Toyota Can't Make Enough Priuses to Meet Demand

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by pgill00

Yesterday I drove home from my folks home in Mobile, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL down some back country roads full of hills and little towns in my 2006 Cobalt LT coupe with a 4-speed auto. On my trip I was passed (going 70-80) by two new Priuses, a new Accord Coupe and a Civic hybrid (all had dealer tags on them still).

By driving 5mph under the speed limit at times, staying at or under 2100 rpm and decellerating up hills, I added 15 minutes to the trip and got 39.5 mpg. So I wonder if those Prius's were getting better? I guess not and they probably finished the trip 15 minutes quicker.....CONGRATS ON PAYING OVER STICKER.

Think of reduced fat Pringles and then realize that if you eat twice as many you still gain weight. You can't buy your way to better fuel economy, you have to change the way you do things.

People can see much better MPG if they just changed their driving habits just a little, Ive always been able to hit or exceed the old EPA fuel economy numbers now the new ones are just a joke to me.

[jorgesalazar521@msn.com]

gm is always behind the curb, for my 20 years of keeping track of our domestic vehicle, every five years i see "in hindsight we should have....." im to the point of acceptting the imports---eventually gm/f/ch will go down. our economy going to offshore.

what obout the cobalt with bas system---maybe 40mpg

[pgill00]

Originally Posted by jorgesalazar521@msn.com

gm is always behind the curb, for my 20 years of keeping track of our domestic vehicle, every five years i see "in hindsight we should have....." im to the point of acceptting the imports---eventually gm/f/ch will go down. our economy going to offshore.

what obout the cobalt with bas system---maybe 40mpg

Spews of useless negativity. If it has taken you 20 years to consider an import then there are not doing their job well. Also, if "our economy goes off shore" (whatever that means) then our homes and people will also. It is mathematically impossible to import everything.

You know what I think a recession is? 3.2 million people like you telling their friends that they can't do anything to fix anything. Grab you some presciption drugs and get happy, jeez.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by pgill00

You can't buy your way to better fuel economy, you have to change the way you do things.

That is one of the best statements about fuel economy I've read in quite a long time. I may borrow that as a signature.

I too am confused by people who rush out and trade in their current car on one that gets 3-5mpg better....and costs them $50-$150 a month more in payments, all to save $5-$20 a week in gas. Dorks.

[mpsrent]

While people would like us to beleive that the environment is the main reason for heir hybrid purchase, reality is that "financial cost" is likely the real motivator. You have to wonder how much thought goes into the average hybrid purchase, especially given the fantastic economy (and related emissions) that can be found in many of the modern 4 cylinder 5/6 speed automatics offered on the market today.

Personally, I can't see paying a premium for a hybrid family sedan when there is a vast range of great family vehicles from the new 4cyl 6speed Malibu to Honda's Accord. Toyota's Camry and Nissan's Altima; all with great fuel economy and price attractively.

For my money I think I would rather save the extra thousands you pay for a hybrid and would opt for a modern and efficient 4 cyl.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by pgill00

Yesterday I drove home from my folks home in Mobile, AL

Hey Pgill00, I work in Daphne, just across the bay from Mobile!

[windvale]

I would just love to see GM start a crash program to drop the two-mode hybrid into the Malibu and the Cobalt. Or does the two-mode actually just benefit trucks due to the way it's designed ? I'm not sure...

In either case, I'll be curious to see how, and how fast, GM adapts to the paradigm shift that has taken place in consumer preference this year.

[A Bum In A Bus]

Originally Posted by pgill00

Yesterday I drove home from my folks home in Mobile, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL down some back country roads full of hills and little towns in my 2006 Cobalt LT coupe with a 4-speed auto. On my trip I was passed (going 70-80) by two new Priuses, a new Accord Coupe and a Civic hybrid (all had dealer tags on them still).

By driving 5mph under the speed limit at times, staying at or under 2100 rpm and decellerating up hills, I added 15 minutes to the trip and got 39.5 mpg. So I wonder if those Prius's were getting better? I guess not and they probably finished the trip 15 minutes quicker.....CONGRATS ON PAYING OVER STICKER.

Think of reduced fat Pringles and then realize that if you eat twice as many you still gain weight. You can't buy your way to better fuel economy, you have to change the way you do things.

I drive a 2007 GMC Sierra EXT cab, if I keep my rpm's under 2000 I can increase my mileage tremendously. I have started leaving early and keeping to 60 mph on the interstate, it makes a big difference, sure others pass you by but that doesn't matter. I drive leisurely along feeling good about conserving fuel and SAVING MY MONEY!

[red_rider]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

People can see much better MPG if they just changed their driving habits just a little, Ive always been able to hit or exceed the old EPA fuel economy numbers now the new ones are just a joke to me.

+1, the cb7 averaged 31 mpg last tank with a rating of 21/28 under the OLD rating system.

apparently gas prices are not high enough for people to actually go... the speed limit!!!!!

[genjy]

Originally Posted by mpsrent

For my money I think I would rather save the extra thousands you pay for a hybrid and would opt for a modern and efficient 4 cyl.

Hybrids usually have better drivability than 4-cylinder gassers because of the immediate low-end torque from the electric motor. For city-dwellers, hybrids make sense.

[pgill00]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

Hey Pgill00, I work in Daphne, just across the bay from Mobile!

Nice. We rode over to Lambert's in Foley for lunch and hit Burris for a strawberry shake on the way back. It has been a while since I have been over there and I about freaked out seeing how big Spanish Fort is getting. That seems like the place to go now.

I think Daphne is about the explode with all of the new Brookley jobs coming up. Hang on to your house for 5 more years (or buy one now and hang on to it!) and make some money.

[pgill00]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

That is one of the best statements about fuel economy I've read in quite a long time. I may borrow that as a signature.

I too am confused by people who rush out and trade in their current car on one that gets 3-5mpg better....and costs them $50-$150 a month more in payments, all to save $5-$20 a week in gas. Dorks.

I give you permission for sure. That is what I tell people every day. I feel like a AA Sponsor when I am telling someone that and I think we (the country) are about to have to come to grips with our terrible habits needing to change.

Truthfully....we should have realized it when the EPA redefined the MPG ratings to reflect less responsible driving habits. Are we kidding ourselves here? I hope that one day someone runs for public office and thinks about lowering the speed limit again. I would be very interested to see a report showing fuel consumption per car on Alabama interstates over the last 10 years that reflects the increase in speed limit from 65 to 70.

I have a feeling there are some powerful correlations that have heightened our fuel dependence.

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by dindak

It's too bad GM has no Malibu hybrids around, I'm sure they could sell a few!!

Maybe they would sell but I think consumers like thier hybrids to be unique vehicles. This has contributed strongly to the Prius' success over the Honda Civic Hybrid and even other Toyota hybrids (Camry and Highlander). I guess that is one piece of good news for the VOLT.

[BrickTamland]

I suppose that is a wonderful problem to have...

[paul8488]

Who said that people that trade in for more efficient vehicles weren't already going to do it? People change vehicles very often... if you're going to trade in, it makes sense to get a smaller one now.