2009 Prius BIGGER and FASTER (Yeah better mileage too)

[a priori]

Originally Posted by bob2780

Hi Everyone
Thanks to everyone who commented and expanded on it and picked up the ball I dropped on the thread . . .

Thanks again all I hope I Did not offend anyone

Offend? No -- thanks for bringing this up. I learned a good deal more and have enjoyed the thread.

[Tideland Prius]

While I do agree Toyota has the opportunity with the launch of the new model to push the envelope, I also feel that I want a product that's solid and reliable rather than have something rushed (look what happened to the Camry's 6-spd transmission).

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by a priori

My guess is that they need to hit the larger sedan market with Prius-like numbers.

They had the opportunity but instead put out the Hybrid Camry which is almost the same size and gets 25% WORSE MPG (or if you switch it, the Prius gets 33% BETTER MPG) because they put in a 'too big' engine, bowing to the "MORE POWER" crowd.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by DeadPhish

The slightly larger vehicle is just the trend across the world. It's just a fact of life.

Bull. Go to Europe and look at the cars. A Prius is pretty darned BIG compared to most of the cars you'll see. The "I need MORE power, I need BIG" is much more a U.S. mentality. Maybe it would be that was in Europe too, if they hadn't been paying twice as much for fuel as we pay for YEARS. Sure there are a relatively few larger cars because there are people with money to burn all over the world, but the majority have learned they can easily live with less.

[PriusSport]

Well, if they can get better mileage out of a bigger Prius, they can get even better mileage without changing the Prius' size.

The trouble with car companies is a successful new model often gets worse when the marketing people get a hold of it.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I'd like a 1.8 litre engine if it allows a towing capacity of 400 kilograms (880lbs) otherwise a little more elbow room please.

Seems unlikely since the Hybrid Camry has 187 total HP and also has the "not recommended" towing 'restriction'

[robbyr2]

Originally Posted by MountainStone

So the new Prius will be larger AND faster AND get better fuel mileage?

I can see why so many of you are angry.

I don't think I'm the only one that thinks it doesn't need to be any larger or faster, and the "better" fuel mileage just matches what I'm getting (and I'm told it will improve after 5K miles or so). I'm not angry about missing out on something as is implied.

I do think we all need to consider product cycles- the 2010 Prius was conceived no later than 2 years ago when gas was $2.50 a gallon. Toyota was simply wrong in thinking that size and power were something they needed to worry more about than $4, $5 or $8 a gallon gasoline.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by efusco

While there will be tiny (relative to the entire car buying population) factions of us who would prefer a smaller car, with no change in acceleration and a dramatic improvement in FE WE are not representative of the larger car buying population.

What happens when $4 gas is "the good old days" and Toyota could have said "We have a Prius the size of the 2004-2009 MY that gets 70 MPG" instead of "We have this slightly larger one with a lot more HP that gets 50 MPG".

Maybe the 'entire car buying population' doesn't have enough information to make a "I need larger, more power" decision. No one has said what the MPG of the next Prius iteration (presuming not PHEV) would be if Toyota DIDN'T shove the HP to 160. For a lot of "this year's" U.S. Prius buyers, the cost/performance/size calculation didn't sway them until gas headed north of $3 in a hurry. One could actually find one on the lot to test drive a year ago. Not now. 'Bigger/faster' isn't so high on the list anymore.

[Dave_PH]

Originally Posted by robbyr2

I don't think I'm the only one that thinks it doesn't need to be any larger or faster, and the "better" fuel mileage just matches what I'm getting (and I'm told it will improve after 5K miles or so). I'm not angry about missing out on something as is implied.

I do think we all need to consider product cycles- the 2010 Prius was conceived no later than 2 years ago when gas was $2.50 a gallon. Toyota was simply wrong in thinking that size and power were something they needed to worry more about than $4, $5 or $8 a gallon gasoline.

A little more power would be nice. Better handling is essential as is improvement in options choices and better build quality. I'm not an aescetic, there's no reason I have to suffer for fuel economy. They should throw in a sun roof(not open all the time) and better seats. The majority of American buyers would prefer that to blue teeth.

[bac]

Originally Posted by Dave_PH

They should throw in a sun roof(not open all the time) and better seats. The majority of American buyers would prefer that to blue teeth.

Who has a sunroof that is open all the time?

... Brad