Prius is 3rd-best selling automobile line in the world

[foghorn67]

We own one. My favorite car since the VW bug we owned in the early 70's. Back then we used to drive beetles just to bug the shit out of our parents. Now we drive the Prius just to bug the shit out of the entitlement generation.

What does the Prius have to do with the entitlement generation?

 

[SP33Demon]

I drive about 30k miles per year.

I get about 55 MPG in my Prius, so I would burn about 545.5 gallons a year. 545.5 * $3.80 a gallon (average price for the last year or so, I drive past a gas station every day) = $2072.90

I would get about 35 MPG in an econobox, so I would burn about 857 gallons a year. 857 * $3.80 = $3,257

So I save $1,200 per year with the Prius.

I got my Prius for $22.4k, my job pays me a $3k incentive to buy a hybrid. So subtract 30% for state and federal income taxes and I got the car for $20.3k. or $8,000 more than your hypothetical econobox. Breakeven point is less than seven years, and instead of driving a $12k shitbox, I'm driving a boring but at least practical midsize car that has lots of space and nice features (keyless entry, JBL sound system etc.)

BTW, if gas goes up to $6/gallon, an entirely possible scenario, my breakeven point goes down to 4 years.

If gas goes down, the breakeven point gets pushed out, but I still save money with everyone else.

Edit: BTW, it's not just for commuting, do you know how long it takes me to drive to your mother's house?

So breakeven point is 7 years? What about for someone who doesn't have your "$3,000 incentive"? Also, not many people drive 30K miles per year. Does it really make sense for them to buy a new Prius when the breakeven point is 10~ years where the average mileage less than half yours (and you'd have to worry about the battery as well)? No.

You listed it as the best "tool for the job", i.e. mileage, which is BS. The best tool for the job would be to buy a Yaris and trade it in for a new one before the breakeven point of the Prius. BTW the Yaris has more horsepower too (106 to 98).

 

[Blackjack200]

So breakeven point is 7 years? What about for someone who doesn't have your "$3,000 incentive"? Also, not many people drive 30K miles per year. Does it really make sense for them to buy a new Prius when the breakeven point is 10~ years where the average mileage less than half yours (and you'd have to worry about the battery as well)? No.

The fuck do I care what makes sense for someone else? I bought it because it made the most sense for me in my situation.

You listed it as the best "tool for the job", i.e. mileage, which is BS. The best tool for the job would be to buy a Yaris and trade it in for a new one before the breakeven point of the Prius. BTW the Yaris has more horsepower too (106 to 98).

No, the best tool for the job means it's the best tool for the job considering milage, comfort and utility. When I'm driving up to see your mom on a humid day, I don't want to arrive already hot and sweaty and sore. She'll think I stopped at your sister's house first.

 

[CPA]

I want to run over anyone in a SMART car. God, I hate those things.

 

[JulesMaximus]

lol at people getting upset because some stranger bought a car they wanted. Talk about bitchy.

Bunch of whiny nerdettes have to have something to get their pink panties in a twist over. :biggrin:

 

[SP33Demon]

No, the best tool for the job means it's the best tool for the job considering milage, comfort and utility. When I'm driving up to see your mom on a humid day, I don't want to arrive already hot and sweaty and sore. She'll think I stopped at your sister's house first.

A new Yaris > 5 year old Prius with 5 year old technology. And just think how much better you'll be able to pass with the extra HP in that awesome 4 banger! lmao

 

[JulesMaximus]

I want to run over anyone in a SMART car. God, I hate those things.

So don't buy one. Problem solved.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So breakeven point is 7 years? What about for someone who doesn't have your "$3,000 incentive"? Also, not many people drive 30K miles per year. Does it really make sense for them to buy a new Prius when the breakeven point is 10~ years where the average mileage less than half yours (and you'd have to worry about the battery as well)? No.

You listed it as the best "tool for the job", i.e. mileage, which is BS. The best tool for the job would be to buy a Yaris and trade it in for a new one before the breakeven point of the Prius. BTW the Yaris has more horsepower too (106 to 98).

What if he needs something he can put his entire family in comfortably?

The Yaris suddenly makes zero sense now doesn't it?

