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Hybrid Vehicles Honda Insight Article Comments - 2010 Honda Insight vs. 2009 Toyota Prius
73 messages, Last post on Oct 14, 2009 at 1:06 PM
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Comparison Test: 2010 Honda Insight vs. 2009 Toyota Prius - You might remember the original Honda Insight. When introduced in 1999, it was the first hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S.A., an affordable technical tour de force that achieved spectacular fuel economy by adding a battery-assisted electric motor to the powertrain. But as a diminutive two-seater, it certainly wasn't a car for the masses. (more)
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Replying to: miscrms (May 07, 2009 1:58 pm) May 8th, 2009 "A Prius for $21,000? Good Luck Finding One" http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/a-prius-for-21000-good-luck-finding-o- ne/ This uncovers Toyota's dirty little secret - their announcement about a "cheaper" Prius was just a headline-grabbing ploy to try to take the spotlight off of the Insight. The article starts: "Shortly after Honda announced that its new Insight hybrid would start at $19,800, Toyota said last month that it would offer its own starter Prius with a base price of $21,000. But if that unexpectedly low price has you reaching for your checkbook, good luck. According to Wade Hoyt, a Toyota spokesman, the stripped-down “Prius I” will mostly be sold to fleets. Getting one for civilian use in many parts of the country may require a special order, he said." and further down.... "Toyota said that Prius I is “designed to appeal to the most cost-conscious businesses and consumers.” That apparently means taxi drivers and government bureaucrats, who will have to do without standard cruise control, a rear wiper, the car’s vaunted Touch Tracer Display (which projects steering wheel controls onto the instrument panel), and EV mode, which allows switching into battery only for a mile or so. Other deletions will be announced on the poor man’s Prius, which won’t be available until the fall. For $21,300, hybrid buyers can buy a relatively upscale Honda Insight EX, which comes with an upgraded audio system, paddle shifters, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals and alloy wheels." - - - - Toyota should be ashamed of themselves. They got their headlines, but the devil is in the details.
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Replying to: insight4me (May 09, 2009 11:03 am) I don't see getting upset over rumors and speculation. Cost-conscious "consumers" are not taxi-drivers and government bureaucrats. That's you and me. Toyota said it would be a later introduction so I don't see why you have to assume they are lying to the consumer. Even the comment "mostly sold to fleets" does not exclude consumers. Patience,
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Replying to: dodgeman07 (Apr 05, 2009 6:39 pm) Possibly. But if indeed Toyota offers a prius in the $22K range to compete head to head with the Insight, why critize them for offering a $30+K for a fully loaded one. Would people critize Honda if they offered the Insight with roof/leather/Nav, etc and heaven forbid raise the price??/
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Replying to: wvgasguy (May 09, 2009 12:36 pm)
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Replying to: petl (May 09, 2009 1:08 pm) I did not write the article. But, I felt that the media coverage given the new lower-price announcement by Toyota for their Prius wasn't telling the whole story. My post was about the Times article. Did you read it? It was the Times that said "Good Luck" finding the cheaper Prius. It was the Times that quoted a Toyota official that these new lower-priced models might have to be "special ordered". (Read that: Unavailable at the dealers otherwise.) It was the Times that called the new model a "poor man's Prius" and pointed out that we don't even know yet the full extent of what won't be on it - because it won't be released until the fall. And it was the Times that pointed out what you can get for about the same money on an Insight - right now. Funny how Toyota says their announcement had nothing to do with the release of the Insight! While I was born at night, it wasn't last night. Was there something you found in error in the piece? Is anyone else discussing this deception by Toyota? All I saw before this was the announcement of a lower price and no details. Now that the details are starting to come out, it seems obvious why the announcement was made. I guess you would have felt better if it was a Prius owner who posted the article.
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Replying to: insight4me (May 09, 2009 3:41 pm) Makes sense, why would Toyota want to send over a bunch of low priced, low profit Prius if theyre was no market. Especially if they can sell all the $25,000 models they care to make. The Insight has not been out long enough to prove that many people really want a stripped hybrid. I understand you can buy it less than MSRP? And again, are you not reading a lot into the article. I don't read "special order" as meaning unavailable. If a dealer has a market for them they can order them for stock. Funny how Toyota says their announcement had nothing to do with the release of the Insight! While I was born at night, it wasn't last night. It would be stupid for Toyota to not tell potential buyers that they plan a cheaper stripped version this fall. Obviously they have something in the plan or the Prius models would not "start" at the Prius 2 level. Was there something you found in error in the piece? Is anyone else discussing this deception by Toyota? Speculation as to what Toyota was "thinking" is just speculation. Not really an issue to be making all the fuss about deception. Paranoid people could read a lot into any Times article. BTW, enjoy your Insight. Probably will be an excellent Honda product as usual. But until they add some goodies to it, it will remain a commuter car or a starter car for people wanting fairly cheap transportation. And that's OK. My point before simply was don't critize Toyota for offering a lot of goodies for those that want them and are willing to pay for it.
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Replying to: wvgasguy (May 10, 2009 4:12 pm)  Yes, the Insight can be bought for under sticker price. And when Honda discovered some dealers who were tacking on a $2,000 surcharge - that activity ended quickly when dealers received a letter warning them against charging more. They would risk losing their shipments if they did not stop the practice. It will be interesting to see if Toyota continues to allow the extra surcharges that were done in the past.
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Replying to: wvgasguy (May 09, 2009 12:41 pm) A $30K loaded Prius is fine if the actually have 2010 models to sell at $23K and it looks like they will. 
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Replying to: insight4me (May 10, 2009 4:39 pm) Well, it is a forum for comparing the Insight to the Prius.
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