good riddence

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Feb 17 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]392184[/snapback]</div>

i am nowhere near thinking about trading in my Prius since I recently bought one. I am replying to say that I have not heard that you can go 200,000 miles+ w/o brake, alternator, or timing belt work. When you say it costs you $20 a month it makes me wonder how much you drive??? Is your post a joke?

 

Even the most popular car in the world has a 'would buy again' rate less than 100%. Even that car is going to be completely wrong for someone, and they probably won't like it. That's life.

The Prius has one of the highest satisfaction and 'would purchase again' percentages of any car out there, but at least several out of every hundred owners are not going to be happy, for whatever reason.

I just hope the Prii they turn in find happy homes because every Prius deserves to be loved Just like everyone deserves to have a car that they like.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Feb 17 2007, 09:50 PM) [snapback]392184[/snapback]</div>

I thought "this should be good enough for everyone" ended with the fall of the communism. Apparently not.

 

I can understand etyler88's point though. This is PriusChat, not IHateMyPriusChat. If someone doesn't like their Prius, that's too bad, and like Evan said, no one car is right for everybody.

But if you hate your Prius, or even if it doesn't give you two temperature zones and that's enough to make you trade, just do it. Go quietly. Stop yammering. Delete your membership. Most of us here LOVE our Prius. And that's OFFICIAL!

 

I think Evan's got a point about having a thick skin. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent". This is a questionable analogy, to be sure, since it deals more with self-esteem than what you own, but the deeper point here is that some things do not need to be defended. Some of the responses to the "sour grapes" posts (which seem, laughably, like insecure parting shots) are VERY defensive - some people seem not to be defending the car, but their own choice for buying it.

It seems these posts get way too much defensive engagement, whereas a simple "so long, good luck", would be a higher path to take. It's human nature to want validation for your decisions, but it seems silly to continue to attack the OP's who may no longer even be there, :blink: or worse, just trolling.

There has been at least one post of this theme lately that was very honorable, thanking everyone for their advice and info, detailing his/her reasons for not going the Prius way (without trashing it), and wishing everyone well. That poster received some great responses, more indicative of the Prius community philosophy by large, IMO. It would be nice if they were all like this, but they won't be.

I typically don't respond to any of these, because if they're negative, better to let them go and be done with them. If they're positive (which usually includes a thank-you for all the advice they've received on PC) I'd feel like a hypocrit since my contributions to the PC information database to date has been minimal.

 

I think it’s called misplaced aggression. Maybe they choose to vent here because they feel no one else has listened to them? Unfortunately, we’re a captive audience here -- so we listen to their tirades (whether we want to or not).

I wish them the best. Go buy a Hummer if that’s what makes you happy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Feb 18 2007, 08:48 AM) [snapback]392327[/snapback]</div>

It becomes fairly obvious after awhile. Placing focus on credibility and making it personal, rather than placing attention only on facts, clearly reveals true intent. Using the "thick skin" armor to respond with just facts pretty much works under any conditions. It's ok to state them.

Sometimes, people would rather end the troublesome thread immediately rather than just let it take its course. They tend to burn out fairly quick if the discussion is kept constructive.

 

Many of these "Goodbye Prius" threads are understandable, but there will always be a few that don't give a product proper care. I don't think there were any here that would really go into the car abuse category, but let me cite an extreme example for another hybrid.

Imagine if you will, if someone pretended their Prius was a Porche, then over several months at PC, made several posts daily: "my Prius is a lemon - all hybrids are lemons"? His site is in his sig, and he depicts a Prius that can't get over 30mpg, problems with it's entire drivetrain, the repairs are 60% of the vehicles cost. His site has his Prius with big lemon stickers all over it. He effectively turns PC daily discussion to putting all hybrids on trial as frauds.

In reality, this guy tore up a 5-speed Honda Insight identical to mine and has a site - www.hondasucks.ca. My lifetime milage is nearly 60mpg (over 70 the past couple of years), nearly everybody gets at least 50, but he gets 41mpg (red flags!) I think it's pretty obvious he can't treat any car well- there was not been an Insight horry story approaching his. Attacked all hybrids over several months - could not let a postive hybrid post go unsoiled. Flamed me when I simply pointed out his very low fuel economy could only be the result of improper driving (such as going up a mountain at 85mph). As TJandGenesis would find out later, it turns out green-oriented members get disciplined quicker at GreenHybrid than blatently anti-hybrid members.

This malcontent is known on a first-name basis by Honda Canada, somehow has faux-auctioned his Insight on e-bay 2-3 times, hacked my non-automotive site. Other than that he is a wonderful guy.

