Google testing plug-in hybrids in real-world situations

[Melbosa]

If you're only comparing fuel economy ratings, the Prius is high on the list.  If you're looking at total cost of ownership, the Focus is about $8,000 cheaper for a similarly-equipped car.  And that's comparing MSRP.  Ford dealers are notorious for lowering prices on their cars to get you to buy them, while Toyota sells Priuses at MSRP or higher.  There's also insurance costs and maintenance costs, but I really don't know them for these cars.

For reliability, I'd put my money on Toyota.

For cost of maintenance (if something breaks what would be the parts + labour), I would say Ford would be cheaper.  But how many times you are in the shop for repairs, I think Toyota would be less.

For longevity, well going with track records, I'd have to say Toyota again.

[Darren Dirt]

http://cars.about.com/od/ford/fr/08_focus.htm
http://cars.about.com/od/toyota/fr/09_corolla.htm

nice reviews; too bad I'm not crazy enough to buy a "new" car... maybe in 3 years this'll be my set o' wheels.



PS: sweetest mileage converter ever!*
http://www.1728.com/convmlge.htm



*horribly confusing JS code that makes it work, but hey it works really nicely...

[Thorin]

For reliability, I'd put my money on Toyota.

Generally I'd agree with you.  The Focus has bucked Ford's low-reliability trend, although that probably has to do with Opel and Mazda engineers working on the platform (they don't advertise it, but the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus and Opel something-or-other all share a platform).  So when thinking about a Focus versus a Corolla, the reliability's not as far apart as you'd think.

In fact, if Consumer Reports is to be believed, most of Ford's products are average or better in reliability these days (source: http://www.wheels.ca/article/32205).  Then again, some people think Consumer Reports is a biased publication that doesn't properly publish its test data: http://www.allpar.com/cr.html.

No matter what brand you buy, though, even the highest-rated have an average of 1.01 major problems per car every 10 years (wish I could find that article back, it was eye-opening).

For cost of maintenance (if something breaks what would be the parts + labour), I would say Ford would be cheaper.  But how many times you are in the shop for repairs, I think Toyota would be less.

Toyota parts for the Corolla are mostly made in the US these days.  Ford and Toyota parts aren't necessarily far apart in cost, because a major component of parts cost is the cost of shipping it from far away (like Bimmer parts from Germany, or Mitsu parts from Japan).

For longevity, well going with track records, I'd have to say Toyota again.

If we were comparing Focuses and Corollas, I'd agree with you.  But we were comparing Focuses and Priuses, and Priuses have had some problems that Toyota has been quick to fix as part of "regular maintenance".  And to be honest, the kind of person who buys a Prius is probably more conscientious and probably maintains their vehicle better than average.  And that has a lot of influence on the lifespan of the vehicle.

[Melbosa]

Sorry I should have been more clear: I was comparing not models but companies in my statements.  There is always exceptions to the norm.

As for parts, being someone who works with mechanics regularly on part replacements, domestics vs foreigns, on average your foreign manufacturers are more expensive per part + installation (flat rate) than are your domestics.  Granted not all the time, but on average.

[Darren Dirt]

Remember Austin Powers: Goldmember?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin_Sparrow

Michael Corbin sold the company to "Myers Motors"
http://www.myersmotors.com/faq.html

Corbin Motors managed to put out the Sparrow, as well as the "Raven" (see http://www.youtube.com/user/RavenCar )

Seems like a nice alternative to a normal gas powered vehicle, for those thinking of buying "new". Especially if you have an enviro-friendly power generation in your own home (as an increasing # of folks do, often putting juice back INTO the power grid).

[Thorin]

Owning a single-seat vehicle means that you either have to have a second vehicle with more seats or never take anyone with you.  Most people take someone along at least occasionally, so that means you need a second vehicle with more seats.  But now you have to plan ahead for every trip you take - do you take the cheaper car, or the car with more seats?

So you have to own two cars (more expensive than owning one) and you have to think ahead of every trip you take whether you might need to take a passenger.

I'll stick to 2+ seats in my car, thanks.

[Darren Dirt]

Owning a single-seat vehicle means that you either have to have a second vehicle with more seats or never take anyone with you.  Most people take someone along at least occasionally, so that means you need a second vehicle with more seats.  But now you have to plan ahead for every trip you take - do you take the cheaper car, or the car with more seats?

So you have to own two cars (more expensive than owning one) and you have to think ahead of every trip you take whether you might need to take a passenger.

I'll stick to 2+ seats in my car, thanks.

Agreed, except #1) a lot of these cars have been and are presently geared towards commuters, and #2) some of them mini-cars are in fact 2-seaters (especially the ones from the 1960s and 1970s), rare though since it would be a tight squeeze (and today's average overweight person X 2 = not gonna happen).

[Thorin]

#1) I used to commute.  Sometimes I went to a friend's house after work, rather than home.  On those days I gave my friend a ride.  On those days I needed more than one seat in my car.  So I would need to own two cars.  The cost of fuel saved versus having to buy a single-seat vehicle and a multi-seat vehicle certainly wouldn't offset the cost of a $30,000 Sparrow, nor even it's monthly insurance cost.

#2) Yes, I know there are commuter-centric cars with 2+ seats (Smart, for instance).  I was commenting on the Sparrow, which you had specifically linked to and discussed in the post before mine.  And the Sparrow is most certainly a single-seat car, thus not a car I would ever consider.