You are here: Forums Hybrid Vehicles Does the current situation affect hybrid sales more?

Does the current situation affect hybrid sales more?

108 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2009 at 1:35 PM

You are in the Hybrid Vehicles Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Saturn Aura Hybrid, Saturn VUE Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Car Buying, Coupe, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, SUV

#6 of 108 Re: I'm lost [pf_flyer] by gagrice Nov 26, 2008 (5:17 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Nov 26, 2008 4:50 pm) but doesn't include the Mariner and Escape hybrids in that group?   My brother in law just bought a new Escape with V6. He was thinking about the Hybrid Escape. Said it was almost $10k more than he paid. Did not think he would ever use that much more gas. I told him he made a wise choice. Replies to this message: fezo (Nov 26, 2008 5:29 pm) newyorker6 (May 13, 2009 10:29 am) larsb (May 13, 2009 10:37 am) gagrice (May 13, 2009 1:32 pm) and 1 more... railroadjames (Nov 26, 2008 8:16 pm) gagrice (Nov 26, 2008 8:54 pm) kdhspyder (Nov 29, 2008 2:51 pm) and 3 more... oldfarmer50 (Nov 29, 2008 11:19 am)
#7 of 108 Re: I'm lost [gagrice] by fezo Nov 26, 2008 (5:29 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 26, 2008 5:17 pm) Indeed he did. That is just plain nuts. I'd like a hybrid next time around but not at that expense.   The VW Jettta TDI wagon looks better every day. Replies to this message: newyorker6 (May 13, 2009 10:29 am) larsb (May 13, 2009 10:37 am) gagrice (May 13, 2009 1:32 pm) larsb (May 13, 2009 2:07 pm)
#8 of 108 Re: I'm lost [gagrice] I'm wiser than Ever! by railroadjames Nov 26, 2008 (8:16 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 26, 2008 5:17 pm) What amazes me is that folks seem to forget that the price of gas has dropped quite suddenly and will most certanly climb again in the future. Anyone out there doubt it? While I did not like the near 5 buck a gallon gas price this summer I certanly was happy for the fact it only cost me a fraction of what SUVers were paying. I have never found a car that gave me the satisfaction that my Prius has and will continue to do. I'm at 95K miles and Lord knows the buckets of $$$$ I've saved. I too could consider another vehicle besides a hybrid. I like other cars but just don't tell my Prius. She might object. She's earned the right to object. Back to gas prices. Next summer I predict gas at 3-4 bucks again and then we'll be right back where we started. Hardly the wiser. Oh! Why am I the wiser you ask? I was bold enough to take the plunge when lesser folks shyed away. Replies to this message: gagrice (Nov 26, 2008 8:54 pm) kdhspyder (Nov 29, 2008 2:51 pm) andre1969 (Nov 29, 2008 3:07 pm) and 1 more... gagrice (Nov 29, 2008 4:26 pm) oldfarmer50 (Nov 29, 2008 11:19 am)
#9 of 108 Re: I'm lost [gagrice] I'm wiser than Ever! [railroadjames] by gagrice Nov 26, 2008 (8:54 pm)
Replying to: railroadjames (Nov 26, 2008 8:16 pm) I went to lunch with a friend last week. He had just bought a brand new 2009 Prius and wanted to take me for a ride. The last Prius I was in was when they first came here in 2000. Quite frankly I was not impressed. The road noise was more than I expected. The engine kicking in was noisier than my GMC Hybrid PU. I was sitting in back it had plenty of leg room. It just was not a smooth comfortable ride. I rarely ride in small cars and they will have to be much nicer riding and quieter to get me to buy one. I don't care if it gets 100 MPG. Sorry James I am not that desperate to save gas. Maybe for short trips to the store. I would never head out on a road trip in one. Replies to this message: kdhspyder (Nov 29, 2008 2:51 pm) andre1969 (Nov 29, 2008 3:07 pm) kdhspyder (Dec 01, 2008 6:03 am) gagrice (Nov 29, 2008 4:26 pm)
#10 of 108 Re: I'm lost [pf_flyer] by explorerx4 Nov 27, 2008 (9:39 am)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Nov 26, 2008 4:50 pm) the escape and mariner hybrid are not produced in great quantites, which has a lot lot to do with exempting them from employee pricing. you basically can't find one here in new england. some dealers in california have a good supply.
#11 of 108 I loved what Jay Leno by boaz47 Nov 27, 2008 (9:41 pm)
Said the other night. "The only thing dropping faster than gas prices in california was the smug look on prius drivers as they drove down the street." Even at $4.00 a gallon they didn't pay for themselves compared to a Yaris at half the price. At $2.00 they may never make up the difference. California gas was $1.85 a gallon for Regular on the way home for family thanksgiving. I almost stopped to get gas and I had almost a full tank.   I like the idea of a hybrid if it is put in a practical car that doesn't look so strange. Even I was tempted to purchase a Insight from a friend from out of state. But now I can hold on till they come out with a EV city car, I hope. Still I don't think lower fuel prices will effect hybrids from Toyota and Honda. It might push the manufacturers into some small diesels but that would be fine as well. I prefer some comfort over strangeness for strangeness sake.
