What should I say to prevent Prius bashing?

Let me work out the math. For a 15,000 mile per year, if you drive 50 mpg, you comsume 300 gallons of gas. If you drive 25 mpg, you consume 600 gallons of gas. That's a difference of 300 gallons per year. If you keep your car(vs leasing), at $2.50 a gallon, that's $750 dollars a year and $7500 over a decade. That's if gas doesn't go up.

However, more importantly, for 15 lbs of CO2 emissions per gallon of gas combusted, that's a difference of 4500 lbs or 2 1/4 tons of emissions burned per year or a little over 21 tons of emission of over 10 years.

Could you imagine generating 2 1/4 tons of trash a year? Then burning it? Ugh.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 21 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

For us, it was somewhere around 5 minutes. That's about how long it took to drive off of the dealer's lot after finishing all the paperwork and such. I'm not 100% sure on that, it's been over 2 years. But it didn't take long at all.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Nov 22 2006, 01:41 PM) [snapback]353107[/snapback]</div>

You didn't read my post, eh?

Re: buying a car that's already been manufactured, that's a fair point, although not uite as clear-cut as you make it seem--energy expended to drive a car does rise as the car ages, repairs are required, etc.

 

I'm not so sure I'd be that hard on the envirnomental impact of a Prius. For one thing, it will lead to greener cars. While there is merit on driving a used Honda Civic until the wheels fall off, the tailpipe emissions are going to be higher than a Prius (good pros and cons can be made both ways....).

The resources going into the Prius....I think it was that CNW Art Spinella report that has been discredited that brought all that up.

I figure I've at least paid that $3000 hybrid premium and some over six years.

It's progress.

 

Payback? Immediate. In money, using regular gas vs premium now and only half the quantity, estimated savings $700+/yr, not to mention time going to the gas station. Reducing emissions and the costs and devastation environmental pollution has inflicted upon us all, priceless. There is also money saved in preventing more pollution and the associated expenses both in health and environmental damage. The majority of Prius owners do not buy solely for the purpose of "saving money on gas". This will be a mute point when hybrids become mainstream and there are more choices in every type of vehicle, including trucks and SUVs.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Nov 22 2006, 01:41 PM) [snapback]353107[/snapback]</div>

Perhaps. I was in the market for a new car, and was looking at everything from Jettas to Volvo S-80s and BMW 5-series. Talk about "expensive for what you get" indeed, this car seems like an incredible value to me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 22 2006, 10:01 AM) [snapback]353013[/snapback]</div>

Also, the use of 87 octane vs. 92 octane. Cost / mile as far as gas has been $0.04 vs. $0.10 for my wive's C Class Mercedes.

 

Just tell them: I'm getting the most, in every respect, for my gallon.

It really is that simple.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zaxxon @ Nov 22 2006, 11:25 AM) [snapback]353140[/snapback]</div>

I'm not going to make a big deal out of this. After all, this is a Prius website, so it would be fruitless to post anything that isn't pro-Prius, and I hesitated to post anything not pro-Prius before responding here. But rest assured that I did all the math when we were looking for a car over the past several months, and the Prius wasn't the best deal by far. Actually, of the cars we were looking for, the Subaru Impreza would have been the best purchase, had the features we wanted (including AWD), and gotten acceptable gas mileage. We didn't buy one because 1) It's due for a new model in the next year, which would have adversely affected the resale value of our then year-old Impreza, 2) The gas mileage wasn't as good as the minimum standard we were shooting for (30mpg city), and 3) We just didn't care for the current style of the car.

That said, I'm very pleased with the Prius (except city mileage could be way better) and we're glad we bought it. But I don't wear rose-colored glasses, the Prius just isn't that great of a deal. In fact, if the Civic was a hatchback, we would have bought that instead of the Prius.

Vince

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Nov 22 2006, 03:11 PM) [snapback]353164[/snapback]</div>

Like I said, YMMV on whether the Prius fits your needs. But I didn't say that the Prius is God's vehicular gift to humanity--I said it's a very good deal for the money. And it is, indisputably. No rose-colored glasses here--I'm not a Prius fanboi, just a satisfied owner. As for the Impreza, obviously it wasn't the best purchase for you, or you would have bought it!

