Hmmm, why are Toyota Prius cars always so darn clean? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 05-03-2008, 11:49 AM

I have noticed that the Prius looks better in a color other than silver or white, and now after looking at them for a couple of years they are starting to look normal instead of kindof morphed.

My old 123 is starting to look square.

Tom W

Palangi · #17 05-03-2008, 11:55 AM

They only make about 6 colors, but it does seem like most of them are silver or white. Ours is red, but I would have preferred blue.

I still like the w123 styling. Definitely a classic look from a different era.

SwampYankee · #18 05-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Mine gets washed once a month, whether it needs it or not.

Pretty neat little car for running around town. Zips around, fits in small parking spots, etc. Lifetime MPG to date is 47.1. For long distance highway driving it could use a bit more legroom.

I agree on the idea of a wagon based on the existing Prius chassis. Square off the back and make it a couple inches longer. Something like that would make a very utilitarian vehicle. They have shown a prototype of a Prius pickup. Surprisingly, that looked pretty much useless, not enough real world capacity.

The major drawback to driving a Prius is that people automatically assume that you are a leftist crackpot. Putting a couple "Support our Troops" bumper stickers on the back confuses the hell out of 'em.

Mine get washed when it rains or twice a year, whichever comes first.

Not unlike my desire for an old VW microbus.

raymr · #19 05-03-2008, 01:43 PM

Their efficiency greaty diminishes when driving down the highway with the A/C on and the battery pack acting as ballast. That's why it makes no sense when places like Virginia open up HOV (high occupancy vehicle) carpool lanes to hybrids. They are mostly high-speed interstate roads. A Prius would be most efficient in the slow stop-and-go traffic that the non-hybrids are stuck in.

http://www.virginiadot.org/news/northern_virginia/2008/hov_exemption_for_hybrid.asp

Ara T. · #20 05-03-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Owning a hybrid is something in between a status symbol and a statement of holier-than-thouness. And most people who laud them have no idea how they work or the concept behind them. Maybe they're too busy patting themselves on the back to hold up a book and read about it. The shame of it is, those "flavor of the month" types give an awesome technology a very bad image. Hybrids should not be about tree hugging or feeling warm-n-fuzzy about your "carbon footprint." They should be about utilizing an innovation that can help our country in many applications. A few people buy them because they DO get the concept and the technology fits their particular driving habits. If you drive a lot in the city, or anywhere stop and go, it just makes good sense. I see a lot of taxi and city bus services moving to hybrid technology, and that's just good business sense (assuming your business can afford the new technology in the first place).

What gets me, and I see/hear this ALL the time, is that so many people just think hybrid means cleaner and better mileage. Well, there are qualifications. Example: A friend of mine (smart guy) wanted to buy an SUV to tow his boat on long highway trips ... he thought he'd be smart and get an Escape Hybrid ... useless move for highway driving, esp towing! He was surprised to find out that hybrids do better in city than on the highway. People see the ads and don't get the more detailed picture. If there's an answer to the "oil crisis," it's a mix of technologies, each for a different application.

Another funny example, and you can try this ... ask someone this: What's better for the environment ... a gasoline-powered hybrid travelling down the highway getting 30 miles to the gallon, or a gasoline-only-powered car travelling down the highway getting 30 miles to the gallon? Lots of people will say the hybrid.

Odd that so many Mercedes drivers lambast Prius drivers for being "holier than though." Mercedes's success relies on the perception that people driving Mercedes cars meet a certain image of wealth.

I have met far more snobby MB drivers than Prius drivers, most of them I've talked to like them because they get good gas mileage.

Its really not a bad car, they carry a lot of stuff in the back and have a lot of room in the cabin, more comparable to a camry than a corolla. The batteries are good for at least 200K, which is way longer than most people keep their cars. Id rather have more people driving Priuses than these big SUVs with one person in them. Sometimes I come to a stoplight and all I see around me are SUVs.

That said, I'd never want one, they handle like crap and aren't really fun to drive, like all modern Toyotas. But Toyota really knows what most Americans like, soft floaty suspension and as little driver feedback as possible.

