Comments on: The New Hybrid Math

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:14:09 +0000

hybrid would recoup its extra cost over five years of ownership—and then recanted its study, designating the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Ford Escape Hybrid as economic winners. Since that time, the EPA rating of hybrids has been cut by about 20 percent, Best VPS Hosting

By: tup bebek

tup bebek — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:49:03 +0000

Is it just me, or does it seem like the picture of the new Prius looks really similar to the current model...but yet looks a lot more attractive?

The new model also makes me think of those movies where you see futuristic-type cars (ie: I Robot, Minority Report). I think the Prius is setting the bar for cars of the future.

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By: estetik

estetik — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:10:27 +0000

There are many people who buy a $25K Prius rather than buy a $27-$30K Camry or Accord. For these individuals, the payback is the minute they drive out of the dealership.

By: Daniel Pease

Daniel Pease — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:50:01 +0000

Just got a 2008 Prius yesterday for my wife. If it had been for me alone, I would have walked out of the Jacksonville FL dealer. They put me on the hook for $3500 above sticker, saying “everyone does it and some are higher”. I wish I had seen this forum first and done more homework. They will not let us reconsider the purchase now, so I will try to just enjoy the new car. It is a green package 3 touring edition, so it is nice. I really wanted twice as much for my trade and not to get the pkg3 (wanted a 2), but the touring style is good and perhaps woth the extra bucks. They said I coud auction the car off for more than I paid for it (where? eBay?). I called another dealer today and they were wanting me to take the car back and order what I wanted from them for $3K less (not touring, no blue-tooth, no 6-CD changer,etc) and no market adjustment added! I now both dealers are calling the other dealers unethical liars! Wow, nice car, poor purchase experience!

By: Wetdog

Wetdog — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:00:13 +0000

Anon---a hybrid IS an electric vehicle.

Ethanol IS clean(already being used to reduce pollution, E-10) renewable, sustainable and when burned produces net greenhouse gas = 0. CO2 produced was first taken from the atmosphere by plants to produce sugars by photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is process that plants use to produce sugars from CO2, water and sunlight. They are nature's photocells that store the energy of the sun. Ethanol simply allows us to use the sun's energy already stored for us. Why build expensive solar panels? Nature already does it for us in the form of every living green plant that exists. And yes, we can even make ethanol from garbage that is 40-50% cellulose.

Ethanol fits the current infrastructure, is completely versitile and can be used in all types of engines, is an old process that is well known and well proven and not limited in range. The only problems to ethanol is ramping up production and availability to meet our needs---and that is not a technical problem, just a matter of doing it.

Watch the Indy 500 this week to see what ethanol as a fuel can do---the fastest race cars in the world run on ethanol, the Indy Curcuit racers.

By: anon

anon — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:57:10 +0000

Wetdog is right, but missing the point. Any fossil fuel or biofuel is limited in scope and, to varying degrees, availability (which, with increasing demand and limited supply, will equal increased fuel costs).
The most flexible fuel – capable of being made from sources ranging from fossil fuel to garbage to wind to solar, is ELECTRICITY. Anything else represents a look in the rear view mirror. Anything but an EV will seem like outdated, undesireable technology in 3-5 years. We need EVs NOW!!! I will be the first in line to buy a mainstream (i.e. not goofy looking), mass-produced EV that can hit 65mph and travel 50 miles a day.
As an aside, I will also be in line to buy PV panels to charge it . . . if Congress will stop the partisan BS and renew (or, better, expand) tax credits for renewable energy this year.
Incidentally, existing RE tax credits were allowed to expire because the Senate refused to fund RE tax credits by cutting big oil’s $12 BILLION in superfluous subsidies. That’s right – every man, woman and child in the US pays $40 to support big oil companies despite record profits . . . and the Senate can bring itself to cut back. If that does not get you to write or call your Senator, nothing will!

By: Wetdog

Wetdog — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:49:12 +0000

I'm all for hybrids, I think they are great. The technological end has possibilities that could make possible vehicles in the future that are undreamed of today. Widespread use of hybrid technology could make it possible to make vehicles in the future with totally customizable cabins that could be slipped on and off of a rail system mount on the chasis/engine drive train unit. You could have a sleek sports car this morning, and a honking big SUV in the afternoon---both using the same engine/drivetrain/chasis unit. You could buy several vehicle body styles, and only have to pay for one engine/drivetrain. Or buy the drive unit and just rent the bodies---change out when the mood strikes you.
Transformers.

My only complaint about hybrids is that they should all be built using Flex Fuel capable charging motors. Oil is running out--no way around it. It is a waste of technology to build advanced cars to conserve a resource that is running out---that's just treading water. Flex Fuel wouldn't add to the cost significantly and just seems like the only logcal thing to do to me. If it is flex fuel, you don't have to use E-85 if you don't want to, but want to change your mind, you can. I like to have choices. I've never been hurt by having a choice.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:22:50 +0000

The markup by Toyota is small potatoes, I visited our nearby Toyota dealer and noted that the price of the Camry Hybrid included a little item called “market adjustment” to the tune of raising the price $2,995.00!

By: Don Quixote

Don Quixote — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:40:34 +0000

We love our pregnant turtle (especially after we put the diamond lane sticker on it!)

By: Need2Change

Need2Change — Wed, 21 May 2008 04:20:01 +0000

Many people do the math wrong.

There are many people who buy a $25K Prius rather than buy a $27-$30K Camry or Accord. For these individuals, the payback is the minute they drive out of the dealership.