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Originally Posted by lakedude
Bob I understand why it seems like you need to compare a Prius to an auto tranny Corolla, it is an apples to apples comparison. What you don't seem to understand is that it is not the Corolla's fault that the Prius is only available in a "auto" or "CVT" but not in a manual.
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An automatic transmission is an option that costs over $1k in most gas-only cars not counting the MPG impact. As you pointed out, it is an option in the Corolla and not the Prius' fault that it doesn't have an MT version.
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Originally Posted by lakedude
What is important is what the end purchaser would actually buy. If an auto style transmission is a requirement of the purchaser or the purchaser's spouse then you should compare auto to auto (or CVT). However if the purchaser prefers a manual (or at least does not care) then a comparison between a Prius and a MT Corrolla is perfecly valid.
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I went back and reread my posting and tried to understand how I might have posted a better reply. His reply suggested he hadn't considered the Scion xB.
The Scion xB comes with a manual transmission standard as well as an optional automatic and a lot of interior space. With a 1500 cc engine, the Scion xB gets good MPG although this is what I found from the Scion specifications PDF:
30/33 - Manual
30/34 - Automatic (** from the Scion specification PDF file **)
IMHO, the Scon would be an excellent comparison vehicle and the closest in space to the wagon he'd mentioned. In my own case, I used an equivalently equipped Scion xB with an automatic when I was shopping for and bought our 03 Prius, matching feature-to-feature:
http://home.hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/payback.html
My MPG pay-off comparison to a Scion xB loaded with the same features as the used Prius brought the hybrid premium down to $824. After seven months, it looks like we're on track to pay off the premium in less than three years. I'll do an accounting update in October to detail the one year payback. One of my mental experiments is a Prius drive train in a Scion xB body.
I don't know much about the Honda vehicle lines and have always assumed Honda advocates would bring the facts and data for their models. I suspect there is a Honda equivalent to the Scion xB and that might be an excellent alternative. Perhaps the Accord hybrid experience will lead to more hybrid options in the smaller vehicle options.
Bob Wilson