Mk2 Prius

[320touring]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Hehe - I even looked at the long term reviews for Axiam a few years ago. They have a Haynes manual of failures - how sad am I.

I was joking! honest

Prii(correct plural?) seem to be in the 8-9k range for a 2007 up here..

e.g.
2007 Toyota Prius 5-Dr 1497 cc 1.5 T4 Hybrid

Seat Ibizas

2008 Seat Ibiza SportCoupe 3-Door 1422 cc 1.4 TDI 80PS (DPF) Ecomotive

Skoda Fabia

2007 SKODA Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 2

2008 Skoda Fabia Estate 5-Dr 1422 cc 1.4 TDi PD DPF Greenline (80 BHP)

VW Polo

2009 VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1400 cc Match TDI 70

Seems much of a muchness?

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

You may want to consider an engine block heater. When temperatures fall below the 3-5 C range, a block heater can materially improve mileage. Some folks advocate year round block heater usage to handle the universal, cold-start, fuel burn.

C'mon, he's in the UK. They only pretend to have winter temperatures there But seriously, a block heater should be used year round.

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

BTW, I'm under the impression the EU, NHW20s (your model) do not have a coolant thermos to accelerate ICE warm-up.

There's something I didn't know. I thought they were the same as the NA version, except for details required by law.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by 320touring

I was joking! honest ...

That very one (Prius) is in my watch list. The Polo/Fabia/Ibiza trio is the same more or less as what I have except for the engine. Fancy a change.

Flip-flopping even now, still thinking C1/Aygo/107 too. Yeah, I know. My wife despairs sometimes. Or maybe all the time

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

C'mon, he's in the UK. They only pretend to have winter temperatures there

Yeah, just wait until you try our summer if you are still biking here. Summer in Glencoe for example ?

[Arragonis]

Sorry to drag this up from the depths, but Mrs A has now decided to take a company Prius and so will have one after our holidays.

So I have a choice. I can go for one of these :



2 years old, < 20K miles and under £7k - urban MPG is 51, 62 mixed (imperial)

or a Mk2 Prius 55 urban MPG, 65 mixed but 4 years old and around £8-10K.

I can't decide.

What attracts me to the Prius is that it is easy, automatic transmission, auto stop-start and so on. But then I have read a few bits and pieces about coasting - neutral and otherwise - which confuses me - it seems the more the car wants to help you the less control you have to improve it.

The C1 on the other hand is as basic as basic can be, no air con, no auto, PAS (everything has it these days) and a basic 1 litre engine 3cyl Toyota VVT engine.

Arrgh.

[Daox]

If you want the highest mileage car, I'd go with the C1. It'll be easier to beat the rating for that car versus the Prius. However, the Prius is rediculously easy to drive and is a nice break from having to P&G to get good mileage. It also looks a bit larger. I don't know if you need the size.

[Arragonis]

Nail -> head Daox...

I don't need the size myself as Mrs A will have a 2011 Prius which is slightly bigger, I think, than the earlier one. One thing she is worried about is not having a car to transport the family when we do need to travel, so I may be pushed towards a van with windows which is what I was looking at when she wanted a coupe

Something like



or perhaps a smaller one



Both have super eco Diesel engines and enough space for bikes etc. but as much frontal area as a small cottage...

[bwilson4web]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Arragonis

. . . But then I have read a few bits and pieces about coasting - neutral and otherwise - which confuses me - it seems the more the car wants to help you the less control you have to improve it.
. . .

I don't want to 'pick the scab' again as there are folks in the 'hypermiler' community who think I am an agent of Satan. But in reality, I follow Dick Hicks, a GE manager, who once told a software supervisor who after a month had progressed from 90% to 90%,

"90% is not good enough ... it is f*ckin' PERFECT! Ship it!"

They shipped their software into the hands of operations ... including ME! We made major advances the next two weeks and were soon readly for launch. The lesson learned: don't let perfect be the enemy of GOOD ENOUGH.

There are a few simple techniques that will get you in the 52 MPG range ... call it 90% of perfect. If this is not good enough, fine, go with the other car. But you also lose an opportunity to study a new technology ... a fascinating technology quite beyond the dirt-simple alternatives.

I have no idea what 'cranks your tractor' but a car that has both gas and electric power and tries to emulate an ordinary car ... what a fascinating puzzle. The resouces available to Prius people ... well I'm seldom bored. For example, the Yahoo group "Prius Technical Stuff" dates to November 2000 and documents the work of pioneer Prius geniuses of whom I remain in awe.

As for your decision, the only one you have to please is yourself. To eliminate any buyer's remorse, see if you can rent a Prius for a weekend. Good, bad or ugly, you'll know if you can stand to walk out in the morning and think 'Oh boy, I get to play with you today!'

Go with the car that excites your imagination and above all, be happy.

Bob Wilson

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

C1
2 years old, < 20K miles and under £7k

Better check prices at a dealership then.
In Belgium, the basic C1 sells for 7000 euro NEW !

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Better check prices at a dealership then.
In Belgium, the basic C1 sells for 7000 euro NEW !

Did you know that car makers used to call the UK 'Treasure Island', and that Volvo dealers were prosecuted for price fixing in the UK ?

I may be able to look at a new one, but they depreciate too fast...

[cfguy2000]

Rich-

There has got to be a story here. Care to elaborate?

Personally I think that Toyota's have proven themselves to be very reliable and efficient vehicles. Although I do think Honda's are quite a bit sportier and better looking.

------
1997 Toyota Corolla base model (3 spd auto) with 204,000 miles here
30+ mpg just about every tank with all city driving and no mods other than good maintenance and patient driving

Originally Posted by richtate

Toyota in general, but I really don't like them at all. Yes I've owned more than one and wish I never did.