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Toyota Prius vs. Honda Civic Hybrid v. Honda Insight v. ? - READ ONLY

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars

Messages Page 32 of 34

#309 of 336 Cost of Hybrids miscalculated! by bravoq

Mar 09, 2006 (4:27 pm)

CR made a small error in their calcs:
 
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/14045918.htm
 
``We deeply regret the error,'' Rik Paul, the magazine's automotive editor, said in the statement.

#310 of 336 Re: Cost of Hybrids miscalculated! [bravoq] by ateixeira

Mar 10, 2006 (9:15 am)

Replying to: bravoq (Mar 09, 2006 4:27 pm)
They are still making a lot of assumptions, one big one being that hybrids will maintain the high residuals they've enjoyed so far.
 
75,000 miles from now, there will be many more new hybrid options out on the road, it's very difficult to guess what they will be worth once there is more competition out there.
 
We also don't know what gas prices will do, they have fluctuated wildly in the past couple of years. That also affects resale values and operating costs.
 
-juice

#311 of 336 Re: Toyota Priuses versus the City car [midnightcowboy] by jrbldr

Mar 12, 2006 (6:56 pm)

Replying to: midnightcowboy (Mar 06, 2006 8:31 am)
You miss the point entirely. People buy a hybrid to make an environmental statement about their concern for the planet and to use as little fuel as possible, whether the additional investment pays back or not. Global warming from greenhouse emissions is widely acknowledged to be an accelerating phenomena that will take decades to stabilize even if we begin to decrease CO2 emissions immediately. With this knowledge, purchasing a vehicle or anything else that wastes fossil fuels unnecessarily would seem to be pretty selfish.

#312 of 336 Re: Toyota Priuses versus the City car [jrbldr] by midnightcowboy

Mar 13, 2006 (6:42 am)

Replying to: jrbldr (Mar 12, 2006 6:56 pm)
jrbldr said:
 
"You miss the point entirely. People buy a hybrid to make an environmental statement about their concern for the planet and to use as little fuel as possible, whether the additional investment pays back or not."
 
Your opinion, okay. But most people and the adverstisements are still hawking the mileage savings ... which really don't exist.
 
Let me ask you a question and answer it honestly. How many of the people that want to use as little fule as possible have installed solar water heaters, solar electric panels, and wind electric genrators on their houses, only use a push non-gas lawnmower, and ride a bicycle for all short trips where possible? If they really want to 'use as little fuel as possilbe' the answer would be yes to all of these. My guess the real answer is only tenths of one percent.
 
I decided I did not WANT to put up with the sacrifices required to drive a Hybrid. I economize and practice good business money managmeent, but gas is only a minor expense in the big picture.
 
Double Sixes,
 
MidcOW
 
P.S.- If you are really interested in reducing polution replace coal electric generation with nulcear! Go nuclear!

#313 of 336 Try living in Australia by davhan

Mar 18, 2006 (5:09 am)

Hybrids do make a lot of sense in Australia.
 
Fuel prices in Australia are = $6.00 to $6.50 per gallon for standard!!!
 
Plug that into your pay back data and see what happens.
 
I've just purchased a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid for that reason.
 
Honda Civic Hybrid $35k (on the road)
 
Prius $41k (on the road)

#314 of 336 Re: Try living in Australia [davhan] by gagrice

Mar 18, 2006 (6:58 am)

Replying to: davhan (Mar 18, 2006 5:09 am)
Welcome to the forum.
 
You live in a country I would love to visit. Keep us posted on how you like the Civic Hybrid. By comparison what does diesel cost in Melbourne?
Gary

#315 of 336 prius vs. golf tdi by coalburner

Mar 24, 2006 (7:49 am)

well, now that i have owned both of these fuel miserly cars for a while, i think i'm in a good position to compare them for other people.
1-both cars have been getting about 50mpg with me and my girlfriend driving them.
2-the prius has a MUCH bigger back seat (front seat and hatch area feel about the same size)
3-both of the vehicles accelerate about the same (the golf is a little faster, but feels much quicker because of the manual transmission)
4-the bright red prius has much more curb appeal than the anthracite blue golf
5- the golf keeps it's 50 mpg rate at 75 mph. the prius doesn't
6- the prius is MUCH easier to drive in heavy traffic than the manual transmission golf.
7- the prius has more high tech gadgets, but the golf gadgets and accessories have been more well thought out.
8- the diesel vw golf can tow a 1300 lb trailer at highway speeds with no difficulty. the prius can't.
9- the diesel isn't nearly as fun as the prius 0n 5 degree fahrenheit mornings as i back up through the cloud of smoke made by the ice cold diesel engine.
10- i run 20% biodiesel in my golf, i can only run 10% ethanol in the prius.
11- on an overflowing tank of diesel i can travel over 800 miles in the golf, i only seem to be getting about 450 miles to the tank on the prius.(cold fuel bladder seems to keep the tank capacity well under 10 gallons)
12 the golf cost 20,300 (list price, no deals), the prius cost a little over 24,000 (also list, no deals)
 
each of these cars has shown itself to be suited for different jobs and we use them for such.
heavy hauling gets done by the golf
long road trips at 80mph get done in the golf
commutes through rush hour traffic get done in the prius.
driving somewhere with 4 people definitely gets done in the prius.

#316 of 336 History of the Hybrids by engnrng

Apr 02, 2006 (10:42 pm)

Although Toyota first introduced the Prius in 1997, Honda was first in North America with the Insight in 1999. The present Prius is actually Toyota's 3rd generation in the marketplace. However, the Toyota Synergy system using the highly efficient Atkinson cycle gas engine (compression ratio 13:1) and 2 electric motor/generators was first developed and patented by good old Americans in El Segundo California working for TRW automotive systems in 1974. Of course, they couldn't interest anyone in Detroit in the technology, so it died until Toyota picked it up and made it work during the mid-1990's.
BTW, I proudly averaged 45 mpg in mixed driving of my Prius during the first 25,000 miles. My wife started driving it and averaged 49 mpg, with a little more highway driving. Needless to say, I have been taking lessons... My primary motivation for buying a Prius was/is the low emissions (EV-1 was no longer available), and, yes, I do have solar electric at my house, along with solar hot water.
I test drove a new RX 400h for over 15 miles, averaged 28 mpg on combination driving. Seemed nice but a little noisy until I made sure the 3 back seat latches were properly caught.
 
Have Fun!

Messages Page 32 of 34

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