[Pc_Support] Re: Toyota Prius ... -- too popular to buy right now (going to wait a few years)

[Bryan J. Smith]

On Tue, 2005-04-19 at 09:52 -0500, David Simmons wrote:
> I've been following the hybrid/electric vehicle info for awhile.

I have too and they all _sucked_ until last year.  I looked at the Honda
and other offerings, they are all "tacked on" designs of a base and
offer _little_ incentive.

> The biggest question I'd have up front (and haven't asked a Toyota/Prius guy
> this question in awhile).
> Q:  How long (either time/distance) will the batteries last?
> Q:  When it's time to change batteries, how much?  How much down time?
> Who does the work?

Again, don't know, but they are covered by a standard 8 year, 100,000
mile warranty.  Yes, the original batteries are covered that long, no
charge to replace.

> We're not used to thinking this way with gas engines...need to change
> mindsets.

For all the hybrids in the past, I agree.  But not the Prius.  It's not
a "tacked on" hybrid design of an existing base -- it is a design
entirely for its own.

> Let me know if/when you get one.....and if you're offering rides?...grin

If I could get one at _list_ price with the standard #2 option (curtain
airbags and keyless entry) for $22K, I'd buy one.  But right now they
are in such demand that not only are only the #5/#6 options the only
ones available (+$5-6K for navigation, etc...), but there is typically a
$3-4K markup!  That's $30K!  Not worth it!  I'll wait a few years.

They went into "double production" early this year.  If my wife's car
would have only broke down 6 months ago, before the recent gas hikes.
Over the last 6 months, people have been buying them because of the gas
prices.

I wanted one _before_ gas prices went up.  Not because I'm "green" or
trying to "save green," but they're a damn well-designed car!  The 1st
gen was _awesome_ in reliability, but not the "total package."  I
wouldn't have bought one.  But now the 2nd gen is now "matured" in
features, comfort and everything else -- people love them _not_ because
they are a hybrid.

Unfortunately, $30K is about all you can find them for -- about 40-50%
more than the base price!  Not worth it.  Especially being that they are
so popular, the resale value will plummet.  In fact, I've heard of many
people selling their old 2004s to get the 2005s, and while some
owners/dealers believe the value holds -- they don't because people are
buying new instead.

I'll wait a few years until there are _more_ "specifically designed
hybrids."  Toyota is supposed to have over half their line-up available
as hybrid by 2007, with half of those being dedicated, well-designed
cars.

Not "tacked on" crap designs.  Not "don't touch me or I'll break"
lineage rice-burners -- _very_well_designed_.  After reading the
Consumer Reports and all of the owner reviews, I forget I'm even reading
a review about a Hybrid.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith                                  b.j.smith at ieee.org 
------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Community software is all about choice, choice of technology.
Unfortunately, too many Linux advocates port over the so-called
"choice" from the commercial software world, brand name marketing.
The result is false assumptions, failure to focus on the real
technical similarities and loyalty to blind vendor alignments.