Toyota Prius

[zamedic]

So, thinking of trading in my 2005 Ford Bantum for a Toyota Prius, why?
1) Fuel Economy
2) Gadgets / Comfort
3) Safety

I think its a perfect Joburg car, especially when you get stuck in one of those traffic jams. The electric motor will be used at low speed saving alot of fuel.

I also like the overall design of the interior. I am not looking for a powerhouse of horse power or speeding along the highway dodging taxies and potholes, I am looking for something comfortable that can do 120 and get me around safely.

So, flame on - what do you guys think of the car?

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

NO NO NO NO...please tog...remember its a Prius that caused that accident that basically collapsed Toyota's squeeky clean reputation!!!

Don't do it...search the web for Prius facts, more carbon is emitted during its production etc. Wait for other hydro cars like BMW's blue - effeciency cars or VW's(can't believe I'm saying this) blue motion or whatever its called, Polo...these cars are YET to prove that they are feul effecient! And with all that tech inside something's bound to do wrong!

There's a car that you only charge once a year...no petrol nothing...it was on Auto Mundial this weekend...

 

[VanZan]

I have no experience of a Prius but would suggest that you get some info on maintenance and major repair costs. That is a very sophisticated vehicle and very few motomechs will be able to service never mind doing a major repair. If it's a new one - then you need to consider depreciation and long term operating cost depending if you want to keep it after guarantee / maintenance plan lapses. I agree that the concept is very good - just concerned about the difference in operating conditions inSA wrt Japan and Europe for which it was designed.

 

[zamedic]

@ALFAHOLIC - I do find it strange that all these crashes happened in the USA - Wonder why no other country is having this problem.. I saw a awesome video on you tube, a guy saying if the throttle gets stuck, turn off the car or put it in neutral... I have also looked at the "Prius is more dirty than a hummer" debate, there are arguments on both sides with no clear proof. So its tough.

I have looked at other hybrid types available, most are way out of my price range, and the Honda insight is just plain ugly on the inside, reminds me of a Klingon Bird of Pray.

@VanZan - The issue of resale is always a concern for any car. The Prius range has been available since 1997 with the real commercial application in 2001, so thats 9 years. I can only hope that by now they know how to repair the thing. The vehcicle does come with a 5 year / 90,000 km service plan - so unless I break something it should be covered. I hope... Still thinking about it, just need to get rid of the Bantum, for personal reasons.

 

[Nerfherder]

search the web for Prius facts, more carbon is emitted during its production etc.

They fixed that, it really is a "green car" now, the new model is great. I just think that its really expensive, like R350k+ with no bells, its like R400k with all the cool stuff.

I wanted one but for that price the Corsa Diesel has about the same consumption and is half the price.

 

[zamedic]

@Nerfherder - yea, R380k for bells and whistles, and even then its missing the moon roof, radar anti collision, radar assist cruise control... I am a uber geak, so I like buttons, lots and lots of buttons

 

[bullfrog]

350K is a LOT of petrol

Lets look at it this way. You buy a car for R150k:

So R350K - 150k = R200k left.

Now lets say you get 10km/L or on your 150k car.
R200 000 / R8 per Litre = 25 000 Litres of petrol.
At 10km per litre, thats 250 000KM that you can drive free, because your car was cheaper.

Prius not looking so economical anymore, is it?

 

[Claymore]

@ALFAHOLIC - I do find it strange that all these crashes happened in the USA - Wonder why no other country is having this problem.

Also, the age distribution of the people who have had the issue is very, very heavily weighted to the elderly. Odd that mainly the elderly are the ones experiencing a mechanical/electronic issue...

 

[BCO]

NO NO NO NO...please tog...remember its a Prius that caused that accident that basically collapsed Toyota's squeeky clean reputation!!!

Don't do it...search the web for Prius facts, more carbon is emitted during its production etc. Wait for other hydro cars like BMW's blue - effeciency cars or VW's(can't believe I'm saying this) blue motion or whatever its called, Polo...these cars are YET to prove that they are feul effecient! And with all that tech inside something's bound to do wrong!

Pure tolly. That's a myth that's been debunked repeatedly. Stop spreading lies. Over the lifespan of the vehicle, a Prius is far more environmentally friendly than almost any other mass produced car out there.

@ the OP - Personally, I'm a big fan of the Prius, especially the 3rd gen Prius. It's quite big, spacious and comfortable and of course efficient. It's not exactly fair to compare a R150k Yaris with a Prius - they're in totally different classes of vehicle.In terms of size, luxury etc. it's more comparable to an Accord or Mazda 6 than a Yaris or Polo. If you're looking for a comfortable efficient car for predominantly city driving it's an excellent choice. Also, there are ten year-old Priuses with well over 200 000 MILES on the clock running with no problems at all. The technology has proven to be reliable.

