Hybrids - its a tax thing not an mpg thing isn't it?

[crosseyedlion]

Technomatt said:

The Prius 53 Kg battery pack weighs about the same as a conventional complete manual gearbox.

Well done...what do you want? A badge?

I wasn't saying it was light, I was saying it was still a small proportion of the cars weight and the car wasn't heavy compared to its competitors...

[AnotherClarkey]

Technomatt said:

Since when does a Prius lose nearly all a gearbox?

That one comment tells me how much you have actually bothered to research your ranting.

[98elise]

More and and more taxi drivers are driving Prius. In my local station its sometimes 50% of the rank

On the occasions I've been in one, I've asked why, and the answer is always that they are economical and bulletproof. I tend to believe taxi drivers as they are high mileage drivers, and mostly own their own cars.

[Technomatt]

AmitG said:

To be clear, the earlier Prius versions had a belt-driven water pump; the current ones (along with other cars that use the same drivetrain, like the Yaris and Auris) do not.I'm obviously discussing the current one, as is (I believe) everyone else.

Of course. Shame all the other experts didn’t seem to know until I pointed it out.

crosseyedlion said:

Well done...what do you want? A badge?

I wasn't saying it was light, I was saying it was still a small proportion of the cars weight and the car wasn't heavy compared to its competitors...

My original reply was based on all those ‘engineering’ inputs saying how clever it is by deleting components compared to a diesel, Turbos, fuel rails etc and what a technological achievement that is.

Of course a Hybrid just adds more weight, alternate complex system components, cost and is very volume demanding.

Roo said:

So you dislike any expensive (in your mind) car that is available as auto only?

I'm sure Bentley, Rolls Royce, Range Rover et al are seriously worried.

I have no issues with an expensive car, I do have issues with an expensive car portraying to be an economical or green choice when alternate, more cost efficient and viable options already exist.

Sure, it may provide additional choice but it is not the ideal solution portrayed.

Auto only? Regardless of what your biased input may be, any gearbox that limits choice and alienates potential buyers is a disadvantage.

AnotherClarkey said:

Technomatt said:

Since when does a Prius lose nearly all a gearbox?

That one comment tells me how much you have actually bothered to research your ranting.

Nope, it just shows a complete lack of knowledge from the original poster suggesting it hardly has any gearbox, particularly when you look at the drivetrain on a Prius as a complete package compared to a conventional gearbox.

[scenario8]

This is becoming obsessive. You don't like the Prius. Good for you. It isn't important. Really, get a hobby and enjoy life - stop wishing your life away on such trivial irrelevant negativity.

[Technomatt]

saaby93 said:

ordy
We were talking about CVT systems and drive belts therein
not auxillary belts used for water pumps etc
yes the pre2010 had auxilliary stuff
post 2010 they upped the engine from 1.5 to 1.8 and made everything self driven - the aircon pump runs direct from the HV battery, and changed the chain drive to an idler gear
- time will tell whether that becomes noisy as in old BL product.
They also managed to get below 90grammes of CO for marketing purposes (unless you have the 17" alloys) in case the government reduces the free tax threshold to 90

Of course. But mentioning the steady state running disadvantages and high CO2 outputs of a Prius is just not PC.

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

[Roo]

Goes to show the Toyota marketing for hybrids works.

You keep going on about the cars green credentials. I have yet to meet a hybrid owner who has fallen for the marketing, unlike you have.

Every hybrid owner I've met has bought it because it's cheap to run and reliable.

[Technomatt]

scenario8 said:

This is becoming obsessive. You don't like the Prius. Good for you. It isn't important. Really, get a hobby and enjoy life - stop wishing your life away on such trivial irrelevant negativity.

Relax..... and think of it as part of an education process on the wider issues surrounding the hype and myopic viewpoint associated with Hybrids. A free public service.

[saaby93]

Technomatt said:

Of course. But mentioning the steady state running disadvantages and high CO2 outputs of a Prius is just not PC.

what are those then?

