Isn't this a beauty? Compact, green, and so attractive. I do not share the love of what seems to be 95% of Americans for giant tank-like polluting monstrosities.
Prius
We are not planning to buy a new car now. I hope our good old Mitsubishi will last many more years. It is a modest responsive work horse and we are fond of it. But it is nice to dream and plan.
Our dream car
January 5th, 2008 at 07:40 pm
January 5th, 2008 at 07:57 pm 1199563037
But he will probably get one. If he can wait another 5 years, he'll get one. Will probably be our first new car ever since not so keen on the used ones yet.
Interestingly, I had some relatives and friends who bought them when they were first introduced, so have known about them for a long time. BUT just this last month I have seen more Priuses than I Can count. I hope that means there is a decent used market or price drop with time. IT seems like they went from novelty to EVERYWHERE overnight.
I am sure gas prices have something to do with it!!!
It is a nice car.
January 5th, 2008 at 08:12 pm 1199563921
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6259344/the-general-forum/prius-outdoes-hummer-in-environmental-damage-so-go/index.html
January 5th, 2008 at 10:07 pm 1199570850
Another alternative is the Smart Car, which will be available for sale in my state starting this year. Its mileage is about 45 mpg, comparable to the Prius.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:51 pm 1199577066
January 7th, 2008 at 04:25 am 1199679900
However.... Lithium Polymer batteries are considered hazardous waste, and are still currently extremely expensive. They also have a limited capacity life, said to be around 5-6 years. Perhaps it can be stretched out to be 10 years, but eventually, it will fail and have to be replaced. Think iPods, only much bigger. And because they are hybrids, the engine is also much more complex, which will also mean costing more to maintain and fix for the cost of lifetime ownership.
As a town car in NYC, it will definitely give you good MPGs since the system relies on regenerative braking. However, for people like me who drives quite a bit on highways, their MPGs are worse than man subcompacts with conventional engines.
That said, it doesn't mean that I don't like hybrids. Although I am glad that the public is warming up to them, I just don't think the technology has matured enough for them to be practical yet....
Personally, I wish bio-diesel would get more exposure. Imagine a system based on a proven, decades old technology that already gets great MPGs, and is already available in subcompacts. Also, imagine all the fast food restaurants we have that tosses away all this grease that ordinarily have to be paid to dispose of, turning into a valuable fuel for your car. Also, imagine that the fuel can be harvested domestically (although I am aware that there are serious economy of scale issues here, but hey, better that than for the acres and acres of subsidized corn to just sit around and do nothing). And if need be, even bio-diesel engines can be hybridized with an electric engine.
Alternative fuel is a highly sensitive issue that has caused quite a bit of controversy elsewhere, but for now, I think I'll just stick with a cheap subcompact.... Oh, but please don't let this rain on your parade to buy a Prius. I think they're pretty neat too, and I've been tempted to get a Honda Insight myself. Anything is better than more SUVs on the road.