2009 Toyota Prius

[Benjamin Strange]

Have you started enjoying the smell of your own farts yet?

 

[santucci218]

That is hilarious.

No. Seriously. That is the best thing I've seen all night.

Big Props to Paul Gilbert for making that picture.

 

[peterbright]

Have you started enjoying the smell of your own farts yet?

Why would I want to be like you?

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Why would I want to be like you?

It's a Southpark reference. Have you seen the one where Kyle's dad buys a hybrid, moves to San Francisco, and starts smelling his own farts? Quite funny.

 

[marcray]

Watch out with those smart locks, though. You can get in your car and drive a few meters from home before the engine stops, to find you left your keys in front porch

I have the smart keys but the door won't open if it's more than 2 feet away... the funniest thing that happened to me however was I left my car running twice... and this was after the salesman warned me that's the most common problem.

 

[peterbright]

Pushing the Park button is not intuitive either.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

The aforementioned Southpark episode, Smug Alert! Classic.

http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/1002/Smug-Alert!.html

 

[saltymonkey]

Congrats on the new ride. I recently bought a Honda Fit. The seats fold up in several different configurations and it can hold a lot of gear. It almost has as much interior storage capacity as the Element. I've had it for about two months and have averaged between 30-35 mpg on every tank so far.

 

[mike_v_s]

Congrats on the new ride. I recently bought a Honda Fit. The seats fold up in several different configurations and it can hold a lot of gear. It almost has as much interior storage capacity as the Element. I've had it for about two months and have averaged between 30-35 mpg on every tank so far. Also pertaining to seriously increasing gas mileage in any vehicle, check this out:

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I wanted one of those but they were in extremely short supply when I was in the market.

Mike

 

[buzzbass]

I'm trying real hard to care about these cars..............


nope, not happening. congrats on your purchase, and best of luck with it. If you're happy, that's all that matters. besides, with all the gas you save, that means there's more for me to burn(needlessly) in my Hot Rod

 

[Dan Mee]

and the just over 50 mpg average in the first 120 miles.

I get 60mpg from a 10 year old VW Passat, I dont understand why everyone thinks the Prius is so good, if you compare it to others on the market, it's effectively not economically worth it. (unless it's just being run off the battery, and then you'd be better off getting a g wiz).

 

[Benjamin Strange]

I get 60mpg from a 10 year old VW Passat, I dont understand why everyone thinks the Prius is so good, if you compare it to others on the market, it's effectively not economically worth it. (unless it's just being run off the battery, and then you'd be better off getting a g wiz).

I'm getting 46 miles to the gallon in my 17 year old Honda Civic. I like the hybrid idea, but I don't understand why cars haven't gotten significantly more efficient in the last 20 years. If my old beater can do it, why not new cars?

 

[Pilgrim]

Getting a new car/toy is always great. I hope that Prius runs well and does everything the OP wants.

I don't have any problem with people driving what they want to drive. I just want them to GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY instead of buying a car that gets 50 MPG and then holding up traffic by driving 50 in a 70 zone while trying to get another 2 MPG out of it. For some reason, I find that a lot of hybrid drivers are slow drivers even though they're getting 2x the MPG I am.

Drive what you want, drive any speed that's safe, but get OUT of the way and don't hold up traffic.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I get 60mpg from a 10 year old VW Passat, I dont understand why everyone thinks the Prius is so good, if you compare it to others on the market, it's effectively not economically worth it. (unless it's just being run off the battery, and then you'd be better off getting a g wiz).

Consumer reports recently estimated that it take 5-6 years of owning a hybrid before you earn back the premium you pay over a typical economy car. That assumes that you don't pay over sticker, like many have. Prius owners had better plan on owning those cars for a long time to find any real economic benefit!

 

[guy n. cognito]

Getting a new car/toy is always great. I hope that Prius runs well and does everything the OP wants.

I don't have any problem with people driving what they want to drive. I just want them to GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY instead of buying a car that gets 50 MPG and then holding up traffic by driving 50 in a 70 zone while trying to get another 2 MPG out of it. For some reason, I find that a lot of hybrid drivers are slow drivers even though they're getting 2x the MPG I am.

Drive what you want, drive any speed that's safe, but get OUT of the way and don't hold up traffic.

Conversely, I was on the interstate several weeks ago, going about 82 mph. I got passed by a woman in a Prius, going at least 95 mph (while talking on her cell, of course). I was thinking, "man, she sure can pedal fast!"

 

[mike_v_s]

Consumer reports recently estimated that it take 5-6 years of owning a hybrid before you earn back the premium you pay over a typical economy car. That assumes that you don't pay over sticker, like many have. Prius owners had better plan on owning those cars for a long time to find any real economic benefit!

Consumer Reports aside, I would hope that anyone who was in the market for a fuel efficient vehicle in the interest if saving money would have done the math. The estimated 5-6 years it takes to reach the financial benefit also put you in uncharted territory with battery life, high mileage and general reliability.

Mike

 

[jrthebassguy]

I'm getting 46 miles to the gallon in my 17 year old Honda Civic. I like the hybrid idea, but I don't understand why cars haven't gotten significantly more efficient in the last 20 years. If my old beater can do it, why not new cars?

It exists, but it's hella expensive. Introducing the Tesla Roadster, running purely off of electricity:

It'll set you back a nice $100k though.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Consumer Reports aside, I would hope that anyone who was in the market for a fuel efficient vehicle in the interest if saving money would have done the math. The estimated 5-6 years it takes to reach the financial benefit also put you in uncharted territory with battery life, high mileage and general reliability.

Mike

My wife has an acquaintance who paid a $3000 premium over sticker on a Prius because she was going to "save a ton" on gas. Needless to say, she was a little pissed when I showed her the CS article. She said "but the salesman told me I would save $5000 a year is gas!!!"

 

[Philbiker]

Consumer reports recently estimated that it take 5-6 years of owning a hybrid before you earn back the premium you pay over a typical economy car. That assumes that you don't pay over sticker, like many have. Prius owners had better plan on owning those cars for a long time to find any real economic benefit!

Maybe Prius owners aren't buying them for the "economic benefit". Ever think of that?

 

[guy n. cognito]

Maybe Prius owners aren't buying them for the "economic benefit". Ever think of that?

Of course. To many, they are a "prestige" item, to somehow demonstrate that they love mother earth more than the rest of us. Kinda silly, but we can thank Hollyweird for that little fad.