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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Honda Accord Hybrid - worth the extra $$$? 
223 messages, Last post on Feb 07, 2006 at 6:12 PM
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OK... premium for a hybrid version vs ICE... It would have to make dollars and sense. Not that the hybrid version should have to pay back the premium in a year, but my cost to own/operate over the time I plan to keep the vehicle has to be in the same ballpark for me to consider one version over another. I guess that translates to I'm not going to pay a very high premium.
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Mar 07, 2005 12:57 pm) I think that is mainstream car buyer perspective. I don't believe hybrids will reach the average car buyer until there is less than $1000 difference for comparable vehicles. The Prius is just different than anything out there and is looking green to America. The Honda Hybrids are not selling as well as projected. Honda has a couple good sellers and they are both in their truck division. |
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A reporter with a major national magazine is looking for a few car shoppers who are in the process of searching for a car and are deliberating between a hybrid and conventional vehicle. He would be interested to talk to people considering the upcoming hybrid Toyota Highlander and/or RX400h. We are also looking members who went through similar deliberations but have already made a purchase, including the Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Honda Accord or the Toyota Prius. Please send a brief description of your experience along with your contact information to Kirsten Holguin at kholguin  edmunds.com by Thursday, March 10th.
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Replying to: railroadjames (Mar 05, 2005 8:50 pm) as far as the hah goes, i'd rather give up the 15hp and have a moonroof. maybe i'm just showing my age.
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Mar 07, 2005 12:57 pm) I expect this is not an uncommon opinion, but it is intriguing to me. When I see cars on the dealer showfloor with special alloy wheels priced at $4000, or even a V6 or V8 model of a car priced a few thousand over a car with a smaller (more fuel efficient) engine, I wonder if the buyers think about recouping the price difference over time. Or is this just a hybrid phenomenon--that people expect to recoup the price premium over the life of ownership, even though the hybrid provides benefits that are hard to put a pricetag on, e.g. better acceleration (HAH), uniqueness(for the Prius in particular), exclusivity, or "greeness." |
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 07, 2005 5:21 pm) The Prius can go around 500 miles on a tank. Try that with a Focus. How many critics have given the Focus the accolades that the Prius has acquired these last several months? With all due respect to the Focus, it's a bit generic in comparison. You get what you pay for. That's why I didn't mind parting with the extra $$$$ for the Prius. It really wasn't that bad too. About $645.00 more than a Nissan Altima that I almost bought. Stying has to count for something. The Prius is just sharp! Culliganman(Oil estimaters say gas will go up 20 cents by the end of March)
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I think the reason the word "recoup" comes into play when we're talking about hybrids is that the whole point of the hybrid is increased efficiency/better mileage. It's supposed to be cheaper (and cleaner) to operate. But all that goes down the dumper if the cost to buy the hybrid is going to eat up all my operational savings. Having to be on the edge of ANY technology is always going to hit you in the wallet. To use computers as an example, if you've wanted the latest and greatest over the last 15 year, you probably were going to plunk down $2500-$3000 for your system. 6 months to a year later, when there's a NEW latest and greatest that will cost that much, the same computer system will be MUCH more reasonable. I don't think it's any different with evolving automotive technology. The current offerings of hybrids are NOT the final answer, just steps along the way. And if the current vehicles hit the mainstream and come down in price, the NEXT advance in design will be the pricey option and we'll have topics like Hybrid Gen I vs Hybrid Gen II PF Flyer Host Pickups & News & Views Message Boards The MAZDA MANIA Chat is on tonight. Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
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Replying to: railroadjames (Mar 07, 2005 6:11 pm) If you doubt me compare interior space, equipment, premium extras … Luggage space is a win with the Prius and a surprise to boot with the hidden compartment below the rear storage. It holds alot of extras. Size: Passenger Volume (cu. ft.)/Luggage Capacity (cu. ft.)/Total (cu. ft.) Ford Focus ZX3/ZX5: 94.4/18.6/113 Toyota Prius II: 96.2/16.1/112.3 The Ford Focus is the larger of the two. Even the sound system is an up grade over the Focus. The stock Ford Focus SES’ radio includes speed sensitive volume, 6-CD-Changer, and MP3 player capability and sounds better then the stock Prius’ system. If you upgrade either, the Ford Focus’ Sony system has an 8” Sub. I do not know how that compares to the upgraded JBL in the Prius II but I bet the Ford sounds better given those that have commented on the upgraded Prius II system. Although a Ford Focus ZX5 loaded up (leather - heated seats, powered sunroof, TCS, ABS, Side Bags, etc.) can be had for < $18K w/ the $2K rebate. I wouldn’t purchase one at that price myself but another 3 or 4 months when the $3 - $5K rebates are available might make a big difference to some? At that point, the only thing you have going for the Prius II in terms of TCO is FE and the optional lux amenities that take a Prius II up into the $27K range. $27K is a lot of $’s for a compact no matter the performance or FE. The Prius can go around 500 miles on a tank. Try that with a Focus. My 2.3 L Ranger XLT has a range of over 600 miles from most tanks (16.5 gallon cap) in an average of 30 degree temps throughout the winter. http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/car/380 Why wouldn’t a Focus 2.0e with a 6 mpg higher highway rating and just a 1.5 gallon cap tank shortfall? I would say your 500 mile range in the Prius II is poor at best. How many critics have given the Focus the accolades that the Prius has acquired these last several months? The Focus has made Car and Driver’s 10 Best for how many years in a row now? Handling: Ford Focus is easily the best of the two. Performance: Ford Focus with either the 2.0e or the 2.3 is by far the faster of the two. Good Luck Wayne R. Gerdes
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Replying to: xcel (Mar 08, 2005 7:27 am) Ford also gives a better drivetrain warranty than the Toyota Prius. Five years 100,000 miles for the Focus. They must be more reliable. Oh, plus an inch and a half more headroom in the back seat, for those tall teenagers. $8k buys a lot of gas probably enough for the life of the Focus. That means the Prius starts out 100k miles or more behind the Focus. I believe you can get the Focus PZEV rated in CA. |
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Replying to: xcel (Mar 08, 2005 7:27 am) The Focus also rated very high in Consumer Reports Auto Issue this year, until Today. Today Consumer Reports today took the unprecedented step of changing one of their best picks (Focus) to an "Unacceptable" rating due to newly released IIHS Crash Tests showing poor side impact protection in the Focus. I add this even though the message I'm replying to was completely Off Topic in this thread (having nothing to do with the Accord), because we can probably go ahead and agree at this point that the Focus and Accord are not comparable. |
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