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Senior Member |
Looking to replace an aging (1992) Volvo 940 which is mainly used in Dublin city and suburbs.
I am considering a 4 or 5 year old Prius. Does anyone drive one? Anything I should know that doesn't appear in the glossy marketing paraphernalia? Thanks, John SJB |
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There are some serious replacement and end-of-life issues surrounding the batteries.
It would be greener to keep driving the old Volvo. Plus I think they look shite! Jono |
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Indeed, they are a bit of a con. Over their lifetime the environmental impact can be bigger than a lot of non hybrid small cars. Whether your concern is running costs or the environment I would go for a small, reasonably modern diesel, something like a 1.4TDI Audi A2 gets incredible mileage, and if you get an auto they have an eco mode which does all sorts of clever things to save even more fuel; or as you're mainly doing city driving a Smart.
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There are some serious pre-life issues with the batteries too. |
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Senior Member |
Not to mention that Honda is reputed to have been completely subsidised by the Japanese government to develop this technology.
My suspicion is that you would be better served steering well clear of these cars once past 3 or 4 years old unless Toyota are offering air tight warranties on battery costs. Personally, I agree with Jono - they look terrible & the Volvo can make a really strong case for itself! Alternatively, much better (than Prius) to stretch to a BMW diesel which will provide much more driver interaction, power, and similar or better fuel economy - BMW really are at the top of their game with engine technology. The A2 is an astonishing car which never really caught on - fantastic amount of space inside & economy as djftw says - only concern would be body repair costs for all aluminium construction. I'd still be tempted when I decide to go sensible! Peter |
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I think they look great - didn't Captain Scarlett used to drive one? S-I-G Rotf |
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Hi,
A diesel (even a new one) is not environmetally friendly in town as the smoke and NOx emissions have health impacts. For long distances diesels are OK but the cleanest vehicles are those that run on CNG - compressed natural gas. Volvo do one!! FF |
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Now this is a car for the captain..  SIG Jono |
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 Personally, I think this is pretty much the perfect car. Super economical, not too much money to buy, stylish, retro in a good way, and desirable. Fours seats too. On the cool wall - sub-zero! (1.3 = 67 overall mpg, 78.5 mpg extra urban) |
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Survivability how much? |
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and another thing about the Prius. Nearly got my legs crushed yesterday as some old bat suddenly decided to reverse hers into me when I was looking the other way. As she had it in battery stealth mode, it really was totaly silent.
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The whole smugness thing surrounding the Prius should be enough to deter most of us!
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It has got a lot cheaper now aluminium has become more common in car construction. The A2 really is/was a fantastic car, you could actually sit adults in the back, and with the rear seats out you could fit a ridiculous amount of stuff in it, more than you could get in most larger hatchbacks with the seats down. |
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Ah, the Subaru Cervix. Sweet ride. |
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I've obviously done the equivalent of recommending one of these
 in preference to a SuperNait in the HiFi Room.As usual some interesting views about the Prius. I usually go for cars at the wrong end of their depreciation curve - The main car is a Lexus LS 400 (1995) bought for the princely sum of €8000.I was toying with the idea of a Lexus IS or Toyota Camry to replace the Volvo when a salesman offered a splendid 2001 Lexus 430 for €15,000 but Mrs Sloop was horrified at the thought of having a second gas guzzler on the drive. She had the same reaction to a 2000 S type Jag. This is when I did a mental flip and thought of a Prius. I love the Volvo but my mechanic has retired and it is a high maintenance vehicle and if it sits down on Mrs Sloop and the children it's obviously my fault! Small cars just don't do it for Mrs Sloop her father having both a Ford Zephyr and Zodiac during her formative years. Thanks for the encouragement  and all suggestions are welcome.SJB |
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Dear SJB,
I do find it hard to understand why the Volvo is a high maintenance car. My 240 GL [though I plan to scrap it in the Autumn at the aged of nearly twenty] has run for the last eight years with only one big bill, for rebushing the back axle two years ago. In fact that was not so expensive [about £180]. Otherwise it has had one new battery, a couple of cam belts, over the time a complete exhaust system except for the "cat," and four tyres, with normal routine annual servicing and MOT testing, so I am not complaining. There is still no corrosion anywhere on the car at all, so it seems a shame to kill her off, but things move on. Pedal power will be taking over for me! I know some of the Volvo [2.3 litre] engines can be heavy on fuel with a higher state of tune, but mine is the low powered [116 bhp] version and is still good for 40 mpg on long runs and about 36 mpg on pottering about. George |
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