Though this idiotic rant has been addressed already, I'll still respond for lack of better things to do at the moment.
Even with the rebate (which shouldn't exist in the first place) this is far from a good buy.
Strictly your personal opinion. I believe it's a great buy, and when
I am buying
MY car, guess whose opinion will matter?
Many people have voted for the Prious with their hard earned money.
If the real numbers are in the 4.8 area, there are several cars getting that on the highway with maybe an extra l/100 in the city.
Examples please? None? I thought so.
Many of those cars can be had for $25000. And also consider the fact that many basic features were coupled with the $5000 package. Sure that gets you auto cruise, fake leather, led lights and navigation, all things we can do without, but they went and had to sneak things like a power seat, fog lights and other basics in too, making it almost needed for most people these days. So now you hit $40,000. Oh look, you could have bought a Volt now, and get 4 times the electric range. Volt has rebates as well, so it's pretty damn even.
Good for you you can live without a cruise control, I can't, so it's an essential option for me. I happen to LOVE fake leather for its durability and ease of maintenance. I certainly couldn't care less about the fog lights or power seats - where I drive fog is not an issue, and I only adjust my seats once, so don't speak for
MOST people. Your opinion is very important to you, but MOST people wouldn't give a rat's ass.
So say you buy a loaded up Mazda 3 Skyactive for around $23,000. Sure it might take 15-20% more fuel, but how long is it going to take to come anywhere near recouping the $12,000 price gap?
If this car were sold at about $28,000 it would be an attractive option, but at $35,000 not a chance. They will still sell a bunch, but nobody said you had to be smart to buy a car....
Wouldn't even consider a loaded Skyactive. New unproven technology sitting in a rust bucket with much poorer fuel economy - no thanks.
You can argue ad nauseum but ultimately market decides... Cabbies cast their vote and that, to me, is a strong indicator for a good quality car.
I paid $27,500 for an LE Camry V6 in 2002. $30,000 (about the same Present Worth as 2002 Camry) for the PHV Prius is a bargain in comparison.
NHV is an important measure for a luxury car. Can't get much better when the gas engine is not running at 100km/h with good quiet tires. That's what's important to me.
You seriously want a good handling car lugging in traffic at 38km/h average speed? No need to answer. I know what 17 year-olds think
