Comments on: Prius Production Proliferates

By: AshlyChesebro

AshlyChesebro — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:39:05 +0000

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By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:40:22 +0000

I just bought my Prius last week, and at 51mpg, I’m loving it. It’s much better than the 16mpg I was getting from my Ford. The new CAFE requirements don’t start for years and by then the technology will improve. If the gas prices stay up where they are now, all the car manufacturers will be marketing smaller, fuel efficient vehicles. I still have my corvette for those times when I want more zoom in my ride. But even that gets me 26mpg on the highway at 80mph.

By: Denny

Denny — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:58:41 +0000

MDENSCH,

I drove from RI to fayetteville, NC in my new Prius. I hit NYC am rush hour and DC pm rush hour. I stopped for gas three times. I could have stopped twice if I wanted to stretch it. I think the Prius performs.

By: Armand

Armand — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:22:43 +0000

Mdensch...

AT LEAST TOYOTA has something to have a press release about....what does GM have? GM is a POS, overdone company that needs to completely disappear...

Granted...Toyota was whining about CAFE standards too but while they were whining, they made products that met the standards. What has GM done?

By: Eric2

Eric2 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:57:43 +0000

I hate to say it, but mdensch is right. In fact, looking at fueleconomy.gov, some of Toyota's SUVs and Trucks are even worse gas hogs than the competition. Toyota and GM together sued the state of California once before over emissions regulations.

In addition, some may argue that the Prius was invented mainly as a way to increase the upper end of the CAFE average, allowing them to sell even bigger gas-guzzling SUVs and Trucks, all the while acting green through their promotions of the Prius and "moving forward" slogan.

As interesting as the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive is, I refuse to buy a Toyota for the reasons listed above.

Signed,
A proud owner of a Honda Civic Hybrid

By: sean

sean — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:38:08 +0000

omn1potent,

How about the base Prius is priced USD21,100 in the US and AUD37,400 in AUS? Don't you see that it's a bit weird considering the exchange rate b/w USD and AUD? That hasn't been taken into account the "Tax break" that US buyers are enjoying.

By: omn1potent

omn1potent — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:37:16 +0000

Funny that the base Prius and base CiViC Hybrids in the US cost the same, and here in Australia, the Prius costs AUS$5,000 more than the CiViC Hybrid.

Also the CiViC price range in Australia ranges between AUS$21k ro AUS$32k, all cheaper models feature rear-disc brakes and the top-of-the-range HyBriD has rear drum brakes. Will stability control and other safety features which underlying rely on this, why does it come out with such old systems? Honda says its not required, consumers think NOT!

By: omn1potent

omn1potent — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:23:51 +0000

When would the PHEV 3rd generation Prius be available. Rumours are that the top model will have a solar panel sunroof in addition to PHEV for charging on the move. Also Toyota, please make the next generation prius handle well and make it available to be fitted with a towbar? They must be practical as well? When is the scheduled release in Australia?

By: mdensch

mdensch — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:53:38 +0000

If what you found is true, and keeping in mind that the EPA ratings have been adjusted downward at least twice since 1975, then the CAFE legislation that was enacted last fall is just about meaningless.

By: CLD

CLD — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:37:49 +0000

mdensch:

As an owner of both a Prius and a Camry Hybrid I AGREE WITH YOU (didn’t see that coming, huh?). One problem with your last posting, though. The new EPA testing procedure does not have any bearing on CAFE, at least for now. Under NHTSA Title 49 Part C Chapter 329 (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/Cfc_title49/ACTchap321-331.html) ‘the Administrator shall use the same procedures for passenger automobiles the Administrator used for model year 1975′. In other words, the original 1975 testing protocol–which everyone knows produces inflated fuel economy numbers–will still be used by NHTSA to determine CAFE. I still haven’t seen any provision in the new energy bill to change that. So, based on the 2007 numbers for a Prius (51 Hwy 60 City 55 Combined) and Camry Hybrid (38 Hwy 40 City 39 Combined), the numbers NHTSA will use to calculate CAFE will be (adjusting up 15% for the 1975 testing protocol) 63 mpg for the Prius and 45 mpg for the Camry Hybrid.

The same applies to all other cars and trucks Toyota and every other manufacturer sells.