 

[brainhulk]

People used to make fun of japanese 4 banger econoboxes, that their vettes and mustangs are way better. Now those same people are making fun of hybrids, saying we need to buy used 4 bangers. Lol

The hate will never end

 

[TridenT]

I approve. We need to lower our overall fuel consumption.

 

[zinfamous]

Is anyone else surprised the Focus is 2nd?

Not I. Ford has a pretty good reputation in many eastern or Northern, post-soviet European countries. For many, many years, it was either Ford or "Government brown-mobile."

They have also gained a lot of traction here in the US in recent years. The Focus is a pretty sweet econo-box.

 

[Eug]

So breakeven point is 7 years? What about for someone who doesn't have your "$3,000 incentive"?

Then the math doesn't work as well, of course. I got around $3000 in incentives too. Had I not, I would have thought harder about the purchase.

Also, not many people drive 30K miles per year. Does it really make sense for them to buy a new Prius when the breakeven point is 10~ years where the average mileage less than half yours (and you'd have to worry about the battery as well)? No.

However, the other point is if you want a bigger car than a subcompact, then the math changes again.

You listed it as the best "tool for the job", i.e. mileage, which is BS. The best tool for the job would be to buy a Yaris and trade it in for a new one before the breakeven point of the Prius. BTW the Yaris has more horsepower too (106 to 98).

We have both the Yaris and the Prius. I prefer driving the Prius as it's a more comfortable ride, and if we ever have to move anything we use the Prius of course. So garden supplies and plants, boxed items, small furniture, etc. A truck would be better for that, but I didn't want to deal with a ginormous truck and a the crappy gas mileage.

I'd consider a plug-in Prius or Prius V for my next car, but I'm not sure yet because I think I still have about 5 years or so left in this 8 year-old car.

 

[SP33Demon]

What if he needs something he can put his entire family in comfortably?

The Yaris suddenly makes zero sense now doesn't it?

1) He never mentioned shit about roominess, just mileage.

2) The Yaris makes way more sense: If he's driving 30K miles a year and it's going to take him 7 years to break even, then there's a slight problem. The battery has an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty, which means that he's out of warranty in year 3.5, or 3.5 years before breakeven.

3) New Yaris in year 5 for trade-in vs a Prius with a battery that has 7*30,000=210,000 miles on it. I know which one is going to have higher value and it's not the Prius.

Summary:
-He's going to be out of warranty in year 3.5 on the battery
-Even if he makes it to breakeven point in year 7, less trade-in value at 210,000 miles vs 5 year old Yaris with 60K miles. In fact, the Yaris is worth almost twice as much (Source: Autotrader 2005 Prius vs 2007 Yaris), 7K~ vs 13.5K~.
-More than 10% horsepower for passing with the Yaris, which could increase even more as tech increases in the 2 year gap.

 

[Eug]

-More than 10% horsepower for passing with the Yaris, which could increase even more as tech increases in the 2 year gap.

The Prius has 134 HP. The 98 is for the gas engine only. It produces the equivalent of about 36 HP from the electric engine as well.

 

[CPA]

So don't buy one. Problem solved.

It doesn't solve anything. I want to run over other people, not myself.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not surprised. They're good cars.

So are Focuses and Corollas.

 

[DesiPower]

Have Camry Hybrid, absolutely love it. Thinking about Prius V for my next

 

[Yreka]

I think they are neat inside, I love all the techie stuff + instrumentation. Outside styling is not for me..

I'm not expecting a sports car, but even if you could make a Prius look like say, a Corolla S it would be much more appealing to me.. Probably not possible I'm sure much of the reason for that awkward shape contributes to its MPG performance + why tag on Hybrids of "normal" looking cars never seem to match up performance wise.

 

[Eug]

So driving to the show tonite (Bring It On, so no man card here either) I saw a Civic hybrid with fake super tall ricer spoiler. I wonder what demographic that appeals to.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

1) He never mentioned shit about roominess, just mileage.

2) The Yaris makes way more sense: If he's driving 30K miles a year and it's going to take him 7 years to break even, then there's a slight problem. The battery has an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty, which means that he's out of warranty in year 3.5, or 3.5 years before breakeven.

3) New Yaris in year 5 for trade-in vs a Prius with a battery that has 7*30,000=210,000 miles on it. I know which one is going to have higher value and it's not the Prius.

