"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ws.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:

It keeps up with them and outperforms a BMW
5 series in mid acceleration.

What a fool. Only if you compare

It beats the BMW - FACT!! What other crap is he on about.....

Since the Prius has a CVT

No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
John Rumm wrote:

The new Highlander hybrid gets to 60 in
7.3 secs, if you like silliness of
course.

Sounds more reasonable. Wonder
what trade-in you would get on the Prius.

Very poor.

It is very good and above average.

snip idiotic babble

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
raden wrote:
It's that shape to make it easier for real cars to drive over it when it
breaks down - thus reducing congestion

Could be a nice little earner for you doing re-con control boards for it.
Although with the few hundred bought in the UK, you might have to go into
the export market.

Such an entrepreneur. Duh!

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article s.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:
But only if you keep the BMW in 5th gear...

With the Prius there is no silly twaddling of sticks between the seats
and pumping a pedal to make it go. Such silliness.

Automatic gearboxes have been available for some 50 years.

Such amazing information. In fact they have been around since the 1920s

snip senile misinformed babble

"Matt Beard" wrote in message
oups.com...

29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

The senile one makes things up. It does over 50mpg.

"Matt Beard" wrote in message
oups.com...

29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

Compared to most US 4x4s the Highlander is. It also reduces emissions
drastically in built up areas which is one of the prime aims. Keeps the
filth away from the lungs of millions..

In article .com,
Matt Beard wrote:
29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

The idea with hybrid cars is supposed to be that they are more fuel
efficient.

If that was the main reason, they'd use a diesel, not petrol engine.

But diesels ain't popular in the US - its main market. Its real purpose is
low emissions in towns with heavy traffic were it can run several miles on
batteries alone producing zero emissions at that point in time. Of course
those batteries then need to be recharged by the petrol engine producing
just as much emissions as any other similarly sized car, simply shifting
the place that those emissions occur. And with poorer than average CO
emissions when touring (its mpg then is poor) it does nothing to save the
planet. ;-)

The latest incarnation of this technology from Toyota is the Lexus RX400H
- a 'chelsea tractor' type vehicle. This certainly is a class leader in
fuel efficiency although it's gone back to a conventional V-6 petrol
engine. Not that it's difficult to be a class leader here as no vehicle of
this type is ever good due to heavy weight and lossy trasmissions for off
road use. Lexus have solved this at a stroke. It can't be used for off
load or heavy towing.

My car can manage 65mpg happily with a normal engine - and
still stays above 50mpg with 4 adults onboard and a shedload of stuff
in the back (it's an estate).

A quick glance at any road test summaries - not makers adverts - shows
any diesel of similar size and performance uses a deal less fuel than the
Prius in everyday use. Oh - and some petrol ones too. And they also cost
less. Much less, in fact.

--
*Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

No accounting for the taste of a Philistine. You are the sort who
thinks a Hyundai Santa Fe is good looking.
As compared to, say, a Nissan Almera...
NO, the comparison is with a Prius. Wrong make and model.

No, you misunderstand - you think you`re a guru of taste, and I don`t
entirely agree. What`s wrong with a Santa Fe ?

Matt Beard wrote:

29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

The idea with hybrid cars is supposed to be that they are more fuel
efficient. My car can manage 65mpg happily with a normal engine - and
still stays above 50mpg with 4 adults onboard and a shedload of stuff
in the back (it's an estate).

Apparently there is a class action suit against Toyata in the US now on
the grounds that real users are finding the 60+ mpg advertising claims
unachievable in real world conditions.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

A Toyota looks nothing like an Audi, and is curvy.
Most peopel comment of the nice advanced looks.

Any comment from their guide dogs?

(apart from ruff)


--

"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

The new Highlander hybrid gets to 60 in 7.3 secs

Positively pedestrian, when it does it in sub 5 seconds, reaching
160mph and gets 45mpg let me know, until then I'd be accepting a
compromise.


--

"Matt" wrote in message
...
"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

The new Highlander hybrid gets to 60 in 7.3 secs

Positively pedestrian,

You are kidding. The original Ford GT 40s did 0-60 in 6 secs. Here is a
4x4 road car not that far off. That sort of speed is silly anyway, as few
want that sort of thing. It's a 3 rows of seats SUV.

If you want to accelerate to silly speeds in no time at all go to race
track. You can use their cars.

"Colin Wilson" wrote in message
t...

No accounting for the taste of a Philistine. You are the sort who
thinks a Hyundai Santa Fe is good looking.

As compared to, say, a Nissan Almera...

NO, the comparison is with a Prius. Wrong make and model.

No, you misunderstand - you think you`re a guru of taste, and I don`t
entirely agree. What`s wrong with a Santa Fe ?

If you think it is nice looking, then there is no accounting for taste.

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Doctor Drivel wrote:

You have sight problems. A Toyota looks nothing like an Audi, and is
curvy.
Most peopel comment of the nice advanced looks.

Bwhahahahahahahahahaha

No they don't. Like the current Primera the Prius is a slab-sided mess
ugly from every angle.

