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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Toyota Prius - opinions?


francis

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Hi guys

 

Well I just found out where I'm going to be working next year and it involes a daily commute from Earls Court to Ealing. It's got me thinking about a new second car for next year as I don't like the idea of leaving the Supe in the hospital car park on a regular basis (got my last major ding there!)..

 

Just wondering what people's opinions on the Toyota Prius are? Anyone on here own one or driven one? Apart from the initial outlay, they seem to suit the purpose perfectly, good fuel economy, spacious, no congestion charge, cheaper tax, hold value resonably well, not too bad to look at (at least the latest style)...

 

Cheers,

Francis

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Watch Clarksons Good the bad and the Ugly that will give you an idea. :D

 

^Yeah that^

 

There are far, far more economical cars available for a much smaller outlay. They may not have the built quality of the Toyota but thats not why you're buying it right?

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I think they're dangerous because they make so little noise when running on the battery power. I almost got run over by one in a car park a few months ago.

 

*waits for the green cross code to be quoted etc.*

 

Apart from possible congestion charging expemtions I'd go for a diesel for fuel efficiency.

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Don't listen to the 'bad fuel economy' crap, Clarkson is well known for giving his opinion in reviews rather than facts (like that sad excuse for an MG-SV test he did!!), it completely depends how you drive it. If you have your foot down all the time, constantly getting up to speed as quick as you can, then it'll perform like a 1.5VVTi would perform. If you stay below 20mph and only press the loud pedal when REALLY needed, it'll only boot up the engine to recharge when it needs it!!

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Diesels may be more economical but I don't know of any that would be £8 a day more economical over a short distance.

 

I still don't get how this whole hybrid car thing is supposed to increase fuel efficiency.... surely the basic rules of physics prevent you from taking power from the engine to charge the battery, then getting more back. :conf:

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Buy diesel much better fuel economy than the Prius,
There are clearly a few people on this forum who haven't met Ken Livingstone yet.

 

As for being quiet, on the run you're talking about you'd be hard pushed to hear a Supe with a decent exhaust coming. Hats off to Toyota for putting the R&D into hybrid stuff. I would seriously consider it.

 

But then again what about LPG?

 

taking power from the engine to charge the battery
It takes the energy from the momentum of the car to charge the battery when you're slowing down.
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Francis, i work for Mr T so i get to drive and work on these things quite abit. When we get em in its only ever for a service as they just dont go wrong (never seen one towed in!).

Theyre nice to drive and have loads a cool gadgets inc touch screen colour tv thing for sat nav ect and a auto park function on the new un's! They go ok too, but dont expect anything like the Supra tho!;)

Dont know about fuel econamy or cost as ive never had to live with one.

If you do get one, get one in the warranty (3 years or 60k) as they do have a couple of common faults, eg the magnisium wheels corrode pretty quick and you dont want to be paying for them!!

 

Hope this helps mate:)

 

Jim

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