Prius, Would you?
Discussion
I spent a couple of hundred miles in a Yaris hybrid last week.
Not very impressed.
The CVT box is, like other CVTs I've tried, neither as nice to use as an automatic nor as enjoyable as a manual. Hearing the petrol engine strain away at constant revs is unpleasant, too. Very little in the way of encouraging acceleration without WOT.
The electric motor seemed to spend little time working and lots of time needing charging. As a result, the fuel economy was about 10mpg worse than I was getting from my petrol C1 in similar conditions.
The feel from the brake pedal was awful. I don't know how the regeneration system works with the brakes, but coming to a smooth standstill is nigh on impossible.
It felt heavier to drive than a car of its size should be.
Not very impressed.
The CVT box is, like other CVTs I've tried, neither as nice to use as an automatic nor as enjoyable as a manual. Hearing the petrol engine strain away at constant revs is unpleasant, too. Very little in the way of encouraging acceleration without WOT.
The electric motor seemed to spend little time working and lots of time needing charging. As a result, the fuel economy was about 10mpg worse than I was getting from my petrol C1 in similar conditions.
The feel from the brake pedal was awful. I don't know how the regeneration system works with the brakes, but coming to a smooth standstill is nigh on impossible.
It felt heavier to drive than a car of its size should be.
10 Pence Short said:
I spent a couple of hundred miles in a Yaris hybrid last week.
Not very impressed.
The CVT box is, like other CVTs I've tried, neither as nice to use as an automatic nor as enjoyable as a manual. Hearing the petrol engine strain away at constant revs is unpleasant, too. Very little in the way of encouraging acceleration without WOT.
The electric motor seemed to spend little time working and lots of time needing charging. As a result, the fuel economy was about 10mpg worse than I was getting from my petrol C1 in similar conditions.
The feel from the brake pedal was awful. I don't know how the regeneration system works with the brakes, but coming to a smooth standstill is nigh on impossible.
It felt heavier to drive than a car of its size should be.
Agree - the Yaris is a World away from the Prius in terms of its capability and how well the hybrid system works.Not very impressed.
The CVT box is, like other CVTs I've tried, neither as nice to use as an automatic nor as enjoyable as a manual. Hearing the petrol engine strain away at constant revs is unpleasant, too. Very little in the way of encouraging acceleration without WOT.
The electric motor seemed to spend little time working and lots of time needing charging. As a result, the fuel economy was about 10mpg worse than I was getting from my petrol C1 in similar conditions.
The feel from the brake pedal was awful. I don't know how the regeneration system works with the brakes, but coming to a smooth standstill is nigh on impossible.
It felt heavier to drive than a car of its size should be.
OP, yes to a Prius, it really will do everything your wife wants it to, but do seriously consider a Leaf too - she sounds like the perfect candidate for one, tbh.
JimmyTheHand said:
okie592 said:
Personally I would, the batteries wouldn't worry me all I have never ever owned a single electronic good with rechargeable batteries that has had to have them replaced, no mobile phone , laptop, drill etc.
Funny I replaced the battery in my phone last year - it went from a charge just lasting a day to now it can go over 2 now. Of course most people would have changed their phone in after 2 years so would have little idea of what the battery is like long term. I have seen plenty of work laptop batteries have seriously reduced charge holding/die as well.okie592 said:
I was reading a leaflet in a Toyota dealer the other day, I know it's hype but it had about 1st gen Prius having over 300k on them and going fine on original batts.
Did it say how much capacity is left in the battery - it may be they are still working but don't deliver anywhere near the fuel savings in traffic, or maybe the driving style has been such the battery hasn't really had many charging cycles. Though I believe they use NiMH batteries which have much better life then Lithium Ion at the expense of higher self discharge ratesMost of us are sepending on a rubber belt to keep the whole engine from being destroyed. I've had 3 belt failures in my 30 years of driving! I'm an Engineer and I'd put money on a battery failures being less than belt failures alone. Then start looking at DFP's, DFM's which didn't even exist when I started driving. A car can be scrap through one simple mechanical failure alone.
I have had a Prius as a company car for 5 years now, first a late MK2 and now a recent MK3, found them to be very reliable the first one did over 215K Kms, in my ownership and is still going strong. Only had a service every 15K Kms as recommended by Toyota, nothing broke or fell off.
Only items that are not so good are fuel range (650-700 Kms) as the tank is quiet small Toyota quote 45 litres, but in reality you can only get 38 litres in the tank when showing 0 Kms left and the need to be serviced every 15K Kms.
Only items that are not so good are fuel range (650-700 Kms) as the tank is quiet small Toyota quote 45 litres, but in reality you can only get 38 litres in the tank when showing 0 Kms left and the need to be serviced every 15K Kms.
98elise said:
There are loads of parts on ICE cars that can and will fail in 8 years and will cost you much more than repairing a battery pack.
Presumably the Prius is also susceptible to these failures as it also employs a regular internal combustion engine. So, these potential costs are in addition to the possible battery costs....Deerfoot said:
98elise said:
There are loads of parts on ICE cars that can and will fail in 8 years and will cost you much more than repairing a battery pack.
Presumably the Prius is also susceptible to these failures as it also employs a regular internal combustion engine. So, these potential costs are in addition to the possible battery costs....Deerfoot said:
98elise said:
There are loads of parts on ICE cars that can and will fail in 8 years and will cost you much more than repairing a battery pack.
Presumably the Prius is also susceptible to these failures as it also employs a regular internal combustion engine. So, these potential costs are in addition to the possible battery costs....No turbo, no DMF, no high pressure fuel pump, no DPF. i don't even think it has any variable valve timing
Would a lexus ct200h be a prius rival?
A mate has one as a Co car and I really like the look of it, inside and out. Hybrid tech seems to be at a point now where it makes much more sense than a highly strung diesel.
Oh and another pal has a 55plate lexus rx hybrid and it's going strong after nearly ten years with an average 35mpg, not bad for a 3l petrol suv.
For the family car I'd have one. Would be brilliant if you could retro fit a hybrid system into my petrol ford galaxy!
A mate has one as a Co car and I really like the look of it, inside and out. Hybrid tech seems to be at a point now where it makes much more sense than a highly strung diesel.
Oh and another pal has a 55plate lexus rx hybrid and it's going strong after nearly ten years with an average 35mpg, not bad for a 3l petrol suv.
For the family car I'd have one. Would be brilliant if you could retro fit a hybrid system into my petrol ford galaxy!
dave_s13 said:
Would a lexus ct200h be a prius rival?
A mate has one as a Co car and I really like the look of it, inside and out. Hybrid tech seems to be at a point now where it makes much more sense than a highly strung diesel.
No, Prius a much better car IMHO, I had a CT on loan for a few days and went back to my Prius after a day. A mate has one as a Co car and I really like the look of it, inside and out. Hybrid tech seems to be at a point now where it makes much more sense than a highly strung diesel.
Vladimir said:
Mr Gear said:
Why?
Because, quite clearly, I'm an idiot.I hate them; is that not allowed? Is the most un PH car ever suddenly cool?
No.
The engineering behind it is fascinating which if you are one of us that loves clever engineering then it is why more PH then a bog go golf
If you have worship at alter of Clarkson then feel free to hate it
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