Posted on 11/20/2003 12:26:20 PM PST by steppenwolffe
DETROIT -- The world's first commercially mass-produced hybrid car has claimed the honor of 2004 Car of the Year from Motor Trend magazine.
What helped drive the Toyota Prius to become Motor Trend magazine's 2004 Car of the Year? Great fuel economy -- up to 60 miles a gallon in the city.
Editor-in-chief Kevin Smith describes the Prius as "a capable, comfortable, fun-to-drive car that just happens to get spectacular fuel economy."
The newest version of the Toyota Prius, introduced in 1997, beat out 26 new or significantly reengineered models from car makers like Acura, BMW, Cadillac and Volkswagen.
The magazine said the Prius is spacious enough to be classified as a mid-size sedan, and has a base price of about $20,000.
The newly designed Prius hit U.S. showrooms in October.
A hybrid car switches between a gasoline or diesel engine and an electric motor to deliver the best mileage. The car recharges itself during the drive.
For now, the only hybrid versions available in the United States are small cars made by Toyota and Honda. But several major automakers have models in the works, including trucks and sport utility vehicles.
I would rather pay for a new $3000.00 battery than give $3.00 to the Saudi's for gas to run my current car.
Ack! Still way too slow for me.
My thoughts exactly. I've actually heard a figure higher than that (closer to $5K altogether with installation, etc). So all that money you saved over the life of that car ends up going towards an expensive battery. Supposedly, the battery is expected to last 8-10 years before requiring replacement, based on what I've read. So if it doesn't end up affecting you (you only keep the car 5 or 6 years), it may still affect the resale value. What would you pay for a used Prius you know would possibly need a brand new $3k-$5k part in two or three years?
To be fair though, most of the people I know who own own or have driven like it. It's no performance machine, but some of them say it's unusual to visit the gas station more than once during a two week period if that.
I would rather pay for a new $3000.00 battery than give $3.00 to the Saudi's for gas to run my current car.
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Amen.
I see this as a "good first step".
If only it were American, I'd want one!
I'll wait a few years and see what the makers do and let them get the bugs out.......
I don't really care how it looks. I want it to be reliable!
Tia
If only it were American, I'd want one!
I'll wait a few years and see what the makers do and let them get the bugs out.......
Zactly! This is only the beginning. We will develop a whole arena of technology around this.
The first computer I ever worked on was the size of a small room. I typed cards with little square holes and fed them (the cards) into the room-sized computer. Today, 25 years later, my personal computer is about 1000 times as efficient at 100th the size.
These cars will evolve into a similar phenomenon. Now might be a good time to start buying stock.
And we will break our dependence upon raghead oil.
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