Will the Toyota PRIUS be a hit or flop in the Phil auto market?

[ghosthunter]

[SIZE="4"]Will the Toyota PRIUS be a hit or flop in the Phil auto market?[/SIZE]

[ghosthunter]

Personally, I think the Prius will be so-so in the local market mainly because due to the hype of owning a hybrid car by some of the more wealthy sectors of our society. And since the first batch is (artificially) limited to just 100 units (for 2009), the demand might also be artificially stimulated due to limited availability within 2009.

Beyond that, I foresee the demand suddenly falling off as Prius owners suddenly realizing that the car doesn't deliver all the "magic" they were so hyped about.

Major things to watch:
-fuel economy especially in city driving in Metro Manila
-battery life (which might be shortened due to hot daytime temps)

[ianmitsulancer]

probably if the fuel prices will rise to high heavens again... then the Prius will be a Hit.

[tidus1203]

I voted so-so. Its all about the target market, most of us here ARE NOT THE TARGET MARKET thus our heavy criticism of the Prius. Toyota knows naman it will only sell to its target market and for its target demographic I think it will do reasonably well since its the only hybrid vehicle in the country. Honda might follow with its Insight but maybe then if the Prius is succesfull in its target market it could be too little, too late for Honda. Toyota is taking lots of risks, but with higher risks comes higher rewards!

[Altis6453]

I got a chance to ride a Prius taxi cab on my way to the Centrale train station in Milan. Nothing special really, unless you consider the unique dash and the shifter. It runs real quiet, but then again, so do a lot of cars in its price segment.

Last Saturday, I was in Toyota Manila Bay and they had a silver Prius on display. It looked exactly like the cab I rode in. Considering its price, I think you'd have to be burning a hole in your pocket just to be able to drive a Prius and contribute to environmental conservation at the same time. It just doesn't make sense. You could buy a really fuel-efficient car like the Hyundai i10 or the new Suzuki Celerio and have a lot left over for gas and maintenance.

[_Qwerty_]

depende siguro sa actual FC nito in Manila roads.. specially Edsa traffic.. if it can do 15 to 20 kms per liter on EDSA traffic.. hmm so say kung doble ang matitipid.. if you're spending 8T a month on gas.. kung dito 4T lang.. that's 4T savings a month... it will take you 250 months or 20 years para mabawi yung 1M you spent more in buying this car! hehehehe

[ghosthunter]

Honda might follow with its Insight but maybe then if the Prius is succesfull in its target market it could be too little, too late for Honda. Toyota is taking lots of risks, but with higher risks comes higher rewards!

Honda already has the Civic EMS "hybrid" for a few years being sold in other countries. It's not a true hybrid but does employ fuel economizing features like engine-stop-start and electric-motor assist & regenerative braking to the 1.2L engine.

[buchieboy]

Aside from the Hybrid Badge, the price is to much for a car with as much features as the top of the line Vios which cost 70% less. In terms of FC. i think it would do great in Manila. They say it is more efficient when in the city compared to speedy highways.

[roberto_minosa]

SO-SO. If I want to save gas, I'd save up for a condo where I'd just walk to work. Only politicians and showbiz people will buy it.

[ghosthunter]

Aside from the Hybrid Badge, the price is to much for a car with as much features as the top of the line Vios which cost 70% less. In terms of FC. i think it would do great in Manila. They say it is more efficient when in the city compared to speedy highways.

How about needing to run the A/C all the time while driving in Metro Manila traffic?

[roberto_minosa]

Gawd, is the A/C still run by the gas engine??? So does that mean that the gas engine will still idle??? FLOP.

[coiter]

for the rich and famous (and wannabe famous). so if toyota's target is 5 units a year, I guess there's a big chance it would be a "hit" at least for the 1st year since the well-to-do would probably want to be among the 1st to own one.

[ghosthunter]

Gawd, is the A/C still run by the gas engine??? So does that mean that the gas engine will still idle??? FLOP.

not sure but if the A/C is run by an electric system, it would still require the petrol engine to run longer & more often to offset the higher power requirement.

[ghosthunter]

for the rich and famous (and wannabe famous). so if toyota's target is 5 units a year, I guess there's a big chance it would be a "hit" at least for the 1st year since the well-to-do would probably want to be among the 1st to own one.

toyota phils target is 100 units for 2009.

[roberto_minosa]

That would work if number 8-plate cars are all Priuses.

[ghosthunter]

That would work if number 8-plate cars are all Priuses.

Prius with 7 and 8 plates. And then those same Prius' will be escorted by a pair of menacing black Nissan Patrols belching out black diesel smoke.

[roberto_minosa]

^Haha...but still, it's a photo op! Imagine all the press that a politician driving a Prius will attract. Still, they'll be idiots for buying an "econo-car" at that price.

[meledson]

Car owners can relearn to take the public transport system if gas proces becoes too prohibitive.

Remember last Dec. 2008 With the gas prices in the 60s (unleaded) there was less traffic. Less cars on the road?

[eggman]

Flop to for sure unless pabilhin lahat nang mga corrupt na Tongressman nang Prius!!

[ghosthunter]

Remember last Dec. 2008 With the gas prices in the 60s (unleaded) there was less traffic. Less cars on the road?

Less cars in the road... yes. I was still driving because I was fueled by more affordable LPG.