DeliveryValve · #21 05-03-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

a real live version of the south park lampooning of the prius

Yep.... Here is the full episode SMUG ALERT! Quite funny!

BodhiBenz1987 · #22 05-03-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danwatt

Based on the tone of the first two posts, the anti-hybrid crowd seems to be more smug and self righteous than any hybrid owner I've ever met.

If you think my post was "anti-hybrid," try actually reading it.

BodhiBenz1987 · #23 05-03-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlomon

You could have replaced the word "Prius" with "Mercedes Benz" in every instance in the original post, and you'd have no problem finding a whole bunch of non-MB owners all too ready to agree with you.

Drive what you want, let them drive what they want. Free markets rock.

Well, I'll toast to that ... everyone gets smug about certain things they do. I know I sure have had my "holier than thou" moments, although not usually with my car. I try to be fairly realistic about what other people think of my car and try to have a sense of humor about it.

But you're right, MB owners can be smug ... I often gets "looks down the nose" from people driving newer MBs, assumedly because I'm only driving a plebian, , low-brow, 21-year-old MB.

Mistress · #24 05-03-2008, 05:12 PM

Cause no one drives them, they only park them.

iwrock · #25 05-03-2008, 05:16 PM

I know someone that bought one, and sold it a month later.....

Couldnt handle the Prius Owner Stereotypes.

tankdriver · #26 05-03-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorsen

There's not much brake being used.

If the Prius is anything like the Civic, I can believe that. You want to stop one of those, just stop pressing the gas.

johnathan1 · #27 05-03-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Toyota's are not supposed to be clean they are like a toaster just use the damn thing.

Surely you aren't talking about all Toyota's...my Supra is no toaster, and yes, I keep it as clean the Mercedes

Haha, I suppose it just might be the only Toyota that's not an appliance...

This line of thinking is kinda interesting tho, as it works both ways...whenever I bring the BMW or Mercedes to a Supra meet (because it's down for repairs or whatever) everyone gets all pissy, and has this "attitude" towards me.

And for the record, I think whatever car you are driving should be kept reasonably clean...your car says a lot about you, whether you like it or not...so what is your car saying about you to your peers when it is filthy? Treat your car as you would like to be treated!

frosty · #28 05-03-2008, 08:11 PM

Hot damn, Mistress, your avatar is mesmerizing! I love boobies, 'specially when they jiggle! I love cleavage and sometimes I can't help looking! What are we talking about again?

Yay for boobies!

rwthomas1 · #29 05-03-2008, 08:42 PM

I sure see plenty of them tearing down the highway at 80+mph with the driver on the cellphone. This is better than the same person in an SUV but hardly smart. There are better vehicles for highway long distance commuting. I like the idea of the hybrid for certain uses. If I were in the market for a short trip city car then they would be on the list to look at.

My biggest problem with them, aside from the tree-huggin' A-hole stereotype is the fact that Toyota essentially lied stating that the vehicle gets 60+mpg when real world results are actually far less. That and they won't talk about the real costs of development and manufacturing. Sneaking suspicion that they lost a lot of money in the beginning and are only breaking even on the gamble now. Looks like it was a good bet for them, but it could have gone either way.

Lexus hybrids are the biggest joke of all. Sticking the "H" on the side of a multiple hundred horsepower vehicle is an insult to anyone with a brain. All it says is you have the money to afford a really expensive vehicle that has a nice tree-huggin' cache. Retards.

RT

Hatterasguy · #30 05-03-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnathan1

Surely you aren't talking about all Toyota's...my Supra is no toaster, and yes, I keep it as clean the Mercedes

Haha, I suppose it just might be the only Toyota that's not an appliance...

This line of thinking is kinda interesting tho, as it works both ways...whenever I bring the BMW or Mercedes to a Supra meet (because it's down for repairs or whatever) everyone gets all pissy, and has this "attitude" towards me.

And for the record, I think whatever car you are driving should be kept reasonably clean...your car says a lot about you, whether you like it or not...so what is your car saying about you to your peers when it is filthy? Treat your car as you would like to be treated!

Supra's are the exception, some of those things put down pretty amazing power!

So Toyota made one good car!