1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

If Prius got only 30 MPG, would you buy?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by drumslinger, Sep 1, 2010.

  1. Ricklin11

    Ricklin11 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2010
    65
    10
    0
    Location:
    N. Oregon Coast
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Strikes me as a darned silly question! The Prius is what it is. Hatchback is handy tho, so ya if the price was right. I think the Gen III with the 17s is a good looking, almost sporty car.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
  3. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    What environmental advantages other than the high MPG and hybrid system?

    My new Lexus gets 30MPG on the highway too vs the 26 on the old one.

    Its incredible what great highway mileage Corvettes get!
     
  4. Michaelvickdog123

    Michaelvickdog123 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    332
    21
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    Ah, but therein lies the hidden danger of ANY car with a bigger engine, and capable of much greater performance...that you will take advantage, and if you do, 30MPGs is not likely over any significant stretch of asphalt.

    EPA (which is about the only way to normaize things) for a 2005 Corvette is 24 on the HW. 19 combined. A 2010 has a highway EPA of 26, and 16 city.

    Lexus ES350 is 27 HW and 22 combined.

    In addition, most cars with higher compression ratios, like these, require (or recommend) using premium gas, which is, on average, about $0.30/gallon more than regular.
     
  5. franko

    franko Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2009
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I think that a car that gets 30 mpg is doing pretty well on conserving fuel--but not many cars will AVERAGE 30 mpg. Sure a corvette can hit 30, but tell me what your overall average is for the time you have owned it. And can you load it with 5 people comfortably? And can you carry 8 foot boards of lumber, hardware, 30 gallons of paint and still get 4 people in the car. And with all that, can you still get around 45 mpg around town? To paraphrase Sen. Bensen: "I've had Corollas. They were good friends of mine. But the Prius is NO Corolla!"
     
  6. risingsun

    risingsun seeker of the way

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    186
    30
    6
    Location:
    Prescott, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Darell, I was thinking along the lines of car models with decades of history, like the Mustang or the Corvette, or even the new Camaro when stating 'iconic'. It's a long way from a similar price point, but a Ferrari (any model) will forever be more iconic than any Prius, just based on it being a status symbol. Maybe it wasn't the best choice of words, and I see your point, but a 30mpg Prius wouldn't be iconic. It would just be another hatchback in a long line of hatchbacks. I am still not overly enamored with the styling of the Prius - although the GIII is a big step in the right direction in my eyes - but you are right in that it does have a special look.
     
  7. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It's a choice the driver can make.

    I would call the 3,000+ mile trip through some Western National Parks I averaged 30.0 mph actual on summer before last a significant stretch of asphalt. BTW, it was 29.7 by the computer, computer MPG doesn't have to be a fairy tale.

    Next week for my track day at Thunderhill next week, 10-12 mpg will be more like it for my tack time but that's a conscious choice. Maybe someone will have Prius there and we can compare.
     
  8. Michaelvickdog123

    Michaelvickdog123 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    332
    21
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    As per your post, I did an experiment. This morning (when the temp's were only in the high 70's on my way into work), I drove my entire commute without AC...and my average for the week remained in the low 60's (60.3 to be exact). So when I drove home, and the outside temperature was reading 94, I ran the AC the entire way home. Cabin temp set at 74 degrees. When I pulled into the garage about 45 minutes latter, my average remained (again) in the low 60's (60.5 to be exact - a slight bump up). I realize that running the AC should hurt MPGs, but I think the degree to which it is lowered, is not as much as you seem to believe/indicate.
     
  9. Lottamoxie

    Lottamoxie Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2008
    403
    28
    0
    Location:
    Southeast US
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Prius wouldn't be on my list if it didn't get the kind of mpg it does. I love hatchbacks so I'd probably purchase a Honda Fit instead for my next car.

    I do love my Saab 900 SE Turbo hatchback. Amazing cargo capacity. I feel so safe in the car and it rides like a dream. But it only gets 17mpg in the city, 25 hwy, and when something goes wrong it's uber-expensive to fix, soooo....Prius has been in my sights and will remain the car I get unless something radical happens in the meantime.
     
