Prius v. Hummer - and Prius knocks down the Humvee!

[mostbucketgirl]

Hey all - attached are some great recent articles on the above. It talks sales figures, the cultural divide, and perhaps a shift in American thinking? We can only hope!

http://slate.msn.com/id/2096191

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSecti...rticleId=388748

There was also an article in last week's Businessweek about the rise of hybrid cars. It's called, "Gentlemen, Start Your Hybrids." But I can't get into the website! I just get the print version. Oh well, if you get it you know what I'm talking about.

[mboileau]

Ironically, I just got through driving a Hummer around for four days. It was part of an elaborate 40th birthday gift for my partner. You can't imagine how ridiculous it looked having the Prius and the Hummer parked side by side in the driveway all weekend.

At least, now, objectively, I can comment on the 'ownership' of a Hummer and have personal experience to back it up. As far as off-road utility goes, sure the Hummer is great. The beast has eight pre-programmed off-road 4x4 modes of operation, hydraulic height adjustment, independent suspension and tires that look like they should be on top of a pole for a donut shop. Interior amenities are decent, but the vehicle is pure GM with the same GM-ish displays and knobs you find on a low end vehicle. No NAV system, which blows me away. They offer On-Star, but I don't want a live person to direct me, I want a monitor. That's just me. Headroom is very limited and I couldn't help feeling a bit claustrophobic despite the fact that the thing's so wide you can play football in it. There's a flip-up seat in the third row, but the thing still maxes out at 6 passengers which seems limiting for a beast that size. Interior noise is very low, which I expeccted after seeing about four sets of gaskets around each door. Outside, it sounds like a tank. Easy to drive, but no maneuverability whatsoever. Consider any U-turn to be a 10 point turn no matter what. Oh, and let's not forget that the Prius actually BEATS the Hummer in the 0 to 60 rating.

Oh yeah, it's a 32 gallon tank and the trip computer said I was averaging 10.9 mpg for the weekend. It took almost $60 to fill the tank. Would I ever own one, want one, or envy having one? Absolutely not. Not because of the exorbitant price they charge for those things, but because it simply doesn't make sense. Is this my opinion? Of course, derived from personal objective experience.

[randalla]

H2=excess use of limited natural resources :guns:

[mostbucketgirl]

Ironically, I just got through driving a Hummer around for four days. It was part of an elaborate 40th birthday gift for my partner. You can't imagine how ridiculous it looked having the Prius and the Hummer parked side by side in the driveway all weekend.

At least, now, objectively, I can comment on the 'ownership' of a Hummer and have personal experience to back it up. As far as off-road utility goes, sure the Hummer is great. The beast has eight pre-programmed off-road 4x4 modes of operation, hydraulic height adjustment, independent suspension and tires that look like they should be on top of a pole for a donut shop. Interior amenities are decent, but the vehicle is pure GM with the same GM-ish displays and knobs you find on a low end vehicle. No NAV system, which blows me away. They offer On-Star, but I don't want a live person to direct me, I want a monitor. That's just me. Headroom is very limited and I couldn't help feeling a bit claustrophobic despite the fact that the thing's so wide you can play football in it. There's a flip-up seat in the third row, but the thing still maxes out at 6 passengers which seems limiting for a beast that size. Interior noise is very low, which I expeccted after seeing about four sets of gaskets around each door. Outside, it sounds like a tank. Easy to drive, but no maneuverability whatsoever. Consider any U-turn to be a 10 point turn no matter what. Oh, and let's not forget that the Prius actually BEATS the Hummer in the 0 to 60 rating.

Oh yeah, it's a 32 gallon tank and the trip computer said I was averaging 10.9 mpg for the weekend. It took almost $60 to fill the tank. Would I ever own one, want one, or envy having one? Absolutely not. Not because of the exorbitant price they charge for those things, but because it simply doesn't make sense. Is this my opinion? Of course, derived from personal objective experience.

