Comments on: Toyota Gets Aggressive with Prius Sales

By: Jim of Nor Cal

Jim of Nor Cal — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:01:40 +0000

A long as we are sticking it to OPEC, I could care less about my carbon footprint. It was for National Security that I bought one, and I smile every time I pass the gas station. AND… I think all the people at the Toyota dealership were Americans or at least paying American taxes, dealership ownered by an American, cars serviced by Americans, and also selling some American built Toyota’s (Camry/Corolla etc) would disagree that buying a Prius is a US job killer. The UAW is the job killer. Ask GM why their average salery is $65K for assembly? Good dough for turning screws. Also great money outside of California, NY, and MASS. And this is just the average. The Union is killing themselves and our Auto industry and they best wise up. Not to mention Ford and GM need to design what Americans want. Something they have had trouble doing since the 60′s. Vega, Mustang II, Omni, Lebaron, etc. I could go on and on…

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:06:52 +0000

Tarbox Toyota in North Kingstown RI has at least ten on the lot, so I don't think it's a part supply problem. Americans like bigger cars the number one selling vehicle in the US is the Ford F-150.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:16:56 +0000

You should probably hold on to your vehicle for a few more years, maybe until 2012, which is when the plug-in prius should be available to the public.

By: Ron Brown

Ron Brown — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:01:51 +0000

I love my prius. I was considering a 2009 but with only 83000 miles on my 05, I think I will wait until 2010. I hope they have developed a plug in system by then. I will pay extra for that even if it doesn't pencil out for money saved over a regular model. The environment is worth added expense.

By: john smith

john smith — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:27:35 +0000

thats great if youre a 16 year old girl listening to brittany.

By: Shines

Shines — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:42:44 +0000

Prius is beautiful

Prius is safe

Prius gives Americans what they want

Go buy one.

Now that gas prices are starting back up is a good time to get one.

People are excited about the Prius - it has the highest owner satisfaction of any vehicle and is better for the enviromnment.

To use this car uses so much less oil...

By: cindy

cindy — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:41:18 +0000

Prius is eugly

Prius is unsafe

Prius puts americans out of work.

Why buy one.

Now that gas is lower than 2 bucks another reason not to get one.

People are tired of the prius because it does more harm than good.

To produce this car it takes so much oil /...

By: Harry Olfart

Harry Olfart — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:45:10 +0000

High fuel prices or not, I plan on buying a Prius sometime this year. Problem is, I don’t know if I should buy an ’09 or wait for the gen-3. Maybe I’ll see what the new administration does on a hybrid incentive package. I figure I’m about due for a bailout.

By: Need2Change

Need2Change — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:46:31 +0000

I've seen some loaded (package 6) Prius' selling for $4K off list, and one year old loaded Prius' with asking prices below $20K.

It does look ike Toyota is getting aggressive with Prius prices.

By: hamilton

hamilton — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:43:57 +0000

Looking beyond Prius raw numbers (down), hybrid sales as a percentage of the total US market pretty well held market share in 2008. The $750 incentive is a tactic to keep 2nd gen sales going while that increasingly rare species - the new car buyer - decides whether now is really such a good time to buy - or whether it's more sensible to wait for the 3rd gen Prius (and hopefully more economic security).

PerfectApproach - one (of several) reasons that GM missed the first AND second gen hybrid wave, was a mgmt mindset focused on scaling the GM-Allison hybrid transmission (installed in 1000+ city buses that have been running from Seattle to DC, Philly to Ann Arbor, since 2000; Google: "technical Report NREL/TP-540-40585" for details), into "dual-mode" hybrid trucks (Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Saturn Vue).

If you kind of squint sideways and think about the problems of carbon emissions and fuel security from an engineering or actuarial point of view, this approach makes sense. From a marketing point of view, it's all wrong - missed the opportunity to win hearts + minds (and sales).

Likewise, "mild" hybrids like the Silverado or Malibu look compelling to an accountant (quick return on investment for the owner), but again fail to capture hearts and minds. Ditto for the 2+ million E85-capable GM vehicles on the road (like an investor holding stock options or Gibson in "Mad Max", the notion is that a flex fuel system gives you options if gas supply dries up).

So GM's latest big bet is the Chevy Volt. As a GM employee, I'm with you in wanting GM to succeed - but as a human being I'm very, very happy that more and more hybrid variants are springing up quickly, giving us choices and sparking competition.

Let's hope the incoming US administration moves quickly with a coherent mix of FEDERAL carrots and sticks to drive adoption!