are inquiring about? If they are asking legitimate questions and seeking honest answers - proceed. If they are asking questions as a hammer with you being the anvil ---- turn your cheek and walk away ---- goodbye ----- have a nice day.... You have better ways to spend your time. There should be NO reason you should feel you have to defend you decision to purchase anything you want buy including your car.

 

Someone like Hugo Chavez could easily stop the Prius bashing. {gasp!}

Anyone notice how our driving is influenced by attitudes and emotions, rather than intellect? How much you paid for it and how much is paid for the upkeep, is not as important for most as how they feel in it. How they feel is influenced by what others think of them driving it. Then there is driving style. I'm convinced that the way some people drive agressively and or angry is a psychological issue. Driving safely or fuel efficiently is more often a change in attitude - not a technical issue.

If you disagree, remember you conservations with someone that loves gas guzzlers. All kinds of "reasons" why that Suburban is necessary, even when it's underutilized. To them it's not a thing that gets them from point A to point B, but an extension of themselves - way more important to them than fuel economy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 22 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

I always say that it wasn't about the money for me...it was about

• Reducing our dependence on oil
• Saving the environment

That usually shuts folks up. You can't argue with either of those points.

And, btw, it was true. It wasn't about the money. It was about practicing what I preach.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 22 2006, 08:25 AM) [snapback]352966[/snapback]</div>

I'd definitely be tempted to put the inquirer in the hot seat if I suspected they were just grinding an ax.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(livelychick @ Nov 22 2006, 10:44 AM) [snapback]353005[/snapback]</div>

The best part is that today you can argue the 'payback period' line, and win. My Prius was about $6000 more expensive than a topped-out Corolla, and only a couple thousand more than an 'equivalent' Camry. ow keep in mind that a 'similar' Corolla is still a step down in terms of feature set, so it's not quite a fair comparison. Now take off the $1500 tax credit, and $400/year gas savings at current prices (for my driving: 30 mpg Corolla, 50 mpg Prius, 13,000 miles/year), and keeping the car for 6 years results in a $2000 difference. Private party resale values from KBB for your 'average' 2001 Prius and top-end LE Corolla are about $12,000 and $7,500, respectively.

So we have a $2000 lead for the Corolla after purchase and fueling costs, wiped out by a $4,500 deficit on resale, putting the Prius ahead by $2,500. And that's at current $2.30/gallon prices. Knock the average price of gas over a 6-year span to $3.50/gallon, something that most people would agree is a likely conservative number, and the Prius gains another $200/year, making the lead $3,500+. And in the meantime, you're driving a car with more features and a larger and more comfortable cabin.

For a Civic, the initial price difference is about $5000, the mileage difference is about the same, and the resale lead for the Prius is about $2,500, leaving the Prius ahead at today's gas prices by about ($5000 - $1500 - $2400 - $2500) $1000. Raise gas to a more realistic 6-year price level and the lead is $2000+. Those of you that got in with the $3200 credit fare even better.

Compare the Prius to the Camry/Accord range, and it loses some of its 'features' advantages, but still compares very well in total cost of ownership.

These numbers will vary based on each person's circumstances (mileage/year, years kept till re-sold, whether they can afford the initial increased cost, if they would invest that initial difference or not, etc), but saying that there's some huge premium that isn't wiped out until gas hits $6.00/gallon just isn't backed up by the facts.

So you're all right to claim that you don't have to justify your purchase--but should you feel the need, know that it can be done simply by analyzing the facts.

 

Most people are genuinely curious, though sometimes misinformed. Rarely, I will run into someone who seems angry with me for not conforming to their version of reality. "Don't you know how much it costs to replace the batteries?" "They don't get as good mileage as you think." "You'll never make back what you paid for it." I try to be polite and correct their misconceptions, but some people fully deserve some sarcasm thrown back at them. "What are you doing in your car that makes you money?" "Why don't you move closer to work so you can walk? You'll never make up that lost commuting time, you know." Yes, I'm a cheeky monkey.

 

I haven't had that response yet... they are always facinated and have already been thinking about getting one so far.

But if I did, I would tell them the prius is built for stealth, room and comfort.
Even if I got no gas savings at all, its still worth it... its a very nice car.

The CVT transmission is pure and smooth... no jerking or shifting contents around while accelerating.

If you want a bad ride, you'll have to slam on the brakes!... and while we're talking about brakes.. after 100000 miles, there is no percievable wear on the pads or rotor.
And I honestly have to be careful... I quite frequently look down and I"m close to 90mph without realizing it when cruising in the open country with no traffic!
Its the wave of the future in many ways besides gas mileage.

 

One of the biggest reasons that many of you have mentioned (besides the obvious) for owning a Prius is its resale value. In fact, it holds its value about the highest of any cars out there.

For example, I bought an '05 Prius in June of '05 for $23,500 and traded it in April '06 for an '06 Prius and received $22,000 in trade with only 10,000 miles on it.

What other car in the market can command that kind of return?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dvdirv @ Nov 22 2006, 11:00 AM) [snapback]353052[/snapback]</div>

I may have mentioned that, but I'm getting nervous what will happen when the "supposed" 100mph cars come out of 2009? "as the rumour holds"

I'm sure they will still be desired above non hybrid cars, but the days of selling your car for as much or more than you bought it for so someone doesn't have to "wait" for a new one, may be over once that happens.

 

I just say I get 53 MPG in my Prius and only average 13.5 in my truck, I save well over 75% on fuel cost (diesel to reg unleaded) and what I save in fuel almost makes the payment, which is gravy once its paid off. I didn't buy it with the concern of "Pay Back", which will be sooner then later, I bought it because it has the highest rated MPG and it has the highest overall ratings of any production car in its class!!! It was designed from the ground up as a Hybrid and wasn't an after thought like the Camry and others that are based on popular gas models. It lowers my monthly fuel bill over $200 a month and by the time it's paid off, appox 2 years, I should be getting closer to 60 MPG and saving even more AND I get a $3150 tax credit AND I get to drive in the HOV lanes AND its better for the environment and I paid more for leather because I like leather.

They don't say much after that,

I LIKE IT!!!

 

If they're open to discussion I'm happy to discuss. If they're just looking to pick a fight I ususally do something like:

Me: Are you happy with your car?

Them: Yes

Me: I'm happy with my car too. Isn't freedom of choice great? I love America, don't you?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 22 2006, 09:04 AM) [snapback]352962[/snapback]</div>

Keep it coming - I like your talk. That verbalizes EXACTLY why I just sold the BMW M3 for the Prius - I could not look my kids in the eye and tell them it was OK for me to continue driving with total disregard for the environment - at least not now the alternatives are available, reliable and safe. Don't get me wrong, we cycle and walk whenever we can, but the commute and my work command a car. Another payback of course is that one is saying 'no' to the car makers determined to avoid change and saying 'yes' and encouraging those that are... all we need now is an environmentally responsible car that has the performance to match - anybody got $100k for me to get a Tesla? (www.teslamotors.com) Now that is a car that you would NOT have ANY difficulty defending!!!

 

I bought my Prius because it's got awesome resale value and gets good gas mileage. That's it.

The fact is, the Prius is not a particularly good purchase, otherwise. It's expensive for what you get, you will not make up that extra cost in gas savings, and they used a whole lot of the Earth's resources, electricity, etc to make the car. You'd be far better off buying a car that has already been manufactured (a used Honda Civic, for example) and still gets good gas mileage and also has low emissions.

Vince