<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mkaresh @ Aug 26 2007, 01:52 PM) [snapback]502429[/snapback]</div>

Not too surprised about the reliability ratings, other than the swing from most reliable cars to least reliable is larger than I expected. Another interesting statistic would be average $/visit. Might make a difference if say, a reliable Acura costs a lot more per visit than a relatively unreliable Dodge Charger.

Another side statistic: CNW's assertion that the Prius would only be driven an average 109,000 miles in its lifetime because it was going to be used basically as an NEV by retired folks doesn't seem to hold water.
Mileage examples (apparently vehicle average) from the survey:
2005 Ford 500: 23,163 miles
2005 Honda Odyssey: 25,741 miles
2005 Toyota Prius: 32,289 miles

If the average 2005 Prius at the time of the survey was 2.5 years old, then this is a reasonable 1,080 miles/month, or 155,000 miles in 12 years.

The odometer readings are a bit tricky. They're for the end of each quarter, so I can have up to four for a single respondent. Cars where many owners were already participating a year ago will have lower averages as a result. So take a look at the months/vehicle stat together with the odometer reading.

That said, the Prius average is still high, suggesting that at least some people buy them for long commutes. I've definitely had some panel members buy them for this reason. They're using more gas because they drive more, so for them they calculate that a hybrid makes the most sense.

I ask about repair costs, but especially for cars under warranty the data are iffy. Also, tracking average cost would require larger sample sizes than I have now, because repair costs vary much more than the number of repair trips. People typically have 0, 1 or maybe 2 repair trips a year, while repair costs can range from very little to $5,000+.