"So which way do you think gas is going to go?"

ya ... good question ... my crystal ball says UP over the 'long term', but then I've thrown away money relying on my crystal ball many times before - lol

Like Tim/Paul said - "only gamble here is banking when the Prius III will actually hit the streets" !

As I really don't like spending good money and getting second best, today, I'm once again leaning towards waiting but don't hold your breath, things change quick around here lately - lol.

I also just crunched the MFSRP Build-it/Price-it numbers on both Honda.com and Honda.ca and after running the exchange and adding in freight and PDI etc., I see we Canadians are getting charged appx $1200 CDN more for the HCH than our cousins in the U.S.

Phoned Honda Canada today and even the supervisor didn't have any valid explanation why we canucks deserve such 'special treatment'. While we north of the 49th are used to paying more for U.S. goods manufactured in the U.S.A., it's frustrating to see that the Japanese, who send the HCH directly to us here via boat, just like they do to the U.S. market, are merrily surcharging us over our neighbours. Additionally, the non-hybrid Civic is evidently produced here in Canada - I'll have to crunch the numberson it as well and see how much more the MSRP is there!

At least your prescription drug prices are reasonable.....

"At least your prescription drug prices are reasonable...."




ya you're right there ... one for the great white north.

Can't really comment; as pointed out earlier Toyota is likely not going to announce anything that would hurt today's sales. But a quick search around found these threads. None are exactly what you're looking for, I don't think, but are at least related to the topic:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/1...sted.6897.html

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/g...tion.7264.html

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/n...-too.5982.html

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/t...aper.4588.html

Thanks for the links Bill ...

... so if Toyota's release date of 2008 actually comes true, and it turns out to be product year 2008, we *could* possibly see the Prius III this time next year.

FOR SURE, 113 MPG will leave me with ZERO buyers remorse !

If I decide to wait, and I'm leaning that way now (unless I can find a way to buy a HCH and then dump it at premium price prior to the ver 3 hybrid hitting the streets), the waiting period is going to be a time of drooling and dreaming - lol

I read someone's brief self-description here today (can't remember who) and it said they were having a "reverse mid life crisis" - LOL - moi aussi!

It's the journey not the destination -

You could go 'used' now and sell it later. You'll avoid the new car depreciation and get some hybrid experience. Then you can compare it to the new hybrid with some actual 'lessons learned.'

I don't know how Canadians can buy cars in the US and re-register locally but that is probably not that big of a deal. You might use Ebay to look for a used HCH and other hybrids and see if a good deal shows up.

I worked with my banker on out-of-state car loans and she said as long as it is from a dealer, no problem. Then I learned the messy details of buying on Ebay. This gives you a chance to snatch-up a good deal. I limited myself to "Buy it now" because I needed to replace a car that was lost in an accident.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Some possibilities:

They have to ship the cars over on icebreakers?

They have to import the plaid flannel seatcovers?

It costs more to build in runners and sled-dog-harness points?

They have to pass on the cost of translating the service manuals into Canadianese?

Maybe they come with special hockey-stick roof racks? Or poutine holders?

Ebay for a used Hybrid might work Bob .... except the Can/US border is a bit like Auschwitz these days. Unless you're willing to get a Retinal scan and enter into the 'Master Database', if the mood strikes the border guards on the US side, back room interrogations/searches, even for middle age WASPS with nothing to hide, is a frequent and unpleasant possibility. Personally, I've been avoiding the border like the plague ever since the Iraq war began. My US friends seem to understand so far

I'll keep my eyes peeled for used Hybrids up here but there certainly won't be the numbers you enjoy.

I've also been thinking of a used Diesel as stop gap measure - may even try my hand at making Biodiesel, but I think that novelty would wear off fast when it starts to cut into leisure time.

Blinkard - LOL ... ya !

... or maybe they're charging us more cause they thought we're too busy maintaining our igloo's and handling seal blubber to notice - lol

They are looking for drugs . . . specificly prescription drugs like high blood pressure or heart medications. We have this new Medicare Part D and it works as perfectly as their other policies. Yes, we certainly are living in 'paradise.'

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.