Summary:
-He's going to be out of warranty in year 3.5 on the battery
-Even if he makes it to breakeven point in year 7, less trade-in value at 210,000 miles vs 5 year old Yaris with 60K miles. In fact, the Yaris is worth almost twice as much (Source: Autotrader 2005 Prius vs 2007 Yaris), 7K~ vs 13.5K~.
-More than 10% horsepower for passing with the Yaris, which could increase even more as tech increases in the 2 year gap.

 

[Doppel]

After seeing Jeremy Clarkson's review of it (don't remember which exact one it was), I am sure that people only buy them to be seen in.

Clarkson's review was pathetic. He is incredibly butthurt over hybrids or any alternate tech. He also did an incredibly poor Tesla Roadster review unless we really believe he was that unlucky to get the worst one ever.

People who are still hating on the Prius as a car fit for eco douchebags just don't know anything about the Prius.

The thing is, you don't have to get a hybrid to get 55MPG.
Just get a small diesel-powered car, and you're set. Hell, if you live in the UK, you can get a Citroën C2 that gets something like 82 MPG.

Case in point. Not only don't you know about the Prius, but even about the European cycle. If you actually think a C2 gets 82 MPG on the US cycle, if it were here, compared to the Prius' 50 your ignorance is glaring.

Yet those people could have bought a cheap Focus or Civic or the like and truly could have saved money since most people won't recoup the added cost of the vehicle. It's definitely a statement vehicle.

Not always. Haven't you people ever actually crunched any numbers? It's fairly basic math.

I don't understand why so many people seem personally insulted that some one else bought a prius. Who gives a fuck?

I'm not sure, either. They really get so ass-sore over the Prius, especially when they're all rehashing the same irrelevant talking points time and again.

Bah... I still think that the Prius is overrated. Both my MINI Cooper and my Chevy Cruze Eco can get better highway mileage than most of their product line.

Fvcking nonsense. How can people be so aplomb about a fact so easily dismissed? If you're going to have a strong opinion on something at least know something about it. Your cooper gets worse highway mileage than every single Prius (all four versions) out there. The Cruze Eco only just manages to beat by 2 mpg the highway mileage of the WORST of the Prius lineup and is 16 mpg worse in the city.

A new Yaris > 5 year old Prius with 5 year old technology.

Ignorant. Again, why post something so easily dismissed with actual facts? 5 year Prius is larger than a Yaris and browbeats it for mileage. C'mon people, these talking points are old, it's 2012 aren't there any new ones? BTW The Yaris is not a mid-size car, so comparing it to a Prius is silly anyway.

More than 10% horsepower

As already mentioned, the Prius is 134 HP, so much more than the Yaris. I'm serious, you need to spend at least some time on edmunds before posting so much rubbish all at once because this is the internet and it never goes away; you can't retract it.

--

The Prius butthurt is still very strong and prevalent, but the sales of the lineup are staggering and becoming an ever-more significant part of Toyota. The rest of the public is catching up to the reality that although the Prius is a life-less auto-appliance in a world of $4 gas getting 40-50+ MPG in the city can be a nice thing. Further, the hybrid premium is so small now that in some cases a purely objective cost comparison can favor the Prius if an aggressive price is agreed upon at purchase time. Compare to the Hybrid Highlander. It gets great mileage for what it is but has such a severe premium you'd just never see that payback.

 

[waggy]

lol so many getting butthurt over what others drive. who cares? if thats the car they want (even if the reasons are ignorant) how does it effect anyone?

 

[Crono]

lol so many getting butthurt over what others drive. who cares? if thats the car they want (even if the reasons are ignorant) how does it effect anyone?

Agree with this.

I'm just waiting for the bicycle folks to come in here and laugh at us car people.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Agree with this.

I'm just waiting for the bicycle folks to come in here and laugh at us car people.

fwiw - my commute to work via bike is three minutes.

 

[mmntech]

Prius is by far the most popular car around here. This is my work:
Its not uncommon to see 5 or 6 in a row like it was a Toyota dealership.

Seeing you're from the Bay area. You see them occasionally here but they're not that popular. Always a ton of them on used lots though. There's only one I've seen at my office. It belongs to my boss's boss. There's one Prius nestled in among Porches and BMWs in the managerial spots. The owner has a V8 Vantage. Even my co worker, who's a member of the David Suzuki Foundation no less, drives a Jeep Wrangler. :awe: