Why 2011 Prius.. when you can get PHV?

Because you don't want to/can't spend the extra $5k? You don't have off road parking? You drive over 100 miles a day? You want to make your own PHEV? Your company car is due for renewal right now? Your profession requires you to carry a spare tyre? Because any of the political motivations you have for buying a Prius won't wait until 2012?

Plenty of reasons! Just hurry up and buy one already.

 

What would you suggest someone purchase if they needed a car right now (while of course waiting for June 2012)???

 

Perfect rationale! I firmly believe that the new PHV technology will be obsolete within 5 years of introduction which is all the more reason to wait. Go ahead and get your Prius Gen III now!

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

What does "obsolete" actually mean?

Traditional vehicles have been under-par on emissions & efficiency for a decade now, yet they are abundantly available still.

And 5 years represents 100,000 miles of driving for some of us, a good reason to get the first model PHV.
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$$$$'s is the main reason and I don't think it's that much of a game changer unless they can extend the EV only range...

I'd wait if I didn't need a car badly, but I couldn't even wait a couple months for a 2011, much less a 2012 car. (My old car was dying.)

 

The current version of the Prius gets great gas mileage (~50 mpg if you drive it conservatively). A plug-in version may end up costing more per mile to drive on plug-in vs. gasoline. I know that the government bases cost per mile on 11 cents per KWH. However looking at my current electric bill (Pacific Gas & Electric) I see that for most of the electricity that I'm using, the cost is 29 - 40 cents per KWH. Like other people in this region, If I had a plug-in Prius and powered it from P, G & E, the electricity that I'd use for charging the car would cost me 40 cents per KWH (Kilowatt Hour). Therefore unless the price of gas goes up by a factor of 2 to 3, I'd still be better off powering the Prius by gasoline.

Keith

 

My electric rates are closer to the 11-cent average. I have access to exterior plugs at home and at work. My drive to work is under 10-miles.
PHEV is a no-brainer for me...right?

Wrong!
They'll probably price the PHEV out of my depth band, so when I replace my Sierra, it will probably be with a base model Prius---in a few years. That's where the math is for me...for now.
AT&T will probably make me drive my current 2010-II model until it has lunar mileage, so I'm probably out of luck there too.

The GOOD news is that the price of the plain-old (classic?) hybrid will probably fall off somewhat when the 2012's come on line...

 

Did it ever occur to you that not everyone WANTS a PHEV?

 

'Cause the one is tested, real, and ready, and the other doesn't exist? Or if I wait long enough, can I maybe get a flying car?? I would so ditch the Prius for a flying car.

:cheer2: <--Me, inspecting my new flying car

 

Since 600 PHV are currently being tested by consumers, the matter of existence is somewhat moot.

Back to just when & price.
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Yeah, the magic numbers when discussing $ and MPG are 5, 10, 15, 20, 33, 40, 50, 80 and 100. It's hard to justify spending money on efficiency unless it's a small amount of money, and you're moving from well below one magic number to well above another.

Think I should post my rant about the magic numbers?

 

Some reasons I wouldn't purchase the plug-in version (most already dealt with, but...):

1. More expensive. Up front, and maybe not recouped in gas savings, depending on your mileage, etc.

2. Heavier vehicle. It's great for the first 12 miles or so, but then you're hauling a fair bit of extra batteries.

3. New. Just rather wait: price will come down, the technology will become more mainstream, bugs will be worked out, battery power/size ratio will improve.

4. No spare tire...

5. Not available yet.

 

No outlets at my apartment or my work....

 

The Gen III is a great car. If you find a 2010 you can get an even better deal and they are the same as the 2011. You can drive a new car and let others shake out the bugs in the new technology.

But it took me ten years to convince me to buy a Prius. Will have to wear out this 2010 before I think about another.

TED

 

To save money getting the regular Prius, currently drive ~ 6k miles/year, reg. Prius is fits that more, prefer the flush load floor and under floor tray of reg. Prius.

will most likely keep the 09 and buy neither.

 

It wouldn't be a down year because many will wait for plug-in - it would be down year because the economy is still in the toilet. Many state governments are in huge financial trouble and early next year, aid from the fed is set to expire. Ohio is said to be hugely in debt. CA has 20+ billion deficit.

Regular Prius is a great balalnce of roominess, price and economy.