But continuing this discussion would be rather fruitless--I've already shown that over a 5-6 year ownership period, the Prius compares very favorably to its competitors in total cost.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Nov 22 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]352893[/snapback]</div>

I find this thread strange because no-one has ever asked me about the cost, etc of my car and in the year since I bought it I've been aware of only two people even noticing it. Maybe the British public is not so car conscious as the USA appears to be.
To me, if someone asked about the cost, etc of my car it would be similar to someone asking hoe much I paid for my shoes or asking about my income. It just doesn't happen.

 

While the question is hypothetical for the Prius (the closest comparable cars being the Corolla and Camry, neither of which is close enough), it makes more sense for the Camry or the Honda Civic. Both are available with and without hybrid powerplants, and can be better compared.

 

I have *NEVER* been the recepient of negative Prius comments or questions. Rather, many ask me about the Prius, curious about how it works, battery life, accelleration, etc. I therefore do not find it necessary to respond to "Prius bashing."

Should I ever be the subject of "Prius bashing," there are so many positive responses I will have no problem providing an excellent response... in a positive way.

Bottom line: I have almost ZERO interest in what "Prius bashers" think about my car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Nov 22 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]353164[/snapback]</div>

Not at all. If someone were to post something flamingly 'anti-Prius' just to provoke a reaction, they'd likely get one. But, I would hope constructive criticism and legitimate concerns would be dealt with calmly and fairly. If you were to say "This doesn't make sense to me, can anyone explain it?", then I think you'd get a positive and informative response.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Nov 22 2006, 01:35 PM) [snapback]353075[/snapback]</div>

The ol' Clint Eastwood dialogue is always effective:
Do you know what this is? (Pulling 44magnum from shirt) It's a 44magnum ... most powwerful handgun in the world ... and it can blow your head clean off ... now with all this dialogue on prius reasons ... mpg .... cost of ownership .... anti terrorist .... eco friendly, I plumb forgot whether I fired it 5 or 6 times ... well punk? do you feel lucky?

Works every time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Nov 22 2006, 02:36 PM) [snapback]353180[/snapback]</div>

I love hearing that!

Prius really is a great overall balance of emissions, efficiency, power, conveniences, price, etc.

If others don't see that, tough! It's their loss. Resisting is a waste. The need for improved emissions & efficiency will in some way or another impact them later anyway.

I personally fought lots of battles, many going well beyond the "bashing" level. But back then, the purpose was constructive. It shook out every conceivable argument against the emerging technology and exposed most of the antagonist techniques for undermining the success. Those are well documented now. So there is simply no need for any more rebuttals even for the sake of responding to a bash. It's over. Hybrids have proven a viable solution.

Next comes the fun stuff... hence some of the bashing owners experience. People see the upgrades are coming. Our good thing gets even better. Sweet!

So like Charles, you to may not encounter negatives. We are just now getting to the point where troublemakers realize they have lost... and many will just fade away, as if they were never there in the first place!

 

The only comments I've gotten from friends and family who have seen my Prius are "cool!"

Except one friend. I said, "now, watch this! Note how I'm not using any key!" and proceeded to open the door.

She said, "You just forgot to lock the door, you jerk!"

Locking the door I stepped back and said, "OK, you try it." She couldn't open the door.

"Now watch again. Notice no key... the door opens!"

"I just wasn't trying to open it hard enough."

Repeat. Lock door, step back, laugh as she is unable to open the door.

"OK, one more time... voila!"

Her eyes got all wide and she said, "your car is haunted!"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Nov 22 2006, 02:24 PM) [snapback]353244[/snapback]</div>

My next line at this point is "No, my car knows who is the Boss!"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Nov 22 2006, 06:24 PM) [snapback]353244[/snapback]</div>

I remember a similar story from someone whose grandkids couldn't get into the car until he walked up to it, patted it on the roof, and said "It's OK. They're with me." :lol: