Toyota Prius/Honda Insight -Who has one, and how you like it !

[PhoKingGuy]

My last road trip from OC to Bay area and back I got 623 miles on 1 tank of diesel, and averaged about 45.3 MPG on the grapevine stretch at 78 MPH.

Its no slouch, plenty of passing power in every gear.

But seeing as your last name is Khan you wont ever buy anything other than a Honota product so this thread is pointless.

I vote take the bus, I hate both of those vehicles equally.

 

[LTC8K6]

The Fusion is nice. I can't complain about any of the recent Fords. Hybrid is the one type of car I haven't driven so I can't really comment on them. From what I read, they seem best suited for city driving. For highway driving, I'd get the Jetta TDI. The latter of which gets 42 highway, which is slightly worse than the Prius, but has twice the torque. Diesel also has the advantage of being cheaper than gasoline.

Diesel has been more expensive than gasoline in my area for a very long time, much of that time subtantially more. It still costs quite a bit more today.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Diesel has been more expensive than gasoline in my area for a very long time, much of that time subtantially more. It still costs quite a bit more today.

Diesel prices fluctuate hugely from station to station. One of them near my house is 3.39 per gallon, one another block away is 3.07 a gallon, one next to work is 2.99 a gallon.

 

[compguy786]

Why a Prius? Only reason to get one is if you're an Eco nut. You never get one to save money as 99% of people will never make-up the cost difference. Pick up a less expensive car that can do 35mpg or 40mpg and you'll be saving tons of money. Hybrids still aren't cost effective at all yet.

Yeah, You are right. It makes complete sense because a standard corolla/civic can do about the same, and also about 3-6k cheaper new. My dad is trying to get new because it might be worth it (deals) Ford is great, or has gotten better, and matter of fact, panasonic makes the battery for the prius and insight i think.

I agree with everyone about being cost effective, i dont it is, and wont be until they get cheaper, but as of now, they have gotten cheaper.

My dad drives about 60 miles a day to work and back, so he wants something that is a gas sipper, since he has to take a V6, and it costs him $4(he calcs. this) one way or something.

 

[LTC8K6]

Diesel prices fluctuate hugely from station to station. One of them near my house is 3.39 per gallon, one another block away is 3.07 a gallon, one next to work is 2.99 a gallon.

Regular gas is only 2.48 here. Diesel about 30 cents more.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Regular gas is only 2.48 here. Diesel about 30 cents more.

Well you're lucky, regular is 2.97 for Arco and like 3.05 for Shell/Chevron

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Eli has a 1st gen insight doesn't he?

 

[lupi]

I picked up the fusion on 8/1.mostly have driven it M-F for the daily commute with limited other use. I just had to fill it for the second time and my estimated tank miles continues toi climb with a reading of 622 for this one. I figure after a longer period it will probably setlle out at around 650, and this is with almost all highways miles.

 

[RU482]

I had a '10 Prius as a rental once. The technical and anal side of my character really really liked the car (spent way too much time looking at the power gauges). It was pretty peppy, and comfortable for the most part.

 

[Thump553]

I've driven the Prius a lot as a rental and, while I don't care for them personally (numb steering, poor handling, etc), they are practical and reliable vehicles. The newest models of Prius have a much nicer interior than the older models as well.

If you want an appliance-type car, the Prius is exceptional. It's a point-A to point-B car for people who don't care about sportiness or driving feel and in that capacity it excels. If you are looking for something sporty, the Fusion will offer a much better driving experience, but it's difficult to dispute the pure boring practicality afforded by the Prius' body style.

ZV

My wife has had a Prius for almost three years now, and I basically agree with what ZV says-except the poor handling part. We've never ever had poor handling in it, in fact it is suprisingly excellent at handling snow (unless one foot or deeper-it has small wheels).

The only complaint I have about the Prius is tire wear-at about 37,000 miles we are due for a new set of tires.

As for the Honda, there was an article in the newspaper recently that Honda sent out a software "fix" recently that absolutely kills gas mileage but extends battery life-apparently Honda has experienced a rash of battery warranty claims in the South. Research this carefully if you decide to go that route.

