|
Opinion Summary
|
Still weird, but now the stylists are mostly to blame
by mkaresh | Nov 22 '03
Pros: Efficiency, low emissions, room, versatility, ride, quietness, unique styling, lots of technology for the price
Cons: Driving position, CVT behavior under a heavy foot, ugly styling
Return to opinion
OVERALL RATING
|
|
|
|
|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
Re: Re: excellent review (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh,  in Cars & Motorsports
Misconceptions about hybrids have been widely circulated.
The #1 complaint I hear against hybrids is that the battery packs will be bad for the environment. Few people seem to realize that the batteries are NiMH, not lead-acid.
|
Sep 01 '06
6:43 am PDT
|
|
Re: excellent review (Reply to this comment)
by triprey
Many unsubstantiated claims from Freemoney. It is now 2006 and the supposedly high hybrid maintenance costs scenarios he implores are pretty much considered nonsense. So is his highly subjective take on the "infuriating" cvt transmissions performance.
I laughed my bee-hind off at his disparaging comment of Citroen-like styling of the Prius. This is ridiculous considering he himself drives an Echo, which itself looks closer to a Citroen. Tsk-tsk.
I get the feeling he wrote this opinion to assuage his doubts over his decision to buy a death trap Echo over a Prius.
|
Aug 31 '06
8:10 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Possible explanation for poor fuel economy (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
I drove this car in the late fall In Detroit. So I doubt salespeople were showing off the A/C much. Aggressive driving and/or lots of idling were distinct possibilities, though.
|
Dec 11 '04
7:05 pm PST
|
|
Possible explanation for poor fuel economy (Reply to this comment)
by sje333
When I had a rented 2004 Prius, I left the vehicle on with the air conditioning running while showing it off to co-workers. The engine was off and the AC ran from the battery pack for 15 minutes or so. Once the charge level was low enough, the engine turned on and recharged the battery. Since the car was sitting still, it got zero miles per gallon. I would guess that salesmen would do the same thing. It shows off one of the car's most unique feature (keeping the AC on without having to idle the engine) without decreasing the value of the car (i.e., it didn't put any miles on their "new" car). It can kill the fuel economy, though.
There are plenty of other possibilities, but that seems likely.
Other factors that will kill the fuel economy include cold weather, short infrequent trips, and of course aggressive driving.
That's not to say that an average driver will be able to get 51/60 mpg. Those numbers are from antiquated EPA tests that are barely based in modern reality. Very few vehicles will achieve their EPA estimates under average conditions with an average driver. That is frequently pointed out about the hybrids (because the people driving them are fuel-economy conscious), but it is true of all vehicles. Under ideal conditions and careful driving, though, I have been able to beat EPA estimates in the Honda Insight, and match them in the 2004 Prius.
|
Dec 09 '04
8:44 am PST
|
|
The Touch Screen: Distracting? (Reply to this comment)
by ghuang
I sat in my first Prius this week and was dazzled by the clean look of the dash. But I thought about the changing touch screen and wondered if it was distracting to have to look at the screen in order to change the settings, since each screen is laid out differently. And since its flat and a touch screen have no fixed buttons to push to set specific features, I wondered if this "feature" is a safety issue on the road. You'd mentioned in your terrific review that there were rocker buttons on the steering wheel to take care of this issue. Are these buttons enough?
Thanks again.
Glenn
|
Jun 21 '04
10:16 pm PDT
|
|
excellent review (Reply to this comment)
by nofreemoney
Here in Northern Virginia,the state allows hybrids to use the HOV-2 and 3 lanes with one passenger.
As I see it,this is the ONLY reason to buy this car as when the miles add up(over80,000miles)the repair costs for this car (as all Hybrids) will be horrifically high.
Also,because of the computers,sensors and wiring all over the car,should it get in a moderately damaging accident,it's reliability would probably be trashed.
Most auto body shops are not equipped to diagnose and properly repair electrical harnesses on regular cars much less on this rolling technology showcase.
Furthermore,if the accident involves rolling over or severe impact enough to rupture the large batteries,the caustic metals and corrosive chemicals contained in them pose the true ability to cause terrible injury.
Don't get me wrong,I actually love the Prius and the Civic Hybrid,but I own an Echo.
It cost $10,000 less gets-as good-mileage and is repairable.
I might lease or rent a Prius or drive one that my company buys as a tax write-off but I would probably never buy one myself.
As for the Prius's styling,the rims are HIDEOUS!
The body is a work of art-showing how very smart the French are by closely mirroring the Citreon.
And cvt transmissions in general are infuriating because they drive like a one speed lawnmower.
Push on the gas and it goes gently forward.
I can't stand the things.
I want a downshift and YEEHAW! Let's Go!!!!
There seems to be a gently muted sense of acceleration.
Anyway,thanks for your very thorough examination of the Prius.
It reinforces the fact that I won't be buying one.
|
Feb 28 '04
1:20 pm PST
|
|
Re: very informative (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
The first dealer I went to did not have a car available for a test drive, but I called another and they did.
My test drive was about 15 miles long (I refer to the second half as seven miles long). The 80 miles I refer to included both the first half of my test drive and a number before that. It had been 80 miles since the computer was reset.
|
Jan 27 '04
6:29 am PST
|
|
very informative (Reply to this comment)
by akhilesh99
Very good review, a lot of things make so much more sense. Thanks.
Just how are you able to get a 80 mile test drive on this thing, my local dealers wouldn't allow even a local test drive on the new prius, they basically want you to look at one in the showroom or in pictures and order one.
|
Jan 26 '04
11:25 am PST
|
|
Very Useful Review (Reply to this comment)
by henry1807e
Very useful review that explains complex technologies in easy to understand terms. Keep 'em coming.
|
Jan 02 '04
10:40 pm PST
|
|
|
|
