Ron Zastovnik’s Web
Our New Car
2001 Toyota Prius
The Prius is significant to us because it is the first affordable mass produced gasoline/electric (hybrid) powered 5 passenger car on the market. We had been saying that we wanted our next car to be electric and then the Prius came along. The hybrid is actually better because it does not use power from the grid. This is NOT some expensive experimental car. It’s available to anyone.
Jump to latest updates Monday May 03, 2004
SOME FACTS
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70 hp gasoline engine
44 hp electric motor
Batteries charged by the gasoline engine and by braking.
Economy:
Our average is about 43 MPG.
Our highway mileage is about 49 MPG
Hot and cold weather decreases mileage a little.
Emissions:
Design for minimum
emissions is priority. Good MPG second.
A Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV)
Power:
Plenty! Feels like it has more power than any of my cars.
No problems with steep long hills or passing.
Size:
The interior room is about the same as a Toyota Corolla.
Trunk size is a little smaller than the Corolla
(The 2004 Prius is about the same size as the Camry)
Quality:
This is not a cheaply made, tinny car!
Best Engineered Care of the Year - 2001– Automotive Engineering International
(The 2004 Prius was Motor Trend's Car Of The Year.)
It’s a Toyota. ‘Nuff said.
Technology:
Scared of new Technology? Toyota has experience. As of March 2002...
89,091 Priuses sold since 1997
11,726 Hybrid Estima Minivans sold in Japan
2094 Hybrid Toyota Crown Luxury Sedans sold in Japan
Prius Battery & electric propulsion warranted for 100,000 miles or 8 yrs.
How the Prius is different. Click here
Price:
About $21,000
$2000 deduction for federal taxes.
Unfortunately CA incentive for purchase has been cut.
To learn more, check
out these web sites:
http://prius.toyota.com,
http://john1701a.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius,
A good dealer in Carson CA:
http://carsontoyota.com/html/prius.html
Toyota to make engines and transmissions in West Virginia
Monday May 03, 2004
Our Prius is still performing as well as it did when we purchased it.
The only major service has been the replacement of the rack and pinion
assembly under warranty. There was no drivability problems, just a slight rattle,
but Toyota detected a developing problem and elected to replace the assembly.