As regarding the VW, I currently own a VW (Passat) and have owned a couple of bugs in the past, but I greatly doubt I will ever buy another VW again. The electronic bugs are ridiculous and expensive, and VW has intentionally designed their cars now to prevent you from working on them. I need a special tool to change a headlight, for Pete's sake, and can't do even an oil change without a lift. Plus diesel has been at least fifty cents per gallon more expensive than gas here in New England for at least three years.

 

[Zenmervolt]

My wife has had a Prius for almost three years now, and I basically agree with what ZV says-except the poor handling part. We've never ever had poor handling in it, in fact it is suprisingly excellent at handling snow (unless one foot or deeper-it has small wheels).

No offense, but if you're using snow as an example of "handling", it sounds like you really don't know what "handling" is.

There's no feel in the steering, the suspension has soft springs and soft damping, and if you push the car at all it exhibits heavy understeer. None of this has anything at all to do with being good or bad in the snow or rain.

If you drive it like a granny, you'll never notice those things, but the fact remains that the Prius, while an exceptional appliance, has effectively zero "fun to drive" factor.

ZV

 

[Thump553]

I've never noticed any understeer at all, I guess I'll have to flog it around some. It certainly doesn't have dangerous understeering. Road feel is normal to me-just like an other power steering auto.

Personally if I want some "fun to drive" an automobile of any type just doesn't meet the grade (except maybe a working vintage British sports car on a hot summer Saturday) -I'll go flying or ride a bike first. My ideal car is cheap, paid for and always working. Different life viewpoint, I guess.

 

[thedarkwolf]

No offense, but if you're using snow as an example of "handling", it sounds like you really don't know what "handling" is.

There's no feel in the steering, the suspension has soft springs and soft damping, and if you push the car at all it exhibits heavy understeer. None of this has anything at all to do with being good or bad in the snow or rain.

If you drive it like a granny, you'll never notice those things, but the fact remains that the Prius, while an exceptional appliance, has effectively zero "fun to drive" factor.

ZV

We have a prius show up to our local autox events sometimes and he does a lot better than you would expect. He is running aftermarket springs and I guess struts/shocks though. Still not fast by any means but it does look tidy out there. I'd want a fusion hybrid if I had to have a hybrid.

 

[PricklyPete]

We have a prius show up to our local autox events sometimes and he does a lot better than you would expect. He is running aftermarket springs and I guess struts/shocks though. Still not fast by any means but it does look tidy out there. I'd want a fusion hybrid if I had to have a hybrid.

I'd actually love to see a Prius beat some people at an autox event. The disdain on their faces before and the horror afterwards when they realize they got beat would be glorious.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I've never noticed any understeer at all, I guess I'll have to flog it around some. It certainly doesn't have dangerous understeering. Road feel is normal to me-just like an other power steering auto.

With very few exceptions (and those always high-dollar, track-oriented sportscars), every car today understeers. In the majority of situations it's safer and given the wide variance in driver skill it's only right for manufacturers to tune cars for understeer.

Also, I never once said the Prius was "dangerous", please don't put words in my mouth. Heavy understeer is characteristic of every FWD "grocery-getter" car on the market today.

Personally if I want some "fun to drive" an automobile of any type just doesn't meet the grade (except maybe a working vintage British sports car on a hot summer Saturday) -I'll go flying or ride a bike first. My ideal car is cheap, paid for and always working. Different life viewpoint, I guess.

Nothing wrong with that. I've never once said that the Prius was a bad car, only that it's not the right choice for someone who wants a car that has some bit of "fun to drive" in it.

We have a prius show up to our local autox events sometimes and he does a lot better than you would expect. He is running aftermarket springs and I guess struts/shocks though. Still not fast by any means but it does look tidy out there. I'd want a fusion hybrid if I had to have a hybrid.

I'm sure that with some better tires and suspension work it could be good, but stock it's an appliance. Nothing wrong with that being the choice for stock. Frankly it suits the whole purpose of the car better anyway; a car designed to maximize efficiency shouldn't encourage aggressive driving which tends to use more fuel. Also, a good driver can make a lot of difference.

ZV