[Lucia]

Last week, Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Prius in the Top Gear TV program. I missed the telecast. However, I found the following review at BBC Top Gear website :

Prius

We sometimes get criticised for smacking the environment around the chops with a barrel of oil on Top Gear. It's not our intention to hurt the planet and its fluffy bunnies, though. So we thought, let's have a look at the Toyota Prius, which is a new hybrid car, containing both a standard petrol engine and an electric motor.

The theory behind this is simple: Use the electric motor for city driving, and the proper engine for motorways. The theory is great, but there are problems. First, the petrol consumption is awful - it manages less than a diesel Lupo, which defeats the point totally. What's worse, is that it's slower than a diesel too, which is really bad news, unless driving above 30mph scares you.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/series_5/prog_7/).

Would be interested to hear about other Prius user comments.

 

[Godiva]

I have to wonder what year Prius he drove and how he drove it.

I don't know what a diesel Lupo is. What is the mileage, emissions, and size on that thing?

Slower? Did he use the European EV button and never let the car operate the way it was intended?

He also failed to mention that the Prius is cleaner than the diesel. But I notice all cars used to compare gas mileage to the Prius are either a lot dirtier (like the diesels) or a lot smaller (like the Honda Insight).

There is no comparable car that can provide 1. mileage, 2. low emissions, 3. size and 4. power that the Prius has. Not all four.

But this guy was never going to give the Prius a fair review. Notice the terms such as "fluffy bunnies" and "proper engine".

 

[Astrowoman]

I think this is a show that my SO watches. The guy is very British and has edgy humor. I wouldn't take it to personal, he's been known to run screaming (literally) from very high end cars as well...

 

[KMO]

He was driving the new Prius. He had a couple of factual errors (such as quoting the 0-60 time of the old one), but mainly he was just enjoying giving it a bit of attitude.

A Ford GT is more his cup of tea.

He was referring to the Volkswagen Lupo, which is a small city hatchback, smaller than both the Polo and the Golf. It's tiny.

That has official European consumption figures (in Imperial mpg) of 47.9 urban, 78.5 extra-urban, 64.2 combined, compared to the Prius's 56.5 urban, 67.3 extra-urban, 65.7 combined.

Mind you, diesel currently costs 5% more than petrol here. That would pull the Lupo down to 45.4/74.4/60.9 equivalent.

Also, the Lupo is manual, has 60 horsepower, and only manages 0-62mph in 16.8 seconds... Basic equipment doesn't even stretch to a CD player :lol:

 

[Victor]

Last week, Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Prius in the Top Gear TV program. I missed the telecast. However, I found the following review at BBC Top Gear website :

.....

Would be interested to hear about other Prius user comments.

Well, all us Brits know Clarkson is a total tosser. He never has much good to say about any car with less than 300HP.

Ignore him he may go away!!!!

 

[Rmarchena]

BBC IS NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT

BBC's Partial Quote:

"The theory behind this is simple: Use the electric motor for city driving, and the proper engine for motorways. The theory is great, but there are problems. First, the petrol consumption is awful - it manages less than a diesel Lupo, which defeats the point totally. What's worse, is that it's slower than a diesel too, which is really bad news, unless driving above 30mph scares you".

The Prius gets the impulse from gas and sostain it from electric. Any variance in the impulse will invoke the gas. Just desaccelarating a bit will invoke the electric at 48mph or less. Beyond that is just gas. "Key to drive a Prius efficiently to get 55 mpg.

 

[Tideland Prius]

It was originally aired last year on 12th Dec. Interestingly enough, the rest of the show included the Mustang, SLK vs. Boxster, and Murciélago vs. Evo VIII MR FQ400.

Like KMO pointed out, he got the 0-60mph time wrong (13.5sec?!?!?)

JC: "They all somehow have been convinced that by driving one of these, the tasmanian fruitbat will come back to life, that GM crops will be uninvented and that the earth will once again cool down."

and some more errors

"In essence, it's an electric car..."

And he also goes on and claims it's so quiet (in EV mode) that a kid will run into the street and get hit by you cause he didn't hear you coming. Oh wait, the Prius is so slow, that the kid will run into the street, retrieve his ball and grow to puberty before you ever reach him.

See the problem is, the Lupo is tiny (smaller than a Golf), has a tiny engine and will not save baby seals since it produces more particulates. Perhaps an European can help us give the specs and features cause I doubt it'll be well equipped.

In summary, he does love his Ford GT.

I like Jeremy's humour but I just think he has a big ego

 

[frenchie]

Here is what a Lupo looks like :

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars/lupo

Comparing a Lupo and a Prius is like comparing a Yaris/Echo/Vitz and a Camry. Or worse.

 

[solar_energy]

The theory behind this is simple: Use the electric motor for city driving, and the proper engine for motorways.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
My God ....If this is the theory behind prius then I am ready to hear "where is the starting handle?" :roll:

 

[Sanny]

I like Jeremy's humour but I just think he has a big ego

Oh? I hear the ego is inversely proportioned to, um, shoe size. :wink:

 

[solar_energy]

Re: BBC IS NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT

Hello to everyone. I am an enthusiast of hybrid tech...

BBC's Partial Quote:

"The theory behind this is simple: Use the electric motor for city driving, and the proper engine for motorways. The theory is great, but there are problems. First, the petrol consumption is awful - it manages less than a diesel Lupo, which defeats the point totally. What's worse, is that it's slower than a diesel too, which is really bad news, unless driving above 30mph scares you".

Great News. Vw Lupo diesel is faster than gasoline Avensis 1.6L. :shock:
Prius is much faster than Avensis 1.6L.

I think BBC sucks a lot...

Perhaps they don't know how to drive a prii... :roll:
What it could have happened if I would completely ignore the first 4 gears in a diesel 5 manual gearbox car?

And the feeling is amazing when you accelerate without reviving up... 8) 8) 8)

 

[solar_energy]

Comparing a Lupo and a Prius is like comparing a Yaris/Echo/Vitz and a Camry. Or worse.

You can compare Toyota Yaris/Echo/Vitz and VW Polo.But VW Lupo is smaller than VW Polo...

 

[Sanny]

My God ....If this is the theory behind prius then I am ready to hear "where is the starting handle?" :roll:

No no no...you are WAY behind. The starting handle was in the 2002 Prius. In the 2004/5, they replaced it with pedals inside. Now you use feet from the relative comfort of the cabin. Actually, the passenger has to do it, and then periodically pedal during the trip to recharge the battery.

 

[solar_energy]

My God ....If this is the theory behind prius then I am ready to hear "where is the starting handle?" :roll:

No no no...you are WAY behind. The starting handle was in the 2002 Prius. In the 2004/5, they replaced it with pedals inside. Now you use feet from the relative comfort of the cabin. Actually, the passenger has to do it, and then periodically pedal during the trip to recharge the battery.

:lol: Tell me that Flint-Stones had a small part in this...