Kruse

Lynn McGuire wrote:
> As to your point of "only 10-15% more efficient," let's see, my old 4-cyl Chevy S10 pickup averaged a respectable 27 mpg, my '04
> Prius averages around 47 mpg (when taking into account winter/spring/summer/fall driving): that comes out an improvement of around
> 70-75% over my S10's average performance for my situation.
> Now, let's also consider that my '04 Prius has a CD player, power windows (for all FOUR windows), 12 presets for FM and 6 for AM,
> Vehicle Stability Control, automatic climate control, ELECTRIC air conditioning (which means using the A/C doesn't drain my POWER
> when I'm driving uphill - more on that later), side air bags, room for 4 (5 according to Toyota's reckoning),

Two comments: First, don't even try to compare your Prius to an S10 or
ANY kind of pickup. That's like saying "My S10 hauls 500 lbs of dirt
and my Prius doesn't". If you want to compare your Prius to something,
compare it to another car.

Second, you say your Prius has room for 4 (5 according to Toyota), but
you don't say that it has the power to haul your 4 or 5 people around.
I've ridden in one. I know that it doesn't have the power to haul 4
people around. (Well, down hill maybe) Try some start and stop hilly
city driving with 5 people. And when you do, I hope you have an
impatient vehicle behind you with a loud horn.

Another poster mentioned the $4,000 battery. It might cost that by the
time it's due for replacement, but I think some of them will cost twice
that amount with a purchase today.

Bottom line: Except for the welfare check that the government gives you
to buy it, your purchase woundn't pay for itself.