25 Responses to “Top Gear Asks if the Toyota Prius is Really More Economical Than a BMW M3”

1. solkana Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

   1 And apparently the Prius will be getting solar panels for the high-end version redesign.. To power the air conditioning.. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUST29871820080706

2. Kevin Bahrt Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

   2 The way they drove also messed with the test. Driving closely behind another car increases your gas millage due to the turbulence of the air which makes it easier to push aside. And you really should quit saying “carbon” pollution, it’s not accurate, you’re thinking of carbon dioxide. Many forms of carbon are necessary to life and it’s only the large amount of carbon dioxide that pollutes, some CO2 is necessary for plant life, you know, like food crops. Don’t bother looking at a Plug in hybrid if you’re worried about pollution since, unless your electric grid is clean power, you’ll just be leaving the pollution to the power plants instead of your car.

3. Echo Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

   3 that’s not nearly close enough to be drafting for a significant result. you gotta be like bumper to bumper. they’re probably talking about carbon pollution in relation to the carbon footprint, which is a widely used term. I’ve read from elsewhere that the carbon footprint of the prius is quite significant. of course the test is bunk though. it’s not how the prius was meant to be used. it’s probably hardly using any of the electric pushing bits when it’s screaming around like that. and honestly prius drivers are likely not the aggressive lot anyway. you can’t even get it in a stick.

4. Echo Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

   4 - also interesting. it’s funny that the use a bmw. from what i understand many of the newer models use regenerative braking.

5. Echo Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

   5 - all that having been said, the general point they’re trying to bring across should be obvious. i get about half a mile to the gallon when i drive my little 1.8L 5sp 4banger. ‘course i also drive like a maniac idiot.

6. Jami Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

   6 Author Comment This regenerative braking, how does it work? This is the first I’ve heard of it.

7. Echo Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

   7 well you can’t call it a hybrid, because it doesn’t use any of the power to the wheels, but it uses the power siphoned from the braking energy to power the gadgets and gizmos and the battery on the car. i guess think of it as a fancy alternator function.

8. Jami Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

   8 Author Comment That’s pretty freaking sweet! It’d be perfect for city driving when you’re hitting that brake pedal fairly often.

9. Echo Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

   9 yup! it’s especially more beautiful in hybrids like the prius where the power is put right back to the wheels! it’s a clever little bit. though from what i’ve been told by some people who’ve worked on electric cars, the concept is as simple as an alternator that’s been connected backwards.

10. One of Many Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    10 I agree that it was being driven incorrectly for their test. However, another problem with the Prius is that it’s a lot more expensive. By the time the money saved on gas starts to balance with the extra cost of the car, which I think is about 4 years or so, you have to get the batteries replaced. Which puts you almost back to beginning. By the time it becomes more cost effective you’ll probably be replacing the car anyway.

11. Kevin Bahrt Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    11 A lot of systems that could improve efficiency are left out to save weight. If you decrease the weight of the car it’s fuel efficiency goes up. The amount of efficiency you save will vary with a lot of factors but the reason weight is generally chosen is that it means less material is used making it cheaper to produce. So companies can sell a car for normal price while decreasing cost of production, this increases profit Price-Cost=Profit.

12. Yusaku777 Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    12 “that’s not nearly close enough to be drafting for a significant result. you gotta be like bumper to bumper.” Actually, have to take up with this one. It’s been proven that even as far back as 25 feet behind, you get a small amount of benefit from drafting. It’s not much, on the order of 5% or so, but the number climbs higher as you get closer. In the majority of the shots shown, the BMW was on average about 15 feet behind the Prius, so it’ll factor in. But yes, the Prius was designed for stop and go driving, not fast as possible driving.

13. BAMikeyD Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    13 All this talk about drafting. Did they show how fast they were driving on average? I’ll bet it was around 65mph or so… (about highway speeds maybe?) and if you drive that in the Baltimore - DC area you’re getting run off the road. So Pruis drivers how fast do you drive on average on the highways?

14. Jami Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    14 Author Comment Don’t know about the Prius, but Audrey and I have a Accord Hybrid and we’ve run that bitch up to 80.

