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Is The Prius Becoming A Status Symbol?
A riddle: Why has the Toyota Prius enjoyed such success, with sales of more than 400,000 in the United States, when most other hybrid models struggle to find buyers?

One answer may be that U.S. buyers of the Prius want everyone to know that they are driving hybrids.

The Prius, after all, was built from the ground up as a hybrid, and is sold only as a hybrid. By contrast, the main way to tell that a Honda Civic, Ford Escape or Saturn Vue is a hybrid version is a small badge on the trunk or side panel.

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Is The Prius Becoming A Status Symbol?



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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 7/5/2007 11:44:50 AM
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Another article from CNW dissing the Prius. Big surprise. Instead of the Prius having the best sales because it is the most visible hybrid, maybe it has the most sales because it is the BEST hybrid.

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noraknorak - 7/6/2007 11:18:33 AM
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The Prius is not only highly fuel efficient, e.g. compared to the Honda Accord Hybrid, but it is also practical because of its space and 5-star crash safety rating. This is why it sells more than the Honda Insight. The Insight is more fuel efficient but it has only 2 seats and is manual.


Agent009Agent009 - 7/5/2007 11:50:10 AMView My AgentSpace
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There is no doubt that the Prius is an icon for the Hybrid.

And just as if you had a Lexus or Merc there will be people that buy it just because of the recognition the symbol represents.

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PorschinatorPorschinator - 7/5/2007 11:54:11 AM
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Well being that it is ugly as hell, it defintely has a niche as an exclusive hybrid. I applaud Toyota for building it, even though its 60MPG EPA has never been even close to reached in the real World. I am looking foward to GMs electric car..the Volt.

Toyota as a company is smart and currently being #1 shows it. I do agree with the articles point that people buy the car because it is the only vehicle model that is exclusively hybrid. When you see a Prius you just know it is a hybrid unlike the other models with a hybrid badge.

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noraknorak - 7/6/2007 11:20:26 AM
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People want identity. Why do you think so many users here chose a username with a bar brand on it?

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Will_Will_ - 7/5/2007 12:21:15 PM
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The Prius can do over 100mph.

I'm sorry, but this still amazes me.

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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 7/5/2007 1:11:54 PM
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and it will still probably get 40mpg. I've only done 85 in mine, still getting in the 40s. (People always undersetimate the Prius' amazing highway mpg.) I'm not prepared for the financial burden of getting caught doing 100, but I would love to see the mpg reading at the rate.


Will_Will_ - 7/5/2007 1:16:55 PM
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Ricemaster,

Anyone who isn't the least bit surprised by that either has already done 100mph in a Prius, is a hater, or in your case, is a bit challenged mentally.


TransAm1973TransAm1973 - 7/5/2007 1:36:26 PM
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At least not here in Chile
i´ve never seen one here

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cdokecdoke - 7/5/2007 1:55:54 PMView My AgentSpace
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"Is The Prius Becoming A Status Symbol?"

I don't view them as such, at least with the prototypical usage of "Status Symbol".

There are plenty of types of status; name (aristocracy), money, education, profession et alia, but "status symbol" has a bit of a different connotation to me. Most certainly the Prius is the symbol of the hybrid movement, of that there is no doubt, but that does not necessitate that it is a status symbol.

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cdokecdoke - 7/5/2007 2:16:23 PMView My AgentSpace
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Furthermore, I would like to add that because movie stars do it or have it does not necessarily mean that everyone wants one or gives it status. Scientology, which is my opinion is a tell-tale sign that you have done so many drugs that you are now completely delusional, is an excellent example. Now, there is a grain of truth in some of what L. Ron Hubbert said as far as the mind and its ability to control the body.

There is no brain/body dichotomy, the two are not separate. Your body is little more than an extension of your brain- one does not exist without the other. So, if you can fool your mind, you can actually modify the functioning of the body in certain ways. For example, Tibetan monks can raise their body temperature as an act of volition. This is called the Pygmallion Effect – it is related to the placebo effect. Of course I am sure you are all familiar with the fact that placebo studies are conduced as opposed to studies where people receive no medication, because if the person believes that they have received medication, their body often reacts as if it had. There are limits, all things yield to biology A is A. You can’t change your sexuality for example. Now they have found that you can cover it up but you can’t change it.

Mens sana in corpore sano

…how in the hell did I even get on this subject…



Will_Will_ - 7/5/2007 3:30:32 PM
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Agree with you. The term "status symbol" infers some type of accomplishment, or elevation to a higher/the highest status. I believe a more appropriate term for the Prius at the the moment is simply "iconic."


cdokecdoke - 7/5/2007 4:10:37 PMView My AgentSpace
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Agreed


noraknorak - 7/6/2007 11:23:06 AM
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How is the Prius not a status symbol? Give your definition of a status symbol. Everyone keeps saying the Prius is overpriced.


markusckmarkusck - 7/5/2007 8:34:13 PM
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Status symbol, hardly, no more so than anyone would consider the iphone a status symbol, fad maybe...

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XYZZXYZZ - 7/6/2007 6:14:52 AM
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it provides the STATUS (yes!) of the owner being not only more environmentally aware and responsible, but MORE INTELLIGENT than average as well.

after all, how OFTEN do owners of guzzlers get to actually EXPLOIT all the power they pay for? prius owners are smart enuff to know they can exploit THEIR cars' efficiency ALL THE TIME. even at highway speeds.

AND, it still has the capacity to break any speed limit in the U.S. by a wide margin, IF they were inclined to exploit that capacity AS WELL.

the greatest concentration of Priuses in my city are in the area near the university.



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M53RM53R - 7/6/2007 9:44:56 AMView My AgentSpace
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Prius? I consider prius owners nothing more than camry owners, and no its not a status symbol. That would be something like rolls royce, not a a toyota.

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silent_powersilent_power - 7/6/2007 11:14:26 AM
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Toyota Century Royal is a status symbol.
But Prius paved the way to the new era.

Prius is much more than a status symbol. It is the datum.

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bevisroybevisroy - 7/12/2007 6:16:45 PM
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Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....


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ellivesellives - 7/12/2007 8:25:31 PM
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Status symbol? Nah - it's a sign of stupidity. What until those things start to age.

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XYZZXYZZ - 7/13/2007 7:31:37 AM
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Wait => "What" = a real sign of stupidity.

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XYZZXYZZ - 7/13/2007 7:34:41 AM
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when a LEXUS owner trades it for a PRIUS, that is strong evidence the prius DOES have a cachet of status.

the intelligence of its design reflects well on people who are SMART ENUFF to appreciate same.



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XYZZXYZZ - 7/24/2007 8:31:11 AM
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XYZZXYZZ - 7/24/2007 8:37:48 AM
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a Forbes article points out the Prius is by far the MOST SUCCESSFUL of ALL the hybrids on the market.
its distinctive style may be a major factor, according to the writer.

the haters who call it ugly simply have NO TASTE. it is clean looking and futuristic. it is also functionally aerodynamic, with one of the lowest cDs of any production car. including some outright sports cars. (like the corvette which better slices thru air going BACKWARDS!)

its BRILLIANT DESIGN seems most appreciated by likewise BRILLIANT, intelligent buyers.






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