On KPCC's Pat Morrison, Heather Peters talks about her lawsuit against Honda Motors. Honda's explanation for lackluster gas milieage is "technical problems." This problem is a degrading battery.
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You know, those Wheaties never gave me Ken Norton's muscles, Carl Lewis' speed or Michael Jordan's leaping ability. Maybe I should consider suing them? On this one----let the buyer beware. The hybrid claims have been inflated and it's not only on Hondas. Personally, I hope she wins, to put other manufacturers on alert to stop the MPG BS. I have a corporate fleet lease vehicle---a Prius. I got it to enjoy riding in the high occupancy vehicle lanes alone. Fuel economy in the city is really good since the car runs on electric/battery most of the time. Take it on the highway and it's no better than any other compact car. And in fact, it has a tiny fuel tank (to save weight and space) so I end up stopping for gas more often. It's been pretty reliable, but not as bullet proof as Toyota's reputation from years past.
Posted by: Angelo | December 27, 2011 at 02:07 PM
I gotta wonder whether a car with two different power trains is really the best solution long-term. Also, while regenerative braking seems like a fine idea, there are ways to do it other than with batteries. That business about a pneumatic regenerative system sounded promising. I haven't heard anything about it lately, though.
Posted by: Bill | December 27, 2011 at 02:48 PM
Friend of ours had a Pruis and said the battery was starting to go up and the replacement for it was a very high figure. She tried it in for a gas only car.
Posted by: S Patrick | December 27, 2011 at 03:22 PM
My Prius is paid for by my company. If I'm spending my own money----I'm in either a gas or diesel car, not a hybrid. I have to admit----the Kia Optima Hybrid looks very promising and comes in at a reasonable price for the high level of equipment you get----but I'm not sure about the platform longevity and the cost of eventually replacing batteries, as I tend to keep my cars a long time. I just traded an old Buick (weekend car to make runs to a cabin in West Virginia) for a 2007 Kia Sedona minivan. I hope I have good luck with it----it's a relatively late model, but very high mileage car. It's not an everyday car and the price was right...
Posted by: Angelo | December 27, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Have 2 Prii - '06 & '11. I have 42-48 mpg real world mileage. Both cars have been solid and have not left me on the side of the road.
If you want to know what other owners really think, which is mostly favorable, go to Priuschat.com.
Can't speak about the Honda which the original article was about.
Aloha & have a happy New Year.
Posted by: tonyinhi | December 27, 2011 at 08:40 PM
I've talked with two Civic hybrids -- just casually in parking lots -- and they both said they got 45 to 48 mpg. They had no complaints. I've never met a Prius owner who had had to replace a battery, either.
Posted by: Bill Bush | December 28, 2011 at 06:59 AM