#12 of 108 Prius at highest levels on the lots by gagrice Nov 28, 2008 (5:07 am)
One of the San Diego dealers has 22 Prius on their inventory. Prices start at $22,999 go to $29,386. Same dealer has 18 Camry hybrids and 12 Highlander hybrids. I had no idea you could spend $55,000 on a Highlander Hybrid. That is about $12,000 over the top of the line non hybrid Highlander. That gives you about the first 130,000 miles worth of gas free on the non-hybrid version.   I would say the cheap gas has made the hybrids a lot less desirable. Replies to this message: boaz47 (Nov 28, 2008 6:24 pm) gagrice (Nov 28, 2008 8:26 pm) _starrman_ (Nov 29, 2008 7:35 am)
#13 of 108 Re: Prius at highest levels on the lots [gagrice] by boaz47 Nov 28, 2008 (6:24 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 28, 2008 5:07 am) Well they are going to have to price them within reason but I think Hybrids are the wave of the future unless we can get reasonable small diesels. If they produced small entry level diesels and brought them to market at prices people could afford they could corner the market before hybrids had a big foot hold. But that doesn't seem to be the way anyone wants to do things. The one thing lower fuel prices might do is force hybrid manufacturers to make hybrids more price competitive. I never liked the idea of them pricing hybrids like cabbage patch dolls just because they could. Replies to this message: gagrice (Nov 28, 2008 8:26 pm)
#14 of 108 Re: Prius at highest levels on the lots [boaz47] by gagrice Nov 28, 2008 (8:26 pm)
Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 28, 2008 6:24 pm) With Toyota and Ford lots busting at the seams I think a person with patience could cut a good deal on a Hybrid. I like to start at invoice and go down from there. After riding in my friends 2009 Prius, I would never buy one. Just too rough around the edges comfort, noise and ride. I test drove a Yaris while my Sequoia was being serviced. It was Yugo time in my opinion. I have never seen a Yugo up close. It was what I perceived from my little drive in one. Strictly entry level. Not even close to the Jetta or VW Beetle. Neither was the Prius. If I wanted a small car. The new Jetta TDI would be right at the top of the list. Owners getting 50 MPG and the handling is great. Time will tell if VW has improved reliability. I know my 2005 Passat TDI was great the year I owned it. Only car I kind of miss. That and my Suburban.
#15 of 108 Re: Prius at highest levels on the lots [gagrice] by _starrman_ Nov 29, 2008 (7:35 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 28, 2008 5:07 am) I actually have a Highlander Hybrid and took into a consideration of factors for my purchase.   1. I was looking at the macro perspective and wanted to do my part in lessening our dependency on oil... I just got back from Iraq with the military, so I guess that pretty much sums up this reason. 2. Our county charges personal property tax for every vehicle owned... hybrids are tax exempt from these taxes. So my savings in the payoff difference has now accelerated compared to just saving fuel. 3. The vehicle is very roomy, comfortable, and is surprisingly a very quiet vehicle (can't say much in comparison to a Prius... but I'd imagine it's better). 4. In the DC area, we can ride in the HOV lanes as a single passenger with hybrids... for those that's driven in DC before, that in itself is a lifesaver! 5. Of course, the environment - I guess I'm helping a little bit in that too. 6. The Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded. For a vehicle that has all the premium features that it has, I don't have to rely on paying extra for premium fuel as other vehicle manufacturers recommend with similar vehicles in it's class. 7. Great reviews from Consumer's Report so far and so far from my experience, I'd have to agree with them. 8. Toyota reliability and resale value (although it will be interesting how hybrids will fit into the equation years down the road.. but I planned to run it to the last mile anyway). 9. From what I understand, less wear and tear and the engine since it's assisted with the hybrid technology... brakes are also less prone to wear and tear as well since the hybrid electric motors take some of the load off in braking to regenerate it's charge in the batteries.   I avg about 24-30mpg (mainly depends if I run the heater a lot, how conservative I drive it).   I guess it depends on how you look at things by putting all the considerations together... if you really enjoy driving your vehicle, see the overall value(s) in what you're getting out of it, the benefits that you're gaining from the additional cost in the long run, and feel that you got a good price for what it serves... then at least you're making an informed decision. Although I may have paid some extra... I still feel pretty good about the purchase regardless.

You are here: Forums Hybrid Vehicles Does the current situation affect hybrid sales more?