it seems ford is actually making up ground... the fusion looks like a nice car, havnt ridden in one but a person i know has one and loves it. thinks its the best car he's had yet.

 

I'm a firm believer in the Golden Rule, "treat others as you'd like to be treated". As long as car manufacturers require that I work with their slime ball dealers that don't give a sh*t about my time or needs, then I don't feel obligated to buy their products. I'll buy what's best based on my due diligence rather than some idiot ex-time-share salesman wanting to play four square on a cash deal.

Prius had >7years of proven history and is a true wonder @ 50 mpg. The ride is smoother, quieter and tighter than my Navigator and I at 6'3" didn't feel cramped. Its quick and will cruise at a sustained speed of 95mph, topping out at 105 mph and still get >40 mpg.
We looked at Fords.. As you may know Ford and Toyota have done some patent swaps so they have some things in common. I was unimpressed with Ford choosing to use an ICE driven A/C verses electric. Plus we only needed a grocery getter and Ford's mpg ratings were nearly half.
Fortunately we purchased back in Nov 07 when the dealers were discounting $1000 over invoice and gas was $3.
I checked on one for my son a few weeks ago and they were going for $5000 over MSRP and had a 3-6 month wait.

Toyota may be a POS in every other catagory but they kick *** in overall hybrid MPG.

 

scruge: im not to the point where i even consider a hybrid, im sure theres a lot of people like me out there. i feel if they keep adding this electrical crap, i wont be able to afford to keep it on the road either! which means for me, wtf is the difference between buying more gas and maint costs on a "hybrid"

 

Funny, guess scruge missed the class action law suit against Toyota because there are thousands of pissed off Prius owners getting a consist MPG in the high 30s! OOPS!

 

didn't know that either...

 

It must be a secret action.. There isn't a peep about it at any of the hybrid or toyota forums and nothing from Google. That explains why demand has nearly tripled and Toyota is building Prius plant in Mississippi..

High 30s, like 36-39mpg, thats the worst you'll get and its still nearly double all others in same driving conditions? Heck, tire pressure can cause a hit of 5-7mpg.

I agree they do require a rocket scientist to work on.
But I think with time they'll become like computers, more modular.

For now, buy new and get a really good extended warranty from the manufacturer, NO dealer warranties.

From what I can tell $4000-$5000 will fix about any major problem, if you're considering a used unit without a warranty.

 

if you guys likem so much go to there website!

 

After reading here and there in this thread - I recall when Toyota attempted a mid size truck. I can't think of what they were called ? What the hell was that called ? - Oh well, it wasn't all that long ago.

So what happen to them ? How many of those do you see in circulation today ? I don't see any running around anymore.

What's that tell yuh ?

The Blundra will do the disapearing act as well, after all that warenty work catches up with sales, which won't be long They don't stand a chance in the long run. Longevity is a 4 letter word in relation to the Toyota Trucks, and the problems with them are just in the beginning stages.

There's NO way they hold a candle to FORD. Toyota may have come out of the gate pretty inticing, that's the easy part.

Manufacturing a truck that's fun to drive, looks good, works hard and will last over a decade doing so is where Ford stands alone.

 

Hey jbrew
I got bored on the GD.
So I thought I'd steal a worhtles thread and pester the he77 out'a you

 

Not all car dealers are like you say. Even toy has scummy car salesmen. I don't buy a car because of the salesman. I buy it for what I need and value. You paid a premium for your prius. Even at $1000 over invoice you paid a premium. My focus ST cost me probably $3000-$4000 less that what you paid for your prius. And now that they're getting $5,000 over sticker, there is NO value there. I get 34 mpg back and fourth to work, and 36 hiway. Now figure the difference from your prius. At $5 a gallon gas and how many miles to get your return back? Not to mention that the battery replacement cost is prohibitive. And my car is faster, handles better, and looks 100 times better, and maintenance costs are less in the long run. Hybrids are about the stupidest tech for "saving the planet" Those batteries are toxic and must be recycled/disposed of carefully.

 

I think you are thinking of the T100. Mostly made in the mid 1990's. I think the last ones were built in 1998 or 1999, so its been about 10 years. About the size of a Dodge Dakota. Never saw too many of them, but I know one guy who had one.

 

my dad averages 59.6MPG in his prius. My F150 averages 14.5 as of late. I dont care if its import or american, if its a great car/truck, ill buy it.

T100 had a 3.4V6 in them, they werent terrible, just not to marketable. To big to compete with the compacts, and way to small to compete with the F150 and RAM and such.

 

Your right Ford doesn't have an exclusive on slime ball dealers.. Actually here in Houston its the same dealer for both ford and toy in some cases.

I bought my son a f150 screw in Jan 08 (college graduation). Out of 5 friggin dealers not one would honor the negotiated price when It came time for me to write out the check. Every single one had some as*hole from the tower renege on the deal.. I was so pissed I went to one of the dealership's GM which was another douche bag con-man. I asked the ***** how does one buy a car now days? I explained, I worked up a deal with your salesman which gets the approval of the tower but when I write the check the tower refuses the deal and starts negotiations all over again. Plus they start this Four Square BS that has nothing to do with a cash deal.

If it hadn't of been for my son being so hung up on a ford I would of forced him to take a tundra even if they are butt ugly and more expensive. I wound up talking to a friend who's with a major oil company that has fleet accounts with all the major car companies. He put me in touch with his Ford rep which got me a better deal than any of the slime *****.

The best thing about the whole deal was my son getting first hand experience with how crooked car dealers are. He was most impressed with how they openly deceive and excuse their actions/tactics as necessary.

 

the new tunrdra plant they built in san antonio is going offline for a few months because sales of the truck has dropped so severely

 

*my dad averages 59.6MPG in his prius.*

Must be driving under 35 mph everywhere he goes. Otherwise I'm gonna have to call bs on that. The only car I'm aware of that averages that kind of mpg is the Honda Insight which you don't see too many of. I could definitely see a prius averaging anywhere from 36-46 mpg under normal driving but not almost 60.