Technomatt said:

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

Well at least youve moved on from accepting the Prius has its own niche.
It costs money up front and takes space
You need a reasonably large car to make the sums add up
Hence it's in the bigger Lexus, Toyota minivans and Prius.
But it's coming down see the Yaris and Honda's Jazz, and don't forget the Mk1 Insight - that was a 2 seater
It's also given other manufacturers a kick to improve their mpg

[McWigglebum4th]

Technomatt said:

Of course. But mentioning the steady state running disadvantages and high CO2 outputs of a Prius is just not PC.

If you care about CO2

Why do you own a car?

[Dave200]

Technomatt said:

Dave200 said:

What the f*ck is wrong with some people?

- Thread starts with a bunch of people having a conversation about hybrids
- Conversation turns towards reasons for choice
- Two angry people join the thread and decide to tell everyone how hybrids are a load of old rubbish

How the hell can a type of car make some people so angry. I can't imagine how dull your life must be if the thing you are really passionate about is fervently telling people that a certain type of car isn't very good. Consider a hobby, or some alternative application of energies.

And then you turn up with a single post and add zip. Hypocrite.

Ah. Now I get it. You're a child who doesn't even understand hypocrisy.

Had I accused you of adding nothing, you would have been correct. I didn't, therefore you look a bit stupid (but no more so than the rest of your trolling on the thread).

[braddo]

Technomatt said:

Relax..... and think of it as part of an education process on the wider issues surrounding the hype and myopic viewpoint associated with Hybrids. A free public service.

By making yourself look like a loony and a fool, you have indeed flushed out useful information from other posters about the Prius. Consider me grateful for your public sacrifice, unconventional and ironic as it is.

[McWigglebum4th]

Technomatt said:

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/jazz/65227/honda-jazz-hybrid-2014-review

[Technomatt]

McWigglebum4th said:

Technomatt said:

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/jazz/65227/honda-jazz-hybrid-2014-review

That is the next segment up from city/supermini

[KTF]

City cars and superminis are two different segments.

A Jazz and a Yaris is a supermini and both come with a hybrid option:

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_st...

Whether you will recover the cost difference between the hybrid and non-hybrid version of the same car is a different discussion

[McWigglebum4th]

Technomatt said:

McWigglebum4th said:

Technomatt said:

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/jazz/65227/honda-jazz-hybrid-2014-review

That is the next segment up from city/supermini

So the jazz isn't a supermini?

So what is it then

An ocean liner?

[Roo]

Technomatt said:

McWigglebum4th said:

Technomatt said:

And note, we still have NO reply explaining why this great Hybrid technology is not employed in city/supermini car segment. Maybe some know the answer but are just a bit embarrassed to provide it.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/jazz/65227/honda-jazz-hybrid-2014-review

That is the next segment up from city/supermini

Do you not think it might be because small cars are already highly economical so the fuel saving on that size of car would be lower?

[Roo]

Technomatt said:

Roo said:

So you dislike any expensive (in your mind) car that is available as auto only?

I'm sure Bentley, Rolls Royce, Range Rover et al are seriously worried.

I have no issues with an expensive car, I do have issues with an expensive car portraying to be an economical or green choice when alternate, more cost efficient and viable options already exist.

Sure, it may provide additional choice but it is not the ideal solution portrayed.

Auto only? Regardless of what your biased input may be, any gearbox that limits choice and alienates potential buyers is a disadvantage.

So Bentley, Rolls Royce and Range Rover are wrong by only offering an auto?

I'm still waiting for you to come up with the more cost effective equivalent.

[Technomatt]

Small car segment.

Honda Jazz Hybrid: £17,000

Spot any signifiant disadvantages?

[McWigglebum4th]

Technomatt said:

Small car segment.

Honda Jazz Hybrid: £17,000

Spot any signifiant disadvantages?

It might a drive belt which is a hugely flawed piece of technogology that has never been fitted to any other car in the history of the universe

Oh and according to experts is doesn't exist