Posted by Davoud on July 7, 2006, 6:24 am
Davoud:
> > I'm not certain that driving a Prius is entirely about the owner saving
> > money. I think it's a political statement and a statement of where one
> > stands on the environment, oil wars, UBL, and all that business. Then
> > there's the act of being different from the hoi polloi, and, for many,
> > just a touch of smugness about it all. My Prius replaces a 13/17 pickup
> > truck <http://www.davidillig.com/starcar.shtml> .
Cathy F
> Oh, yes, I agree, re: the reasons for buying one. OTOH, it also would be
> cost-effective *if* a person's been driving a car that costs over $0K &/or
> gets crummy gas mileage.
Hmmmm. Not certain. My truck cost nearly $0k and got poor gas mileage.
But I paid cash for it, so that's not an issue. The issue is that I
didn't get my $0k worth of use out of it before selling it. I don't
expect the Prius's economy -- perhaps four times better city mileage --
to compensate for the lost use of the truck /and/ the additional cost
of the Prius. But, again, for me it wasn't so much about saving money
personally. I happen to know Arabic, and I lived or traveled
extensively in the Middle East from 1976 - 1993, and it seems I have a
better understanding of events there than anyone in the Bush
administration -- or at least better than anyone who has spoken
publicly about the grave errors we are making there. I'm sorry if that
seems political; given my aforesaid experience, to me it is not at all
political, but a simple statement of reality.
> But in my case I've never spent over $7-ish for a
> car, and I get decent mileage, & the Corolla has decently low emissions. So
> buying one would be a splurge - a rather large treat for myself. Even
> though it would also be a bit of a subtle statement.
A personal treat is also a valid reason for getting a Prius!
> > I can't answer all of your questions. Detailed specifications for every
> > model year are available on-line, however.
>
> Okay. Although I realized I already know of one change. In '04 the basic
> cPrius didn't come with a rear window wiper! You had to order the next pkg.
> up to get one, which for a liftback was absurd. I know that the wiper is
> now standard equipment - as it should've been from day #1, IMO.
>
> >
> >> 2 - When is the next generation of the Prius supposed to come out? '08,
> >> or
> >> '07? In reality, several months early for either date? And what changes
> >> since '04 have been bandied about as being liable to happen?
> >
> > ??
>
> Well, you know how the '04 was distinctly different from the '03? It was a
> big redesign. And the other models get a makeover every 4 years - each
> one's a new generation - that's what I meant. Is there a big revision due
> out 4 years after the '04 model was introduced?
> >
> >> 3 - I've had automatic daytime running lights along w/ automatic full
> >> headlights (light sensor is on the top of the dash, near the
> >> windshield) -
> >> which I *love* - on my last 2 Corollas. Does the Prius have automatic
> >> lights - no manual turning on & off, except for brights?
> >
> > My '06 does, but it has "Package #8" @ $890 list.
>
> Ackkkk!
>
> You should go to
> > toyota.com and select the "Build and Price Your Toyota" option. You
> > will be able to view all of the standard and optional features.
>
> I've done that before, but I still don't remember seeing it listed. Maybe
> because it doesn't kick in until the high end pkgs?? I hope not, because
> it's one amenity/detail I'd find really difficult to give up... No more
> accidentally leaving the lights on, no more forgetting to turn them on at
> night in lit parking lots & then driving down the city streets sans
> headlights...
Are you serious? You can forget to turn your headlights on /at/ /night/
!?
> > My dealer knocked $100 of the msrp. The discount would have been less
> > with a lower-grade options package.
>
> Okay, thanks. So maybe a little wiggle room. Better than paying over
> sticker, at least!
Yes, but I wouldn't exactly call it wiggle room. That was the price,
take-it-or-leave-it.
> >> 8 - The back-up beeper... is it heard only on the outside, or does it
> >> sound
> >> on the inside, too? How loud or soft is it?
> >
> > Inside. Too loud for me, and I'm hard of hearing. I'm 62-years-old. I
> > have driven for many years (I was about 5-years-old when I soloed in a
> > motor vehicle) without a beeper to tell me I'm in reverse, and without
> > incident.
>
> You have me beat out - I'm 56 & have been driving since 16, but also tend to
> know when I'm in reverse. ;-) I can understand the beeper on the outside,
> esp. for parking lots, or if one has little kids - or maybe even pets, as a
> warning in the driveway. But I really think I'd rather silence the thing!
> And I have a long driveway - I'd guess my neighbors would rather it'd be
> silenced, too. Beep, beep, beep, beep.... arghhh.
I forgot to mention that they also have a backup camera that displays a
color image on the navigation/control display. It's in all option
packages, which probably means it's in all Prius's, because you are
unlikely to find a Prius with no option package. It isn't meant to
guide you in backing up, but to show you at a glance if there are any
yard rats or puppies behind you.
