Posted by mrv@kluge.net on June 18, 2007, 5:48 pm
> > We are looking to acquire a 4 door hybrid in the fall, and are now entering
> > the research phase, prior to the dealership visit phase.
> Depending on where you live, there are many 4 door hybrid choices for
> you. Also, are you looking for a new vehicle, or will a used vehicle
> be OK for you? (If you want a 4-door with a manual transmission, you
> can only get that in a used Honda Civic Hybrid.) What size vehicle
> are you looking for?
> [US models deleted]
How silly of me to forget some of the other consumer hybrids on the
market:
1997-2000 Toyota Prius, NHW10 model. Originally only sold in Japan,
but is now showing up grey market in some other countries. Support/
parts/service outside of Japan is difficult, so I'd advise against it
if you're not in Japan.
Toyota Crown (mild-hybrid), sedan. (Japan only)
and for the minivan/MPV set:
Toyota Estima Hybrid and the Toyota Alphard Hybrid. Unfortunately,
still only sold in Japan, but perhaps a few hybrid Estimas may be
moving grey-market outside of Japan by now (same servicing concerns
outside of Japan, though).
Posted by Michael Pardee on June 17, 2007, 5:07 pm
> We are looking to acquire a 4 door hybrid in the fall, and are now
> entering the research phase, prior to the dealership visit phase.
> We are long time (30+ years) Honda owners, but hybrids are sufficiently
> different to dispense with blind marque loyalty.
> Can anyone contrast the pros and cons of Prius versus Civic Hybrid?
> TIA.
Not very current, so it may not apply as well to the current generation
Prius: the "conventional wisdom" was that the Civic Hybrid was better suited
to freeway travel while the Prius was the champion around town. The Prius
has some reputation as being tiring to drive on freeways, but I don't find
that particularly so.
Mike
Posted by Michelle Steiner on June 17, 2007, 5:18 pm
> The Prius has some reputation as being tiring to drive on freeways,
> but I don't find that particularly so.
I've driven mine from Chandler, AZ to Las Vegas (once), to Sacramento
(three or four times), to San Francisco two or three times, to LA once,
and to San Diego once or twice. I didn't find it to be tiring at all,
no more than driving an Acura TL was.
--
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Posted by Mike Rosenberg on June 17, 2007, 6:01 pm
> I've driven mine from Chandler, AZ to Las Vegas (once), to Sacramento
> (three or four times), to San Francisco two or three times, to LA once,
> and to San Diego once or twice. I didn't find it to be tiring at all,
> no more than driving an Acura TL was.
And I've made numerous trips between here (Jacksonville, FL) and Olney,
MD, about 740 miles each way, and find it considerably less tiring than
driving my Geo Prizm was.
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Posted by News on June 17, 2007, 8:29 pm
Michelle Steiner wrote:
>
>
>>The Prius has some reputation as being tiring to drive on freeways,
>>but I don't find that particularly so.
>
>
> I've driven mine from Chandler, AZ to Las Vegas (once), to Sacramento
> (three or four times), to San Francisco two or three times, to LA once,
> and to San Diego once or twice. I didn't find it to be tiring at all,
> no more than driving an Acura TL was.
>
Is this highway behavior what various references to aftermarket front
suspension mods refer to?
> > the research phase, prior to the dealership visit phase.
> Depending on where you live, there are many 4 door hybrid choices for
> you. Also, are you looking for a new vehicle, or will a used vehicle
> be OK for you? (If you want a 4-door with a manual transmission, you
> can only get that in a used Honda Civic Hybrid.) What size vehicle
> are you looking for?
> [US models deleted]