Another Idiot Reporter

[IsrAmeriPrius]

The real truth about hybrid cars

Sure they are great for fuel economy, but will they really save you money?

Plus, hybrids are notoriously far off from the miles per gallon, or MPG rating, designated by the EPA. For example, the Toyota Prius was given an MPG rating of 60, but in real-world testing that number was more like 33 MPG, according to Edmunds.com. [/b]

Even Consumer Reports got 44 MPG in their testing. And this is how Edmund's actually reported their results:

Best Fuel Economy: 50.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 33 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 41.4 mpg

Edmunds.com[/b]

[morpheusx]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ May 24 2007, 10:22 PM) [snapback]449524[/snapback]</div>

The real truth about hybrid cars
Even Consumer Reports got 44 MPG in their testing.
[/b]

One would think that if you write an article on something where you are perceived to be an expert journalist that your research would be talking to actual owners, dealers, and taking your own test drives. Her article doesn't do anything but tape a few other articles together. Also again with the comparison to the econo car, (yaris). If the prius was the same size as the yaris we would be getting 100 MPG, it is a good mid size sedan comparable to others in the exact price range.

[jimmyrose]

Okay, if we're going to keep posting about reporters who haven't a clue regarding what they are reporting, we will need a separate folder just for these threads.

[spideyman]

Perhaps she should have spoken to someone who actually owns and drives a Prius. 33 mpg!!! Come on!! Intept reporting once again.

[NuShrike]

Must be a new green guy taking over for Peter Valdes-Dapena and recycling ancient and inaccurate information again. Never fails since CNN Money/Auto is very anti-hybrid.

This long-term article from Edmunds 2006 only confirms how that CNN writer looks for the worst. Even Mr. Valdes-Dapena had a better article here.

[jeremyandmelissa]

I agree that the CNN article is poorly written. Poor research and shoddy interviewing (if any). The Edmunds article isn't much better either.

"but we'd like to put 100,000 miles on the car so we can see how a really used hybrid holds up. We're almost halfway to our goal [approaching 50,000K], and while the Prius continues to perform admirably, its age and wear are starting to show." - Edmunds article

Uhh, let me see. A car with 50,000 miles actually looking/performing like it has 50,000 miles?!?!? The HELL you say!

Dear Edmunds, you of all companies should know that vehicle depreciation happens to ANY vehicle. To list mostly cosmetic issues with a vehicle is irresponsible because that is obviously a specific case of an owner that may not have taken the best care of their car.

On the other side of the coin, I could compare a vintage 1965 Mustang in tip-top shape with a Prius and claim, "All hail the '65 Mustang! It clearly has held up over 40 years and still performs wonderfully and there are no cosmetic blemishes!"

I'll never understand is how pundits against hybrid vehicles discuss how it will take X number of years for the hybrid upgrade to pay for itself. While I agree with this concept, they always forget to mention that their calculations are based on fuel prices STAYING CONSTANT!

What they should be saying is, "With gas prices at $3.28/gallon, the prius will take X number of years to pay off the upgrade. But we all know gas prices will go up. Given the history of gas prices climbing, we've projected that gas will be say . . . . $4.00/gallon in 1 year, therefore with this formula in mind, the prius will take "original X" - y months to adjust for rising fuel costs."

Still, people won't believe the pundit hype for long if we all simply rave about our hybrids! Your neighbor will say, "I heard on CNN, that hybrids are bad because of such and such. Is this true?"

I'll say, "No, I consistently get over 50mpg and my hybrid (which I bought used) just passed 30,000 miles."

Sometimes I feel like I'm a walking advertisement for Prius. I don't mind though, I love the product!

[jimmyrose]

Since I'm a Realtor, I'm constantly meeting new people. At some point, 90% of these people will notice my Prius (one of the reasons I put the "gas electric hybrid" decals on the car) and ask me how I like it. It is at this point that my Realtor hat comes off and my unofficial Prius spokesperson hat comes on.

Of course the common question is "what kind of gas mileage are you getting?". I start with a disclaimer that the type of driving I do for my business and our topography is likely to yield the lowest possible gas mileage; at this point the "I knew it was hype" smirk begins to appear. Then, just as the smirk approaches full blossom (timing, is, after all, everything), I tell them that I'm only getting ~45 mpg. The transition from smirk to disbelief is a beautiful thing to witness. Then I tell them that the mpg is but a small factor in my decision to own the vehicle - the low to zero emissions, the bluetooth and navigation for my business needs, the ability to haul more cargo that they would imagine, etc.

It's my little way of stickin' it to the man.

[Earthling]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ May 25 2007, 10:35 AM) [snapback]449763[/snapback]</div>

It's my little way of stickin' it to the man.
[/b]

I worked two years in Saudi Arabia for OPEC (ARAMCO).

The Prius is my way of sticking it to the Imam.

Harry

[boulder_bum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ May 24 2007, 08:22 PM) [snapback]449524[/snapback]</div>

The real truth about hybrid cars
Even Consumer Reports got 44 MPG in their testing.
[/b]

Ironically, Edmunds.com wrote that "Most Prius owners say their cars typically achieve real-world mpg ratings in the mid-40s".

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/review.html

I don't think I could get any lower than high 30 MPG if I tried! I've never got any lower than 43 MPG, and that was a full tank where I paid no attention to driving technique.

I wrote the reporter an email stating the reporting is incorrect, but I actually thought the article did a pretty good job of pushing hybrids, despite the mistake. She said you'd pretty much recover the extra cost you paid after a couple of years.

[1x1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ May 25 2007, 08:57 AM) [snapback]449775[/snapback]</div>

I worked two years in Saudi Arabia for OPEC (ARAMCO).

The Prius is my way of sticking it to the Imam.[/b]

I saw a Prius last night with a personalized plate: "NO OPEC"