Why Are "hybrid" Threads Being Locked?

[cuius]

Twice recently threads about new hybrid models have been locked on this forum and referred to other forums. Surely it would be more appropriate to discuss the release of an hybrid RAV4 and an update of the Auris HSD here, despite them also being discussed under their more generic heading. I never look at other forums.

[MEP's Yaris GS]

Twice recently threads about new hybrid models have been locked on this forum and referred to other forums. Surely it would be more appropriate to discuss the release of an hybrid RAV4 and an update of the Auris HSD here, despite them also being discussed under their more generic heading. I never look at other forums.

I assume because its general chat rather than tech related, so is more at home in model specific areas rather than the Hybrid section.

To be honest, I'm all for it, because until we know its full tech spec etc and its been released its of little interest to me, and I suspect others may feel the same (or not).

[Grumpy Cabbie]

We'd probably all go off at a tangent discussing the pro's and con's of the new model.

Let's face it, the Rav4 hybrid would be popular IF it was sold at a reasonable price and if it actually makes it to Europe and the UK. Usually they're just for the US market.

I still think Toyota are dragging their heels now. They were ahead of the game with their hybrid and to release it on all their range (within reason) makes sense. But other manufacturers are releasing (or have plans to) plug in options that are really pretty good and priced keenly, yet Toyota still just have the overpriced PIP which is really showing its age now and still no EU/UK plans have been released for anything else to follow.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Both topics had already been posted in the club relating to that model - ie the Auris club and the Rav 4 club - and rather than having duplicate threads running, and in the case of the Rav 4 topic (the two topics were effectively identical) the link to the original topic was provided for people to visit if they wished.

In the case of the Auris topic, this was about updates made across the range, not just hybrids - ie the introduction of the new 1.2 petrol engine, the BMW 1.6 diesel engine, compliance with EuroVI for the whole range, and some limited information on improvements to the hybrid drivetrain.

As regards people not visiting other forums, having a common thread enables those members visiting the one topic to be aware of all the comments made - whether they are hybrid related or not.

The fact that some people never visit other forums is their issue.

[johalareewi]

It will be interesting to see what happens to the hybrid forum in the future.

Now that Toyota models come with petrol, diesel and hybrid engines (and there might not be any new hybrid only models like the Prius), will a Hybrid forum make any sense?

There isn't a Petrol forum or a Diesel forum (for example).

My wife's hybrid Yaris is to all intents and purposes, a Yaris. You don't really notice the hybrid bit.

[CPN]

That's a very good point actually! ... and having now got more used to ours, that very much matches the way we think of ours too...

[PeteB]

I would certainly prefer to see Hybrid elements discussed in a specific forum, and of course there will be overlaps with things like styling, spare tyres, digital/analogue instruments etc.

I'm interested in the things that affect a Hybrid owner/enthusiast first, Toyota second (by a long chalk).

After my first experience with an appallingly poor quality and very expensive (£14k after £2k discount) Toyota Yaris in 2000, and dealing with a dealer (not my current one!) who seemed to be trying to make 1970s British Leyland dealers look good, I would never have touched Toyota again had there not been the Hybrid, which even in Mark 1 guise, I found irresistible.

I had put off getting one for two years after my first test drive, but for some reason I had a second one in 2002, and was hooked. I had previously decided never again to own a car without heated mirrors (which I'd had since about 1985) and already found my ridiculously expensive Yaris didn't have them (something I was completely sure couldn't be possible), or a rear wiper (Gen 1 was a saloon).

It's fair to say the Hybrid changed my life. After nearly 30 years in IT, I joined a couple of ex-solicitors in London in 2006 who were setting up a minicab firm based on the Prius, and drove one for their first year before becoming the Fleet Manager. I can't think of any other car made at the time (and only a Tesla since) that would have had this effect on me.

However, even in retirement, time is my scarcest commodity, so I only focus on one forum here, plus the Prius-UK Yahoo Group (which is less active than it was).

I suppose these days a wide mix of people have Hybrids, including many who aren't interested in the technology, so demarcation of forum topics is always going to be a compromise. In the early days, when Prius owners arranged 'meets', waved at each other (a rare event; for a few years I only saw one or two a month even in London, and even the first 2-3 years of the Gen 2 only one or two a week), there seemed to be a geek appeal!

Many took a very technical interest in cars, wiring up ammeters to various bits for example. Some even did their own servicing - there only some things (like brakes! and the Hybrid cooling parts that need special care; oh yes, and playing with the HV bits). Some even got a letter from Toyota confirming this wouldn't affect their warranty as long as they did everything on time and used quality parts.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I'd say yes there is a reason for the hybrid section. How many times are we asked the same old hybrid related questions on here, time and time and time again?

