If the price of diesel was lower than gasoline's would you still buy a Prius?

Wonder if you'd get the same result with a poll on a VW TDI forum?

 

YES
never a dirty diesel

 

I moved from a 2001 Jetta TDI to a base model 2010 Prius and would not go back to a Volkswagen—that car was fun to drive (stick) and nicely appointed but a nightmare to maintain. The motivation in both instances was less the fuel cost and more the environmental benefits. One additional plus in this regard towards the Prius is all the feedback that reinforces economical driving. I don't know about the newer diesel models but the Jetta had no mileage feedback so consequently I drove it like a New York City cab driver. The Prius on the other hand...

 

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY!!!

Oh, sorry for shouting.

It's about the technology, the low emissions (including CO2), the design (small on outside, so much room and usability inside), and the reliability. Find me a diesel that is reliable. It won't be a Volkswagon or any other German car. They don't even -sell- French cars here.

 

Well, I don't know about the Jetta but my other car is a 1984 MB 300 TD wagon with 317,000 miles on it. It gets a very consistent 25 mpg. I bought it in 1994 with 1K and it has never let me down once in that time! So with that kind of reliability, I would seriously consider a new diesel hybrid if it were as clean, or cleaner, than my Prius.

 

I like the looks of the 2010 a little bit better thanthe Gen II also but to have such similar looks and for one to be considered "butt ugly" doesn't make sense to me at all.

 

Well, that's two of us, then.

 

3

 

I think a "Tucker" style headlight where the badge is would be great.

 

Let's imagine there are flying unicorns carrying us to our destination. At some point the hypothetical is so contrived that it is a meaningless scenario (see CO2 emissions for example.)

Bob Wilson pointed out the problem of energy ratio. Others have noted the spotty availability of diesel in the U.S. Some have commented on VW's reliablity issues.

Diesel as an option is really out of its class when comparing to a Prius if you are looking at anything other than highway volumetric mileage. Factor in cost, fuel availability, and CO2 emissions and diesel needs to choose a different comparision vehicle.

 

And that's how Dubya became President...thousands of errant votes for Pat Buchanan that resulted in thrown out "overvotes" when corrected. That and the idiot Nader's contribution.

 

The poll could have been designed better. A better set of questions:

• I would buy a Prius if gas were 50% or more than diesel
• I would buy a Prius if gas averaged 25% more than diesel
• I would buy a Prius if gas averaged equal to diesel
• I would buy a Prius if gas averaged 25% cheaper than diesel
• I would buy a Prius if gas were 50% or cheaper than diesel
• Fuel costs has nothing to do with buying a Prius

So we have a range of responses including the null case. All questions except the last are positive responses so negative logic is avoided.

Bob Wilson

 

The late model VW's have a terrible track record. Too much of them are made in Mexico.

 

yeah, but who cares what they think? people overall have voted with their wallets and the prius is it

 

If the U.S. had the same choice of diesel cars available in Europe there would be more people buying them here in the states.

Some of the new diesel cars will easily get better MPG's than our 2010 Prius, and would most likely cost the same.

So why can't we have that choice here in the U.S.?

alfon

 

diesel does well on the highway but not in the city

 

Yes, for the following reasons (I live in Germany and owned a Polo 1.4L TDI until last Sept.):
1) diesel has always been cheaper than gasoline, but lately it has not always been like this and it is predicted that in EU it will be more expensive than gasoline in the near future (main reasons, not enough Diesel produced in EU: we actually export gasoline and import diesel - and increasing consumption due to more widespread usage of cars with fuel efficient diesels)
2) you pay way less taxes (36€, instead of 241€ per year - though the Polo had a CO2 emission of less than 120g/km (above which you pay more taxes; you pay related on your engine displacement in any case, and this is why the Prius is 36€ and not 0€), because diesel engines are considered (even the most modern ones) more polluting than gasoline, essentially due to particulate (newer diesels are known to emit practically no particulate, but still are considered more polluting....).
3) I pay less insurance - the Prius is not at all very popular in Germany, therefore I am paying this year 611€ for a full-coverage, compared to 541€ of the Polo with a partial coverage (that is, the insurance that pays only if it is not my fault) - the Prius partial coverage insurance, I will start using in 2 years' time, is currently around 300€ - I am not expecting many more Priuses on the german roads in 2 year's time, to change considerably this price.

Due to these yearly costs differences, the Prius, considering the fuel consumption, and my mainly city usage, would still be my choice.

 

We use our cars differently than Europe that has a significantly better urban, public transportation system. It is not uncommon for our Eurpean friends to use public transportion to go to work and the car for weekend and 'quality of life' trips. There are vast areas of the USA where a car is life itself. The nearest gallon of milk is 0.8 km from our house. My work is 16 km away and public transportation takes just under 2 hours including walking 0.5 km with not even a rain cover to stand under when going home. The USA is not Europe.

Bob Wilson

 

Are these cars of similar size to the Prius?

 

Right now, diesel is about 10% cheaper than gasoline here. In the summer, it was around 20% cheaper. With my driving cycle and fuel prices, annual fuel cost for me would be very close between a new TDI and Prius, with a probable edge for the TDI. But there is so much more to a car than fuel costs to make the decision solely on that. The new Prius and Golf TDI will both be on my shopping list and only after test driving both will I be able to make a decision.