Hybrid vehicles are no longer fringe vehicles adopted by a few buyers wanting to effect change and make a statement. After the early adoption of the Prius as the vehicle of choice in the Vancouver taxi business, the Prius has been legitimized making it mainstream. In fact, Yellow Cab #15 which is currently in service has been driven over 1.3 million km's. The driver of Yellow Cab #15 told me that it drives just as well as any other Prius in the fleet and at the end of his 12-hour shift he never puts in more than $20 worth of gas. Yes car #15 has had components changed over the years, just like any taxi, but this kind of real world punishment is a testament to the durability and functionality of the Prius. Expect to see the new 2010 Prius implemented in more taxi fleets, let alone average drivers.
The Skin
When most people think about a hybrid car, the image of the Prius probably comes to mind. With that in mind, Toyota didn't want to stray from the recognizable shape of the car but evolve it into a more attractive machine. Every crease and accent on the car has been thoroughly tested for aerodynamic effect from the shape of the bumper to the side accent line running the length of the car. What you can't see is the amount of work under the car to help it slip efficiently through the air. The most significant change is the high point on the roof that has been moved towards the middle of the car to make the interior more open and roomy. The 2010 model defiantly looks like a Prius, it is when you see it next to the older model that the updates become more noticeable.
Nat Calverley 6:00 PM on June 10, 2012 Hi Zack, I spoke to you on the radio on Sunday, June 10th about my 2005 Prius hybrid battery failing. You mentioned that you had a contact at Toyota that might be able to help me with goodwill.
I had been very happy with my Prius until this happened and have been very disillusioned with the response I have been getting from Toyota so far. As I mentioned on your program, we can get the battery replaced in the US for over $1000 cheaper than we can do in Canada.
If this is any indication of what people can expect with a hybrid, the technology is dead in the water. I forgot to mention on your program that the new battery will only be warrantied for 18 months as opposed to 8 years or 160,000km
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