Two thirds of hybrid owners don't want to buy another hybrid

[PokerGuy]

http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_ne...-unlikely-to-buy-another-one-study-shows?lite

This is one of the reasons why the volt is a total failure. It was a failure before it even hit the sales floor because it was based on failed ideology instead of market analysis. Consumers don't want hybrids at this point, unless they get much cheaper.

Even the consumers who are most likely to want a hybrid (the ones who decided to buy one previously) are not likely to buy another one. Even Prius buyers, by far the most popular hybrid out there are not likely to buy another one for their next car.

With "conventional" engines getting close to the hybrids in efficiency, there is very little reason to go with a hybrid.

 

[busydude]

With "conventional" engines getting close to the hybrids in efficiency, there is very little reason to go with a hybrid. PokerGuy is online now Report Post

Whaaaaaaaaaa?

 

[Jaskalas]

Government subsidies only get you so far. At some point you have to compete on your own merits and thousands of dollars to replace the battery just doesn't cut it.

 

[NFS4]

With "conventional" engines getting close to the hybrids in efficiency, there is very little reason to go with a hybrid.

LOL. What conventional engined U.S. market car gets "close" to 50mpg combined like the Prius and Prius c?

 

[PokerGuy]

Whaaaaaaaaaa?

Read the article. Many conventional engine cars are getting close to the same mileage as the prius and other hybrids. I know some of the new diesels get excellent MPG.

 

[Genx87]

Diesels are coming out in the next few years that will blow away these Hybrids. I still think Hybrids are the next logical step in the evolution towards pure electric cars. But the cost\benefit just isnt there yet.

 

[PokerGuy]

LOL. What conventional engined U.S. market car gets "close" to 50mpg combined like the Prius and Prius c?

From the article:

there are a growing number of alternatives, including diesels – which are being offered in growing numbers – and advanced versions of conventional gasoline technology. The 2013 Nissan Altima, for example, is expected to deliver 38 mpg on the highway, Ford’s next-generation Fusion close behind at 37 – both yielding only slightly less than the current Camry Hybrid. Hyundai, meanwhile, boasts five different models now getting over 40 mpg on the highway.

It makes no sense to pay a tremendous premium for a relatively small vehicle when you it will take you 10 years to make up the premium in gas savings. The prius is as good as it gets, and it's owners are as happy as it gets, but even prius owners on average choose not to buy another one when they go back for a new vehicle.

 

[alphatarget1]

This is totally a topic for the garage forum, but I read in the article that the new 2013 Altima will get 37mpg on the highway. WTF? It uses the same engine (QR25DE) yet the old version gets 32mpg and the new version get 37mpg.

Why would anybody buy a hybrid if traditional gas engines can achieve this kind of gas mileage?

 

[NFS4]

Diesels are coming out in the next few years that will blow away these Hybrids. I still think Hybrids are the next logical step in the evolution towards pure electric cars. But the cost\benefit just isnt there yet.

A Prius c is $19,000 and gets 53 city, 46 highway. What diesel available in the U.S. now or in the near future comes close at that price?

The closest currently is the Jetta TDI at 30/42 and starts at $23,000. Hybrids will continue to murder gas/diesel-only in the city.

 

[PokerGuy]

Why would anybody buy a hybrid if traditional gas engines can achieve this kind of gas mileage?

Judging by the poll linked in the article, the answer is "they wouldn't". People who buy hybrids at this point are really two groups. First you have those who do the math and figure that with the various incentives they can save enough money on gas as gas prices go nuts to make it a good deal. Sales for this group will ebb and flow as gas prices rise and fall.

The second group are the eco kooks that want to buy a prius or some other similar vehicle to be "green" and all that bs. That group will buy those vehicles no matter the math, they are not rational buyers.

 

[davmat787]

It makes no sense to pay a tremendous premium for a relatively small vehicle when you it will take you 10 years to make up the premium in gas savings. The prius is as good as it gets, and it's owners are as happy as it gets, but even prius owners on average choose not to buy another one when they go back for a new vehicle.

Agreed, the cost/benefit just isn't there yet. I question if the total environmental impact is significantly there yet for hybrids too. Batteries aren't easy to make and use some nasty stuff from what I understand (plz correct if wrong) and will eventually have to be replaced. Also, the electricity needed for charging often comes from fossil fuels as well. Combine all that with what? A 5-7 year timeframe to start realizing fuel savings, probably around the time you will need a new battery as they lose efficiency as well? And you pay quite a premium for all of this.

I have no doubt hybrids will be significantly important in the future, and we have to start somewhere, but I would guess we have another 10-15 years before they are easily justifiable from an economic standpoint.

And then there are the tax breaks that artificially reduce the price as well.

The other day I saw an electric recharging station at a Walgreens. Don't these cars take 8-12 hours to charge? What good is putting a recharging station where a car might be plugged in for 15 minutes? What a waste for some feel good PR.

 

[PokerGuy]

A Prius c is $19,000 and gets 53 city, 46 highway. What diesel available in the U.S. now or in the near future comes close at that price?

It's ranked as the 25th best small car out of 41 small cars by US news. It's tiny. The vast majority of people don't need or want such a tiny little vehicle, even if it gets better mileage.

The closest currently is the Jetta TDI at 30/42 and starts at $23,000. Hybrids will continue to murder gas/diesel-only in the city.

