75,000 2010 Prius orders...my philosophical quandry

[MrIcky]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

so they are smug because they want people to know something or to get attention, funny because i see almost everyone on this board talking about all the attention they are getting and feeling like celebrities in their new camaros as others say they can't wait to get the same attention and one guy causing an accident, but they arent smug like you say are they?

LOL fdjizm- you quoted me, I said I don't know if it makes them smug. Hell I'm a middle-aged government employee who decided he was going to have to wait a couple of years to get a Camaro- I'm smug-free hehehe .

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

so they are smug because they want people to know something or to get attention, funny because i see almost everyone on this board talking about all the attention they are getting and feeling like celebrities in their new camaros as others say they can't wait to get the same attention and one guy causing an accident, but they arent smug like you say are they?

Smug has nothing to do with wanting attention. Smug is the self-righteous attitude that many of them have thinking they're better than the rest of the evil populace for not joining them in saving the planet by driving a Prius and wiping their ass with reusable wash cloths instead of TP.

Originally Posted by Design1stCode2nd

Most car buyers want an appliance. Something the runs every day, needs little maintenance and does what it was made to do, go from point A-B quietly. It’s why there are so many Camry’s, Corrola’s, Civic’s and Accords on the road.

You can take the Prius thing a couple of ways, yes they are bought to some degree because people know it’s a Prius (and that form is very aerodynamic). The badge and form can be seen as being “Green” or environmentally conscious; or even patriotic in using less Arab oil.

Is it really any different from those who want to buy a Muscle car because it looks mean or aggressive? The car you drive is an extension of your personality just like your clothes. If you buy a bland, mundane car it just shows you don’t really care about driving (and most people don’t). If you drive a hopped up Escalade with 22” chrome rims then you...well I don’t know what you are trying to say other than “Look at me I’m a tool” but you are expressing your personality.

I for one hope they sell tons of Volts, Priuii, and Insights. The more there are the less gas will cost and the more there will be for me to burn.

Agreed. I'm not bashing them for making a statement but I just think the statement they're making is a dumb one. Once you add in the waste disposal of the NiMH battery pack, other components, and shipping all the way from Japan, it really isn't as green as the buyers and Toyota make it out to be. I thought that the 2010 Prius would've switched to the better Li-Ion but apparently not. The first Prius to do that will be their limited production plug-in supposedly being introduced to fleet customers later this year.

Of course they probably see us as testosterone fueled assholes hell bent on destroying the world one burnout at a time but to each his own.

[MLL67RSSS]

JFTR let me try to clear this up, I never said this technology wasn’t “cool”, just complex.
Let me try and touch on it without writing a book. Hybrid systems do vary, but here is a typical application. You have a normal Internal Combustion Engine (engine) with all the sensors and controls associated with it (but no DC starter or alternator). Next is a computer controlled clutch pack (CP2). Then a three phase AC induction motor (motor). Another computer controlled clutch pack (CP1). And finally the computer controlled trans-axle driving the wheels. The motor is driven by an inverter that has three high current F.E.T.s (Field Effect Transistors) mounted on a “cool plate” circulating engine coolant to keep them from overheating. The inverter converts the DC battery pack current into three phase AC current (three AC phases separated by 120 deg.) to drive the three phase AC motor. OR when in regenerative braking mode or running down the highway with the engine running, it converts the 3 phase AC back into DC current to charge the battery pack.
You get it the car and turn the key, the computer energizes gas filled, high current relays to connect the battery pack to the inverter. If the computer senses ANY latent current from either + or - battery pack lead to the chassis, electrical ground, etc. it will cause a fault and de-energizes the relays (car DOA). You step on the gas, CP1 engages and inverter provides current to motor and trans-axle drives wheels moving car forward. If you exceed around 20 MPH the computer now engages CP2 turning engine and computer starts it running as a normal I.C. engine. Motor is now acting as a generator charging battery pack through the motor. You slow down to less than 20 MPH, computer dis-engages CP2 and shuts down the engine. You touch the brakes, if CP1 is not engaged the computer does so so the motor can recharge the battery pack through the inverter ala re-generative braking which also helps slow the car. That is a lot of controls and sensors in addition to a normal engines systems. If one F.E.T. in the inverter fails you’re DOA. If the clutch pack 1 solenoid or clutch fails you’re DOA. If anything associated with clutch pack 2 fails you will soon be DOA, etc., etc. This is a lot of complexity for not that great of MPG gain IMO. My son’s aforementioned ’92 Lumina still gets 30 MPG on the highway and it took 4 months for them to figure out what was wrong with it. For me it is too much for too little, not even factoring the resources it takes to build a hybrid.
But then again maybe I’m just a technophobe that doesn’t understand new technology.

