Hybrid Interest May Need Refueling

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prianista @ Dec 21 2006, 11:23 AM) [snapback]365164[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I read that article in the paper. They also quoted the infamous CNW Marketing Research (aka Art Spinella). They had a nice little chart showing Prius sales over the last six months overlaid with gas prices, spiking in July/Aug just before the gas prices dropped. Of course, they didn't mention that the Toyota hybrid tax break dropped by half in Sept, so most interested people put their orders in early. They also don't mention that the Prius sits on dealer lots less than 10 days (mostly for dealer prep), whereas the industry average is 65 days, and many SUVs are over 90 days (and the Prius has been like that since the 2004 redesign became available). They also didn't show how the demand has gone up over the last 3 years despite gas price variations, just the spike in the last 6 months.

 

In addition to the CNW quotes, I particularly loved this bit regarding mileage:
"There's been a lot of publicity that hybrids don't get the mileage they're supposed to," he said. "If you drive it out in the country all the time, you're going to be disappointed. I think the word's getting around on that."

Showing again that the person speaking has never actually ridden in a Prius insofar as he's most disappointed with its highway mileage.

 

It is not just fuel economy, but also emissions. Prius is a vehicle that teaches you how to drive (for better fuel economy), it is not designed to "substitute oil for knowledge." The current Prius is a small step in a major paradigm shift - either hang on and learn or get out of the way.

 

Yes! it's like, the media focused on fuel economy only (since every 'true' American knows that it's only about dollars and cents and not meaningless things like the environment or global responsibility)...now that that seems (for some reason I can't understand; again prob'ly having to do with dollars and cents) not so important...well, why *wouldn't* sales go down, since that's how we were trained in the first place?

I say (to paraphrase an old saying), if you've got them by their...ummmm, wallets...their hearts and minds will follow. So let's get them by their wallets, that's what I say. Paying bills for stuff that one doesn't need, and not having the money, is the most direct and effective way to help one better understand the consequences of one's actions.

 

the article is not as negative as i expected it to be. and any negativity will be proven false. i honestly believe that the market for the Prius has barely penetrated the surface. 80% of current Prius owners are early adapter bleeding edge types.

i still think that the Prius is the best choice for main stream America's driving habits and many still dont know it. for every Prius sold, that will be 3-15 people with direct exposure to the technology. that is worth ten times any advertising budget or any 100 news articles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 21 2006, 01:53 PM) [snapback]365221[/snapback]</div>

I think that all of us Prius types should put on a whole bunch of weight, start chewing tebaccy while driving, and allow the stains to build up on the driver's side of the car.

I suspect that behaviour like this would turn around the 'pansy' perception of the Prius in no time at all...and sales would increase geometrically.

I think I'm fearful that lots of folks are actually scared off by us early adaptor types.

 

Let's look at trends longer than three months. Hybrid sales have increased every year, with the exception of one year it stalled (2002?). Each year new hybrid models are offered. When the 1st generation hybrids are traded in for newer versions, there will be a used hybrid market.

Maybe hybrids are old news, but I see more every day...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Dec 21 2006, 02:55 PM) [snapback]365270[/snapback]</div>

That's a nice way to look at it. I think I became caught up in the short-sightedness that sometimes blinds us all.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Dec 21 2006, 01:55 PM) [snapback]365270[/snapback]</div>

That wasn't a stall. It was the transistion from must-order to dealer-lot availability.

Lots happened back then that people simply aren't aware of... unless they take the time to read through the history... lot that documented in my blogs. Cool, eh?

 

Slow and steady will win the race.

Are their horrendous waiting lists and dealers getting $4,000 above sticker? No. Does that mean sagging interest? Not really.

Prii are still being sold. They are not sitting on the lots for 65 days. Dealers are not having to offer perks, rebates, kickbacks or other incentives to move them. They're selling. They're even selling without the full tax rebate.

In fact, being able to walk on to a lot and drive off with a Prius without waiting is good. Being able to negotiate a bit below sticker is also good. I don't begrudge Toyota a profit. But I want more people to buy Prii and they will if they don't have to wait and they can haggle a bit. It's too bad our government will no longer fully reward people for buying a Prius.