.... and yet, the market says? It says 2 out of every 3 hybrid owners do not plan to buy another one. 60% of prius owners don't plan to buy another one. That's very telling.

 

[NFS4]

From the article:



It makes no sense to pay a tremendous premium for a relatively small vehicle when you it will take you 10 years to make up the premium in gas savings. The prius is as good as it gets, and it's owners are as happy as it gets, but even prius owners on average choose not to buy another one when they go back for a new vehicle.

No offense, but are you DENSE? The new Altima's HIGHWAY rating is 38 mpg, but its city rating is going to be in the low to mid 20s. Combined rating (city and highway) will be below 30.

The Prius has a combined fuel efficiency rating of 50 mpg
The Prius c has a combined fuel efficiency rating of 50 mpg

Since when is less than 30 mpg anywhere close to 50 mpg?

I feel like I'm talking to idiots!

 

[NFS4]

.... and yet, the market says?

March 2012 Sales:

Toyota Prius sales surge 54% from a year earlier to monthly record

The Japanese automaker sold 28,711 Prius hybrids in March, the all-time U.S. monthly record since introducing the model stateside in 2000. Prius sales were up 54 percent from a year earlier and helped push total Toyota Motor Sales USA sales up 15 percent. The Camry Hybrid, which got an update late last year, boosted sales by 35 percent from a year earlier and set an all-time March record.

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/0...surge-54-from-a-year-earlier-to-monthly-reco/

Official press release:
http://toyotanewsroom.com/releases/toyota+reports+sales+over+200000+vehicles+march+2012.htm



Are you done yet?

 

[Thump553]

Based on personal experience and observation of a number of Prius owners I call BS on that study. We had our Prius for three years now and notice absolutely no sacrifices or drawbacks.

Be careful buying modern diesels-a lot of them require urea periodically and the stealerships gouge like mad on that.

 

[Zebo]

I think cost of battery should be in your math somewhere Brandon.

The volts a fail because it looks like ass, worse than Cruze and you can buy a Cruze with all it's long driving convenience and 20 years of gas for the same price.

 

[Moonbeam]

Shouldn't this be in the garage forum or is volt and hybrid somehow become political?

What a world. Birkenstock's are political too, I hear. I don't have any but I bet 2/3rds of the folk who do will buy another pair. A true conservative walks everywhere and goes barefoot.

 

[ElFenix]

It's ranked as the 25th best small car out of 41 small cars by US news. It's tiny. The vast majority of people don't need or want such a tiny little vehicle, even if it gets better mileage.



.... and yet, the market says? It says 2 out of every 3 hybrid owners do not plan to buy another one. 60% of prius owners don't plan to buy another one. That's very telling.

not diesel, apparently.

 

[Moonbeam]

I think cost of battery should be in your math somewhere Brandon.

The volts a fail because it looks like ass, worse than Cruze and you can buy a Cruze with all it's long driving convenience and 20 years of gas for the same price.

IBM is working on a 500 mi battery.

 

[davmat787]

No offense, but are you DENSE? The new Altima's HIGHWAY rating is 38 mpg, but its city rating is going to be in the low to mid 20s. Combined rating (city and highway) will be below 30.

The Prius has a combined fuel efficiency rating of 50 mpg
The Prius c has a combined fuel efficiency rating of 50 mpg

Since when is less than 30 mpg anywhere close to 50 mpg?

I feel like I'm talking to idiots!

Looks like it is rated at 27mpg in city, according to this article at least. Continuing to compare a Prius and Altima, how many years would it take to start realizing savings between these two cars? If it is longer than 5-7 years, where is the benefit?

This combination still delivers a respectable 182 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, but more importantly it returns an estimated 27 mpg city and the aforementioned 38 mpg on the highway.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...fuel-economy/2012/04/04/gIQAvg2tvS_story.html

 

[Capt Caveman]

Every Prius owner I know, loves their car. I believe the Prius has one of the highest customer satisfaction rates for any vehicle.

 

[NFS4]

Looks like it is rated at 27mpg in city, according to this article at least. Continuing to compare a Prius and Altima, how many years would it take to start realizing savings between these two cars? If it is longer than 5-7 years, where is the benefit?



http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...fuel-economy/2012/04/04/gIQAvg2tvS_story.html

Those are impressive numbers indeed. But still nowhere close to 50 mpg combined. So again, this whole "coming close" crap is ludicrous.

The Hyundai Elantra is rated at 29/40 and its combined rating is 33 mpg. The Altima, like I said, will likely be rated at less than 30 mpg combined.

 

[Zebo]

Based on personal experience and observation of a number of Prius owners I call BS on that study. We had our Prius for three years now and notice absolutely no sacrifices or drawbacks.

Be careful buying modern diesels-a lot of them require urea periodically and the stealerships gouge like mad on that.

Can't you just pee in the tank a litte?

 

[Moonbeam]

Conservatism is a disease of defensiveness where anything new is a threat. Conservatives see the world with terror colored lenses. Conservatives abuse their brains which causes parts of it to enlarge, just like masturbation can strengthen your grip and your ability to moan.

 

[davmat787]

Anyone aware of any articles or studies that detail the overall environment impact regarding hybrids? I am curious as to how the battery production and how the recharging electricity is sourced impact the overall environmental impact. Does it merely shift the impact onto production and your local powerplant? Or is there significant reductions to the carbon footprint taking these factors into account?