Comments on: Toyota Prius – First Steer

By: Car Fanatic

Car Fanatic — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:31:26 +0000

currency difference has nothing to do with it, it’s taxes and duties the Aussie gov’t sets. If the Aussie dollar matches the U.S dollar sometime in the near future ,they will still pay what they pay and we will still pay what we pay to a degree

By: mrxandthexfactor

mrxandthexfactor — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:25:39 +0000

well there is a currency difference

By: peter

peter — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:35:33 +0000

Toyota is kidding themselves with the new pricing. Compare the old prices in the US and UK and you see that Aussies are coppng it in the neck with the new models! Aust sales are 446 in Jul 09(release month) and only 295 in the whole of August 09. There’s your answer Toyota, Aussies can see a grab for cash by a manufacturer a mile off. All of your ‘new bits and pieces’ are incremental changes or steals from the Lexus range – minimal development costs giving absolutely no justification for the massive price increases. I am a present GenII owner, I won’t buy the new model because of the price gouging and I’m waiting for alternatives from ‘realistic’ competitors.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:08:27 +0000

I have held off buying a new vehicle until the Prius pricing was released. $53K for the top model seems far too pricey and does not offer value for money.
I think I will stick to a diesel that offers better bang for buck.

By: Ted

Ted — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:19:18 +0000

Why can’t the Corolla have good looks like the Prius…

By: Davo

Davo — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:47:36 +0000

53k.Toyota is again trying to test the market with an unrealistic price.Recall the 25k pricing of the first Echo which was way over the top.
The market soon brought the price down.
Loading a car with options of little practical value is an old ploy.

By: Neo Utopia

Neo Utopia — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:01:58 +0000

Has Toyota done a life cycle assessment of the Prius? If the addition resourss, energy and waste involved with the hybrid systems can be offset within 10 years then I think this car is good for the environment. However, if it takes more than 15 years then an ultra efficient diesel powered car of similar size would be better.

In the future most cars will be electric, not powered by coal, but by renewable energy. So I think hybrids are a bridge to full electric and there will be a point where petrochemical powered cars will unfortunately be exclusive special cars, so enjoy the combustion power now while we have got it!

By: PaulS

PaulS — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:57:53 +0000

Shak, I think it’s gonna happen sooner than that!

By: Shak

Shak — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:50:47 +0000

Pauls You have a valid point, but by the time they do become viable, the liquid dino juice which we use to fuel our road rockets will be either gone or in the hands of our American overlords.

By: Yianni

Yianni — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:58:11 +0000

$53K? What’s Toyota smoking?

I think the only people that will buy this is the people smoking the same thing as Toyota.

It will probably take you 100 years to break even when compared to something like a Citroen C4 Diesel at around 30k. I’ll take it any day over this fridge.

Some manufacturers are showing their true colours through these tough times and slugging the customer at a time when they are losing money due to the economic crisis.

Stick to the manufacturers that are trying to scrape through this period without asking the customer to pay for it.

Toyota = Fail.

By: realcars

realcars — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:15:52 +0000

Paul,because Australians will buy it regardless because it’s a Toyota.

By: PaulS

PaulS — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:35:49 +0000

Well, I think it’s safe to say that most of us won’t end up buying Prius anyway. But this car will find and has its own market… The techno/enviro geeks or companies wanting to put a halo on top of their heads.

Regardless, hybrid technology needs some time to become viable preposition for the general public and car enthutiasts. Meanwhile, we need some people to buy all the Prius and Insights to give these companies profit to make the real thing.

By: VW Freak

VW Freak — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:09:56 +0000

Aghhh missed the edit. That should say “Lane” Keep Assist not “Land”.

By: VW Freak

VW Freak — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:04:22 +0000

Nice one Toyota Australia, as per usual, you have absolutely no idea! The iTech would be a better value car if;

Leather was an option
SatNav was an option
Sunroof with silly solar cooling was an option

Not everybody wants the above stuff. Most ppl have portable satnav units, some ppl hate leather in summer, some ppl would prefer not to have a sunroof.

So that might drop the price back to about $45-$46K?

On top of that, the iTech should have the following!!!

The MUCH nicer 17″ wheels, the nice JBL stereo, LKA (Land Keep Assist) and Toyota Link telemetics. All this stuff is available on US spec models. And where in the hell is some dual zone A/C?!?

Toyota, if you followed VW Group’s model in making high-end items optional, then you might have a better chance of selling more cars!

Sorry about the rant, but I’m sick of Toyota’s pathetic attitude towards car buyers in Australia.

Toyota = Pfffttttttt!!!

By: Naughtyius Maximus

Naughtyius Maximus — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:28:38 +0000

Nice evolution from previous two models…but still wedgy, looks tad odd at rear tail lights and to front as wedgy. Front looks too pushed out to flanks (sides) as angular and very full as runs right out with headlights and wheels. Guess that defines the wedge shape and reduces drag.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:47:21 +0000

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE 17″ ALLOYS THE REST OF THE WORLD GETS???

IT MAKES THE CAR LOOK SO MUCH BETTER!

WHY THE HELL DO YOU INSIST ON HUB CAPS FOR A +$50,000 CAR!!!!

By: Tack

Tack — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:13:53 +0000

“Two bottles of water in the rear cup holders- that’s not very green!”
What do you want D?
It can be hold two bottles of beer. What’s your problem?

By: deco

deco — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:53:08 +0000

Hmmm.. wouldn’t buy a prius ever.

err this is a bit random… but does motor magazine have a website. i’ve heard many people talking about reviews from it but I haven’t seen it b4.

By: Nick K

Nick K — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:10:50 +0000

I hope Kia fix up the Cerato’s dynamics, introduce an attractive 5 door version, install the 94Kw 1.6 diesel from the Soul and their new 6 speed torque converter auto. This would blow away the i30 in looks and specs and if you could have it for under $30K then why would I bother with the overpriced Prius. While I’m at it the current Corolla hatch is a major disappointment, too small boot, 4 speed auto, no diesel, cheap plasticky interior (esp the floating console)… honestly is this the best Toyota can do?

By: Golfschwein

Golfschwein — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:30:01 +0000

Wheelnut, it’s true that many passenger airbags use the windscreen to assist the deployment of the airbag. If you have a look at a slow-mo crash video, the airbags are fully deployed before the maximum damage is done to the vehicle.