Smart Cars

[buckeye]

That's enough to keep me away.  An all-but-guaranteed -extra- $2,500 over the ordinary expenses plus the higher sticker price (compared to e.g. a Corolla)?   No, thanks.  I'll hold out until the overall cost of ownership makes it worth it.

http://www.truedelta.com/comparisons201/Prius-vs-Corolla-price-comparison.php?session_code=

Heck, the higher initial cost and higher fuel cost of a diesel makes things tricky enough and that's all fairly mature technology.  The hybrids are yet unproven.  How old is the oldest Prius?  How do they hold up to treatment by people who aren't hippies?

[Gaspar]

That's enough to keep me away.  An all-but-guaranteed -extra- $2,500 over the ordinary expenses plus the higher sticker price (compared to e.g. a Corolla)?   No, thanks.  I'll hold out until the overall cost of ownership makes it worth it.

http://www.truedelta.com/comparisons201/Prius-vs-Corolla-price-comparison.php?session_code=

Heck, the higher initial cost and higher fuel cost of a diesel makes things tricky enough and that's all fairly mature technology.  The hybrids are yet unproven.  How old is the oldest Prius?  How do they hold up to treatment by people who aren't hippies?

The Scion gets about the same mileage (better on the highway).  Has an awesome warranty, and has more space.  The Hybrids are still just marketing and status.  Until they significantly overcome the MPG of conventional vehicles they will only be an image car.

[rwarn17588]

Heck, the higher initial cost and higher fuel cost of a diesel makes things tricky enough and that's all fairly mature technology.  The hybrids are yet unproven.  How old is the oldest Prius?  How do they hold up to treatment by people who aren't hippies?

Unproven? Compared to what?

The Toyota Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997 and worldwide in 2001. The first Honda Insight is a 2000 model (which I drive), thus making it available in 1999. This is technology that's a decade old, at least.

The Prius has one of the highest satisfaction rates of any car on the road, and Toyota has been selling them like crazy for years. There are Prius taxicabs all that have the original battery packs with 300,000 miles on them.

Better yet, the 2010 Prius' mileage has improved to 50 miles per gallon overall on the EPA ratings. That's an increase. In real-world driving by Road and Track, they were getting 64 to even 70 miles per gallon.

[bugo]

Subaru gets 5-star crash safety ratings, but they are making their cars lighter.

Is a 2009 Subaru lighter than an equivalent 1989 model?

But producing a battery-powered car is a big NO NO in the industry, although I suspect they would sell such vehicles in droves. GM had a good one in test stages, but canceled it.

If you are into conspiracy theories, look no further than the EV1.

[dbacks fan]

I know this is an old topic, but with the discussion of electric cars in this topic I wanted to add some info about an electric car that I have seen recently in Scottsdale. While the range is not the best, 25 miles on a charge, it is an interesting idea, and they are available for purchase.

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/xebra-sedan

[cannon_fodder]

At the Promenade Mall here in Tulsa they have several electric cars on display.  About $12000, but with tax credits, this and that, rebates etc. that actual cost can be as low as $2000.  They get up to 60 miles on a charge, are convertibles, are street legal, and kinda look like a smart car.  The problem:  top speed is 25 mph.  Making them worthless as transportation in most cities (including Tulsa).  Top speed of 45mph would be great for many people, but 25 mph doesn't cut it.

[Cats Cats Cats]

At the Promenade Mall here in Tulsa they have several electric cars on display.  About $12000, but with tax credits, this and that, rebates etc. that actual cost can be as low as $2000.  They get up to 60 miles on a charge, are convertibles, are street legal, and kinda look like a smart car.  The problem:  top speed is 25 mph.  Making them worthless as transportation in most cities (including Tulsa).  Top speed of 45mph would be great for many people, but 25 mph doesn't cut it.

I would get one for short shopping trips but at 25mph everybody would get really pissed off.

[Conan71]

At the Promenade Mall here in Tulsa they have several electric cars on display.  About $12000, but with tax credits, this and that, rebates etc. that actual cost can be as low as $2000.  They get up to 60 miles on a charge, are convertibles, are street legal, and kinda look like a smart car.  The problem:  top speed is 25 mph.  Making them worthless as transportation in most cities (including Tulsa).  Top speed of 45mph would be great for many people, but 25 mph doesn't cut it.

Basically a glorified golf cart.  Probably would be a big hit in Sun City, Az.

[dbacks fan]

At the Promenade Mall here in Tulsa they have several electric cars on display.  About $12000, but with tax credits, this and that, rebates etc. that actual cost can be as low as $2000.  They get up to 60 miles on a charge, are convertibles, are street legal, and kinda look like a smart car.  The problem:  top speed is 25 mph.  Making them worthless as transportation in most cities (including Tulsa).  Top speed of 45mph would be great for many people, but 25 mph doesn't cut it.

This is one I would consider and since it's classified as a motorcycle I could drive it in the HOV lane.

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/zap-alias

[dbacks fan]

Basically a glorified golf cart.  Probably would be a big hit in Sun City, Az.

I hate it any time I have to drive through Sun City. The golf cart drivers think they own the road. The problem we have in the north part of Phoenix that we live in since we are close to a lot of open desert, are the ATV and Rhinos that people drive on the road. The larger ATV's and the Rhino types are classified as a motorcycle as long as they have lights and signals they can be driven on the road.

[buckeye]

Wow...forgot about this one.

Quote from: buckeye on April 03, 2009, 11:32:46 am

Heck, the higher initial cost and higher fuel cost of a diesel makes things tricky enough and that's all fairly mature technology.  The hybrids are yet unproven.  How old is the oldest Prius?  How do they hold up to treatment by people who aren't hippies?

Wink

Unproven? Compared to what?

The Toyota Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997 and worldwide in 2001. The first Honda Insight is a 2000 model (which I drive), thus making it available in 1999. This is technology that's a decade old, at least.

I thought the proximity of the two ideas in my post might give enough of a clue...  Folks will just have to puzzle this one out on their own.

The Prius has one of the highest satisfaction rates of any car on the road, and Toyota has been selling them like crazy for years.

Self righteous people do tend to have a very high opinion of their own decisions.

There are Prius taxicabs all that have the original battery packs with 300,000 miles on them.

Got some references for that one?  My Uncle Earl has owned a Datsun pickup since the 70s, never had an oil change and he runs it on a mix of White Lightning and Coleman camping fuel.  672,000 miles and counting.

Better yet, the 2010 Prius' mileage has improved to 50 miles per gallon overall on the EPA ratings. That's an increase. In real-world driving by Road and Track, they were getting 64 to even 70 miles per gallon.

I've opined with this kind of mileage already in consideration.

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Still just waiting for a truly viable all-electric road car to hit the market.  I'll miss the sounds and experience of the ICE but electric cars will be great.  Max torque starting at 0 rpm, eh?  Acceleration limited by traction, I hope all wheel drive is prevalent.