 

Are these people trying to convince us or themselves? I guess any relationship needs closure. Could someone start some sort of expat Prius forum where people can can post why they don't have the cars anymore.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Feb 17 2007, 11:47 PM) [snapback]392219[/snapback]</div>

Evan

Respectfully, I have to disagree here. Keep in mind that the Big Ticket items (House, car, boat, etc) are usually things the average person just can't buy on a whim, and if it doesn't work out, cut a check for another one. Ok, perhaps I can, but the vast majority are simply stuck with a bum product.

It's a slippery slope to use the label "irrational" without understanding the context of the purported issue. Yes, some of the folks have an agenda or are just plain kooky. But others purchased a product in good faith, have had generally terrible experiences with the product and ESPECIALLY the service folks, and are now turned off.

Let's contrast my 2000 GMC Sierra to my 2004 Toyota Prius:

I’m sure that by now you’re familiar with the Sierra I used to own: the infamous Vortec 5.3 V8 started knocking and oil burning at around 6,000 initial km’s, and only went downhill from there. The rear axle pinion seal sprung a SERIOUS leak the very first week I owned the truck. The “drum in hat†parking brakes needed adjustment every 6 months or they wouldn’t hold the empty truck, and they wore out at around 65,000km

The AutoTrac mode select module was replaced twice under warranty and once off warranty: when it acted up, the truck reverted to 2WD operation, which left me stuck a couple of times at the cabin I used to own. Needed a 4wd tow truck to yank me up the hill.

I’m pretty sure I had a lemon of a GMC Sierra. The dealer that sold the truck made it much worse, the personnel were a bunch of greasy weasels. Came close to popping a couple of them right in the mouth.

My Prius had the “stall†about 4 months after I took delivery. Had problems with highway tracking and wandering. Last summer the gas gauge became stuck at 3 pips, and I also noticed a grinding/groaning sound from the driver front wheel hub. Not sure if my Prius is a lemon, but it isn’t exactly perfect. The 1990 Toyota 4Runner I had for 10 years WAS perfectly reliable, so I’m disappointed.

However, my Toyota dealer really bent over backwards to keep me satisfied, they all but kissed my rear. The dealer owner, and especially the shop personnel, seem genuinely concerned when I have a problem.

That makes all the difference. The only experience the vast majority of us will have with a car maker is the dealership, and if they’re jerks and a**holes, why wouldn’t the individual be turned off by it?

Even if I didn’t buy another Prius, I would absolutely purchase another Toyota from the dealer that sold me the Prius.

jay

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Feb 18 2007, 06:49 PM) [snapback]392554[/snapback]</div>

Mmmm. gonna have to say, if it's that big of a purchase to the purchaser, he better be damn sure what he's getting before getting into it. I personally did enough research and asked enough questions with both vehicles that i've bought so that i've disproved all my negative thoughts about the vehicle. It's not a bum product, it's a bum decision.

That said, zencruiser's post pretty much wraps up the topic for me. If somebody's going to be a negative nancy and try to turn the rest of us against the prius, they've got quite a battle and should generally be ignored.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jgills240 @ Feb 18 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]392559[/snapback]</div>

That is a good point.

However, no amount of "research" will protect you from a lemon. You are at the mercy of the Gods of Statistics.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Feb 18 2007, 07:45 PM) [snapback]392573[/snapback]</div>

I agree jayman, but that is really the case with anything we buy these days, even a carton of milk. Frankly, I knew we were taking somewhat of a chance buying a Prius from the start. I did my homework, research, asked questions on this web site before I even bought one. Then we made the purchase. All along I believe I have minimized my exposure to risk by reading and researching maintenance and driving techniques. So far I have not had one solitary problem with my Prius. Am I one of the luck ones? Sure, I think so. But I also think there are for more like me than there are unhappy folks. Anyone purchasing a hybrid now, and certainly in the years past, has been on the cutting edge of automotive technology. Thats somewhat of a chance in anybody's book.

That being said, I also think if you're mad enough at your car to take the time to post on a web site of folk that love that particular vehicle, you're either pretty mad, or have too little to do with your time.

I still love my Prius. Those who don't, sell 'em.... get rid of 'em, and just go away. B) B)

 

Actually, goodbye posts may be useful to Toyota to see what people need. Remember, if someone posts something, he or she is not necessarily talking to YOU personally.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LazyBear @ Feb 18 2007, 08:55 PM) [snapback]392597[/snapback]</div>

True, but a letter directly to Toyota detailing why one is selling/not buying the car would, I think, have more of an impact than a posting on a forum, regardless of how great, magnificent and totally off the hook the forum may be.
(I'll be expecting my check from PC soon... B) )

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Feb 18 2007, 07:45 PM) [snapback]392573[/snapback]</div>

True. I was assuming a new vehicle purchase. in which case any gripes would be with the specific model, not an individual vehicle. like you said, if it was a complaint about a problem with a used vehicle no longer under warranty, that comes with the territory and let the gods of statistics strike thee down!