Uninformed People

[joeman]

Does anyone else run into uninformed people about hybrids??

Called a local import parts place to ask about coolants and oils for my car.(have really liked this guy in the past) He went on to inform me that nobody wants to buys a used Prius because they would have to replace the battery pack. I told him it didn't stop me and I expected to get twice as much out of my 2002 car I just bought with 70k miles, before replacing the battery pack. I think a lot of people need a education about buying used hybrids. I mean i was terrified of some repairs, but i got over it. I think the whole hybrid/ plug in movement could work better if people were more open minded. Anyone else run across similar situations.

Joe

[Tideland Prius]

Yeah there are plenty.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by joeman

. . . He went on to inform me that nobody wants to buys a used Prius because they would have to replace the battery pack. . . .

You have to decide if correcting his misinformation is worth the time. My general rule of thumb:

1. Co-worker - I take them out to lunch and let them drive the car back. I do this because if I don't, there will be a long litany of silly claims. Knowing I have the facts and data and am willing to discuss and share the technology solves the problem. Of course I may have a little advantage in hybrid technology background.
2. Vendors - it depends upon whether or not I like them and plan to do more business with them in the future. I try to come by when they can go out and hop in the car and even drive it around the parking lot.
3. Strangers - it depends upon whether they have big bre... eye brows ... yea, and a cute as... attitude. Yes, it has to do with first impressions.
4. nut cases and members of other political parties - I encourage their ignorance (after all, there is only a 10-13 day inventory of Prius and we don't need to increase the demand ... besides, they might save enough money to start contributing to their political parties.)

Value your time and that means choosing your forums and issues.

Bob Wilson

[windshearalert]

I think most people in general are scared of change. They see the hybrids as something that will be a flash in the pan. So then they develop preconceived notions about dead batteries, low on power, and electrocutions. Good lord, Toyota and other manufacturers wouldnt have sold one of em if this are the complete truth. Remember the Pinto? Well, Ford really took it in the shorts on those cars, but they were proven to be deadly (IF IF the car was hit in the rear, and at a certain speed, and at a certain angle of attack). Same thing with Chevrolet trucks and the fuel tanks. People hear this on the news, or from a friend, and decide that the vehicles are terrible. Im sure a prius, or a hummer would be a death trap in SOME instances. I too have had coworkers poke fun at the car, but once i let them drive it at lunch, their eyes get big and the usual comes out...."wow, is this thing really getting 50 mpg??"
In another 10 years, when hybrids are more common, it wont be as it is now. Expecially if gas ramps back up to $4 a gallon. No one has said anything about the all electic tesla, and there is a prime reason. First , its 100K bucks, and second there are none on the road in any quantity.
I have a great pal that has worked on my Altima thoughout the past 4 years. Ex-nissan mech, opened his own business. Well he wont touch the prius. I have told him that he has the perfect opportunity to use my car as a learning curve. But he is scared of it same as what you have said in past threads. If he would realize that even changing the oil is simple, he could be making coin instead of passing on paying jobs.

[mlibanio]

When people ask me about the battery, I often say the prius takes 4 AAA batteries and I replace them weekly! HAHAHAHA!!!! Bob is right, you are going to get tons of ignorant people. People forget that a Prius will run for about 1/5 of its life with the engine off. That means that a car that has 100,000 miles, more than likely has about 80,000 miles as far as conventional vehicles go. Plus I also inform them that unlike cell phones and other such devices, the Prius has a battery management system that ensures reliability. Last point is that Toyota has been building them since 1997, and no significant failures yet. Plus its warranties for 8 years or 100,000 miles. If any other car can match that guarantee or confidence in their battery I have yet to see it.

People are going to believe whatever they want to believe. I let people drive my 2002 and they are stunned at its performance. They think its slow and lazy, but they are often shocked at the immense torque of the electric motor and our cars exceptional quietness. I ususally let that do all the explaining for me! HAHAHA!

[qbee42]

Part of this attitude comes from an almost inherent need to believe that others will pay for gaining an unfair advantage; kind of a karma issue. For example, if a woman gets breast implants, common belief suggests that she risks serious medical problems even though medical science tells us otherwise. Something deep inside of us tells us that she is cheating, and therefor should pay.

The same is true for the Prius. It's a great car with fabulous mileage, so somehow we should pay for this. Battery failure is the answer. People don't want facts, they want fairness, otherwise it underscores their bad choice in not buying a Prius.

Tom

[DaveinOlyWA]

i drive an EV daily so i get it on both ends. i stopped volunteering information a few years ago because i got tired of the "my honda gets 40 mpg" BS.

nothing i could tell them to convince them they were lucky to get 30 MPG.

the biggest reason are very few people have the integrity to admit they have made AND STILL ARE MAKING a poor decision.

its one thing to not buy something because you cannot afford it, but others have paid nearly as much or more for what they drive and justify it on the current gas prices (which btw are still nearly 40% higher than they were 5 years ago. only the cost of health care has risen faster over the same time period)

but i do run into people frequently who have a genuine interest in changing. most are open, already somewhat informed and looking to clear up the MASSIVE mis-information they have read from multiple sources

[TonyPSchaefer]

It used to be much worse. Back in '04/'05, a think tank was putting out all kinds of misinformation about the Prius and hybrids in general. Someone here pointed out that they were directly and indirectly funded by at one oil business and American auto manufacturers.

The funny thing is, now that other manufacturers are building their own hybrids, they have to try and offset the misinformation they themselves originally paid to initiate.

[windshearalert]

I absolutely agree with everyone on the forum! Isnt it odd, that even though we are across the globe, we are thinking the same ??

LOL - oh yes! The coworker with the 45 mpg 1993 honda civic... I love that one....and when i ask the simplest question.... How many gallons to fill up? and how far can you go? They cant remember.

I think most people assume they are getting well over what is posted on the EPA stickers. Especially at 80mph down the hiway.

Keep the posts coming....interesting read!

I suppose it human nature....

[TonyPSchaefer]

When someone throws unrealistic or otherwise unbelievable mileage claims at me, I print my mileage logs and then ask one very simple question: "where's yours?" Of course, I don't expect them to have five years of data, but all I need is proof. I email my spreadsheet to them, show them how to fill it out and then ask that they keep it for three or four tanks. Then we'll talk some more about their claims.