So I take it you guys didn't buy one then? That is so hilarious though - you know what they say about guys and the size of their cars. Oh, no need to confirm if that's true or not! :computer: Anyway, I figured as much. I STILL don't know why some people have that car in these little itty-bitty streets: WTF??!! How do you parallel park those things?

[mboileau]

Before any emoticons end up firing my way, let's all remember that I own the Prius, water my lawn briefly at night, sort the recyclables and believe a good cross-breeze with open windows is better than A/C, OK? I'm a very clinical, objective person who firmly believes in one important cardinal rule:

You have to objectively subject yourself to the object to which you object.

I never hate anything sight unseen. I never pass judgement without hearing both sides. Besides, life is a balance. I make no excuses for the Hummer's existence, but considering the other 353 days of the year I'm doing my part to make up for those who aren't, I don't feel guilty about a 3-day gluttonous indulgence to round out my point of view.

As for parallel parking, it was hysterical. There were 6 of us (mind you, I at least made sure the vehicle had a maximum passenger load at all times!) and it took 3 valets to try to parallel park it in front of the downtown restaurant.

In all fairness, I'd love to have that driver's seat in the Prius. That seat was a lazy boy recliner on rails, including independent seat bottom and back heaters with power lumbar. And for those of you who tinker or are into power tools, it has a built-in air compressor...

[randalla]

Before any emoticons end up firing my way, let's all remember that I own the Prius, water my lawn briefly at night, sort the recyclables and believe a good cross-breeze with open windows is better than A/C, OK? I'm a very clinical, objective person who firmly believes in one important cardinal rule:

You have to objectively subject yourself to the object to which you object.

I never hate anything sight unseen. I never pass judgement without hearing both sides. Besides, life is a balance. I make no excuses for the Hummer's existence, but considering the other 353 days of the year I'm doing my part to make up for those who aren't, I don't feel guilty about a 3-day gluttonous indulgence to round out my point of view.

As for parallel parking, it was hysterical. There were 6 of us (mind you, I at least made sure the vehicle had a maximum passenger load at all times!) and it took 3 valets to try to parallel park it in front of the downtown restaurant.

In all fairness, I'd love to have that driver's seat in the Prius. That seat was a lazy boy recliner on rails, including independent seat bottom and back heaters with power lumbar. And for those of you who tinker or are into power tools, it has a built-in air compressor...

No emoticon shots were aimed at you or your 3 day H2 experience personally, mboileau, just at the H2 and what it symbolizes and the message it conveys to the rest of the world.

[Wolfman]

I'm not pointing any fingers at anyone for owning one. However, the H2 is the ultimate poseur SUV.

It's little more than a tarted up Chevy Tahoe made to be "affordable" to the buying public. If I was to buy one, it would be the H1. THAT is the ultimate off road vehicle. However, at $100k plus per copy, you won't see me running up to my friendly neighbourhood Chevy/GMC/Pontaic/Oldsmobile(RIP)/Cadillac/Isuzu/Saab/Suzuki/Daewoo/Buick/Saturn/Hummer dealer to buy one.

[DaveinOlyWA]

However, at $100k plus per copy, you won't see me running up to my friendly neighbourhood Chevy/GMC/Pontaic/Oldsmobile(RIP)/Cadillac/Isuzu/Saab/Suzuki/Daewoo/Buick/Saturn/Hummer dealer to buy one.

lol... the neighborhood dealer with the two county long name...

[bigbaldcuban]

For you math whizzes out there what would be the gas savings of going from H2 (11-13mpg) to Prius @ 50?

[rflagg]

For you math whizzes out there what would be the gas savings of going from H2 (11-13mpg) to Prius @ 50?

Well, just a simple ratio of 12mpg-H2 : 50mpg-Prius would give just over 4:1.

If you live in Cali ($2/gallon) and drive 20,000 miles a year, the prius would run you $800. The H2 would run just over $3300.

-m.