Car & Driver Says Prime Ugly, Too Slow

Maybe not "perfect" but much closer.
This has been the #2 reason for years that I'm still driving a paid-for truck and mini-ute....of course the #1 reason is that I don't want to go into debt for a new car.

There's a 'uuuuuge difference between hauling and towing, and tow ratings.
This has been explored in depth in other sections of this forum.

To be fair to the Volt haters out there, I think that both the V1 and V2 also have a 0-pound tow ratings,
although if you're going to go rogue with towing and/or hauling the Volt is a little heavier then the Prime and it still has a higher thrust to weight ratio.
More importantly, the V2 also has adult-size wheels and tires.
Not as important for efficiency, but more important in the very narrow application of towing.

Size matters, and the Prius' 15" OEM wheels ARE large enough for commuting duty and the "dolphin on roller skates" look WORKS for efficiency.....but if you live in a part of the country that experiences weather or if you're worried about ramp strikes or snow then the Volt's higher chin height is an advantage there too.

 

I know:

 

The big price drop this time around was because the Saudi's flooded the market. It isn't something they can continue long term.
If it does stay low, that does mean less of the dirtier, unconventional crude being used. That's just not good for Canada and the US finacially.

 

I certainly haven't experienced that with the SoftTex seats. I just went on a 1,600 mile trip last weekend too.

 

From some angles, the Prime looks pretty good. From the back- not!

 

have you seen it in person? i must say, much better than pics for some reason.

 

Aw crap! Autocorrect strikes again I meant stigma.

 

btw, the EPA just revised the rating for Prius Prime, bumping the kWh value from 26 to 25. sweet!

31 kWh/100 mi = 106 MPGe = 2017 Chevy Volt
30 kWh/100 mi = 114 MPGe = 2016 Nissan Leaf
30 kWh/100 mi = 116 MPGe = 2016 VW e-Golf
29 kWh/100 mi = 111 MPGe = 2017 BMW i3 PHEV
28 kWh/100 mi = 119 MPGe = 2017 Chevy Bolt
27 kWh/100 mi = 124 MPGe = 2017 BMW i3 EV
25 kWh/100 mi = 133 MPGe = 2017 Toyota Prius Prime

 

Does that increase the tax break total we get?

 

Tax break is based on the physical size of the battery.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Seems everything now is "size". LOL

 

To me it means we are approaching the engineering limits of the current architecture. To advance further will require things like:

• platooning - where vehicles form a 'train', especially at highway speed.
  • needs an equitable payment for the lead vehicle, probably extra income for a semi-trailer driver or company
• coordinated traffic controls and vehicles - so cars do not have to come to a stop as often

Bob Wilson

 

It's actually more dangerous at the low end of efficiency, though, because of large changes in actual consumption resulting in small changes in the MPG value.

"This truck is only 1 MPG worse"... but that 1 MPG might be half a gallon or so per 100 miles.

 

Bob, your "platooning" comment is what the autonomous driving crowd are promoting. On that thread, I asked questions about the interest in autonomous driving, and was somewhat overwhelmed by the support the idea has. Writers pointed out all the benefits, from lower insurance cost due to fewer accidents, being able to turn and visit with passengers, watch a video, to not owning a car and utilizing autonomous taxis for all personal travel.

I backed out of the discussion because I do not see the day, at least on my lifetime, that motorist will be content to passively drive along in unity, regardless of the safety. There will always be some jerk that is not happy with the speed, and will attempt to pass the entire "platoon."

I have lived in places where the stop lights are synchronized. It works until someone interrupts the flow by slowing while texting, or hesitating for a parking place. But when it works ... it is great.

 

Car and Driver is clearly high on something. The Prime is freaking beautiful. Certainly could use a little more oomph though; they're right about that.

 

The Prime is 90% there with dynamic cruise control. It safely maintains distance behind a lead vehicle. There is space enough if someone needs to cut-through, no problem as the following car will back off, automatically. The only elements missing are:

• vehicle-to-vehicle communications - something to signal braking action a little faster and more precise than calculated distance
• more intelligent lane keep assist - something to keep the following vehicle behind the lead with driver override

But even the 'weak tea' of dynamic cruise control completely changes the burden of cross-country driving. It off loads a significant chore on the driver making the trip significantly less tiring.

Bob Wilson

 

My bank actually charges you to use the live tellers to do something that could have been done at an ATM.

 

Wow !!!

 

I've never used an ATM. I'm not even sure I have an ATM card or PIN.