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Thread ID: 121700 2011-11-07 21:56:00 Toyota Prius? wallarro (11242) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1242373 2011-11-07 21:56:00 Just wondering whether anybody here has any experience with a Toyota Prius hybrid car?

What's your opinion on it?

Are they easy to service? Do they need specialise garage for hybrid cars or regular garage will do?

And how expensive is it to service compare with regular cars?

Cheers. W.
wallarro (11242)
1242374 2011-11-07 22:06:00 One of my clients is a car dealer who bought a few in from Japan a few years back, they were very troublesome. One they ended up having to replace the batteries in it, very expensive I seem to remember, around 7 to 8 grand. That was an early model of Prius tho, there are newer models now which have improved alot, are more reliable and batteries last longer, still dont think I would buy one personally. Amazingly quiet though, I drove one and had to keep looking at the gauges to make sure it was still running lol. Iantech (16386)
1242375 2011-11-08 00:56:00 If you want one for economy or to be environmentally friendly, get a diesel VW Polo or Golf. The Prius is not a very environmentally friendly car. Emissions are only a very small part of the story - think of the manufacturing and then all the heavy metals that have to be disposed of once the car has done it's dash.

Depending on where you drive them, a lot of the time they aren't any more economic than your average small hatch. If you do most of your driving around town (under 50kph) then it will be pretty economical though.

Most of the new small diesels can get over 50MPG if you're gentle, and turbo diesel performance will easily match a Prius.
wratterus (105)
1242376 2011-11-08 03:06:00 If you want one for economy or to be environmentally friendly, get a diesel VW Polo or Golf. The Prius is not a very environmentally friendly car. Emissions are only a very small part of the story - think of the manufacturing and then all the heavy metals that have to be disposed of once the car has done it's dash.

Depending on where you drive them, a lot of the time they aren't any more economic than your average small hatch. If you do most of your driving around town (under 50kph) then it will be pretty economical though.

Most of the new small diesels can get over 50MPG if you're gentle, and turbo diesel performance will easily match a Prius.
+1, But I would say avoid the euro cars unless buying new. look at the kia's and hyundais
plod (107)
1242377 2011-11-08 03:24:00 Good point about the second hand UK cars Plod - I was thinking new.

www.kia-world.net

One of those, 1.7 CRDI (www.kia-world.net)would be a very good Prius replacement, if only we had them in NZ...
wratterus (105)
1242378 2011-11-08 03:49:00 Good point about the second hand UK cars Plod - I was thinking new.

www.kia-world.net

One of those, 1.7 CRDI (www.kia-world.net)would be a very good Prius replacement, if only we had them in NZ...
there was a good article on the dog and lemon website about hybrids and their unrealistic mpg claims
plod (107)
1242379 2011-11-08 05:46:00 I would go for a small Diesel. The cost and weight of the batteries puts me off. More to go wrong too. mzee (3324)
1242380 2011-11-08 05:52:00 I recall a study which showed that just owning a prius was as bad as driving a land rover for your entire life (environment wise). Something about the production of the car being bad for the environment.

Dunno about it driving wise though.
icow (15313)
1242381 2011-11-08 09:58:00 Thanks guys.

I'll cross out Prius from the list :-)
wallarro (11242)
1242382 2011-11-08 10:01:00 You might find this helpful.
www.myhybridcar.net
feersumendjinn (64)
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