Toyota...We're Number....Two???

[Homeboy]

Originally Posted by BuildCode

Regarding "we" and "our" - do you work for Toyota or just feel really close to them?

Yes, I work for Toyota at TPCE (Toyota Parts Center Europe) as buyer / logistics coordinator.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

One thing people need to get straight is not comparing the Prius and Yaris as if they are just different apples.

You can not argue an economic comparison pertaining to fuel cost benefits between the two. Makes no sense because the Prius is in an entirely different class.

Yeah when Prius owners realize theyve taken a financial bath to save a minute ammount of fuel over the cars lifetime (if they EVER realize it) thats the argument they fall back on. The car is predicated on the fact that youre saving gas and so saving money. But you ARENT saving money! Youre spending MORE money. Ive even heard the ludicris argument the Prius is a "midsize" car The Prius has the same gas engine as an ECHO/Yaris with some modifications so its the same car. It has the same interior room as an ECHO/Yaris. And the first ones had very limited trunk space because of the batteries, compared to a Yaris. But theres the fancy schmancy lie-o-meter dashboard with pretty buttons and knobs to make you think youre driving a space ship or something. My suggestion is to put a feather on a stick which tickles the drivers arse at regular intervals.
Ok Im sorry I got carried away there.

[RUFFSTUFF]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Yeah when Prius owners realize theyve taken a financial bath to save a minute ammount of fuel over the cars lifetime (if they EVER realize it) thats the argument they fall back on. The car is predicated on the fact that youre saving gas and so saving money. But you ARENT saving money! Youre spending MORE money. Ive even heard the ludicris argument the Prius is a "midsize" car The Prius has the same gas engine as an ECHO/Yaris with some modifications so its the same car. It has the same interior room as an ECHO/Yaris. And the first ones had very limited trunk space because of the batteries, compared to a Yaris. But theres the fancy schmancy lie-o-meter dashboard with pretty buttons and knobs to make you think youre driving a space ship or something. My suggestion is to put a feather on a stick which tickles the drivers arse at regular intervals.
Ok Im sorry I got carried away there.

No it's all good. Hybrids are the auto manufacturers way of saying "you're stupid give us your money." And right on cue... the stupid people did and bragged about it!

[fmicle]

Originally Posted by bronsin

But theres the fancy schmancy lie-o-meter dashboard with pretty buttons and knobs to make you think youre driving a space ship or something. My suggestion is to put a feather on a stick which tickles the drivers arse at regular intervals.
Ok Im sorry I got carried away there.

[supmet]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Plus, the Prius has a much more premium driving feel.

have you ever been in a prius?

[RUFFSTUFF]

Originally Posted by supmet

have you ever been in a prius?

These guys drove one...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...a_prius_page_3

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF

These guys drove one...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...a_prius_page_3

Wow and the Metro tied the Prius with 42 mpg! Whats a 1998 Metro in really good shape go for...$2000? And the Prius is like $25K! And it gets the SAME mileage.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by supmet

have you ever been in a prius?

Of course but clearly you haven't if you think that the Yaris drives with similar refinement. And the new 3rd generation is another huge step and has gotten great reviews for it's driving feel considering what it is.

The Prius has a lot more in common with the Camry than it does a Yaris.

[supmet]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

And the new 3rd generation is another huge step and has gotten great reviews for it's driving feel considering what it is.

I've noticed most of your comments are based on the newest model years reviews, and never on real world experience. I think that's where most of your confusion comes from.

And please tell me how the prius is so much better? Every review I've read has pretty much said its crap, and my Dad's prius is annoying as hell to ride in. You can feel every time it goes from electric to gas, and while it may be quieter, constant noises are always less annoying then noises that start and stop, start and stop. They can't handle for anything, so I really don't know what you think is so great and special about the prius.

Its a cool gadget, you can't argue it being a good value in any way shape or form

[BuildCode]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Heres my math:

Yaris $15,000
Prius $25,000

Driving a Yaris 100,000k miles @35 mpg burning gas @ $2.50 a gallon costs $7142
Driving a Prius 100k miles @45 mpg gas @ $2.50 costs $5555

Thats saves >$2000. So you STILL have $8000 in outlay to recover. That wont happen till 400,000 MORE miles. (@$2.50 a gallon)

Am I wrong?

Love it. Agreed, the Prius and the Yaris shouldn't be compared though, as others also pointed out - unless you're talking to the idiot who "bought a Prius to save money on gas" for that idea alone

[RUFFSTUFF]

Originally Posted by BuildCode

...unless you're talking to the idiot who "bought a Prius to save money on gas" for that idea alone

Or the idiot's cousin who spent $4000 on a scooter to do the same. Not only are you out $4000, but that's a helluva hit to the image to overcome...

[2+2]

Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF

Not only are you out $4000, but that's a helluva hit to the image to overcome...

[why?]

VW's are too expensive, and too many of them have crazy ongoing electrical gremlins. You can do the same math with a VW diesel that you can with a Yaris. You'd need to drive a rediculous amount of miles a year to actually save money.

Now the Yaris diesel, if a reasonable price, could make financial sense.

Of course, there are many other reasons to buy a car.

[slothman86]

I'm not worried too much about where Toyota is unless they are going away. I will continue to buy Toyota until i find a reason not to.

[Wattz]

VW makes good looking cars, and cars that perform well in theory... But the actual build quality and execution of their ideas is where they fail. Most VWs in the USA are built in Mexico. The Wolfsberg editions are built in Germany, but they also cost a bit more.

Compare to Toyota, who (I'm sorry) build bland looking cars that are just too practical in many cases. The overall American mindset is ANYTHING BUT practical. Consider that just a few years ago large trucks were at the forefront of the vehicle market. Americans have their priorities backwards and tend to take things at face value.

[why?]

If the "American Mindset" was anything but practical, something other than a Camry or a Accord would be the best selling model for the past however many years. F-150's are at the front of the market because they are practical. And have about 1000 different uses and modifications, from towing to box trucks to everything under the sun.

[Wattz]

Maybe I should narrow my comment down to South Eastern USA mindset? Down here you generally see pristine trucks and SUVs that have never been exposed to anything but commuting. The next biggest vehicular culture is the big, fast car. American-made gas guzzlers that weigh far more than they should. Third is the crossover. Fourth might be the mid-size.

I would say practical car buyers down here are or 5th or 6th in population size.

[why?]

Originally Posted by Wattz

Maybe I should narrow my comment down to South Eastern USA mindset? Down here you generally see pristine trucks and SUVs that have never been exposed to anything but commuting. The next biggest vehicular culture is the big, fast car. American-made gas guzzlers that weigh far more than they should. Third is the crossover. Fourth might be the mid-size.

I would say practical car buyers down here are or 5th or 6th in population size.

lol, you are trying too hard to simply insult people down here. Go to any decent size parking lot. The majority of vehicles are cars.

You can go anywhere in the world and find the crazy people that stick out. Just because they stick out does not mean they are average though.