New Prius World Beater?

[Dieselman]

Have you ever ridden down a motorway for 4 hours in a Prius ?
I'd need to be drugged to complete a journey like that again. You'd feel more refreshed climbing off the saddle on the back of a donkey after four hours.

I have had the unfortunate experience of being a passenger in new Focus for 40 mins recently.

I was in pain.......

Maybe a Rh430 might suit better.

 

[Alfie]

The current BMW is 95% recyclable. The Prius is lucky to be 75% used. The Prius would not meet German standards for a car design. It causes too much land-fill on being dismantled.

It really has nothing to offer the environment. It satifies only the requirement of how it should make the smug zealot feel.

Well said.

The main thing I see when I encounter a Prius is an ugly car driven by a misguided person. Sadly my mother drives one which to be fair to her wasnt her choice of car.

 

[Dieselman]

The main thing I see when I encounter a Prius is an ugly car driven by a misguided person.

Thought you'd have been able to show Mum how to use the SatNav Alfie..

 

[st4]

EU4 is nothing to do with carbon footprint or Co2 emissions.

True its to do with particulate control etc but the CO2/Global warming theory is being rammed in our faces so its odd that EU4 doesn't do more with CO2 + MPG. The diesel particulate notion is much less publicised.

 

[Dieselman]

No its to do with particulate control etc but the CO2/Global warming theory is being rammed in our faces so its odd that EU4 doesn't do more with CO2 + MPG. The diesel particulate notion is much less publicised.

I might agree because particulates are such a non entity but got hyped up in the press so much that now it has become an issue.

My personal belief is that a number of the emission control restricitons should be lifted to make engines more efficient so as to reduce fuel consumption.

 

[st4]

I might agree because particulates are such a non entity but got hyped up in the press so much that now it has become an issue.

My personal belief is that a number of the emission control restricitons should be lifted to make engines more efficient so as to reduce fuel consumption.

Lets take that further and look at cutting weight if cutting fuel consumption is a big issue. Are these particulates more harmful than a bit of exta CO2 though? The impact of CO2 from cars is debatable, what isn't that oil will alas run out, but when?

One can argue that cars have got bigger and heavier in the past 20 years. Yes they are more comfortable + safer, but heavier. It would be nicer to see the use of lighter weight materials, carbon fiber etc, a) it would satisfy tge fuel consuption issue, plus they'd be better to drive too.

 

[DaveK]

I travelled to London and back in some planet saving, tree huggers Prius and would gladly have chosen a donkey cart of this heap. Every time he beamed and pointed to the pathetic diagram on the dash showing an average mpg of 47 I pointed out that my other half's E class 220 cdi did around 51 mpg on the same run with far more comfort, smoothness and general luxury.

 

[st4]

I travelled to London and back in some planet saving, tree huggers Prius and would gladly have chosen a donkey cart of this heap. Every time he beamed and pointed to the pathetic diagram on the dash showing an average mpg of 47 I pointed out that my other half's E class 220 cdi did around 51 mpg on the same run with far more comfort, smoothness and general luxury.

I get slightly less than 51mpg from my E220cdi on a run like that. Is your better halfs the EU3 engine that uses less fuel, or does she have the EU4 motor. 48mpg doing 60 on mway is about right.

Without detracting from your point I'd agree, unless your doing purely town driving ther Prius is a complete waste of space. In town I'd argue its dangerous as it silently creeps up on people on leccy power. Its not a small car either so isn't a "urban solution" to use new age california speak/board room speak

A supermini etc like a diesel Aygo can get 70mpg plus, and it isn't quite as silly looking as a prius, and better for safety, congestion, and economy.

I wonder if we will ever get an anti hybrid lobby for that reasoning, thats as powerful as the one that persecutes 4x4 owners?

 

[DaveK]

The anti Prius lobby would do well to look at what happens to the batteries out of the thing ,when it is kaput and ready for the scrap heap.

 

[st4]

The anti Prius lobby would do well to look at what happens to the batteries out of the thing ,when it is kaput and ready for the scrap heap.

I thought they were recyclable? If they aren't then the car is an even bigger con than I originally thought.

 

[Dieselman]

The anti Prius lobby would do well to look at what happens to the batteries out of the thing ,when it is kaput and ready for the scrap heap.

The battery-pack is harmful to the environment.

Thankfully, that's not the case.

