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Toyota Prius vs VW Golf TDI - READ ONLY

791 messages,  Last post on Feb 28, 2010 at 9:19 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Golf, Diesel, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 69 of 80

#674 of 791 Re: REAL-WORLD DATA [backy] by schong

Feb 16, 2010 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 08, 2010 7:11 pm)
Amazing how the Prius could be so gosh-darned unreliable yet be one of the top 5 most reliable cars as of spring 2009 per CR's surveys. Also the "most satisfying" car to own per those same surveys. Also the best for used-car reliability.
  
I notice how you left out the 2009 MY. Was that because there were only 137 complaints that year? You also left out the first two years of the Gen 2 Prius history; each of those years had fewer than 500 complaints.
  
Should we talk about all the Golfs and Rabbits recalled by the NHTSA over the past few years? Looks like it was pretty much ALL of them, from 1999-2008.
  
Update: Interesting (and telling?) comment from one of the NHTSA complaints for the 2010 Prius: "I DIDN'T THINK TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS BEFORE I BEGAN HEARING THE NEWS."
 
Well, having a lot of problems reported for 4 out of 5 most recent Prius models should raise red flags if you're in love with Prius I am not disputing your facts about unreliability of VWs, I am talking about recent years and Prius' unreliability compared to Jetta TDIs. ALso, cars CAN be unreliable even if they were not recalled such as Prius models in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and that's GEN 2 vehicles of Prius. YIPPIE if first 2 years GEN 2 vehicles had less than 500 complaints./ Still does not indicate ANY poor reliablity in GEN 2 vehicles after 2005. According to NHTSA website on Prius complaints, the drivers are more likely to report ACTUAL PROBLEMS than " I DIDN'T THINK TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS BEFORE I BEGAN HEARING THE NEWS." Also, your claim that Prius is one of the most reliable cars according to a survey did not take into account who did participated and which years of Prius were involved. They probably did not survey many 2006, 2007 and 2008 Prius owners. That survey was at one point in time. The complaints on NHTSA explains drivers experiences THROUGHOUT their ownership of the vehicle, WELL past the reliability survey you claimed. By the way, 2009 Prius complaits are near 180 as of today and Prius 2010 is reaching 1500.

#675 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [bwilson4web] by winter2

Feb 16, 2010 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: bwilson4web (Feb 15, 2010 7:25 pm)
Some years ago when Toyota brought out the Camry Hybrid a car magazine tested the Camry against an E-Class MB diesel. One of the tests consisted of a climb of Pike's Peak. The Camry did not do well as the traction battery pack died before the half way point. The MB also got better FE during the climb too. I remembered this story last night and for the life of me cannot remember the name of the magazine I saw it in.
 
During open road driving, highway cruising, the diesel beat the Camry Hybrid but around town in stop and go, the Hybrid did better.

#676 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [winter2] by gagrice

Feb 16, 2010 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: winter2 (Feb 16, 2010 1:58 pm)
The famous RX400h vs the ML320 CDI still brings to mind the reality of which technology is best. They went cross country, over 3000 miles and the ML diesel got best overall mileage.
 
From Green car congress:
 
Average total consumption for the Mercedes over the 5,200-kilometer trip (3,232 miles) was 9.2 l/100km (25.6 mpg), while the Lexus came in at 10.2 l/100km (23 mpg).
 
Hopefully a team can do the same with a Golf TDI and a Prius. After they get the brakes working on the Prius.

#677 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [gagrice] by gagrice

Feb 16, 2010 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 16, 2010 3:41 pm)
Where is the Prius in the Guiness record book?
 
Days earlier, Mr. Taylor and his wife, Helen, had completed a 48-state drive averaging 67.9 miles a gallon: 9,505 miles in 19 days, filling up only 13 times and spending a total of $371.03 for diesel fuel. That beat the Guinness record of 58.8 miles a gallon they set a year ago on nearly the same route in an almost identical 2009 Jetta TDI.
 
When the Prius makes that course in the same or shorter time using the same or less fuel they get to be in the book. Until then they are just another good mileage commuter car. Getting 70 MPG on the Prius readout over 20 miles is meaningless.

#678 of 791 Re: REAL-WORLD DATA [schong] by backy

Feb 16, 2010 (4:48 pm)

Replying to: schong (Feb 16, 2010 1:54 pm)
They (CR) probably did not survey many 2006, 2007 and 2008 Prius owners. That survey was at one point in time.
 
It's not a good idea to make statements about things you obviously know nothing about.

#679 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [gagrice] by backy

Feb 16, 2010 (4:51 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 16, 2010 3:41 pm)
Yes, in a test consisting of driving a car thousands of miles on interstate highways, I have no doubt a TDI will do very well. That is the ideal driving environment for a diesel.
 
Change the test to something most drivers experience everyday, where there's a lot of in-town driving, and the diesel won't do nearly as well I suspect.

#680 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [winter2] by backy

Feb 16, 2010 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: winter2 (Feb 16, 2010 1:58 pm)
So now it's an old comparison of the first Camry hybrid vs. an MB diesel.
 
Again I ask, how does that relate at all to a comparison of the 2010 Prius to the 2010 Golf TDI?

#681 of 791 Re: rehashing reliability is old-hat [gagrice] by bwilson4web

Feb 16, 2010 (6:56 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 16, 2010 3:48 pm)
You mentioned:
 
"Getting 70 MPG on the Prius readout over 20 miles is meaningless. "
 
Actually it is just one data point on a graph that plots "mph vs MPG," at 47 mph. But there is another collection of mileage records, the EPA web site, www.fueleconomy.gov:
 
49.0 (70 vehicles) - 2010 Prius
40.1 (27 vehicles) - 2009 Jetta TDI
 
Does the Guiness Book of Records come with a free fuel card to cover the 22% difference the Prius saves? But on further reflection, it would be great if TDI advocates bought two:
http://www.amazon.com/Guinness-World-Records-2010/dp/1904994504/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UT- F8&s=books&qid=1266371390&sr=8-2
 
Indeed, buy as many as you can afford and show them off at the gas station.
 
I prefer to spend as little of my Yankee Greenback dollars at the fuel pump as possible.
 
Bob Wilson

#682 of 791 Re: REAL-WORLD DATA [backy] by schong

Feb 16, 2010 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 16, 2010 4:48 pm)
It's not a good idea to make statements about things you obviously know nothing about.
 
Well, it's also stupid to IGNORE the problems that are on record.

#683 of 791 Re: REAL-WORLD DATA [schong] by backy

Feb 16, 2010 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: schong (Feb 16, 2010 7:27 pm)
Ignore? No. Treat them factually and rationally, yes.

Messages Page 69 of 80

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