Hybrid car

[wyv9]

Hi bro.

I am contemplating whether to get a hybrid car. Details as follows:

BM Prius (4 disc brakes): $91k
Ricardo Prius (rear drum brake): $78k

KM Civic Hybrid (rear drum brake): $78k

From my limited research, Prius seems to be better for city driving, i.e. stop and go. Civic is better for highway cruising.  When I mean better, I meant the fuel consumption.

Of course, there will be the usual consideration of:
1) maintenance problem
2) resale value
3) breakdown (parts from japan)

Meanwhile, I am tempted to get the light blue Prius from Ricardo.

Hope to get different feedback and comments from you guys.  Thanks.

[zuoom]

personally like the civic one.

for hybrid cars, the main concern i have is the batteries. 3 years n that's usually the max they can last. then got to change them. that would be quite a sum.

hmm, maybe you can source around for those hybrid forums? would think they would be more in tune with the most recent happenings on the hybrid sense.

when you do, please remember to feedback here hor.

regards,

[wyv9]

personally like the civic one.

for hybrid cars, the main concern i have is the batteries. 3 years n that's usually the max they can last. then got to change them. that would be quite a sum.

hmm, maybe you can source around for those hybrid forums? would think they would be more in tune with the most recent happenings on the hybrid sense.

when you do, please remember to feedback here hor.

regards,

After some limited check, the battery for both car are suppose to last 10 years.  For the prius, the charging will not charge to max, i.e. it will charge to about 80% and when the battery reach 60% it will charge again... (the figure is about there as I cannot really remember the correct figures)  IN the way, it will preserve the life span of the battery.

The new 2009 Prius will be having litium battery which is lighter and more efficient.

Will feedback more when I have more details.  

[zuoom]

i'm highly skeptical of any battery lasting 10 years. they have a limited life cycle, with constant discharging and charging, and with the heat here in singapore... it will only get shorter.

3 years, this is probably more believeable.

li-ion batteries are lighter yes. but they have a even shorter life cycle as compared to the sealed lead battery. typically 1000 full discharged and charged cycle. and the power band taper off.

also, remember the dell/ibm exploding batteries?

here's a little wiki on battery :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)

will be interesting... await your research.

regards,

[Cobra]

I have learnt my lesson when SingTel says PCN is the way to go. Its the future for the mobile phone in the digital age.

S$1600 for the phone and the rest is history .. Pui Chao Nua

[Cobra]

Prius - hybrid car

[zuoom]

ha.

*for the record, PCN - Personal Communications Network

on the Prius, it was introduce in 97. great, it's in the 10th year. might be a good idea to check on the 1st/2nd/3rd batches. we can expect later models to develop issues as they aged.

here's the wiki :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius

here's a forum to check them out :
http://priuschat.com/

and here's the complete list of hybrids on wiki :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hybrid_vehicles

enjoy. .P

[zuoom]

Hacking your Prius
By Daniel Terdiman
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: May 22, 2006, 4:00 AM PDT

Heaven knows, Prius owners love their hybrid cars.

But some of the most passionate among them are finding there are certain factory-set features they don't like, and they're increasingly finding ways to take matters into their own hands to change them.

They're the do-it-yourself Prius hackers, many of whom likely are more comfortable in front of a computer than in a garage. But unlike early generations of car buffs, they're more interested in saving the planet than winning a drag race.

"It's the new breed of hot-rodders," said Phillip Torrone, an associate editor at do-it-yourself tech journal Make Magazine. "In the 1950s, it was all about getting more speed. Now, instead of getting more horsepower, it's about getting more miles per gallon. So your hot-rodders are going to be your hot-greeners."

source : News dot com
http://news.com.com/2100-11389_3-6074671.html

and here's a uber guy with his HSD Prius
http://john1701a.com/  **tones of details, info here.

[wyv9]

Zuoom... u r a much better researcher... haha...

Anyway, in general I feel that Prius is technically much better than Civic hybrid.

[zuoom]

well, you are the one looking at a hybrid. i'm only called mr yellowpages.

what makes you say the prius is technically better than the civic hybrid?

[klumpkeTT]

because it's a TOY-YODA....

[zuoom]

“Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find him you will.”
[find Anakin]

source :
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/yoda/3.html

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

alamak.. from hybrid to starwars. be focus. feelings can be very misleading ones. esp when dealing to females.. as some saying goes, cars are like mistress(wife) to some men. better sayang her well and you be treated well in return. :p

[wyv9]

well, you are the one looking at a hybrid. i'm only called mr yellowpages.

what makes you say the prius is technically better than the civic hybrid?

Well for a start, Prius can go full electric whereas civic cannot.  To me, Civic is not really an hybrid as the battery is basically to assist the 1.3L engine since the small engine is not sufficient to power the civic body.

[zuoom]

ah cool. never know that.

question: full electric is more effecient then a hybrid of 1.3L plus electric boost?

and back to your first post of the maintenance issue. how does each of them fare?

ie: what are the usual problems of both the Prius and Civic hybrid? and how is it fixed, at what cost?