But you think the Santa Fe, and all those Korean cars are good looking.
Philistines usually do.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

A Toyota looks nothing like an Audi, and is curvy.
Most peopel comment of the nice advanced looks.

Any comment from their guide dogs?

But you think a Santa Fe is good looking. That is sad. All the Hollywood
set think the Prius is the thing.

"John Rumm" wrote in message
...
Matt Beard wrote:

29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

The idea with hybrid cars is supposed to be that they are more fuel
efficient. My car can manage 65mpg happily with a normal engine - and
still stays above 50mpg with 4 adults onboard and a shedload of stuff
in the back (it's an estate).

Apparently there is a class action suit against Toyata in the US now on
the grounds that real users are finding the 60+ mpg advertising claims
unachievable in real world conditions.

Auto Expresses long term Prius returned 65mpg. So that suit will fail.
Probably taken up by a competitor in false clothing. A common thing in the
USA.

In article s.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:
Automatic gearboxes have been available for some 50 years.

Such amazing information. In fact they have been around since the 1920s

Perhaps you'd name a car sold in the UK in the '20s with an auto box?

--
*Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:
Apparently there is a class action suit against Toyata in the US now on
the grounds that real users are finding the 60+ mpg advertising claims
unachievable in real world conditions.

Yup. Autocar managed 43 mpg in their touring test. A BMW 320d - much
faster in every way - 48.

--
*Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson" *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Steve Firth wrote:
No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set,
the generator is connected to the sun gear and the engine is connected
to the planetary carrier.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm

Oh look Drivel caught out talking ******** (again).

There are dozens of descriptions showing the Prius uses a form of CVT, but
to Drivel that must mean the DAF belts and pulleys type.

Which of course the latest hybrids have. ;-)

--
*Remember not to forget that which you do not need to know.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Steve Firth wrote:
Compared to most US 4x4s the Highlander is.

Drivel.

It also reduces emissions drastically in built up areas which is one of
the prime aims. Keeps the filth away from the lungs of millions..

The Highlander manages just 26 mpg in 4x4 form, a figure that is
pathetic compared to other 3.2 litre 4x4s.

The Ford Escape is actually a better hybrid.

And you're showing once moe that your sole source of information is
half-understood web reports. The Highlander is available in the UK as
the Lexus.

Autocar were quite impressed with the Lexus RX400H when they tested it.
They got 28.7 mpg on their touring route.

However, it's a Range Rover type vehicle which can't tow or go off road,
so really rather pointless.

--
*Therapy is expensive, poppin' bubble wrap is cheap! You choose.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

Since the Prius has a CVT

No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.


But YOU said it did - just over 3 weeks ago.

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...da3afa5?hl=en&
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:51:39 +0100
From: "Doctor Drivel"

"The Prius now has a conventional CVT. "

Yes, you Dribble definitely wrote that. Are you changing your mind
again and will Toyota have to revise all their leaflets? Wouldn't it
be better to take your pills and have a lie down for a few years?


--

"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

It is a car which attracts sensible trendy people, like myself.

ROFLMAO
oxymoron of the decade?
......or just moron?
--

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article s.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:

Automatic gearboxes have been available for some 50 years.

Such amazing information. In fact they have been around since the 1920s

Perhaps you'd name a car sold in the UK in the '20s with an auto box?

Who said the UK? Not me. The UK had them in the 1930s and toroidal CVT was
available too.

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Doctor Drivel wrote:

No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic
gearbox with planetary gears
which acts as a CVT.

WRONG!! No gearbox or CVT.

The planetary cluster is called a power splitter. It makes the petrol and
electric motors act as one electric motor when delivering power/torque to
the drives wheels.

An electric motor does not require a gearbox as it delivers max torque at
start up.

Now you know.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

Since the Prius has a CVT

No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.


But YOU said it did - just over 3 weeks ago.

More madness

snip lunacy

"Matt" wrote in message
...
"Doctor Drivel" wrote:

It is a car which attracts sensible trendy people, like myself.

snip philistinian madness

He must live in Essex

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Doctor Drivel wrote:

But you think the Santa Fe, and all those Korean cars are good looking.

No I don't,

You do.

snip Philistine madness

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
...
Doctor Drivel wrote:

"Matt Beard" wrote in message
oups.com...

29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

Compared to most US 4x4s the Highlander is.

snip misguided misinformation.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
Matt Beard wrote:
29mpg - who are they trying to fool that this is environmentally
friendly?

The idea with hybrid cars is supposed to be that they are more fuel
efficient.

If that was the main reason,
they'd use a diesel, not petrol engine.

They are also to be clean on burning. Filthy diesels should be banned,

snip senile babble

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
John Rumm wrote:

Apparently there is a class action suit against Toyata in the US now on
the grounds that real users are finding the 60+ mpg advertising claims
unachievable in real world conditions.

Yup. Autocar managed 43 mpg

More senility. He said Autocar managed 23mpg, when everyone else gets over
50mpg.

snip senile confused babble

He must have had his cauliflower cheese by now. I hope they put the bib on
right.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Steve Firth wrote:
No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set,
the generator is connected to the sun gear and the engine is connected
to the planetary carrier.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm

Oh look Drivel caught out talking ******** (again).

