Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review)

**Tideland Prius** · 11-07-2009, 07:38 PM

YouTube - Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review)

Nice Jeremy Clarkson-esque presentation (rip the car apart then someone say it's the best thing in the world) but he's really got the get the facts straight (nickel mining, fuel costs etc).

patsparks · 11-07-2009, 10:23 PM

Dodgy maths in the costings.
A loss is the loss. Over the time of ownership, I'm guessing 2 years in his example the total difference in the cost of the 2 cars is $13,000. That is not correct either as he used the price of the current Prius, ($39,990) instead of the purchase price of the 2007 which was $37,400 bringing the difference in cost of ownership to $11,400, not even close to $25,000. This takes into account the $1000 per year saving on petrol.

The nickel still exists at the end of the life of a Prius so overall there is no cost to the environment as that nickel can be used to replace nickel that would be mined.
If it takes 25,000km to recover the environmental cost of producing a Prius over a similar size conventional car then I am well in front with 130,000km on my 2004. I have saved the environment over 4 times the additional production impact. In the mean time a Focus is treading water.

Here is my maths.
I bought my car in 2007 with 61,000km on the clock for $24,900 all inclusive
I have driven about 70,000km. Driving a Focus across the city at the rated 11.4L/100km http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/...f-1e51dc763620 that would amount to 7980 litres of petrol, but in a Prius at my actual 4.3L/100km I would have used 3010 litres over the 2 and a bit years. My Prius has saved me 4970 litres of fuel. At a cost per litre I conservatively estimate at $1.21 that is a fuel saving so far of $6013.

I could sell my Prius now for about $18,000 so I have lost $7,000 on the capital value of the car, take off the fuel saving over the Focus and my total cost of ownership excluding tyres and statutory charges (I'd have to pay these no matter what I drove) is under $1000 for the 2+ years.
Tell me again, how much depreciation did the Focus have?

PS, when I went car shopping it was for a new car in the $20,000 to $25,000 range, then I saw the Prius was in my price range as a used car. I could have bought a new Corolla, a new Focus or a new VW, but instead I bought a used Prius that was like new and I have never looked back.

bwilson4web · 11-07-2009, 11:22 PM

Perhaps it is more effective to go to uTube and post your comments and evaluation there.

Bob Wilson

patsparks · 11-08-2009, 12:07 AM

I will, but I doubt it will fit in the space provided

dogfriend · 11-08-2009, 12:09 AM

I believe the argument that it takes 20km (or whatever) was investigated and debunked by Toyota. The vast majority of the environmental resources are expended during the operating life of the car.

Also, I'd rather drive a Prius than a Focus. I looked at a Focus before buying the Prius. I wasn't impressed, and my GF wasn't either.

patsparks · 11-08-2009, 12:23 AM

I did, what a chore, you can't post links on youtube.

dogfriend · 11-08-2009, 12:32 AM

I can't stand to read the comments on most YouTube videos. It is literally scraping the scum from the fountain of knowledge.

Silver bullit · 11-08-2009, 12:53 AM

Thanks for this video. I don't understand this guys math. He says a new Prius costs $40,000. I guess I got a screaming deal when I got a new one for $22,700, that's less than the $25,000 he says the new Focus costs. I think that would change the equation a bit

He says the reverse beeper is a negative- we all know that is easily hacked. I wonder who funded this video. Perhaps GM?

dogfriend · 11-08-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver bullit

Thanks for this video. I don't understand this guys math. He says a new Prius costs $40,000. I guess I got a screaming deal when I got a new one for $22,700. I think that would change the equation a bit

The guy in the video is using AU $.

Silver bullit · 11-08-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogfriend

The guy in the video is using AU $.

Oh- never mind

11-07-2009, 10:23 PM	#2
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,172 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 116 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) Dodgy maths in the costings. A loss is the loss. Over the time of ownership, I'm guessing 2 years in his example the total difference in the cost of the 2 cars is $13,000. That is not correct either as he used the price of the current Prius, ($39,990) instead of the purchase price of the 2007 which was $37,400 bringing the difference in cost of ownership to $11,400, not even close to $25,000. This takes into account the $1000 per year saving on petrol. The nickel still exists at the end of the life of a Prius so overall there is no cost to the environment as that nickel can be used to replace nickel that would be mined. If it takes 25,000km to recover the environmental cost of producing a Prius over a similar size conventional car then I am well in front with 130,000km on my 2004. I have saved the environment over 4 times the additional production impact. In the mean time a Focus is treading water. Here is my maths. I bought my car in 2007 with 61,000km on the clock for $24,900 all inclusive I have driven about 70,000km. Driving a Focus across the city at the rated 11.4L/100km http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/...f-1e51dc763620 that would amount to 7980 litres of petrol, but in a Prius at my actual 4.3L/100km I would have used 3010 litres over the 2 and a bit years. My Prius has saved me 4970 litres of fuel. At a cost per litre I conservatively estimate at $1.21 that is a fuel saving so far of $6013. I could sell my Prius now for about $18,000 so I have lost $7,000 on the capital value of the car, take off the fuel saving over the Focus and my total cost of ownership excluding tyres and statutory charges (I'd have to pay these no matter what I drove) is under $1000 for the 2+ years. Tell me again, how much depreciation did the Focus have? PS, when I went car shopping it was for a new car in the $20,000 to $25,000 range, then I saw the Prius was in my price range as a used car. I could have bought a new Corolla, a new Focus or a new VW, but instead I bought a used Prius that was like new and I have never looked back. __________________ All the warranty I need. Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it! Last edited by patsparks; 11-07-2009 at 10:28 PM.

11-07-2009, 11:22 PM	#3
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 3,842 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 145 Thanked 365 Times in 201 Posts Friends: 19	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) Perhaps it is more effective to go to uTube and post your comments and evaluation there. Bob Wilson

11-08-2009, 12:07 AM	#4
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,172 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 116 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) I will, but I doubt it will fit in the space provided

11-08-2009, 12:09 AM	#5
dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 4,949 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 276 Thanked 173 Times in 145 Posts Friends: 11	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) I believe the argument that it takes 20km (or whatever) was investigated and debunked by Toyota. The vast majority of the environmental resources are expended during the operating life of the car. Also, I'd rather drive a Prius than a Focus. I looked at a Focus before buying the Prius. I wasn't impressed, and my GF wasn't either.

11-08-2009, 12:23 AM	#6
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,172 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 116 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) I did, what a chore, you can't post links on youtube.

11-08-2009, 12:32 AM	#7
dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 4,949 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 276 Thanked 173 Times in 145 Posts Friends: 11	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) I can't stand to read the comments on most YouTube videos. It is literally scraping the scum from the fountain of knowledge.

11-08-2009, 12:53 AM	#8
Silver bullit Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 80 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 36 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Synergy - The Truth About Hybrids (And Toyota Prius Review) Thanks for this video. I don't understand this guys math. He says a new Prius costs $40,000. I guess I got a screaming deal when I got a new one for $22,700, that's less than the $25,000 he says the new Focus costs. I think that would change the equation a bit He says the reverse beeper is a negative- we all know that is easily hacked. I wonder who funded this video. Perhaps GM? Last edited by Silver bullit; 11-08-2009 at 01:03 AM.

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