Posted by Michelle Steiner on October 5, 2004, 12:48 am
mike@POSTTOGROUP.invalid (Mike Rosenberg) wrote:
> > So, what are your impressions of it thus far?
>
> I absolutely love it! It's a HUGE step up from my old Prizm (a
> Corolla in disguise)--a lot roomier, with lots more bells and
> whistles, and a lot more pep. I don't understand why some people
> claim that the Prius is underpowered, because I don't find that to be
> the case at all.
Me neither; it's not as powerful as my Acura was (225 HP V6), but it's
got more than enough to do the job.
> > Oh, it looks as if I'll have my first 50(+) MPG tank soon; I have about
> > 240 miles on the tank, and currently am at 50.6 MPG.
After today's tooling around, it's down to 50.2.
> Cool! My best so far is just over 46 MPG.
That's about where I was when mine was as old as yours is now.
-- Michelle
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
Posted by Mike Rosenberg on October 5, 2004, 11:24 am
> That's about where I was when mine was as old as yours is now.
All those many weeks ago! :-)
--
Mike Rosenberg
<http://www.macconsult.com> Macintosh consulting services for NE Florida
<http://bogart-tribute.net> Tribute to Humphrey Bogart
Posted by Bill McCalla on October 10, 2004, 9:57 pm
<clipped for brevity>
Hi Michelle,
As always, you are on top of the latest. Don't you Californians get an
additional state tax incentive, besides the free parking in L.A and the
right to drive in the diamond lane?
Bill in North Carolina,
'04 White BC
'04 Black BC
>> Speaking of the Rebates... Can any of you respond with ACTUAL rebates
>> that you have received either federally or by state? How much do us
>> Californian's get? Is this for just the year of purchase? Or does it
>> extend into following years too.
> The state and federal governments do not give rebates; they give tax
> incentives. The federal government will let you take a $500 deduction
> if you purchase a Prius this year ($000 next year, and $00 in 2006).
> However, there is a bill that will restore the full $000 deduction.
> All it needs is for congress to pass it and the president to sign it.
> It's not a stand-alone bill, but part of other legislation.
> Because it's a deduction and not a credit, you save the amount
> multiplied by your tax bracket. So, if you're in the 15% bracket, the
> tax savings this year would be 15% of $500, or $25.
> --
> Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
Posted by Michelle Steiner on October 11, 2004, 5:27 am
In article
> Hi Michelle,
>
> As always, you are on top of the latest. Don't you Californians get
> an additional state tax incentive, besides the free parking in L.A
> and the right to drive in the diamond lane?
I'm not a Californian. However, Californian Prius drivers don't get the
right to drive in the diamond lane. Although the governor signed
legislation to allow it, federal law prohibits it, so until the federal
law is changed or amended to exempt California, that lane is not open to
single-passenger hybrid vehicles.
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
Posted by Michelle Vadeboncoeur on October 11, 2004, 6:22 pm
> Hi I am a COX subscriber, and I just joined the group. I gather from reading
> the rest of the posts that this group has just been added. Just in time for
> me!!! :)
>
> Anyway,
>
> I live in San Diego, CA and I am sick of the refills costing me over $0.00
> each week. And I really want a hybrid. I have been waiting for the
> Highlander, but I am now leaning toward the Prius. For two reasons. 1. It
> guts record setting mileage. Much greater than the Highlander or the Lexus H
> will get. And 2. It probably has enough room in it.
>
> I currently have a '98 4 door 2WD Blazer that is comfortable enough for all
> of us. But I frequently load the back with a LOT of stuff. And when we all
> take off for a weekend. We have enough stuff to cram the whole vehicle with
> people and gear. And it has over 70K miles on it and it has already stranded
> us twice.
>
> Anyway, this group has already provided me with some answers to questions
> like:
>
> Q. How long do the batteries last?
> A. "Could be between 250K and 400K miles", and the warrantee is 8 years and
> 100K.
>
> Q. How much will replacement batteries cost?
> A. I guess between $K and $0K. But there isn't much reported on the
> Internet on this.
>
> Q. Is the $,000 non-refundable deposit standard.
> A. It seems to be but this could go away as more hybrids are offered. And
> some dealers don't require them.
>
> Q. How long is the actual waiting period?
> A. 6 months is reported. But it is frequently much less.
>
> I am fond of buying used cars because I prefer not to depreciate my
> investment so quickly. And I have found some interesting options on e-Bay
> Motors. The '05's are coming out without major changes, and this makes the
> '04's a better value, but I may not have much selection on NEW '04's.
>
> I have not read many posts on complaints of any generation of Prius's. And I
> am curious about any unknown costs that any of you have experienced in
> owning your hybrids. Outside of the right wing radicals that respond to
> Michelle's informative responses. I was interested in the Jetta Diesel until
> I found that it didn't qualify for the Low Emitions Tax Rebate.
>
> Speaking of the Rebates... Can any of you respond with ACTUAL rebates that
> you have received either federally or by state? How much do us Californian's
> get? Is this for just the year of purchase? Or does it extend into following
> years too.
NEW (not leased or used or previously owned, financing is OK, though)
Prius do qualify for the
US Federal Income Tax DEDUCTION for Clean Fueled Vehicles. It's a
1-time deduction taken in the tax year that you purchased your
vehicle.
Amount will either be $000 or $500, depends on what the IRS
publication
535 "Business Expenses" chapter 12 (Clean fueled Vehicle deduction)
says when the new tax year edition is out.
Some states have no or reduced sales tax (MD, CT, ME, NY?). Some
states
have grant programs that you can apply for before purchasing your
hybrid (PA, TX?). Some states let you carry over the Federal
deduction
onto your state taxes (MA does this until the end of tax/calendar year
2004).
A few states have state tax CREDITS for hybrids (OR, KS?, NY?) Then
in VA you can get the Clean Fueled Vehicle license plates that allow
you into the VA HOV lanes (other states are waiting for federal
approval
to allow HOV use - CA, FL, AZ, CO, etc.)
more links for US information (US federal, state, local/county),
Canada,
and UK:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/links/Financial_000963256550/
(which is by no means complete or orderly!)
XML site map
>
> I absolutely love it! It's a HUGE step up from my old Prizm (a
> Corolla in disguise)--a lot roomier, with lots more bells and
> whistles, and a lot more pep. I don't understand why some people
> claim that the Prius is underpowered, because I don't find that to be
> the case at all.