Prius Math

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric\";p=\"85392)</div>

Where can I get your source of info for these?

I live in SF and work in SJ and have not heard of the free parking (have heard about LA).

Have not heard about the smog waiver.

Carpool lane is not a go until the Feds finish their Transportation Bill.

 

it's true. you have to purchase your car in those cities though. soo.. i purchased my car in stockton and live in san jose.. don't qualify.

smog check is true too.

 

oh.. didn't see carpool quoated.. yeah.. that's not passed yet

 

Devil' Advocate:

I think you need to look at your math again.
According to your numbers, on fuel alone, you saved $320, not $3200.
Unless my math is off or I misunderstood you.

That is why people said, for the premium you pay for a Civic Hybrid vs a regular Civic, you need 8 years to recover it back. On a Prius, there is no "regular" counterpart. Technically, it is hard to say how much "premium" we actually paid to drive this wonder vehicle.

As I have said, it is hard to put $$$ on your satisfaction, whatever it is.
I always told my friend, "Don't buy a Prius because you want to save gas cost....Buy it if you like it, and saving fuel cost is just icing on the cake."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JJMan\";p=\"85499)</div>

Where can I get your source of info for these?

I live in SF and work in SJ and have not heard of the free parking (have heard about LA).

Have not heard about the smog waiver.

Carpool lane is not a go until the Feds finish their Transportation Bill.
[/b][/quote]

- 5yr smog check waiver
Today's San Jose Mercury news (Thursday). I didn't know that before today. It says "Smog check is not required until 2010."
- San Jose city parking
Also read from San Jose Mercury. Also my salesman told me that. Personally, I have never taken advantage of that. YET.
- San Fran free parking
I heard about the proposal, and I am not sure if it passed. I thought it did. I can look it up and keep you posted.
- Carpool lane access
Yes, I know it is still in the senate... waiting...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(karmavore\";p=\"85361)</div>

Or subtract ~$3,000 off the price of the subject BC Prius and go for a #4 AM (Safety Model) and still tout the VSC, HID headlights, and fog lights . . . all of which may keep him out of an accident some day.

(Toyota calls their system VSC)
“ESC reduced fatal single-vehicle crash risk by about 56 percent. ESC reduced the risk of all single-vehicle crashes (fatal and nonfatal) by 41 percent.â€
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety news release, October 28, 2004
http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2004/pr102804.htm

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JJMan\";p=\"85499)</div>

JJMan:
Here is the link on San Francisco free garage and meter parking
- need a decal
- start from July 1st, 2005 for 1 yr
http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/brd/cac/SFMuniCA...62005agenda.htm

Here is the link on San Jose Free parking
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/transportation/wh...hatsnew/hybrid/

Hope you can benefit from both.

Eric

 

Thanks for the links!

I may have to change my plan in terms of using the old car as my around town beater.

Sorry for the thread hijack olends.

 

Without lower the rear seats, you can only fit one set of clubs in the rear hatch. I even have to take out my driver before placing the bag in the car.

So far that's the only downside to this car that I'm aware of.

 

Well ceric you were half right,
the math I was totally correct, the problem the equation was freakin wrong!
The new total is $319.06 and a projected yearly savings of $1276.24. Still not shabby and that is if gas prices don't go up. Plus I'm still really in the break-in period so I'm looking for another 5 mpg.

The other thing with this car is when I was comparing the Prius to the Acura TL I was trying to compare technological goodies. So things like nave and VSC. The TL only beats the Prius in that it has tilt down mirrors, and that is totally ignoring the whole 'hybrid' thing.
So overall I am not disappointed a bit! Plus I never think 'hey its going to cost me around $30 to go to San Diego to see my dad. (since its only $16.00 in the Prius)

 

They actually have auto-tilt down mirrors (in reverse) and auto-folding (when parked or off) in Japan. Also, there's signals in the side mirrors which can actually be bought in the US easily (as opposed to the other auto-tilt/reverse, which may involve importing stuff from places in Japan and figuring out how to install it w/ Japanese instructions). I wish they would release such goodies in the US; I'm not sure about you guys, but I would definitely be interested in them.

If anyone figures out how to get the auto-tilt/auto-reverse on a US Prius, please let me know. =)

 

hey, ryogajyc, do a search for 'naterprius' and/or 'signal mirrors'. Naterprius is in Colorado I think and recently installed or is planning to install the signal mirrors with auto-tilting/folding features. I think they look great and the tilt/fold feature would be cool. Just one more cool thing that sets the Prius apart.

 

Thanks finman, I actually discovered the thread a short bit ago. He installed the signal mirrors with auto-tilt, but no auto-fold, so 2/3 of what I'm interested in. I don't think I've heard of anyone doing the auto-fold (outside of Japan, that is).

 

Someone who really wants to save money does not buy a new car.

If he's hell bent on buying a new Marquis, well, God bless him, he's not gonna buy something else just because of rational argument. Unless maybe he cares about the air his grandkids breathe, or to what Middle Eastern country they might one day be sent to protect oil shipments.

 

I'm not sure that is very fair, Richard. If saving money is your top priority, I agree with you that buying a used car makes more sense. However, you can want first to buy a new car, and then secondary to that want to save money in your new car purchase.

Also, who knows. Maybe the Grand Marquis has served this man well previously. I wouldn't consider loyalty to a brand/product which you have a good experience with irrational.