Bad media coverage for Prius

seasidetraveler · 04-17-2006, 03:57 PM

Last night on our local ABC network, they kept showing previews for the 11:00 news. The preview showed a Prius driving around, and they would say "Are hybrids costing owners extra money each year? What the auto makers don't want you to hear- the hidden cost of hybrids"

So I stayed up to watch the news piece, and although they eventually said that the Prius wasn't one of the ones that has hidden costs, but they still keep showing the Prius when they say these things!

I went on their web page to see if the article was there, here is the link:

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=...umer&id=4088934

galaxee · 04-17-2006, 04:05 PM

oh look. another one.

go figure.

Traanya Drinker · 04-17-2006, 04:38 PM

I'm a subscriber to CS and was pretty pissed off and then amused by this article. They had one dismissive little "sentence" about the low emissions, and it was buried behind their $$$ avalanche of HEARSAY (like the "...after 5 years of owning a Hybrid Highlander..."--WHICH HASN'T EVEN BEEN OUT A YEAR!) The low emission aspect is a BIG reason why I bought my Prius.

dipper · 04-17-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Consumer Reports' analysis does factor in the federal tax credits for hybrid owners. But be aware the tax credits will phase out for each carmaker after it sells 60,000 hybrids.

Toyota is expected to be the first manufacturer to reach that number, probably sometime next year. [/b]

Did the reporter even do the research?

seasidetraveler · 04-17-2006, 05:41 PM

Yes I noticed what they said about the Highlander- what a nice assumption! And what ticked me off was all their previews for the news, and they show a Prius and then say "WARNING- HIDDEN HYBRID COSTS"

Now I am waiting for someone to ask me "so what's the hidden cost to the Prius"

**Tideland Prius** · 04-17-2006, 06:04 PM

wow.. $400 over a Corolla?!? I wonder how much vs. a Camry? $800? Compared to my friends, I'm paying peanuts for fuel and insurance. My friends keep complaining about the prices (but proudly say their car runs on premium fuel). Their average is more than twice mine and their fuel costs are waaay higher than mine even though I do more km/year than they do.

seasidetraveler · 04-17-2006, 06:12 PM

That's what I don't understand- where do they get their figures? I am saving so much money on fuel- that it more than pays for the price difference... plus with a Corolla you don't get cool options like SKS etc.

edit-
or the fact that you are helping the environment.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-17-2006, 06:49 PM

Exactly. I could've gotten a cool Solara SLE V6 loaded with all the options for the price of my Prius. But you can't beat the cool factor of EV, SKS, a touchscreen and the fun factors discussed in the other thread.

galaxee · 04-17-2006, 07:05 PM

exactly. we were looking at the solara, loaded. at dealer cost plus $100.

still got the prius at msrp because of all the cooler features and long term gas savings.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-17-2006, 10:57 PM

I was actually looking at the Corolla LE Pkg "B" (leather seat surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, chrome shift knob button, side/side curtains, power moonroof, theft-deterrent, chrome interior door handles).

The difference between me and those "Prius vs. Corolla" is that I wasn't looking at the Prius at all. I just test drove one for the heck of it cause I never tried the Classic Prius so I thought I might as well try it. My dad and I were so impressed with it, we decided to get it instead.

04-17-2006, 03:57 PM	#1
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CA Posts: 623 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Last night on our local ABC network, they kept showing previews for the 11:00 news. The preview showed a Prius driving around, and they would say "Are hybrids costing owners extra money each year? What the auto makers don't want you to hear- the hidden cost of hybrids" So I stayed up to watch the news piece, and although they eventually said that the Prius wasn't one of the ones that has hidden costs, but they still keep showing the Prius when they say these things! I went on their web page to see if the article was there, here is the link: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=...umer&id=4088934 __________________ enjoy the ride

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04-17-2006, 04:05 PM	#2
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 93 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	oh look. another one. go figure.

04-17-2006, 04:38 PM	#3
Traanya Drinker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 31 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm a subscriber to CS and was pretty pissed off and then amused by this article. They had one dismissive little "sentence" about the low emissions, and it was buried behind their $$$ avalanche of HEARSAY (like the "...after 5 years of owning a Hybrid Highlander..."--WHICH HASN'T EVEN BEEN OUT A YEAR!) The low emission aspect is a BIG reason why I bought my Prius.

04-17-2006, 05:41 PM	#5
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CA Posts: 623 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Yes I noticed what they said about the Highlander- what a nice assumption! And what ticked me off was all their previews for the news, and they show a Prius and then say "WARNING- HIDDEN HYBRID COSTS" Now I am waiting for someone to ask me "so what's the hidden cost to the Prius"

04-17-2006, 06:04 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	wow.. $400 over a Corolla?!? I wonder how much vs. a Camry? $800? Compared to my friends, I'm paying peanuts for fuel and insurance. My friends keep complaining about the prices (but proudly say their car runs on premium fuel). Their average is more than twice mine and their fuel costs are waaay higher than mine even though I do more km/year than they do.

04-17-2006, 06:12 PM	#7
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CA Posts: 623 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	That's what I don't understand- where do they get their figures? I am saving so much money on fuel- that it more than pays for the price difference... plus with a Corolla you don't get cool options like SKS etc. edit- or the fact that you are helping the environment.

04-17-2006, 06:49 PM	#8
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	Exactly. I could've gotten a cool Solara SLE V6 loaded with all the options for the price of my Prius. But you can't beat the cool factor of EV, SKS, a touchscreen and the fun factors discussed in the other thread.

04-17-2006, 07:05 PM	#9
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 93 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	exactly. we were looking at the solara, loaded. at dealer cost plus $100. still got the prius at msrp because of all the cooler features and long term gas savings.

04-17-2006, 10:57 PM	#10
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	I was actually looking at the Corolla LE Pkg "B" (leather seat surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, chrome shift knob button, side/side curtains, power moonroof, theft-deterrent, chrome interior door handles). The difference between me and those "Prius vs. Corolla" is that I wasn't looking at the Prius at all. I just test drove one for the heck of it cause I never tried the Classic Prius so I thought I might as well try it. My dad and I were so impressed with it, we decided to get it instead.