Davoud
--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
Posted by Cathy F. on July 7, 2006, 5:15 pm
>> >> 3 - I've had automatic daytime running lights along w/ automatic full
>> >> headlights (light sensor is on the top of the dash, near the
>> >> windshield) -
>> >> which I *love* - on my last 2 Corollas. Does the Prius have automatic
>> >> lights - no manual turning on & off, except for brights?
>> >
>> > My '06 does, but it has "Package #8" @ $890 list.
>>
>> Ackkkk!
>>
>> You should go to
>> > toyota.com and select the "Build and Price Your Toyota" option. You
>> > will be able to view all of the standard and optional features.
>>
>> I've done that before, but I still don't remember seeing it listed.
>> Maybe
>> because it doesn't kick in until the high end pkgs?? I hope not, because
>> it's one amenity/detail I'd find really difficult to give up... No more
>> accidentally leaving the lights on, no more forgetting to turn them on at
>> night in lit parking lots & then driving down the city streets sans
>> headlights...
> Are you serious? You can forget to turn your headlights on /at/ /night/
> !?
Oh, yes. If in a well-lit parking lot when srtarting the car & then drive
down well-lit city streets, I can easily forget - can see where I'm going,
so don't realize they're not on. I know I'm not unique in this, 'cause I
myself have blipped my high beams at other drivers for a second to warn them
of no lights on their cars on city streets.
>> > My dealer knocked $100 of the msrp. The discount would have been less
>> > with a lower-grade options package.
>>
>> Okay, thanks. So maybe a little wiggle room. Better than paying over
>> sticker, at least!
> Yes, but I wouldn't exactly call it wiggle room. That was the price,
> take-it-or-leave-it.
Knocking something off the MRSP is wiggle room IMO, when compared with
absolutely no movement on the dealer's part.
> I forgot to mention that they also have a backup camera that displays a
> color image on the navigation/control display. It's in all option
> packages, which probably means it's in all Prius's, because you are
> unlikely to find a Prius with no option package. It isn't meant to
> guide you in backing up, but to show you at a glance if there are any
> yard rats or puppies behind you.
Yes, I know a person who bought a Prius this past spring & she has the
back-up camera, & loves it. In her case, she's glad of it because of their
dog, & when their gr'children visit.
Cathy
> Davoud
> --
> usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
Posted by Bill on July 7, 2006, 5:34 pm
> Oh, yes. If in a well-lit parking lot when srtarting the car & then drive
> down well-lit city streets, I can easily forget - can see where I'm going,
> so don't realize they're not on. I know I'm not unique in this, 'cause I
> myself have blipped my high beams at other drivers for a second to warn
> them of no lights on their cars on city streets.
Whew, thought I was the only one!
> Yes, I know a person who bought a Prius this past spring & she has the
> back-up camera, & loves it. In her case, she's glad of it because of
> their dog, & when their gr'children visit.
> Cathy
How about the navigation system? Keeps you in the center of the road even
in dense fog. Will they add Doppler radar in 2008? Will we have IDR
(Instrument Driving Rules) along the lines of IFR?
Posted by Dave on July 7, 2006, 2:27 pm
Cathy F. wrote:
>>> 3 - I've had automatic daytime running lights along w/ automatic full
>>> headlights (light sensor is on the top of the dash, near the
>>> windshield) -
>>> which I *love* - on my last 2 Corollas. Does the Prius have automatic
>>> lights - no manual turning on & off, except for brights?
I find this false impression that with automatic headlights you don't
have to do anything at all with the light switch. I have run into people
who proudly proclaim they NEVER touch their headlight switch anymore
being so stupid as not to realize that headlights & taillights help YOU
to been seen also in foul weather such as rain, snow, and fog. I also
don't understand how you can drive down the street (without the auto
lights) and don't realize that you don't have your headlights on. Oh the
dumbing down of American is complete!
Posted by Bill on July 7, 2006, 4:20 pm
> Cathy F. wrote:
>>>> 3 - I've had automatic daytime running lights along w/ automatic full
>>>> headlights (light sensor is on the top of the dash, near the
>>>> windshield) -
>>>> which I *love* - on my last 2 Corollas. Does the Prius have automatic
>>>> lights - no manual turning on & off, except for brights?
> I find this false impression that with automatic headlights you don't have
> to do anything at all with the light switch. I have run into people who
> proudly proclaim they NEVER touch their headlight switch anymore being so
> stupid as not to realize that headlights & taillights help YOU to been
> seen also in foul weather such as rain, snow, and fog. I also don't
> understand how you can drive down the street (without the auto lights) and
> don't realize that you don't have your headlights on. Oh the dumbing down
> of American is complete!
The dumbing-down of America was completed last November.
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> > money. I think it's a political statement and a statement of where one
> > stands on the environment, oil wars, UBL, and all that business. Then
> > there's the act of being different from the hoi polloi, and, for many,
> > just a touch of smugness about it all. My Prius replaces a 13/17 pickup
> > truck <http://www.davidillig.com/starcar.shtml> .