The more that are sold, the more they will be sold. Okay, I live in California and there are a lot of them here. But they are less and less an oddity in areas where they don't sell as many as are sold here. And that's a good thing too.

And as the new models come out, there will be more used Prii on the market and they will sell too.

We *want* the Prius to be more the norm. We want it to be common. Because that's acceptance.

As to the article...pshaw I say. More media drivel from those that don't know or are shills to the past. As was said, it didn't take into account the cut in the tax credit, or the end of the year model change, or the shortage of Prii due to the addition of the Camry. It did admit that sales may rise as gas goes up and that Toyota has exceeded it's sales goals before.

2% of the market. Let's shoot for 3% next year. 5% by 2010.

 

I suggest all Priuschat members email the article's author at [email protected], as well as the editorial staff at the tribune ([email protected]). A copy of the letter I sent is included below, which anyone may feel free to use.



Dear Mr. Popley,

I read with some dismay your recent story in the Tribune about hybrid sales waning. As a very satisfied Prius owner, I think negative stories like this do a great disservice to the environmental movement and the efforts of certain carmakers like Toyota to improve fuel efficiency.

In your article you quote one Art Spinnela from CNW Market research. Mr Spinnela has been saying hybrid sales have been falling for the past two years (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9067-2280161,00.html). His firm also came to the amazing, totally false, and subsequently disproven conclusion that Humvees are more environmentally friendly that Priuses (http://www.reason.org/commentaries/dalmia_20060719.shtml). Furthermore, CNW's own website states that their clients, "include major automobile manufacturers". In other words, they are a shill for Detroit and will say whatever someone will pay them to say.

Their "findings" have been published only in disreputable website and tabloids, and I am shocked your newspaper would use them as a source. The professional thing for you to do would be to print a retraction. I also suggest you visit Priuschat.com if you would like to correspond with thousands of other satisfied Prius owners who acheive or exceed the quoted EPA mileages.

Sincerely,

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homer315 @ Dec 22 2006, 02:07 AM) [snapback]365585[/snapback]</div>

Homer 315

I added the following personal comments.

"I am a 2 time owner of a 2004 Prius and now a 2007 Prius. There has been no other car, truck, conversion van or SUV, that has given me the satisfaction to own and drive as a Prius.

I still own a low mileage loaded 2002 Chevrolet Suburban which stays parked 99% of the time. There are a few times (very few) like our new washer and dryer, our business 60 gallon air compressor and our granddaughters Jeep motorized riding toy, that I could not utilize using my Prius.

I have hauled many things in my Prius that won't fit in a regular family car, like my gas Honda lawnmower. I have more space than anything close to it. I get at least twice the mileage of most vehicles I have owned in many years. I drove my 2004 Prius for 3 years for free, if you take into consideration my gas saving, tax credit, and cash sale of the car. I don't know anyone saying that about any other car.

I have not even mentioned I am driving green. There are a lot of Hybrid owners proud of that."

Sincerely,

Glenn Garrison

 

CNW strikes again! I can't believe real newspapers actually fall for his BS.

I knew as soon as I saw the tag on this topic that CNW would be the "source."

Nate

I'm going to call Chris Paine and see if wants to do an expose on this guy.

Nate

 

Heard on the radio the other day that EPA testing is being changed to be "more realistic". And that hybrids would be the most affected (percentage-wise, if nothing else). They are going to include "hard acceleration" and more realistic driving situations. I find that I don't use hard acceleration any more when driving my Prius, unless I'm in an emergency situation.

So it'll be interesting to see the outcome of this...I could see the EPA mileage of hybrids going down quite a bit, if the EPA testing corresponds to the way that I used to drive the other cars that I've owned. Since I get about 55 mpg in the summer in mixed driving (freeway and city), I don't feel that the EPA is that out of line with an average mpg of 55 mpg at this point, especially compared to the EPA mileage of non-hybrids. But when I got the Prius, I didn't get 55 mpg until it had broken me in on how to drive it to get the EPA gas mileage. I got more like 40 mpg at the outset, so I'd be expecting to the new EPA mileage rating of the Prius somewhere in that area.

Anyways, I'm waiting impatiently to see what's to come on this.

-Roger