Disappointed in Prius ('08) waiting for '10

[ny biker]

Originally Posted by Zack

That's it. Now I have to brace for blast that will come from upset members of this forum.

Whatevs. As I told someone on another (non-car) forum who decided to sell her Prius, there are plenty of people on wait lists so if you don't want one, by all means let someone else have it.

[MagneticGrayIndy]

First, the Prius is not supposed to be particularly fast.. that it IS NOT designed for.. speed and high mpg just dont' go together (outside of an electric, different story).. but I got to tell you .. I've had an 06 Prius since new and right now I average over 58 mpg.. that is AMAZING..... it's all in how you drive.. little things make a big difference.

[MagneticGrayIndy]

second.. with a prius vs diesel or any non-electric, consider this:.. there are many times on EVERY trip you take where your gas motor is not running AT ALL... ZERO, ZERO, ZERO emissions... For several minutes at a time even while driving down the road... depending on how fast, how flat, etc etc

[SuperDave]

Driving for maximum MPG with a Prius (or any car) requires some skill and ability. I am sure that when EV's hit the road some drivers will get 70 miles from a charge and some will only get 40.

I have owned my 05 for 6 weeks now and I can get in the low 60's without really paying much attention.

[Zack]

Tony, Gabe, SuperDave what you are saying is really amazing.
Regularly above 60 MPG (below 4 l/100km) sounds really good. My driving didn't produce anything even close. I don't know how you do it ...

[cycledrum]

Consumer Reports reported an average of 44 mpg ... to me that is really good for a car. My 1000cc sportbike will not average 44 mpg, only 45 in highway mpg.

I was too curious about the 08 Prius, so rented one a couple month ago.

I specifically recall going up the steepest grades over Hwy 17 towards Santa Cruz. The car seemed taxed. What would happen if the car had 4 people and cargo?

Being 6ft. 3in., I just felt a bit too tall in the driver's seat.

If Toyota can give it a skosh more power, 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and retain the gas mileage and cargo utility, the 2010 will be just about perfect. I hope the '10 is at the car shows around Thanksgiving timeframe this year.

Plug-in seems like a nice option for those who can plug-in.

[Zack]

Sorry guys, have to go and watch Kimbo Slice

[bradysplace]

My 08 prius was preceded by a 07 and a 06. Little or no difference between the cars. I live in the suburbs of Houston and cannot achieve the 50-60 mpg average many claim to achieve - the driving climate will not permit the kind of driving that is requried to achieve those kind of numbers. Agreeded the prius tech. has been around for years and while still superior to most vechs. we all await the next generation of hybrids. Others may be first with the next gen. hybrid but I have faith that toyota will do it right the first time out of the box. Till then my average 46 mpg is something I can live with. Look for a fuel sipping oil burner coupled with a lithum batt. for extended ev. - one has been built and is being tested in Germany.

[dwdean]

Originally Posted by Zack

Rented a Prius to check the hype myself and while I generally like the car and idea I came out disappointed.

LOL....

Well, at lest you drove it. I can respect that, even if I don’t agree with you conclusion.

Sorry to laugh, but with gas prices headed where they are, who really gives a rat's @ss about performance? If you're that rich, then just keep that Beemer running for the next decade.

For me, I accept that I don't drive at Le Mans everyday and that the more "modest" (read reasonable) performance offered by the Prius is more than adequate for the average driver. Sure, I like cars that go "vroom vroom", but I like eating better, I like paying the credit card companies less, and I really hate subsidizing big oil and to some extent the middle east.

I'm sure that this won't be popular, but it needs to be said.

Hope to see you back in a couple of years! Hopefully you'll still be able to get here.

Peace!

[rxcrider]

If we had the vehicles that Europe has, I'd probably be driving something else. We don't and the prius is about as good as it gets here for the time being. The next generation jett TDI shows some promise, but I'm sre the sticker on the window will be a bit more painful.