How realistic are the benifits of owning a Prius?

Oh God! Not this baiting troll again.

These are all of his posts . . .
http://priuschat.com/index.php?act=Search&...s&highlite=

IGNORE and
DO NOT FEED! <_<

 

A few comments:
It's not that simple to compare one car to another. To do it right, financially, you need to work out the cost per km. How much will your Prius be worth when you sell it? Depreciation on a Prius is less per km than a Corolla, here at least. Don't simply use the price difference, the real cost of buying a car is the cost of depreciation plus interest (on the whole purchase), not simply the sticker price.

Another factor is whether two cars are really comparable. That is mostly a personal matter, only you can decide whether you'd buy a Corolla instead of a Prius. I wouldn't have, my second choice was a Mini - and most people would say that's not a comparable car. So compare it with YOUR second choice, not the choice of some journalist. Include all the options and gadgets you'd buy in your comparison. And remember: very few people make their choice on a purely economical basis. If we really did, we'd probably all be driving 15 year old Toyotas.

As for me: my two other choices were the same or more expensive to buy, would have depreciated much quicker and would have had higher running costs (taxes, insurance, fuel etc.). Prius is not THE most economical car available, but the most economical on my short list. My signature needs updating, savings are more now

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jul 17 2007, 02:43 AM) [snapback]480105[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the heads-up, Patrick. I was mentally preparing a response until getting to your post; his seemed pretty innocent. As one who chooses not to feed trolls, I tuned the other thread out pretty quickly, and the user name didn't register. Now, if others would only take your advice ....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Jul 17 2007, 09:09 AM) [snapback]480115[/snapback]</div>

I noticed it too late, but I'll leave my reply there for what it's worth. Should have seen it though, he's not trying to decide whether to buy a Prius, but trying to decide whether you guys should have bought one. What's the point in that? End of feeding session.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rogerfan @ Jul 17 2007, 03:18 AM) [snapback]480117[/snapback]</div>

I didn't say all of your posts are innocent (I'm not going to waste my time looking for others); I said this one was. But your sig screams "troll."

 

Thanks JimboK
I did not catch this at first


"Gutted cat, external wastegate not plumbed back, 3 inch exhaust dumping before diff, aftermarket ecu, 550cc injectors and all emissions gear removed. My car negates the green benifits of all your hybrids on it's own. The environment is going down.

Picture me, sitting on the back deck of my fibro and asbestos beach house, sinking tinnies and smoking a cigar - eagerly awaiting the onset of global warming for the best Australian summer yet."

that is his SIG.

 

Just in case the dude was for real..

Depends on what you want for a car.

Take the prius and strip off the MFD and gut it out for whatever gadgetry I got and I wouldn't want the prius any more than I don't want a corolla.

If you don't care anything about your car, you just want the cheapest cost per distance, then is the corolla the best choice or could you get some other piece of crap for even less per mile?

I've had mine for a while and over all of that I get about 51 mpg. I get that with a prius. If I wanted half that with all fancy stuff of a cadillac, then I could have gotten a caddy. I could have driven in the comfort and refinement of a caddy for all these miles... at twice the cost, emissions, and fuel burn.

I could probably shave off a half cent per mile over the next 100,000 miles in a corolla, but I just wouldn't want to sit in that cheap car for all that time.. not that the prius is a milestone of comfort and luxury.. but it's alright..

 

No sure how realistic this is. To me, the immediate benefit is the feel good factor everytime I stop by the gas station to fill up. Looking at how much other car owners are paying for gas and thinking about how much I would have to pay for gas for my previous car just sends chills down my spine.

Realistically, it's not easy for an average person to compare down to the dollar and cents on price/gallon factor because everyone drive differently and everyone's need is different. It is up to an individual to decide whether he/she wants to compare down to that detail.

At the end, driving a high mileage car saves money and makes you feel good. It doesn't have to be a hybrid, prius namely. It is, however, a big plus that the engine shuts down when you are stuck in traffic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jul 17 2007, 02:43 AM) [snapback]480105[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
ZOMG ITZ A TROLL! DO NOT FEED THIS TROLL!!![/u]</span>[/b]

 

rogerfan,

If you aren't a Prius or a hybrid owner, then why are you hanging around on this site? Or, have you been kicked off just about every other site on the internet for trolling? I am just trying to figure out your motivations.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rogerfan @ Jul 17 2007, 02:29 AM) [snapback]480103[/snapback]</div>

Your equation should also factor in potential fuel shortages and environmental concerns.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rogerfan @ Jul 17 2007, 01:29 AM) [snapback]480103[/snapback]</div>

Some food for the troll...

1) Gas-Mileage is a side effect of the tech. If you are buying the Prius SOLELY for the gas mileage, you are an idiot, and should spend time trolling on boards for cars you don't own, or have any intention of owning...

2) The Corolla is borrrrrrring... That alone is enough for me to not buy it. Just because something will recoup costs faster doesn't make someone want it.

3) The Prius is cutting edge technology. Some of us find that worthwhile enough to spend some extra money... Gas mileage is a side effect as stated earlier. So is HOV eligibility, tax credits, great design, and the ability to say you were one of the first.

4) Any savings, even over a looooong time, still decreases our dependancy does it not? And historically the resale value of the Prius is extraordinary because of perceptions (flawed or not). I don't think any owners worry about how they'll do financially with the car.

But enjoy your car... I bet I can point out more flaws in IT than you can in mine I just have better things to do with my time.

Sorry to burst your bubble

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rogerfan @ Jul 17 2007, 02:29 AM) [snapback]480103[/snapback]</div>

When is the Prius comparable to the Corolla? Show us the break down of the standard and options to derive the 22 years and 10 months.

Consumer Report already did a compare and concluded (after correction) that Prius cost less to own (in 5 years) than a Corolla. Even if they end up costing the same, my choice will be clearly the Prius. Just go out and test drive the two.

Can someone provide a link or a scan? Maybe we should have that as sticky.