TopGun Posted 22 February, 2009 Share Posted 22 February, 2009 I drove a Prius last week for the first time. Very strange sensation as it has no gears to shift up and down, just an electric motor supplemented by petrol. Felt like a hovercraft might to drive. Not keen on the accelerator either, very spongy. I have to say I wouldn't buy an electric car until it feels better to drive than the Prius. Very well appointed though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted 22 February, 2009 Share Posted 22 February, 2009 And you can't plug them in .....yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 22 February, 2009 Share Posted 22 February, 2009 And they're not particularly economical when held alongside a VW Bluemotion Polo (for example). I loved the TopGear "test" when a Prius was driven hard around the track, pursued - but never overtaken - by a BMW M3 and the M3 returned a better fuel economy. They weren't 'dissing' the Prius, as such, they were making the point that "how you drive", rather than "what you drive", can make a bigger difference to your fuel usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 22 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 22 February, 2009 And they're not particularly economical when held alongside a VW Bluemotion Polo (for example). I loved the TopGear "test" when a Prius was driven hard around the track, pursued - but never overtaken - by a BMW M3 and the M3 returned a better fuel economy. They weren't 'dissing' the Prius, as such, they were making the point that "how you drive", rather than "what you drive", can make a bigger difference to your fuel usage. I got 53 MPG between Kent and Manchester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 22 February, 2009 Share Posted 22 February, 2009 A VW Bluemotion will better that by 20mpg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 22 February, 2009 Share Posted 22 February, 2009 Deffo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 23 February, 2009 Share Posted 23 February, 2009 (edited) And they're not particularly economical when held alongside a VW Bluemotion Polo (for example). I loved the TopGear "test" when a Prius was driven hard around the track, pursued - but never overtaken - by a BMW M3 and the M3 returned a better fuel economy. They weren't 'dissing' the Prius, as such, they were making the point that "how you drive", rather than "what you drive", can make a bigger difference to your fuel usage. Yes, [i know it was a humourous test.. crikey are they capable of making a serious point..?] but if you drive a Prius in an economical way and a BMW M3 in an economical way, in almost every situation the Prius will return far more miles per gallon. And that is a point the Top Gear presenters well and truly glossed over. It may come as a shock to Jeremy Clarkson, but my routine route does not resemble a test track where everyone goes in the same direction, averaging 100mph. As petrolheads, I think their time is coming to an end. Or shall we say, their presentation format is certainly more than halfway through its lifespan. In any case, the Prius is yesterday's car, as is the Tesla. The newest kid on the block is the Honda hydrogen car - the FCX Clarity. James May tested it [the only one of them with any major grasp of reality] and suggested it was the biggest breakthrough since the internal combustion engine. A debatable point, but a reasonable candidate, I think. Of course, you can't routinely plug them in yet either. But when you can, it should only take a few minutes to fil the tank. Not an overnight stop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AUurBnLbJw Edited 23 February, 2009 by St Landrew added youtube video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 23 February, 2009 Share Posted 23 February, 2009 Blimey StL, the point of the test was simply to illustrate that if you drive any car in an economical way, it will save you fuel. The use of the Prius/M3 was to illustrate it for the thickies who can't grasp that as a concept. They weren't glossing over anything, Besides, the Pious doesn't need mocking, the figures speak for themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 23 February, 2009 Share Posted 23 February, 2009 Don't get me started on this one! The Prius is verging on pointless really. The hybrid technology is mildly interesting but you'd have do an better job of saving the environment in a Mini One D with stop-start or, as Ponty says, something like a Polo Blue Motion (or even the BMW 118d with stop-start I believe) To be fait StL, they did clearly make the point on Top Gear that they were no way suggesting the M3 was more economical. They were illustrating the fact that it's how you drive that makes the difference and not what you drive. I was overtaken on someone on the motorway the other day in a Prius that must have been going the best part of 100 mph. Go Figure... Cars like the Prius will make absolutely no impact to the environment what-so-ever. They exist only to make people who wear hemp trousers (and Hollywood film stars) feel better about themselves when they turn the ignition key, or press the start