Honda Car Forum

In article <elmop-E3E563.16050812052008@nntp9.usenetserver.com>,
"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:

> Don't forget the size. The Prius is larger than the Corolla; if you
> think you'd want something larger that also gets good gas mileage,
> that's the Prius. If you think you're stuck with a Corolla-sized car,
> you're not. Not necessarily.

IMO they've similar in interior space.
A few months ago we drove to the airport in a Corolla and returned in a
Prius. The Prius did have the advantage of being able to pile our
luggage up to the back window, so you couldn't see out the window even
the tiny bit that is normal.

I would never pile the luggage that high for safety reasons and would
wrap a cargo net around the Prius luggage to avoid it coming forward in
a quick stop.

I have read that the Prius mileage in cold winter weather is similar to
the Corolla's.

In article <332Wj.3318$J16.3219@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net> ,
SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> J.D. Power Long Term Dependability (3 year)
> --------------
> Only Toyota and Honda rank above the industry average
>
> Longevity (11-20 years) (of companies making small, non-luxury cars)
> ---------
> Saturn
> Toyota
> Honda
> Mazda
>
> Depreciation
> ------------
> Honda Civic
> Toyota Corolla
> Mazda 3
> Nissan Versa

If you keep a new car 10 yrs, as I usually do, depreciation is almost
the same for most similar priced cars.
Very little value after 10+ yrs.

On Mon, 12 May 2008 13:07:14 -0500, RPS <rps@null.void> wrote:

>Elmo P. Shagnasty <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
>
>: Well, you may be thinking that it's "too expensive to buy". It may or
>: may not be too expensive to operate.
>:
>: The up front cost is only one of the many costs. You buy it once, but
>: you operate it over and over again. You must look at an overall cost,
>: per mile, to come to any conclusions.
>:
>: I'd compare similarly equipped Corolla and Prius...
>
>Just using round numbers, the price difference appears to be $6000.
>
>If I drive 12000 miles per year, Corolla (30 mpg) would need 400
>gallons of fuel. Prius (40mpg) about 300 gallons. Difference is 100
>gallons, let's say $500.
>
>That would mean 10-12 years to merely recover the extra money you pay
>upfront. So, I am not saying Prius is not a good car, but it has become
>something of a fad/fashion too and I don't see the economy: I give them
>$6000, and hope that maybe I'd earn it back by 2020?
>
>So, I am inclined to stay with the best of conventional cars. Trying to
>figure out which one!


Ok, I'm biased since I own 3 Corollas (one tho is a 1992 but in great
shape). I won't get into which one is the best because of my bias
but how can you go wrong with any of your choices? Even if you did,
how bad could it be compared to your other choices? I say rather
than beat your brains out, buy the Corolla (is my bias showing yet?)
and enjoy it for 200,000 miles or more.

In article <9Q4Wj.2609$ah4.604@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com>,
"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote:

> "Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
> >
> > Hmmmm. The Prius will get, over a year's time, no less than 45mpg. And
> > that's without any freaky driving techniques.
> >
>
> My concern is still the batteries. The OP had his present car for 12 years
> so I'm going to assume he wants long life from the next. Will the batteries
> become a nightmare or just another expense? Just something to be factored
> in for the total cost of driving over the years. I keep hearing about a
> five year life, so that would be two changes for the OP if he keeps the car
> that long.

Based on other rechargeable batteries I would expect a significant drop
off in capacity after 3 to 5 years.
Since the Prius will still run anyway I'm sure the batteries will be run
into the ground before replacement.

Oops that was a math error, so that drops your savings down to $4,000 in 10
years. Show me the data indicating battery packs fail in great numbers, at
least as much as transmission and engine problems as hybrid cars have been
on the road more than 10 years and some have over 300,000 miles on them.
The other issue, is why would you want a low end car with a manual
transmission, I would not even consider one. It would also have poor resale
value? though not a major factor, but, unless you are going to drive the car
into the ground, it has some bering.
If you are comparing a car with an automatic trans, yes, you need to add
the auto to the other....BTW. I did use the base Corolla for the comparison
but comparing a stripped econo-box to a fairly well equipped car is the same
logic people use when comparing the Honda hybrid to the Civic DX, sorry,
like it or not, the hybrid is on par with the EX not the DX so, though you
may be happy with a low end car, Hybrids are not and therefore the
difference it owed to more than the cost of the hybrid system but the Hybrid
may not be for you.