  10. Michaelvickdog123

    Michaelvickdog123 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    332
    21
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Oh, I agree. Im simply talking about temptations. I own a 12-cylinder Jag. My fun car, if you will. If I have wide open space in front of me, I'm not doing the posted...and i'm NOt getting anywhere near what I could be getting if I backed off...but then again, if i backed off, what would be the point of owning a jag? Really? After all, I didn't buy it so that I could drive like I was in a Prius. :rolleyes::eek:


    I don't know...but where i live, you can't go very fast in these national Parks...so I'm not sure that's a viable test. Tell me what your HW mileage is running 100-200 miles @75-85mph on some major highway?
     
  11. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2006
    6,057
    388
    0
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    My Rav4 gets ZERO mpg.

    But I'll tell you what - the ONLY reason I own that Rav is for the terrible gas mileage. The Prius is a way more practical car in all other aspects. The only real downside is that it burns gasoline.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    us too!:rockon::cheer2:
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    514
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I likely would have looked at other cars (Altima Hybrid) had the Prius only gotten 30 or even 40 mpg. I am a definite MPG nut, and have been since I was a little kid.

    My only fear is that 5 years from now, lots of cars will have better MPG's than my Prius (we should be so lucky), and then how could I be all smug and everything?

    Heh!
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    now, with all of this having been said. the prius is a great little car. even at 30 mpg, the roominess, hatchback, sks, what else? it's a great little car. i just think at 30mpg which would also mean higher emissions, i might never have even looked at it. but you can't get a set of drums in many 30 mpg vehicles!:rockon:
     
  15. davesrose

    davesrose Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2010
    767
    164
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    You know, this was the main complaint that had me wondering about getting the whole solar package (which includes the NAV). Reviews I've seen of it have rated it just aweful. I don't know if maybe it's the software version I have or the region I'm in....but so far, I'm finding it the best GPS I've had. It could use a better display about what turn you should make, but so far I'm finding it really accurate. Tonight I went out to a suburb of Atlanta, which made me go on the highways. I was surprised that this mapping software took me on the highway the way I normally do (where most mapping or GPS systems have me going alternate ways). It also found my home address...where most GPS systems won't (I normally have to instruct delivery folks where my house is).

    So far the only thing I'm finding counter-intuitive is the mpg. Here in Atlanta, I'm finding I can get 50mpg on the highway....but so far on my normal city commute, it's 48mpg.
     
  16. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2006
    6,057
    388
    0
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Ah. Understood. And for some reason I do think that the American makers tend to use that term more than others - for the exact models you bring up.

    For me, the most iconic vehicle (not just for looks as I guess it means for the other cars) but just for what it stands for - is the Prius today. And... love it or hate it, the shape is definitely unique and... iconic.
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not just no, but **** no.

    My Prius replaced a manual transmission Accord Hatchback that easily produced 35 MPG in summer before I learned any hypermiling. I refused to replace it with anything delivering lower MPG. If not for its 1980's era safety standards, I wouldn't have replaced it at all.
     
  18. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2007
    4,319
    1,527
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    I'm suffering from that very problem. The 2010 Prius is really making my 2001 Prius look wimpy at 49 mpg.
     
  19. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2007
    4,319
    1,527
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Don't overlook some indirect aspects of the Prius-
    1. Great reliability
    2. Brakes last like 3-4 times longer than a normal car
    3. The MPG displays change your driving habits for the better.
    4. Quiet
    5. Long Intervals between fill ups (which can be done with 30mpg and a very big gas tank).


    The real hard part of your question is that if the Prius only got 30mpg, then there probably would not be any other hybrids out there as alternatives. So I have no idea what I would have gotten as the best car for avoiding gas stations.
     
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Depends. I already had the smart that gave me 40mpg over its short 10,000km lifetime that included a cross-country trip. If the Prius couldn't beat that, I'd be looking at a HCH-II or a Matrix (either 1.8 or 2.4). I would also seriously consider the Impreza hatchback (though the penalty is Camry-like fuel economy).