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) of the battery-pack is a environmentally benign substance. It can be recycled too. In fact, the guarantee for recycling is rather high since nickel is a valuable metal. Toyota even offers a bounty to help ensure their recovery. Misconceptions about rechargeable batteries typically stem from the obsolete NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) technology, which actually is harmful.

The aint-Prius lobby probably have already looked into this and drawn a blank.

Homework, boys, homework.

 

[Dieselman]

The Prius was designed back int eh mid 1990's and for the Japanese and US markets where there are no diesel engined cars.

47mpg is good for a mid size petrol engined car.

The advantage with a hybrid is that the mpg improves around town.

The next prius should achieve 90+mpg and mercedes and Citroen will have hybrid diesels by then.

 

[st4]

The Prius was designed back int eh mid 1990's and for the Japanese and US markets where there are no diesel engined cars.

47mpg is good for a mid size petrol engined car.

The advantage with a hybrid is that the mpg improves around town.

The next prius should achieve 90+mpg and mercedes and Citroen will have hybrid diesels by then.

That would explain the nasty cheap interior then.

However 47mpg is nothing spectacular even from a mid sixed petrol car. A member of my IAM group has an 03 Passat 2.oi. He gets 44mpg. That car is an early 90's car, much hevier and probably less areodynamic.

90mpg is good if the next prius can get that. Judging by the claims made on the current one, I'll take that with a pinch of salt.

 

[nick mercedes]

The Prius was designed back int eh mid 1990's and for the Japanese and US markets where there are no diesel engined cars.

47mpg is good for a mid size petrol engined car.

The advantage with a hybrid is that the mpg improves around town.

The next prius should achieve 90+mpg and mercedes and Citroen will have hybrid diesels by then.

340 mpg - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Super_Cub

Ideal for all Prius owners.

 

[Swiss Toni]

The Prius was designed back int eh mid 1990's and for the Japanese and US markets where there are no diesel engined cars.

Not quite....

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/07/prices-for-used.html

Prices for Used Diesel Cars Heading North

By Marty Jerome July 26, 2007 | 5:39:00 AMCategories: Diesel

It's not surprising that fuel-saving diesel cars are getting snapped up at wholesale auctions and at used-car dealer lots. Automakers should read from this trend the unbudging fact that American consumers don't want to give up full-sized cars. A diesel engine is the best compromise. Except for a few thousand Mercedes-Benz cars and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, all diesel passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. last year were in heavy-duty trucks. Several automakers have diesel cars coming to the United States. But in the meantime, the used-diesel market is hot. As "Autoweek" notes, "A diesel engine added about $1,000 to the roughly $50,000 sticker price of a new 2005 Mercedes E320 CDI sedan. Two years later, that option fetches $2,500 more at wholesale auctions than the gasoline-powered engine on the same model."

 

[Alfie]

Thought you'd have been able to show Mum how to use the SatNav Alfie..

Funny you say that because the sat Nav in her Prius is the most awful piece of kit I've ever come across. It is dreadful, utterly dreadful. I gave up trying to use it because its so horrible. Plus I didnt want to be seen in the car either!!!!

 

[DaveK]

'Funny you say that because the sat Nav in her Prius is the most awful piece of kit I've ever come across.'
Thats a bit strong coming from some one pedaling the extras for MB's cash hungary Command Systems

 

[verytalldave]

Comand and a stand alone sat nav are not comparable. I have Comand and its great. Miles better than ALL - REPEAT ALL - of the afterfit units available.

OK, it doesn't monitor speed traps, but it doesn't take an Einstein to spot cameras nowadays. The convenience of it always being there outweighs the negative points.

And remember, Comand is not only a satnav unit.

 

[kbhogalW126]

'Funny you say that because the sat Nav in her Prius is the most awful piece of kit I've ever come across.'
Thats a bit strong coming from some one pedaling the extras for MB's cash hungary Command Systems

DaveK,

Alfie is well respected here and helps a lot of people out.

He has contributed a lot more during his time here than you have.

All you seem to do is abuse people.

It's like a bloody nanny state in this forum these days.

No one can post anything anymore without a snide comment from you.

I would politely ask that you refrain from making comments like you did above as Alfie has advised me personally many times in the past and has not tried to "peddle" any extras only advise.

Regards,

KJ

 

[DaveK]

'And remember, Comand is not only a satnav unit.'
True. For over £300 squid you can get a bluetooth device to allow you to use your mobile with it. £300 plus for a bluetooth device. Now that is ' havin a larffff "