button, in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 23 February, 2009 Share Posted 23 February, 2009 Ah chaps. Perhaps I should have popped a in there somewhere, because I certainly didn't want to generate a blimey from Ponty, or a don't get me started from SoB. I appreciate the point TG was trying to make, but they did it with their accustomed amount of tyre-screech-tearing and opposite lock. For many of those watching, the point could've been buried under all that presentation. I'm showing my distaste here, and I did make the point that I believe the programme's presentation style is getting as bit tired. Certainly for me it is. I'd rather they do a properly serious segment occasionally. As to the Prius, I've always thought the thing as a design exercise, rather than a proper car. As Jay Leno put it [rather well I might add], driving the Prius shows people how much good environmental work you are doing anonymously..! However, it does allow its passengers a fair measure of comfort and big car feel [how the hell are Americans going to get inside it otherwise..?], which is something very economical cars, such as the Polo Bluemotion can't do so well. The Honda FCX Clarity, and future designs like it, that move away from fossil fuelled, pollution/CO2 generating output, is certainly a step in an altogether more fundamental direction. And here's Mr Sensible once again, showing us all around it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52L-nQ-LTew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 23 February, 2009 Share Posted 23 February, 2009 Ah chaps. Perhaps I should have popped a in there somewhere, because I certainly didn't want to generate a blimey from Ponty, or a don't get me started from SoB. I appreciate the point TG was trying to make, but they did it with their accustomed amount of tyre-screech-tearing and opposite lock. For many of those watching, the point could've been buried under all that presentation. I'm showing my distaste here, and I did make the point that I believe the programme's presentation style is getting as bit tired. Certainly for me it is. I'd rather they do a properly serious segment occasionally. As to the Prius, I've always thought the thing as a design exercise, rather than a proper car. As Jay Leno put it [rather well I might add], driving the Prius shows people how much good environmental work you are doing anonymously..! However, it does allow its passengers a fair measure of comfort and big car feel [how the hell are Americans going to get inside it otherwise..?], which is something very economical cars, such as the Polo Bluemotion can't do so well. The Honda FCX Clarity, and future designs like it, that move away from fossil fuelled, pollution/CO2 generating output, is certainly a step in an altogether more fundamental direction. And here's Mr Sensible once again, showing us all around it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52L-nQ-LTew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 24 February, 2009 Share Posted 24 February, 2009 Ah chaps. Perhaps I should have popped a in there somewhere, because I certainly didn't want to generate a blimey from Ponty, or a don't get me started from SoB. I appreciate the point TG was trying to make, but they did it with their accustomed amount of tyre-screech-tearing and opposite lock. For many of those watching, the point could've been buried under all that presentation. I'm showing my distaste here, and I did make the point that I believe the programme's presentation style is getting as bit tired. Certainly for me it is. I'd rather they do a properly serious segment occasionally. As to the Prius, I've always thought the thing as a design exercise, rather than a proper car. As Jay Leno put it [rather well I might add], driving the Prius shows people how much good environmental work you are doing anonymously..! However, it does allow its passengers a fair measure of comfort and big car feel [how the hell are Americans going to get inside it otherwise..?], which is something very economical cars, such as the Polo Bluemotion can't do so well. The Honda FCX Clarity, and future designs like it, that move away from fossil fuelled, pollution/CO2 generating output, is certainly a step in an altogether more fundamental direction. And here's Mr Sensible once again, showing us all around it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52L-nQ-LTew That's funny, I was going to use that Jay Leno quote as well. It made me chuckle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted 24 February, 2009 Share Posted 24 February, 2009 The Prius, as a hybrid, is already out of date. The new Hybrid that can go 100km on electricity without starting the combustion engine, plugs in at home and uses a battery that is safe (Lithium batteries aren't) and cheap to build is here: www.byd.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommi Posted 27 February, 2009 Share Posted 27 February, 2009 Toyota Prius drivers = do gooding tree hugging weirdos with the most sterile boring insignificant lives ever. oh and they must be blind too! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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