So the big news is that the cost of the 2010 Toyota Prius will be cheaper than the 2009 model was; but only by a $100. Honda of course undercut Toyota by not only releasing the Insight, a car that looks almost exactly like the Prius, but they offer the Hybrid at a cheaper price. So Toyota turned around and chopped a GRAND from the price of the base model Prius.
Do not be fooled by the Honda’s lower price. Many reviewers are harping on the poor quality and cheap feel of the Insight. Combine that with the almost 10 MPG less fuel economy that the Insight gets compared to the Prius; and it looks like Toyota still holds the upper hand.
The base model Prius will be stripped of some creature comforts in order to meet the $21,750 price. But who really needs cruise control, touch display, or a rear window wiper? I mean how many times are you driving backwards in rain (it never rains in southern California)?
Don’t tell me you bought into the announced “$21,000″ model Prius? It doesn’t yet exist, and the New York Times said: “Good Luck Finding One” since they will probably have to be special-ordered due to their anticipated use in fleet sales. We don’t even know just how stripped-down it will be! The article:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/a-prius-for-21000-good-luck-finding-one/
Since you’ve been reading articles reviewing the Insight, you must have also seen that most reviewers are significantly surpassing the EPA mileage numbers. Like this one:
“Honda Insight Hybrid achieves 74 mpg in tour”
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Honda+Insight+Hybrid+achieves+tour/1588553/story.html