Prius vs. American Technology in the Last 10 Years

Who cares about the Prius dirveline technology and great MPG's??? What really counts is that Ford has a radio that works really well.....................

I'm sure Ford is working on advanced new safety features like "Auto-Texting" which would allow your new Ford to automatically send text messages, so you don't have too. Who couldn't live without a car that sends messages to your friends and family stating critically important info like:

"Am travlng on Main st aproching 2nd st @ 52 mph. only hav 2gal of gas & shud stop at chevron, on left"

Keith

 

I'm curious see to see how Detroit's hybrids hold up in the 100k range in terms of overall mileage. If the answer is bad, you will see alot of these on used car lots for under 10k.

 

I was a little surprised to pull $18.5k in resale from my 2009 pack5, granted it was pristine with only 15k miles, but still, couple ads in paper show can get a few 2010 II's brand new for just under $20k.

Prius has an ace in the hole for resale - Fuel economy. The couple that bought my 2009 said they heard gas may hit $5 again in 2012.

 

I guess they mean the "Sync". I have been doing CarPC's for a long while and it is no where near what we can do. I wouldnt count this yet. Not to mention lots of other manufacturers have been implementing it much better in their prototypes.

The dot matrix style radio is surely and improvement over the full colour 800x480 resolution screen in either of our Toyota/Lexus cars...

Was it not the Japanese and Germans that came up with rain sensing wipers in the early 90's? Same with backup cameras, automatic parking (although always a gimmick), radar collision detection, radar cruise control, lane following/keep assist...

At least they are trying. Oh wait, it was a federal mandate that required them to do so.

Probably some of the silliest things they could mention. Paint? Seriously? Sure their blue may be #0000FF, but our blue is #0000FE! Totally different...

And it seems like it was the Scion brand name that started the mass customization of vehicles from the factory. You get a single price, and then you pick all the little details you want.

 

Tom, most people most of the time don't care about fuel economy. Everyone who complained about their commuting costs when gas hit its high saw the EPA numbers on the sticker before they bought the car.

The sizzle sells the steak. It's how people buy things & that's not going to change.

If the "smoke & mirrors" didn't matter then Toyota would just be making Prius I & they would be flying off the lots.

Look at the grousing here. We don't marvel that the "bells & whistles" exist at all or work as they do. We complain that the 1 door SKS isn't convenient & lament that it even exists. We complain that the USB port is not as universal as the one on the computer. We complain about the accuracy & utility of the NAV unit. Why isn't it on a hard drive or flash memory & easily (and cheaply) upgraded by a transfer through the USB?

45 years ago seat belts were "bells & whistles". Then airbags were "bells & whistles" as well as ABS. At what point does a feature become a necessary or desirable safety enhancement? Drivers aren't going to improve so the features in the car have to pick up the slack.

Why do we still have side mirrors & blind spots? Where's the cameras? Why doesn't the PCS & RCC stop the car?

In defense of the American automobile industry we've had our share of innovations. Some have become so common for so long that we forget they were invented. Olds had one of the 1st assembly lines. Cadillac was the 1st with interchangeable parts ( Inventions: Interchangeable parts).

 

GM's paint on the 2000 Intrigue IMO is "better" than Toyota's paint on my Prius.

Chevy tail lights were customizable in the 1950's.

 

I hope Ford can come up with autotexting while walking, THAT'S really dangerous.

 

Does Ford get any credit for their hybrid drivetrain or is it too close of a copy of Toyota's ?

 

It's not a copy of Toyota's. It ended up being part of a cross licencing deal which included some truck technology.

 

It's becoming an interesting wake-up call. Lessons were not learned from previous major efforts falling short, like Two-Mode.

Specifics from Volt include the both electric-range & engine-efficiency being less than expected, along with the emission-rating disqualifying it from privledges which were assumed to be easily achieved... not to mention a price much higher than hoped.

How much of a difference between hype & reality are consumsers willing to accept? Some type of backlash could be on the way.
.

 

Chevy Volt managers knew they would get federal help on the pricing, to the tune of $7500 of my tax dollars. They saw it as a chance to make up some money. With out the fed help I dont see any way the Volt will stay.

On the safety front, Tire pressure monitoring has been around a long time, Chevy has had since late 90's on Vettes, a good safety improvement, The big 3 would not put it in all cars until a federal mandate, It was not expensive.

 

if it weren't for toyota, we probably wouldn't be talking hybrids at all. :rockon:and if it weren't for foreign competition, we'd probably still be driving something like the old 70's junk boxes. course, gm, ford and chrysler would all be in great financial condition.maybe the dems would have raised mpg's and emission standards if they could have gotten them past the pubs.

 

Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles has two FEHs that hit the 160K mile mark. The two FFHs are well on their way to the 100K mile mark.

 

Might be a worthwhile comment, except the paint process Toyota uses is licensed from a GM patent, and probably very close to the same paint process....

 

But isn't the hybrid model Toyota employs an American invention? Toyota merely implemented it. Its not American ingenuity nor engineering that is the problem, but the management.

 

right on, brother.:rockon: but the point is, toyota decided to make the car of the future. and they searched the world over for the very best ideas they could find. then, they put it all together and took a huge risk in the process. that's what the japanese do best. we don't like risk, and have limited vision when it comes to management, marketing and wall street.