"Newbie" <newbie@no.spam> wrote in message
news:120520082156269384%newbie@no.spam...
> Justbob30 <NoThank@you.com> wrote:
>
> : Before you say you cant afford a hybrid, lets take a look at the web
> site,
> : base Prius $21,100, base Corolla auto (apples to apples) $17,110,
> difference
> : $2,715,
>
> ONE, the difference between your own numbers is $4000.
>
> TWO, I am not sure if "apples to apples" is as fair a comparison as you
> make it sound. Corolla is available in cheaper versions, Prius is not.
> A manual CE would not only cost less but also have better mpg.

Got a lot of opinions Josh, how about facts, the Prius will NOT run on a
failed battery pack and cabbies have heavy feet, it is part of the
job.....however, don't you see the contradiction in your two statements that
the battery packs fail in three to five years yet they are usesd as high
mileage taxies....of course you don't see that, after all, you have been
told all of these things and after all drove a prius once admittedly
overloaded. Oh well, this is the internet, these are things you have heard
or read so of course they must be true fact.

"Josh S" <Josh@clean.spam> wrote in message
news:Josh-7A93BB.23225012052008@news.telus.net...
> In article <120520081307140096%rps@null.void>, RPS <rps@null.void>
> wrote:
>
>> If I drive 12000 miles per year, Corolla (30 mpg) would need 400
>> gallons of fuel. Prius (40mpg) about 300 gallons. Difference is 100
>> gallons, let's say $500.
>
> The cabbies here tell me they get:
> -9 l/100 (26 mpUSg) with the Corolla and
> -6 l/100 (39 mpUSg) with the Prius.
> This is all urban driving.

In article <Josh-F017ED.23290712052008@news.telus.net>,
Josh S <Josh@clean.spam> wrote:

> > Don't forget the size. The Prius is larger than the Corolla; if you
> > think you'd want something larger that also gets good gas mileage,
> > that's the Prius. If you think you're stuck with a Corolla-sized car,
> > you're not. Not necessarily.
>
> IMO they've similar in interior space.

They're not.

In article <1z7Wj.264367$pM4.120239@pd7urf1no>,
Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote:

> > TWO, I am not sure if "apples to apples" is as fair a comparison as you
> > make it sound. Corolla is available in cheaper versions, Prius is not.
> > A manual CE would not only cost less but also have better mpg.
> Hmmm,
> Cost of battery pack when it needs replacing?

Is no different than the cost of the traditional automatic transmission
when it needs replacing.

And after 125K, a traditional auto trans will need replacing. It seems
to be normal nowadays.

Justbob30 <justbob30@nevermind.com> wrote:

: The other issue, is why would you want a low end car with a manual
: transmission..

I was just pointing out that it is an option. If someone is comfortable
with manual transmission (as OP stated) and wants to save money while
still getting Corolla quality, he can.

I have owned manual and automatic Toyotas and never had problem selling
either kind.

"Newbie" <newbie@no.spam> wrote in message
news:130520080707350336%newbie@no.spam...
> Justbob30 <justbob30@nevermind.com> wrote:
>
> : The other issue, is why would you want a low end car with a manual
> : transmission..
>
> I was just pointing out that it is an option. If someone is comfortable
> with manual transmission (as OP stated) and wants to save money while
> still getting Corolla quality, he can.
>
> I have owned manual and automatic Toyotas and never had problem selling
> either kind.

And as gas prices climb closer to $4/gal, small efficient manual
transmission vehicles will be more desirable. I expect to see a premium on
manual trans, small engine cars pretty soon in the US.

Jon