Hybrid owners not re-buying

[KrisZ]

The thing about hybrids is that ONLY Toyota has a high loyalty rate (actuall it the Prius) and ONLY Toyota has had their system long enough to be considered reliable, but the media, hybrid and EV proponents hail all hybrids and EVs as proven based on Toyota's system.
Looks like a lot of people bought into this hype and got burned.

If I was buying a hybrid, it would be a Toyota, nothing else.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Fox doesn't spin things any more than the regular goofballs at other media outlets.

Hybrids are a mixed bag. Not all of us can use a micro car for our needs. It's really boneheaded to try and ram them down our throats with all the 'save the earth' spin, too.

[censored] flows from both sides of the aisle.

 

[Vikas]

In another news, 98% of the gas car owners said they would buy another gas car.

In yet another news, 25% (a completely made up number!) of the diesel car owners said they would buy another diesel car.

- Vikas

 

[rjundi]

I wonder if part of it is simply back when the buyers purchased when the Hybrid engine power/responsive was relatively weak. The first and second generation Prius were absolute dogs especially when battery power was expended.

 

[ffxfina3]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
The thing about hybrids is that ONLY Toyota has a high loyalty rate (actuall it the Prius)


Actually, 1st generation Honda Insight owners are incredibly loyal. The main problem is that Honda hasn't produce a hybrid vehicle since 2006 that most 1st generation Insight owners would be willing to purchase.

So most of us stick to our aging Insights, working to keep them on the road.

 

[cptbarkey]

to me the prius c is finally worth taking a look at from the field of hybrids, but even then by the end of its useful life, the battery pack cost still probably wouldnt be worth replacing versus having gone with a gasser.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
In another news, 98% of the gas car owners said they would buy another gas car.

In yet another news, 25% (a completely made up number!) of the diesel car owners said they would buy another diesel car.

- Vikas


I'd bet that figure is far greater than 25%...

 

[Mr_Incredible]

We just purchased our second Prius. The first one has been a good car. The second one probably will be too. We like 'em.

 

[Zako2]

The thing is that there are many bad hybrids on the market. Few if any at all have yet managed to match the Toyota Prius yet. I don't see Prius being that expensive either. It's interior is bigger than compact, and the unique hatchback design gives more cargo capacity than midsize cars. Comfortably priced in mid-20s. I don't see the "high cost" being an issue for this car..

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: Bryan K. Walton
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
The thing about hybrids is that ONLY Toyota has a high loyalty rate (actuall it the Prius)


Actually, 1st generation Honda Insight owners are incredibly loyal. The main problem is that Honda hasn't produce a hybrid vehicle since 2006 that most 1st generation Insight owners would be willing to purchase.

So most of us stick to our aging Insights, working to keep them on the road.
Yeah, we are loyal to our 1st gen Insight.

 

[ffxfina3]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Yeah, we are loyal to our 1st gen Insight.

Yes, I guess you have a point.

 

[hattaresguy]

I don't like the idea behind a hybrid so I'll never buy one.

Take the S class hybrid for example which is a joke. The diesel does better in every area and is simply a better designed car. So if you actually want to burn a bit less fuel buy a diesel S class.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't like the idea behind a hybrid so I'll never buy one.


?

 

[hattaresguy]

Carting around two drive trains is sloppy engineering. They are simply a stepping stone until batteries can be improved, and at that not a very good one.

If you took say a Prius, took out the hybrid nonsense and stuck a little 4 banger diesel in it, that meets Euro emissions not ours...you would get the same mileage without all the fuss and complexity. Plus I bet the car would drive a lot better since its lighter.

So why bother with them?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Carting around two drive trains is sloppy engineering. They are simply a stepping stone until batteries can be improved, and at that not a very good one.

If you took say a Prius, took out the hybrid nonsense and stuck a little 4 banger diesel in it, that meets Euro emissions not ours...you would get the same mileage without all the fuss and complexity. Plus I bet the car would drive a lot better since its lighter.

So why bother with them?

Sure, better technology will always arrive at a later date, but as an immediate stop-gap solution, the hybrid powertrain works fantastic.

Diesels are great for highway commuters, but really need to be warmed up to work well. Hybrids do too (or any gasoline engine), but possibly not to the same extent as diesels.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Carting around two drive trains is sloppy engineering. They are simply a stepping stone until batteries can be improved, and at that not a very good one.

So why bother with them?

I bother with mine because it was cheap, gets me good mpg (over 60mpg per tank) and fun to drive.

 

[Shannow]

As an engineer, I think that the Toyota hybrid design is genius, and it's certainly not "lugging around two drivetrains".

That being said, it's not unique, or especially new in concept. I found this once in a book.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Shannon,
It's my understanding that both the hybrid technology and planet sun gear-set were developed long time ago.

Like 100 years ago: http://www.hybridcars.com/history/100th-anniversary-first-us-hybrid-car-patent-25616.html

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Carting around two drive trains is sloppy engineering. They are simply a stepping stone until batteries can be improved, and at that not a very good one.

If you took say a Prius, took out the hybrid nonsense and stuck a little 4 banger diesel in it, that meets Euro emissions not ours...you would get the same mileage without all the fuss and complexity. Plus I bet the car would drive a lot better since its lighter.

So why bother with them?


You are very ignorant how prius works. The electric motors are how the "transmission" works and it not a "second drivetrain".

Diesel itself would never match city MPG of Prius due to the fact that hybrid uses the ICE part of the time and especially the pulse and glide driving.

Also you are ignorant of the fact that Atkinson gasoline engine has efficiency close to that of diesel.

 

[4ever4d]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't like the idea behind a hybrid so I'll never buy one.

Take the S class hybrid for example which is a joke. The diesel does better in every area and is simply a better designed car. So if you actually want to burn a bit less fuel buy a diesel S class.

+1 Would buy a diesel in a minute. No hybrid, not anything wrong with them just not for me.