Dealing with skeptics - GreenHybrid

bwilson4web · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2007, 09:44 PM

Recently there was a newspaper blog that tried to compare a gas-only car to a hybrid. But one thing for sure, all such comparisons are fatally flawed. Like shooting fish in a barrel, my reply:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob

Every 'comparison' car to a Prius is always a manual transmission, not an automatic, like the Prius. Furthermore, they are always stripped without the features standard in a Prius. So for example, the Civic with an automatic gets 29 MPG, no where the mileage of the Prius. As for the $18k price, that is without the automatic transmission and other features that are standard on the Prius.

One of the other aspect missing is recognition of the distribution of miles per year. There will be a substantial number of owners who will drive more miles than the average. For us, the Prius makes a lot of sense because of the reduced operational costs. This includes an engine that spends a lot of time off while the vibration-free motor pulls the car along.

Now if someone doesn't drive very much per year, it really doesn't matter what is in the driveway. The vehicle won't be burning much fuel because it will be parked. Heck, get an RV so you'll have a spare bedroom. But if you need a working car and want to afford gas and a burger when you get there, the Prius is an excellent choice

Feel free to 'cut-and-paste' or borrow freely from this when dealing with skeptics. These strawman car comparisons are like Kabuki but without art or skill. They always put up some piece of dung, low-end, manual transmission vehicle instead of using the automatic transmission version. Also, they always miss the standard features on the hybrids that are extra on their strawman car.

Hold their feet to the fires of reality and eventually, they'll realize it isn't working.

Bob Wilson

worthywads · #2 (**permalink**) 07-15-2007, 02:44 AM

I agree when attempting an apples-to-apples comparison the dung vs hybrid doesn't work. If the hybrid was offered stripped too it could work. Loaded hybrids make more profit, good for business, bad for the frugal.

It seems legit to a purchaser to make whatever comparison they want. Someone that simply can't afford the HCH may end up with a stripped that saved them money compared to a hybrid. It doesn't matter to them if they didn't get the spoiler or the sunroof or the directionals on the side mirror or the alloy wheels.

There are many here that compare their purchase to the last vehicle they owned, which is legitimate especially from an after the fact point of view. If they'd bought the stripper they could have saved even more depending on the situation. That they can actually buy a non-hybrid "turd" makes it an optional comparison, but it's pointless for me to argue their comparison is wrong.

That I can only get the loaded hybrid has always bothered me. Sure would be silly if Toyota only offered a loaded 2.7L Tacoma and only a stripped 4L.

I might have chosen the 4L.

Mr. Kite · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2007, 06:39 AM

Should we just consolidate some of these threads? I'm sure there are more.

Answering hybrid skeptics

SKEPTICS: How to answer

Wiki vs. Sticky vs. FAQ vs. Skeptics

Skeptic - Buy Two Aveos

piranhas vs skeptic

I'm all for answering the skeptics, but I do not see the need for a new thread each time.