idiots.

at least they admitted their error. but the bad press had already done its damage...

Two observations:

1. This is a good thing, because if anyone ever brings up "Consumer Reports said hybrid owners won't save money", you can immediately, strongly, and truthfully say "They publicly admitted that they made a mistake, and the Prius (and Honda Civic) is a money saver."

2. Consumer Reports apparently did not back down from using the Corolla as a comparison vehicle. The Prius falls somewhere in between Corolla and Camry in roominess and "performance"... it would be interesting to see the comparison done on to a hypothetical Toyota Camrolla or some-such, where the price is prorated based on various performance factors between the two vehicles.

- Bob R.

Well, at least they *admitted* to the error. More than I can say for most "informed" media sources.

I still don't like the comparison of Prius to Corolla. When looking for an economical city commuter car, I test drove the: Echo Hatchback, Echo Sedan, Corolla, Matrix SR, and finally the Prius.

I would say the Matrix SR and Prius compare favorably in terms of interior room and content. Of course, only the Prius has the SKS.

Yes, everyone makes mistakes. The fact they publically admitted theirs is a testament to their striving for honesty.

A lot more than our government can say nowadays.

as i predicted

So they admitted it and it got buried in a few newpapers.


But the magazine says something else. And that's what will be rememberd. That's what will be saved. And that's what will be quoted by other magazines and newspapers too lazy to do proper research.

Unless they plan on writing a "retraction" article and publishing it in the May issue....sowhatbigdeal?

As for the mercurynews....I think they aren't going to be happy until they instigate some hybrid-rage. Then they can report on it and say "Told you so."

You heard it from me first!

This is an old court room tactic. I said Hybrids are bad,ooopppss, it's out there, everybody heard it, print it. Can't take it back, I shouldn't have said thaaat, my bad. I take it back.

Current consumer tactic. Was thinking about subscribing to CR. Now no way.

So what precisely was the mistake. The Merc news article is rather vague.

Yes, what was the mistake, here's the numbers from CU:

Purchase price premium: 5700
Extra Sales tax: 400
Hybrid Credit: 3150
Fuel Savings: 2300 (5 year)
Extra Ins: 300
Extra maint: 300
Extra Depriciation: 3200
Extra financing: 800

Even worse, they say there is extra $3200 depriciation with the hybrid when in actuality the hybrid will RETAIN more of its value then a non hybrid. I have seen articles saying the resale value of hybrids was not 'proven' but 6 year old Insights are selling for $10000 which is far more then a non hybrid would be of comparable price.

Rather than repeating the details of the error here, please see post 92 under "Hybrids won't save drivers money, Consumer Reports"

So did you see the article in today's San Jose Mercury News? Quoting SUV drivers about how slow the Prius drivers go in the diamond lane - because they are getting an instant readout of their mileage and are trying to maximize it.

I have to think about my first trip in my Prius on a three lane freeway near Red Bluff CA - not a lot of traffice folks - with a SUV seeing how close he could drive to my rear bumper. I was in the slow lane doing 65 and he was the only other car in the area. Maybe he was just checking out my Prius, to see if it would fit in the bed of his stretch pickup.

I hadn't read about others experiencing this unusual behavior, so thought I would report it.

I own and SUV, but I don't own it to intimidate others, I own it to drive in snow, tow, or carry more than my Prius will fit.

My experience locally is that many of the SUVs are single occupant vehicles driving 80 MPH in the diamond lane. I get better mileage in the slower traffic, so even though I have received my 'stickers' I have decided not to put them on for now as I already feel like a target.

How long did it take you to get Seaside Pearl wtih gray interior?

Yup. The worst part is that if the April auto issue has already hit shelves (I received mine in the mail last week), they'll be sitting there doing the damage the whole time. People may not know or think to look in the next issue for a retraction.

(Heck, I remember seeing an insurance company being quoted as being really cheap in CR long ago and I called the company. Apparently they either didn't sell insurance to consumers or something like that. I think they told me a correction went an issue or two later but they still get calls [from people like me].)

Jeebus those numbers should be more like:

Purchase price premium: 3000 (comapred with the avg of upgraded corolla and baseline camry)
Extra Sales tax: 200 halved due to above
Hybrid Credit: 3150
Fuel Savings: 3015 (5 year) (again, averaged 4cyl camry and corolla numbers)
Extra Ins: 150(again, averaged cost of ins... I know as I almost bought a camry)
Extra maint: 0 (personally I think the prius would average better maint numbers ... meaning negative "cost" .... than the corolla, but lets be on the safe side here)
Extra Depriciation: -1000 (seriously the prius gets better numbers than the corolla or camry here)
Extra financing: 400 halved to reflect halved price premium above


so you have 3000 +200 -3150 -3015 +150 -1000 + 400 =

... drumroll....

$2000 back over 5 years vs. if you bought a corolla (souped up) or camry (base model)... assuming the depreciation numbers are accurate.

Oh, and don't forget.. no smog checks ever, and HOV access in CA... yeah, I think the hybrid "premium" is looking more like spin every day.

Yes everyone makes mistakes. But that one was so glaring it was ludicrous. Akin to telling everyone US tax returns are due in May. Doesn't anyone review the articles and data?

I was wondering the same thing....very, very unprofessional. Back in my day...heh heh....half of the division staff would have been on the street for that one.