"I'm deader than a doornail. But what gas mileage I used to get!"
Posted on 04/14/2005 2:25:36 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Hummer Vs. Prius Waiting List For Hybrids Pushing Up Cost
MADISON, Wis. -- GM is taking the wraps off the 2006 military-style, Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 Hummer H1.
A 300-horsepower engine moves the 7,600-pound beast.
But with gas prices inching toward $2.50 this summer, the Toyota Prius is the hot ride in the Madison area. The Prius hybrids are well known for their fuel efficiency, but now they're also becoming known as one of the only mass-produced cars that can demand $1,000 or more -- used -- than its original price.
Joanne McCann just bought her second Prius and wants to sell her first one.
"I paid a little over $20,000 for the car in '01, and I'm selling it for $15,000," McCann said.
With 19,000 miles on it, she feels this is a steal.
"There certainly is a market now for these cars," she said.
It's not common to pay more for a used car than a new one, but with gas prices increasing, dealers say it's also not surprising.
"Supply and demand can dictate that," said Doug Peitz, sales manager at Jon Lancaster Toyota. "Instant gratification is that you can get the used Prius right now. Some people don't want to wait the four to eight months to get a new Prius."
Peitz says at least two requests come in every day for hybrids -- 22 people are already on the April waiting list.
Other hybrids like the Honda Accord and Civic are also selling like hotcakes, but dealers here say they;re not dealing with a shortage of these hybrid vehicles.
A Kelly Blue Book survey says if gas hits $3 per gallon, 77 percent of buyers will seriously consider a more fuel-efficient car.
McCann said the growing price of her Prius is not what she expected when she bought the car, but is definitely not worried about getting it sold.
"You expect real estate to go up, but whenever you buy a car you expect it to depreciate -- that's just how it is," McCann said.
Because the Prius is so popular, other companies are coming out with hybrid vehicles. Look for them beginning this summer.
News 3 auto expert Matt Joseph said not all used Priuses will sell for more. Joseph said that while the hybrid cars bring a premium, they don't routinely sell for more than new cars.
And this is news? Sheeez...
Given the title I was hoping for crash pics.
"I'm deader than a doornail. But what gas mileage I used to get!"
Ah, the Prius. It just screams, "I'm a vegan weenie!"
Note that the damage was done by a *motorcycle*. If the pilot was wearing a helmet and didn't get hit by other traffic after ejection, he's probably OK.
The car driver almost certainly has to be dead.
OMG! I'm going to go out and kiss my sturdy, heavy, four-door sedan right this minute. A motorcycle did that much damage? Cripes.
Another thing...why do they only do crash tests at like 35 MPH? Do most crashes really happen at theat low of a speed? That seems odd to me. Never did understand that.
I always thought it screamed "run me over with your Jeep".
The vast majority of crashes do happen at or below that speed. The ones that make the news (the messy, nasty, ugly high speed ones) are fewer in number but get more press. Kind of like how the MSM treats shooting incidents with guns - if it was justifiable, then it won't make the news, but if it was illegal nine-ways-to-Sunday for the guy to own a gun *before* he shot up the 7-11 it'll make the national news.
It screams "run me over with your Tonka!"
The sick part is that after replacing the forks, triple tree, control clusters and instruments, maybe the exhaust headers and a little bodywork, the bike is probably still just fine. I'd want to check the welds on the frame head, though.
I'd settle for a Hummer inside a Prius. I hope the seats fold back.
The whole thing is stupid... the premium people pay to get a Hybrid pretty much wipes out the savings from the improved mileage.
I have my eye on the Accord Hybrid... goes 0 to 60 in 6 seconds.
My lesbian friend drives a Ferrari.
My other one drives an Excursion with a GreaseCar kit.
Your point? ;)
How many Priuses can you fit in your wheel wells before you have to take a stick and poke them loose?
Somehow the math here ain't quite right. Oh, I forgot, here in madison, they have outcome-based eddycation so that anything pretty much equals anything else...as long as it make you feel good.
I recall reading something in one of Rush's newsletters that prius-owners were ticked because their milage was any better than a regular cars.
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