A lot of people hate this car because it's not a performance vehicle; but it's a very well-engineered, clean vehicle that does less environmental damage than diesel vehicles with similar fuel consumption. It's also the most fuel efficient car in SA.

 

[burn]

Pure tolly. That's a myth that's been debunked repeatedly. Stop spreading lies. Over the lifespan of the vehicle, a Prius is far more environmentally friendly than almost any other mass produced car out there.

The thing is a moving battery, it is about as eco-friendly as BP Where do you think all those metals and chemicals come from? Get a small diesel engine, way more environmentally friendly. This has been proven! See anyone can say that But really, it is true...

Can get very safe and well specced small diesels these days. Don't be tricked by the marketing and celebrities... It is only a big thing in the US because everyone drives ancient V8 petrol engines and are completely ignorant about diesel. Same reason the Prius is not a diesel hybrid, American's wouldn't buy it

 

[BCO]

The thing is a moving battery, it is about as eco-friendly as BP Where do you think all those metals and chemicals come from? Get a small diesel engine, way more environmentally friendly. This has been proven! See anyone can say that But really, it is true...

Can get very safe and well specced small diesels these days. Don't be tricked by the marketing and celebrities... It is only a big thing in the US because everyone drives ancient V8 petrol engines and are completely ignorant about diesel. Same reason the Prius is not a diesel hybrid, American's wouldn't buy it

It's hardly a "moving battery" it has a 6.5 ah battery at 200-odd watts.

Also, NiMH batteries are relatively inert. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-metal_hydride_battery#Environmental_impact

So, yes, the mining and manufacture of the Prius' battery has an additional environmental impact not found on non-hybrid cars, but it's easily offset by the positive impact of its low fuel consumption.

Compare a Prius with a Honda Accord over 100 000km the Prius will use at least 4000l less fuel over this distance than the Accord. You're trying to say that making the NiMH has a bigger environmental impact than burning 4000l of petrol?

WRT diesel cars - in many ways, especially in the cheaper diesels that don't feature DPFs and EGR, they are much dirtier than petrol engines. The smallest diesel car in SA is not as fuel efficent as a Prius, it's a tiny econobox rather than a fairly luxurious midsize saloon and it emits a hell of a lot more NOx (think acid rain) and diesel particulates (think soot) than a Prius. Still no comparison. Perhaps if we had cleaner disel technology in SA like Merc's Blue Tec or VW's Bluemotion, then it'd be a decent comparison, but without significant measures to combat diesel emissions, it's nowhere near as environmentally friendly as a hybrid.

 

[Nerfherder]

The Prius is a "Clean car" not a cheap car.... you are paying extra to be nice to the environment.

It should be the other way though, you should pay less to be nice to the environment. The Prius is about R100k overpriced, IMHO they should be subsidized.

Also the Prius is a green car as long as you drive it nicely and dispose of the batteries correctly.

 

[BCO]

The Prius is a "Clean car" not a cheap car.... you are paying extra to be nice to the environment.

It should be the other way though, you should pay less to be nice to the environment. The Prius is about R100k overpriced, IMHO they should be subsidized.

Also the Prius is a green car as long as you drive it nicely and dispose of the batteries correctly.

How is it R100k overpiced? You can get one new for R325k. A Golf 6 TDI is R300k.

 

[Nerfherder]

Last time I checked it was R380 for the cheapest model. I think R280 is a far more reasonable price.

 

[BCO]

Last time I checked it was R380 for the cheapest model. I think R280 is a far more reasonable price.

This month's Car mag shows R325k for the Advanced and R370 for the Exclusive. Why should it be R20k cheaper than a diesel Golf?

 

[JK8]

What does a service cost on a Prius? And how often must it be serviced?

VW should just roll Blue motion Polos and maybe a Polo station wagon and bye bye Prius!!

A Prius is not a fuel efficient car, its a status symbol...

 

[BCO]

What does a service cost on a Prius? And how often must it be serviced?

VW should just roll Blue motion Polos and maybe a Polo station wagon and bye bye Prius!!

A Prius is not a fuel efficient car, its a status symbol...

Yeah, coz 4l/100km is not fuel efficient...

Standard 5 year 90 000km maintenance plan too.

 

[JK8]

I think Adams getting 3.5l/100km with his 200K Polo... And he's used to driving a Porsche.

 

[BCO]

I think Adams getting 3.5l/100km with his 200K Polo... And he's used to driving a Porsche.

Guaranteed a Prius is more fuel efficient than the 1.6 tdi Polo. It's also a class bigger than a Polo. Why not compare a Prius with a Golf rather?