[fdjizm]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

JFTR let me try to clear this up, I never said this technology wasn’t “cool”, just complex.
Let me try and touch on it without writing a book. Hybrid systems do vary, but here is a typical application. You have a normal Internal Combustion Engine (engine) with all the sensors and controls associated with it (but no DC starter or alternator). Next is a computer controlled clutch pack (CP2). Then a three phase AC induction motor (motor). Another computer controlled clutch pack (CP1). And finally the computer controlled trans-axle driving the wheels. The motor is driven by an inverter that has three high current F.E.T.s (Field Effect Transistors) mounted on a “cool plate” circulating engine coolant to keep them from overheating. The inverter converts the DC battery pack current into three phase AC current (three AC phases separated by 120 deg.) to drive the three phase AC motor. OR when in regenerative braking mode or running down the highway with the engine running, it converts the 3 phase AC back into DC current to charge the battery pack.
You get it the car and turn the key, the computer energizes gas filled, high current relays to connect the battery pack to the inverter. If the computer senses ANY latent current from either + or - battery pack lead to the chassis, electrical ground, etc. it will cause a fault and de-energizes the relays (car DOA). You step on the gas, CP1 engages and inverter provides current to motor and trans-axle drives wheels moving car forward. If you exceed around 20 MPH the computer now engages CP2 turning engine and computer starts it running as a normal I.C. engine. Motor is now acting as a generator charging battery pack through the motor. You slow down to less than 20 MPH, computer dis-engages CP2 and shuts down the engine. You touch the brakes, if CP1 is not engaged the computer does so so the motor can recharge the battery pack through the inverter ala re-generative braking which also helps slow the car. That is a lot of controls and sensors in addition to a normal engines systems. If one F.E.T. in the inverter fails you’re DOA. If the clutch pack 1 solenoid or clutch fails you’re DOA. If anything associated with clutch pack 2 fails you will soon be DOA, etc., etc. This is a lot of complexity for not that great of MPG gain IMO. My son’s aforementioned ’92 Lumina still gets 30 MPG on the highway and it took 4 months for them to figure out what was wrong with it. For me it is too much for too little, not even factoring the resources it takes to build a hybrid.
But then again maybe I’m just a technophobe that doesn’t understand new technology.

so in lamens terms your saying prius's arent reliable, right? you would be hard pressed to argue with the thousands of prius owners.

[09'Z28]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

people are buying Priuses because they want to do their part to 'save the Earth' (edit: AND they want people to know it).

as Jay Leno says "in america we like everyone to know about the work we're doing, anonymously." I'm pretty sure that fits almost all prius owners.
Oh and the "stereotype" that they are all smug isn't really a stereotype here, it's just the truth.

[patriotpa]

...He said Prius....... snicker!


I think those hybrids are hilarious!

[DeathChill]

Originally Posted by 09'Z28

as Jay Leno says "in america we like everyone to know about the work we're doing, anonymously." I'm pretty sure that fits almost all prius owners.
Oh and the "stereotype" that they are all smug isn't really a stereotype here, it's just the truth.

You're really going to say that? Really?...REALLY?

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by Rallysport

I didn't know that a fad had a "number" attached to it......

How many Mood Rings and Pet Rocks did they sell in the 1970's? How many Pokemon games were sold in the 90's?

[09'Z28]

Originally Posted by DeathChill

You're really going to say that? Really?...REALLY?

Yes I am, because they are both true.

Originally Posted by InventoryGuy

Maybe stop being so prejudice and look at the large picture for a change.

I'm not prejudice, the car itself is fine (even if incredibly over-hyped) it's just the owners that think it's the greatest thing ever made that bring it down.

[AngryAmish]

Originally Posted by UCF w00t

Shoot, even if you said that all Camaro buyers were gun toting redneck bible thumpers it would be more accurate than the mullet reference.

<-- Not religous
<-- Not redneck
<-- Never owned a gun
<-- Definately WON'T own a Prius

<-- Democrat
<-- Buying a Volt
<-- Buying a Camaro first.

I'm not really saying anything with that part of the post, I'm just proud of who I am and what I love. I also enjoy crushing stereotypes under my foot.

And just in case people are keeping track, I've only seen 2 Prius' in Western PA. Ever. And I think it was the same one twice because I seen them both on the same street..lol. Don't like a Prius? Move to Pittsburgh. But you better be okay with idiots who can't park big trucks parking 3 inches from your driver side door at the grocery store.

[fdjizm]

Originally Posted by 09'Z28

Yes I am, because they are both true.


I'm not prejudice, the car itself is fine (even if incredibly over-hyped) it's just the owners that think it's the greatest thing ever made that bring it down.

you just made a judgement call on thousands of people you DO NOT KNOW, you sir fail.

[drivingincamaro]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

you just made a judgement call on thousands of people you DO NOT KNOW, you sir fail.

He never said "Thousands" of people he said the people that the people on the road that think they are better then everyone else. Dont lie you have seen those people to

[AngryAmish]

Originally Posted by InventoryGuy

My dealership alone is over 80 pre-orders and no one has even seen the new Prius other then a tour of the pre-production.

That right there should tell you more then you need to know about your buyer base.

[fdjizm]

Originally Posted by drivingincamaro

He never said "Thousands" of people he said the people that the people on the road that think they are better then everyone else. Dont lie you have seen those people to

yes he did..

Originally Posted by 09'Z28

as Jay Leno says "in america we like everyone to know about the work we're doing, anonymously." I'm pretty sure that fits almost all prius owners.
Oh and the "stereotype" that they are all smug isn't really a stereotype here, it's just the truth.

Originally Posted by DeathChill

You're really going to say that? Really?...REALLY?

Originally Posted by 09'Z28

Yes I am, because they are both true.


I'm not prejudice, the car itself is fine (even if incredibly over-hyped) it's just the owners that think it's the greatest thing ever made that bring it down.