There are dozens of descriptions

snip senile drivel

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Doctor Drivel wrote:

No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set,
the generator is connected to the sun gear and the engine is connected
to the planetary carrier.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm

Poor description. There is no in-line CVT.

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:57:49 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

http://www.toyota.co.uk Select Prius. More torque than a V6. and scoots to
62mpg is no time at all - that's if you are into boy racer starts. In mid
acceleration is ****es over most others.

Did you know that 'Prius' is Japanese for 'Potato'?

sponix

"--s-p-o-n-i-x--" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:57:49 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

http://www.toyota.co.uk Select Prius. More torque than a V6. and scoots
to
62mpg is no time at all - that's if you are into boy racer starts. In
mid
acceleration is ****es over most others.

Did you know that 'Prius' is Japanese for 'Potato'?

Did you make that up? It means first in Latin

Doctor Drivel wrote:
"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .

Doctor Drivel wrote:


No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set,
the generator is connected to the sun gear and the engine is connected
to the planetary carrier.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm


Poor description. There is no in-line CVT.




How has Clarkson managed to convince us that a car's performance is
important in a country where 0-60 is hardly ever possible, and dangerous
when it is?
And, unless you're a boy racer or an Essex tart, whether it's cool or
not is of no interest.

"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Doctor Drivel wrote:
"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .

Doctor Drivel wrote:


No CVT, the car has no CVT. NO gearbox.

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set,
the generator is connected to the sun gear and the engine is connected
to the planetary carrier.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm

Poor description. There is no in-line CVT.

How has Clarkson managed to convince us that a car's performance is
important in a country where 0-60 is hardly ever possible, and dangerous
when it is?
And, unless you're a boy racer or an Essex tart, whether it's cool or
not is of no interest.

There is a lot of people in Essex you know. You are right, the Prius makes
big sense, and this is the first of the hybrid deluge and prices of course
will drop when the battery makers their act together.

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:43:12 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote noting new as usual:

Just watching some running thing on TV, 26 miles, nowhere round
Helsinki and back (the cops on the cycles seemed to be having an
easier time but hey, maybe the can't all aford bikes ..)? ;-)

Anyway, I think I saw a Prius following them (Toyota sponsor them or
summat) ...

1) It seemed to be able to keep up with the runners ..

2) Nobody seeemed to be taking any notice of it (no cameras flashing
away at it because they though it was being driven by a 'celeb', let
alone a shop assistant)!

3) It seems to have lasted the ~26 miles and only 24 of them have been
on the IC engine ... !

Didn't they used to use milkfloats for this duty?

So, I've *nearly* seen 1 Prius now .. goes to tick it off in my 'I
spy book of cars' but it's not in there .. but with what Dribble
says and petrol ~£1 / l you would have thought we'd be knee deep in
them by now?

T i m

"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:43:12 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote noting new as usual:

Just watching some running thing on TV, 26 miles, nowhere round
Helsinki and back (the cops on the cycles seemed to be having an
easier time but hey, maybe the can't all aford bikes ..)? ;-)

Anyway, I think I saw a Prius following them (Toyota sponsor them or
summat) ...

Low emissions so the runners don't choke. Image following a diesel car.
They would all be dead at 20 miles.

3) It seems to have lasted the ~26 miles and only 24 of them have been
on the IC engine ... !

You made that up.

and petrol ~£1 / l you would have thought we'd be knee deep in
them by now?

A waiting list for them.

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 12:28:47 +0100, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

The Prius has an automatic gearbox with planetary gears which acts as a
CVT.

That's a dubious statement though. The epicyclic gearing is there as
torque splitter, not as a controllable change in ratio. Effectively
it's an electrically controlled torque converter with additional
external power input (unlike a fluid torque converter) - but that's
really stretching the point to call it a CVT,

The whole point about a Prius is that it's a hybrid. It uses the
electric motor because that just doesn't need a variable speed
transmission (as has been done with electric cars since 1900). The
clever part of the Prius is the use of this transmission to improve the
efficiency of the engine cut-in, compared to previous hybrids.

Just because Drivel drives one doesn't mean that they're a bad idea.


--
Cats have nine lives, which is why they rarely post to Usenet.

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 12:22:16 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

Perhaps you'd name a car sold in the UK in the '20s with an auto box?

What's an "auto" box?

One that selects gear ratios automatically? One with clutchless
changes? A CVT ? One with a fluid flywheel / torque converter ?

Now it's generally agreed that "auto boxes" as we really know them began
in the USA in the late '30s, but the components are older than this.
Wilson pre-selectors were almost commonplace in the '20s. Sperber had a
silent-chain drive box (think post-89 Rangerover transfer box) with
column switch selection of ratio. Lanchester had an epicyclic box and
experimented with automatic ratio selection. Daimler also had their
noted fondness for fluid flywheels. Down in the lightweight cyclecars
there were also several examples of simple CVTs, either rubber band and
expanding pulley (DAF system) or with other forms of sliding-ball
variable gear drives.