Toyota Prius

[helen99]

I just found out that the Toyota Prius derives power from a battery that is recharged each time you step on the brake. Therefore it theoretically gets better mileage in the city than on the highway. I thought that was a nifty feature (assuming it really works and actually conserves fuel - I've never talked to anyone who owned one).

A new Prius is still about twice what I'm willing to spend on a car, though, even with the subsequent savings (I felt the same way about the various environmentally friendly roofs - $6K vs 40K kind of tears it for me, longterm savings or not). Also, I can foresee maintenance being ... steep. Perhaps a good used one would be reasonably priced (but the maintenance would be the same or worse).

Considering how long I kept Smurf, and considering that I like Lyra*, who is moderately efficient and cheaper to maintain than the various Toyoti, a Prius or equivalent probably will not happen for a long time. By that time I'll know the truth about them, which probably lies somewhere between the believers and the naysayers...

*No relation to Lyra Belacqua! The car was named before the movie existed, and I never read book.

Comments

[dancinglights.livejournal.com]

Yes, it does save quite a lot of fuel, but not quite as much as the marketing numbers suggest. Also the battery needs replaced at 100-150k miles and then is a rather large environmental hazard of the sort all batteries are. The truth does indeed seem to be somewhere between the naysayers and the evangelists.

As I understand it, the hybrid Civic works the same way, and fatherdog was quite happy with his. I really, really wanted an Insight, which is the smallest and most fuel-efficient hybrid made, but didn't have enough saved up to make the payments reasonable when my old car died last year. And apparently now they're not making them anymore. Grargggh.

[fatherdog.livejournal.com]

"As I understand it, the hybrid Civic works the same way, and fatherdog was quite happy with his."

Yup. I usually get between 40 and 45 mpg, but when doing just city driving it hovers around 50. I think the Prius does a bit better, being smaller, but I can't fit in one of those things.

This week it's going to hit 110,000 miles, and so far I haven't had any sort of mechanical issues with it, which is pretty good, I would think.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's something to think about, then.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Aw! Maybe there's a good used one available somewhere? My Saturn was only two years old when I bought it (basically new as far as I was concerned), and its price was cut in half.

[dancinglights.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there is, though used hybrids are more difficult to find and also less of a deal because the expensive battery that causes the fuel savings will still need replaced after a fixed usage. I want to finish paying for Hai before I even think about replacing him.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

We already have landfills full of cheap dead batteries, and this sort of car would double the problem and make it more expensive. Gak. Lyra is paid for, but is only 6 years old. Not even middle aged...

[elwing2000.livejournal.com]

I have an 03 civic hybrid - which does *not* use the same system as the prius (they changed it in the 06 and later models - when they removed the manual transmission as well). I'm at about 130k miles, with no issues whatsoever. I get between 37 and 44 (depending on weather, wind, and how heavy my foot is), but the newer ones get much better, and the the manuals even better than that (a friend got 55 consistently - but he knew how to drive a manual).

Another friend has a prius, and other than the fact that I really don't like the view from the drivers seat (aka I can't see a damn thing), it's got a nice ride, and he gets consistently 45mpg with custom wheels and 50mpg with the factory wheels.

I was in the Honda dealer the other day for maintenance, and talked to the saleswoman who sold me my civic. Apparently Honda is considering discontinuing them because of the battery disposal, and going with clean burning diesel instead. I don't know what those will look like or any more information though.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Urk - I can't imagine diesel of any kind being clean burning. Everywhere a diesel parks gets covered with corrosion and soot, and they stink to high heaven. Bio-D is even worse, since they're threatening to use soy, a known allergen to a lot of people.

Gak, I say, Gak.

The Civic sounds sweet.

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

You weren't reading my journal last December when I was going on and on and on and on about our new Prius?

I loves me a Prius. It's the very best car, by far, I've ever been in. When you're standing right next to it, and it's on, and it's completely silent... *squee*

The mileage is fantastic, too. They say it's not really for highway driving - don't listen to them. >50 mpg on regular highway driving. Come on, that's pretty damn sweet. The thing is that you really get to see what it's made of in extended stop-and-go driving, where 85 mpg is not unreasonable. We spend an average of $15 a week for gas, and we're not exactly the stay-at-home types.

The only thing I'd say it's really bad for is errand-running, when you're parking it at several different locations less than 5 minutes' drive apart. The Prius takes about 5 minutes to warm up each and every time.

Safety-wise, it's top-notch. Especially if you get the package deal like we got with extra safety features and a reverse camera.

Yeah, the price of a new one is prohibitive. We were lucky; ours was a parting gift of Rick's mother. But don't give up! Used Priuses are supposedly pretty cheap, because it's generally assumed there's not much of a market for them. Keep trying.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Awk! I must have missed it (I sometimes go for weeks without looking and then suddenly make 8 posts). Sounds like a great car.

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

http://www.hybridcars.com/

I found this very useful.

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

Oh, I also forgot to mention: maintenance costs are about the same as for an equivalent conventional motor car. You will probably have to bring it back to the dealer for repairs, at least until private auto mechanics catch up on the technology - which may happen quicker where you live than, say, out in rural Iowa. :)

There are a lot of rumors about the battery failing after 10 years and being prohibitively expensive to replace. The website I linked you to above should dispel those fears a bit. New batteries only cost $5000 or less, which, all things considered, isn't terrible. And the trend of a ten-year lifespan they predicted isn't happening. Now that a decent number of Priuses are reaching 10 years old, most people are finding that the batteries are still good.

[elwing2000.livejournal.com]

I can vouch for the "normal" maintenance on my civic. The only time I've *had* to take my car to the dealer was for the 110k maintenance where they check on the battery. Other than that, the only issue with a "normal" repair/maintenance shop is that they don't normally carry the thin synthetic oil it uses (0W20), but if I bring in my own oil, they'll change it for me.

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

I lusted after a Prius, but ended up with an '07 FNORD Five Hundred. Big car. High seats, great sound system.

$17K, off lease from Hertz. Yep, I like those fleet cars!

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I drove someone's Big Fnord once - I still remember the experience of the Smooth Ride. It felt luxurious...

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

I love my big Fnord. It rides like my living room. I need to get some big speakers for the back deck to add a little more thump to my techno music, but otherwise, this car is great. I really love the sunroof and the leather seats. I've never had a car with leather seats- it's rather luxurious!

I know two owners.

[daughterofodhin.livejournal.com]

Both say they aren't worth the money. One bought one new, and one used. The cost of buying was not out weighed by the 'gas' savings at all. They don't expect to see the savings before the car dies.

Re: I know two owners.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

The $5000 battery tears it for me (a figure quoted in another comment - haven't checked that). That's even worse than an automatic transmission (clutch used to cost me $200). I've yet to check the new diesel cars, but I'm kind of leery of them. As I said to someone above, "clean diesel" strikes me as somewhat of a contradiction in terms (whatever it may be made from). What is more disturbing, though, is that some bio-diesel may be made from soybeans. Rialian is allergic to soy, even soy candles... If the use of that stuff becomes widespread, he will not be able to go outdoors in the city.