What would you have bought if not a Prius?

I didn't know about that. Thanks for telling. This doesn't apply to Lithium batteries, right?

 

So far I haven't been able to find any signs that big oil has gotten their hooks into Lithium batteries. Instead big oil is investing in natural gas to power electric plants to be part of the grid to charge EVs, so thy still have their fingers in the pie.
Oh, and the reason most people haven't heard about Toyota & Panasonic being sued by Chevron, their was a gag order from the lawsuit.

 

I posted videos of two different ones running around. Around 40 went to colleges and museums and one went to the Smithsonian.

 

Here is a link to some information I previously posted about this subject.
Getting a Prius has been a real eye opener | PriusChat

 

Just remembered that I still have this:

 

Actually, the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid was my preferred choice for awhile because it was (I think) far better looking and from all reports I read, better to drive. I never got a chance to test drive one, though, thanks to the ineptitude of a certain Ford dealer. I also considered the costlier 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, as well. However, I eventually realized I wanted the fold-down rear seat the Ford hybrids didn't then offer and the extra 10 MPG the Prius delivered over the Ford models. I also gave the Chevy Volt some thought but since it was pricier, even with the tax credit and at that time, almost new to the market, I passed on it, partly also due to that my car is outside most of the time and not near a convenient outlet to charge it, were it a plug-in.

 

I never knew Abbott & Costello were involved with the EV1.

 

I was looking for a hatchback with sufficient room and good fuel economy all coming under $25k. The list was:
- Prius
- Insight
(- Jetta Sportwagen TDI: not on my list, as I didn't realize they still had some credit left)

Insight was a little to low for headroom in the back so got crossed off. Drove "normally". Pricing didn't help at the time: Honda got greedy and put cruise control only on the EX and its price was way too close to the Prius.

My Prius test drive was actually a bit of an anticlimax. I was expected something "more different".

My wife eventually took the Prius for a test drive and didn't hate it enough to say no.

 

Fusion hybrid if no Prius existed.

 

SUV (go thru the mtns a lot), Lexus is250 or Acura TL type S... I'm not sure how I ended with a Prius!

 

I would have bought a Camry Hybrid but I didn't think there was enough refinements since the previous model year. I never test drove one or even looked inside For now I am happy with my Prius. The new Camry sure does drive nice now that I have rented a few of them.

Mike

 

My wife mostly drove our 12 Prius model two last winter here in Minnesota. We had a very bad, cold, snowy winter and she said it handled great. Sure, the traction light came on regularly, but it started each morning. Last year we didn't even have a garage, so it was outside, not a single issue ever starting or plowing through the snowy driveway. I am driving this same car this coming winter, a little nervous as I was leasing a Subaru legacy before. But if my wife can handle it, so can I.

 

I really like the new Fusion Hybrid. It is really expensive though. Not sure about long term reliability of Ford either. Any thoughts?

 

Manual TDI Passat .

 

Hope we don't get another 7 month long winter this year

Mike

 

I was aware of that big oil conspiracy. I still don't understand how Toyota was able to go around the rights issues about large NiMH batteries. Anyone knows?

Big oil still meddles a lot. They pay the few pseudoscients to make big noise that there is no global warming. I also believe big oil is behind all that widespread backlash against hybrid cars. Recently that showed as extra hybrid taxes in some states. Unfortunately, the new laws on political contributions makes these things very easy to hide.

 

Mini Countryman...a bit pricey and not nearly as great gas mileage. Glad I went with The Prius.

 

What kind of tires were you using the last 2 winters? Were you using winter tires or M/S?

 

I'm not sure long term reliability was much of a factor. To me, the lawsuit with Ford understating their MPG and ultimate fix (but no independent test data released) and overall increase in price with decrease in fuel efficiency is why we choose the Prius.

I really enjoyed the styling on the Fusion, but the previously described factors as well as the additional technology features really made the decision easy for us.

 

It could've been the Tesla of the time! Just kidding...