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another anti-Prius 'study'

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by hyo silver, Apr 24, 2012.

  1. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Now Yahoo is reporting that 75% of Prius buyers would not buy another. Having read the article, I don't see where the quoted figure comes from. And where are all these thousands of disgruntled Prius owners? Are all us happy owners living in our own little bubble of self-delusion? Or is this yet another misinformed, dishonest piece of journalistic crap?
     
  2. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    According to polk 41% of prius drivers traded in there prii for anouther hybrid in 2011. I assume many of these were prii.

    The prius did not really start selling well until 2005 - 7 years ago. I assume most prius drivers still have the prius in their family. The numbers traded in must be a low percentage, and these drivers might be less likely to buy another one, than those still driving their car. Owner loyalty on the prius is high for a mid size car. Most fusion or malibu or accord or camry drivers don't simply buy anouther of the same. These articles are full of misinformation.
     
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  3. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    No it's the same "study" being reported and posted here three (?) times. Time for some "thread" consolidation by the moderators.
     
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  4. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Let them write these articles. The numbers will speak for themselves: in a couple years the Prius family will outsell the Camry, and will be able to be called America's best selling car.
     
  5. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Sigh... it seems like yet again more media is picking up on the dubious study, except they seems to have spun it even worse than the other places.

    Even if we assumed the Polk "study" was correct, I don't get where they "75 percent of Toyota Prius owners wouldn't buy again". From the press release" at One and Done: Study says most hybrid drivers don't buy another
    It just doesn't make sense. The Prius brought up the supposed repurchase rate.

    Of course, this flies in the face of http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...hat-car-again/best-and-worst-models/index.htm (you'll need a subscription to see it) where the Prius got 85% and was in the top of the most satisfying fuel-efficient hatchbacks.

    This was based on:
    (from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...uld-you-buy-that-car-again/overview/index.htm)
     
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG] The Yahoo writer has a serious reading comprehension problem, or a serious math problem. Or both.

    "Bad news for manufacturers of hybrid cars: costumer loyalty is low, as only 35 percent of owners purchased another hybrid when buying a new car from 2008 to 2011. ...

    The numbers are even grimmer if repurchase behavior among Toyota Prius owners is taken into account. The Prius is by far the most popular hybrid, making up nearly %50 of all hybrid car sales in March. But when Prius numbers are taken out of the equation, hybrid loyalty drops to a paltry 25%"
     
  7. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    I really hope that's not where the 75% in the headline came from. There was a time people with math skills that poor wouldn't have passed the third grade.
     
  8. finman

    finman Senior Member

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    bad news for ice-only mfgs. is more like it. it seems fishy that these "stats" fly in the face of sales numbers. don't have viable hybrids/efficient COMBINED MPG? (not just highway numbers)?...then let's get these stories out so the public can be more convinced that a hybrid is not for them. hmmm...
     
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    If Prius is 70% of the hybrid market, my arithmetic says that 40% of car customers whose last purchase was a Prius bought another hybrid.
     
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I really can't see anywhere else it could have come from.
     
  11. ralleia

    ralleia Active Member

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    I think it's journalistic crap.

    For a valid comparison, the writer would have to find statistics for how many people go out and buy the SAME MODEL CAR when they get rid of their older one.

    I for one have never purchased the same type of car for my next car, and that isn't a reflection on how I felt about the previous vehicle. Our needs and our financial means change with where we are in our lives. A young single person living in an apartment is going to have a far different group of needs in a vehicle than a married couple with four kids!

    The landscape of what is available in the vehicle market changes dramatically over time, too. I never even started considering a hybrid until last year. I prefer to let other people do the early testing and adopt the technology when it's entering mainstream AND the prices are dropping. That time is now.

    I would hazard to say that the percentage of people who repeat-buy the same model car is pretty darn low. So 25% repeat-buyers of the Prius looks like a stellar statistic to me. It might even be the BEST in the industry!

    The sleazy journalist is going to try to re-cast 25% repeat buyers as a failure. I see it as victory!
     
  12. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I love how these studies fail to tell us how it compares with non-hybrids. Such information is absolutely critical to objectively analyze the data.
     
  13. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Although the info is clearly misrepresented, I think this speaks to the paltry performance of hybrids other than the Prius or Toyota's HSD. Cars like the Malibu Hybrid or the GM full size SUV hybrid. Most of the hybrids, besides Prius, don't offer much mpg improvement over their conventional models. Additionally, some of the previous Prius owners buying a new car have to be Gen I owners. I love the Gen I but, it has its downfalls.

    The bottom line is as you all said, the numbers are padded in the direction that causes the most interest in the article. Terrible reporting......
     
  14. Pretext

    Pretext New Member

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    I will never buy another Hybrid or another Toyota, never again, ever!
     
  15. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Troll
     
  16. stacy0202

    stacy0202 New Member

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    They said that nowadays, there are cars that get 40 mpg without hybrid technology.
     
  17. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    As I replied at My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - The Economist: Electric cars Difference Engine: Tailpipe tru.
     
  18. giora

    giora Senior Member

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    Hay stacy0202 don't let the facts destruct you!
     
  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Or even worse, let the facts *confuse* him/her.
     
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Who is 'they'?