tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post4408126266513756257..comments2023-09-29T06:58:20.125-07:00Comments on Badtux the Snarky Penguin: Working the numbers on the Toyota PriusBadTuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345749557330760251noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-14873717299483836182009-06-03T17:41:04.445-07:002009-06-03T17:41:04.445-07:00Well, I have a Prius - 2 years old - and I'm s...Well, I have a Prius - 2 years old - and I'm still getting 50-52 mpg overall. Granted, that still won't make the equation work. Nor will it help that gas is pretty cheap here. But, I love my little red car. When the gasoline engine cuts off and the silence begins, I think "Wow". I'm not much for the geeky things because I have to look at that blasted screen to change the fan speed, but I like the rear view camera.<br /><br />It's a better and cuter choice than driving the Highlander that I had...lots more fun, and I can still haul a full size recliner in the back with the seats down.sharecropperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15138522185303347235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-63903800386667275192009-06-01T00:15:08.594-07:002009-06-01T00:15:08.594-07:00Dude, if you're stuck in traffic the Prius isn't u...Dude, if you're stuck in traffic the Prius isn't using ANY gas, the Yaris is.nunyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08833886980442919570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-10933797916114366242009-05-31T10:50:30.758-07:002009-05-31T10:50:30.758-07:00Yeah, Toyota tries out new technologies on the Pri...Yeah, Toyota tries out new technologies on the Prius first, then transfers the ones that work to their other cars. Electric power steering is an example, it turned out to be more efficient, more compact, and require less maintenance than hydraulic power steering so it's getting used on other Toyota cars now. <br /><br />I know someone who is a total geek who has a Prius simply because of all the technology gadgetry. But let's face it, that's hardly a reason to buy a car unless you're a total geek...<br /><br />- Badtux the Technology PenguinBadTuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01345749557330760251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-33236558239156572222009-05-31T09:41:39.982-07:002009-05-31T09:41:39.982-07:00I think the Prius is an experiment on which Toyota...I think the Prius is an experiment on which Toyota is trying to recoup their expenses. The technology is is in its infancy and possibly a stepping stone to a better mousetrap. Some nutcases have been able to get 1000 miles from a tank of gas on a Prius. To me, that indicates that there is potential for the technology to do better. <br /><br />To be honest though, until the technology matures more, I do not see the point other than the fad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-43676385676657335582009-05-31T08:44:15.976-07:002009-05-31T08:44:15.976-07:00But Dcap, it takes more energy to build a Prius th...But Dcap, it takes more energy to build a Prius than a Yaris. *much* more energy. Which is why the Prius costs so much more than the Yaris -- it takes a lot of energy to refine the copper and extrude it into those wires in the Prius's giant electric motor, it takes a lot of energy to build those nickel hydride batteries, and so on and so forth. So you can figure that the Prius took significantly more energy to begin with. If it was only $5K more energy, you'd still need to drive the Prius over 200,000 miles, or have gasoline at over $5 a gallon, to use less energy (i.e., send less money to the Saudis). It also takes more energy to send the Prius over here from Japan, since it's a larger car than a Yaris and thus you can fit fewer of them on a cargo ship.<br /><br />Does it really matter whether the Japanese send the Saudis dollars for the energy, or we do?<br /><br />w3ski: I live only 4 miles from work now that we've moved to the new offices, so buying a small Japanese car isn't in the cards, and if it was, it would probably be a Honda Fit, which definitely *is* fun -- thing drives almost as well as a Mini Cooper (i.e., like a go-cart), but is cheaper and roomier. This discussion was more prompted by a co-worker who asked whether it made sense for him to buy a Prius. Also we do not have many Hummers here in the SF Bay area. Well, except behind bedroom doors, but it is not my place to talk about the weird sex practices of monkeys, me being a penguin and all :-). It's not like when I lived in Texas and cars were the exception rather than the rule. Almost every car on the road here is a practical small Japanese or Korean car, or it's a BMW or Mercedes if driven by a successful executive. You see very few Hummers here, we already know we have big tools (we design the things, y'know?), so we don't need a Hummer to prove it. <br /><br />- Badtux the Energy PenguinBadTuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01345749557330760251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-58204880188286803372009-05-31T08:26:15.863-07:002009-05-31T08:26:15.863-07:00except every extra dollar you spend in gas -- a go...except every extra dollar you spend in gas -- a good chunk of it goes to the saudis.....and other fun countriesDistributorcaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149154929149577121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612609.post-85571817435300735832009-05-30T20:35:24.179-07:002009-05-30T20:35:24.179-07:00So now you sell your bike and buy a Japanese Windu...So now you sell your bike and buy a Japanese Windup Car ? A Phut Phut ??? Won't be much fun but it is cheap to comute in . Just don't wind up under a hummer's bumper .<br /> w3skiw3skihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13993709956954374919noreply@blogger.com