15. BAMikeyD Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    15 Lol. Every one in this thread should check out the Penn & Teller’s Bull Shit episode about hybrids.

16. salthegeek Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    16 i live in silicon valley the prius is really popular around hear its really annoying since i get dirty looks every time i pass them i drive a 330i it gets great mpg that is if your going 60-79 btw any bmw higher than a 5 kida sucks no really have you seen the new 6’s they are but ugly the new 1 series in europe are “mild hybrids” what ever that is if you want great mpg get a smart car

17. salthegeek Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    17 BTW http://gizmodo.com/5018111/aftermarket-plug+in-prius-battery-causes-balls-of-fire-explosion

18. Thomas C Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    18 Interesting little video, and it makes perfect sense. I’ve known that the way you drive has a more drastic and realistic effect on fuel economy than that actual vehicle you drive does, within reason, for a long time. But really, if you want to be more environmentally friendly, use your car less, walk or ride a bicycle or some other mode of non-motorized transport more often, or even do what I just did and purchase a motorcycle. Got myself the new ‘08 BWM F650GS (which is actually a parallel twin 800, the same engine as in the soon to arrive ‘08 F800GS only de-tuned a bit, not the single cylinder 650 that the older models were) and it gets far better fuel mileage than a Prius, costs a lot less (about 1/4 the cost) and is way more fun to drive (I know because my mother has a Prius). I’m averaging 4.2L/100km and that’s not driving conservatively. That’s around 56 MPG for those of you in the US. It gets even better at cruising speeds, 4.2 is just my average. At a constant speed I’ve held it as low as 2.7L/100km (87 MPG). Realistically, how often do you -need- your car when you drive somewhere?

19. Kevin949 Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    19 Here’s something to look at. 110mpg 1987 Ford Mustang, makes 400hp and 500tq. http://www.wgal.com/irresistible/16768626/detail.html

20. Devin Posted: Jul 7th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

    20 yyyyeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh… this testing method is totally flawed. at top speed, the prius’ engine is working waaaayy harder than the beamer… higher rpms would factor into the equation against the prius. I’d like to see a two part test: a stop-and-go traffic scenario and an interstate travel deal where both are at a constant speed of say 65 mph.

21. BAMikeyD Posted: Jul 8th, 2008 at 12:39 am

    21 @Devin: How is that flawed? That’s the point of the test. It’s not what you drive it’s how you drive it. Did they claim that the M3 is ever going to get the 40 whatever mpg that the Pruis gets? No. It was basically just to prove a point about, before you go and drop 20K+ on a new car to make yourself feel all important and eco-friendly just change your driving habits a bit. I’ve got a Saturn Astra, and if I don’t drive like a douche bag I get about 29-30Mpg on average with it.

22. BAMikeyD Posted: Jul 8th, 2008 at 12:40 am

    22 And actually even driving like a douche sometimes, I still average 28-29mpg.

23. Echo Posted: Jul 8th, 2008 at 6:46 am

    23 in response to the earlier statement about drafting, i think maybe that would be the case if you were drafting a large squarish object like a trailer, but the prius isn’t exactly a semi. and yeah, i agree with BAMikeyD. i don’t think you’re really getting the point here Devin i avg 95ish on the highway [like i said maniac idiot]. i tend to get about 25mpg ish if i’m burning the whole tank on a long trip. which still looks really good if you’re driving something like a large truck or a cuda with a gas leak for a carburator. in that case you might want to look into getting a trade in if mpg is something that bothers you.

24. Echo Posted: Jul 8th, 2008 at 6:53 am

    24 also i call bullshit and garbage on that mustang. show me that car and i’ll show you several bridges for sale.

25. SamuraiPenguin Posted: Jul 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    25 so i saw the video and went out to find info on the prius being the opposite, if not worst for the environment and i came a cross a article titled ” ‘Tank vs. Hybrid’ Is it possible that a Hummer’s better for the environment than a Prius is?” here the link: http://www.slate.com/id/2186786/ have a read and see if that helps with keeping the Prius in a positive light for many of you. just in case this has already been mentioned sorry for reposting. i didnt really read everyones posts, just being lazy.