TOYOTA PRIUS [merged threads]

[roberto_minosa]

Well if you look at the BIG PICTURE it might not be as environmentally friendly as the automakers want you to believe. I mean how many CO2 do they release just to build a hybrid vehicle with 2 engines versus a regular single internal combustion engine car?

Yeah. I believe Jeremy Clarkson pointed this out once on Top Gear. It's really a shortcut solution to oil shortage, but pretty much not an aid to environment protection. But hey, people still buy it because it's cheap to run, at least for the first few years before its batteries die.

[ghosthunter]

Hybrid cars aren't really the final solution for the future of personal transport. It is just the current solution using current technology. The final solution would be electric cars but current battery technology still limits the practical range of the electric cars between recharging.

[scharnhorst]

Yeah. I believe Jeremy Clarkson pointed this out once on Top Gear. It's really a shortcut solution to oil shortage, but pretty much not an aid to environment protection. But hey, people still buy it because it's cheap to run, at least for the first few years before its batteries die.

in that episode, I think he said that the M3 is more environmentally friendly than the prius... due to the amount of waste produced manufacturing and shipping the batteries

[Horsepower]

and because it consumed far less fuel during the 10 laps with the Prius.

[wsa 400]

Taxes and duties should be re-calibrated to make the Prius viable in the Philippines. In California the top of the line Prius is about 1.3 million pesos at P47:1 exchange rate and the top of the line Honda Insight is 1.14 million.

[JJCarEnthusiast]

:drool:

that's what we call tax :hammer:

[kinyo]

the rich guy would buy it for one reason alone ... bragging rights

[Gerbo]

Its not a practical buy for an average guy.

[niky]

Taxes and duties should be re-calibrated to make the Prius viable in the Philippines. In California the top of the line Prius is about 1.3 million pesos at P47:1 exchange rate and the top of the line Honda Insight is 1.14 million.

The Prius still starts at 300,000 pesos more than the Civic in the US... That's still nearly 100,000 kilometers worth of gasoline. And that's only because of the hybrid tax breaks the Prius gets. IMHO, all fuel-efficient cars should get a tax break, by this reasoning... simply because some gasoline cars and many diesels get similar economy to the Prius.

But therein lies the rub.

Should the US government be subsidizing people rich enough to afford a $20k plus car? Or shouldn't they be giving a bigger tax break to people who can't afford anything brand new?

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EDIT: If the government truly wants to help people, they should provide a more effective transport grid and jobs. More jobs, better pay and better public transport will give people enough money to buy whatever luxuries they want. Merely subsidizing those rich enough to buy a one million peso car is throwing money at people who already have it.

[ghosthunter]

government subsidized Ford Focus TDCi for everyone!

[scharnhorst]

government subsidized Ford Focus TDCi for everyone!

In our dreams... but considering that foci are locally assembled... may tax breaks na ba ang mga ito?

[garci]

It's on display now at Greenbelt 5. 2.25M+ 85k+LTO insurance according to the price list.

[ghosthunter]

Another Toy for the Big Boy.

[Horsepower]

I'd rather have a BMW 120d, Audi A4 TDI or 2 Ford Focus TDCI. hehehe.

far more greener and environment friendly.

[kotiko]

Saw the demo units at GB5 last Saturday. Looks good but too pricey at 2M mark!

[jayemkay]

wow...2 million (plus plus)...thats just too steep a price for regular joe's like me to cough up just for the sake of keeping the earth green. but it is a step forward nonetheless for our country. hopefully cheaper, more efficient and green cars will be introduced soon. for now, its compact sedans, LPG's, TDi's and CRDi's...FTW! (wonder how much Honda's Insight will go for here)

[ghosthunter]

Being GREEN must always save you some GREEN as well to become a viable alternative for the masses to adapt.

[green_machine]

A while ago I saw a brand new Prius at the Ayala Ave-Buendia intersection! Seems a newly bought unit because of a Toyota dealership plate/cardboard-whatever-you-call-it thing. Silver in color. At first I thought it was a hatchbacked cross between a Corolla Altis and a Vios but upon a longer second look, that was when I realized that it was actually a Prius because of the sleek side profile. It actually looks good in reality; quite large and spacious as well. It could have looked better, though, if it had larger and better-designed wheels.

Too bad it's expensive. Between this and a Camry 3.5Q V6 (which is actually a bit cheaper), I'd still take the latter, 'cause it's way more powerful, relatively fuel efficient for a V6, and way more luxurious and comfortable.

Still, I think it's good that a high-tech model like this is being introduced in our country.

[tidus1203]

And here we are may bumili na pala... Must be one of those rich image conscious types.

[meledson]

IMHO, this vehicle will be a flop locally. Mahal kasi. from the fuel savings, how long will be the ROI? How often the batteries has to be replaced?

Economics wise, for me, not a good buy.