How many back street garages knacker up a hybrid because they didn't know what they were doing and didn't read the manual?

So I think this section has a purpose but purhaps we could do with some 'stickys' for the common themes; though if the owner doesn't read their manual, they're probably equally unlikely to read a sticky.

[FROSTYBALLS]

I don't see there will be any change to the forums - the current line-up seems to work.

Currently members who have hybrids can, and do, post in either their model specific forum (Auris, Yaris, etc) or the Hybrid/Toyota Prius forum.

Often topics can contain information or discussion which is equally valid for both hybrids and non-hybrids, and for this reason, I think that members who only visit one forum are limiting their use of the forum, and are reducing their opportunity to provide useful responses for others, and to add to the relevant discussion.

However, where duplicate threads are raised, then moderators may take action to reduce the duplication - by moving, merging or locking duplicates/linking to the original thread.

[FROSTYBALLS]

For those who may be interested in the Rav 4 range (whether hybrid, petrol or diesel), Devon Aygo has posted a bit more information at post 3 of - http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/166887-2016-toyota-rav-4-hybrid-to-be-unveiled/

[Gordon in Angus]

As a relative newbie to the Hybrid world I thought I'd give an observation to this.

I used to spend a lot of time in the iQ forum because I had an iQ, but now I spend most of my time here in the Hybrid / Toyota Prius forum, because i've a Yaris Hybrid Excel. I admit I've never really looked at the Yaris Forum (no offence to those lovely people there ), because I find but my interest is primarily in the Hybrid aspects of the car rather than the Yaris itself. I'm finding there's a lot of Hybrid technology discussions here re subjects common to all the Toyota Hybrid cars that would be lost in the fog of the other model specific forums, much to the detriment of getting the best out of the hybrid cars, so as a result I'm finding this forum much more useful than the Yaris one at the moment. I may pop in there now and then if I'm looking for something specific to all Yaris's but probably more likely to spend time here. It has in many ways kindled an interest in other Hybrids, never thought about it in the past but I'd love a Prius+ now

Just my thoughts if that helps ...

[CPN]

...and very valid thoughts they are too Gordon! In fact, they match mine almost word for word :)

Coming as I did, from my GT86 (which I loved) it was exactly that that grabbed me (us) when we first experienced a drive in a Yaris Hybrid along with the sheer "wafting around" and relaxed nature that it brought to driving a car of any description. Having been a petrol-head for most of my life (and former rally driver at national and international level), some out there may find that hard to believe (given the GT86 contrast) and I sometimes have difficulty with it myself but that is the effect a hybrid and its tech has had on me. I never stop marvelling at how clever this little car really is...

Oh, and don't lament lusting after a Prius+... After all, if you were to look at the U.S. market, we are, after all, driving around a Prius C! ;)

(thinks: now, if someone would just come up with an after-market plug-in pack.... ;) )

[PeteB]

At one of the "Prius meets" in the early days, I sat next to a guy in the cafe who'd swapped from a Subaru Impreza WRX (0-62 in around 5 sec) to a Prius.

I asked him if he missed it, and he said just occasionally he missed the exhaust roar, but mostly enjoyed the tranquility and graceful progress of the Hybrid.

And if you're thinking he was getting on in years, I believe he was late twenties or early thirties!

[he did add he rents one at a track day once or twice a year to get his petrol head fix!]

[CPN]

There ya go! So I'm not such a strange "animal" after all it seems! (although I can't match him for age... :( )

[MEP's Yaris GS]

And if you're thinking he was getting on in years, I believe he was late twenties or early thirties!

I at times wonder if I'm the youngest in the UK to have bought a PiP, being only 25.

Still can't get anyone my age to understand why - then again they can't grasp my fascination with Classic Fiat Panda's either haha.

[PeteB]

.... they can't grasp my fascination with Classic Fiat Panda's either haha.

Yep! Struggle with that one myself!

[MEP's Yaris GS]

.... they can't grasp my fascination with Classic Fiat Panda's either haha.

Yep! Struggle with that one myself!

You'll have to keep an eye out locally for me in her now, today is the day she comes off SORN and gets re taxed, hopefully no more salt to go down onto the roads around here.

[Gordon in Angus]

.... they can't grasp my fascination with Classic Fiat Panda's either haha.

Yep! Struggle with that one myself!

Nought wrong with old Fiat Pandas, salt o the earth the are.. I did prefer the "new panda" that came out in 2003 though.

I had two of them in 4x4 form between 2005 and 2012. Traded the last one in for the iQ. Brilliant little cars, like a mountain Goat could really go anywhere. I did buy an Urban Cruiser as an alternative as well but found it very uncomfortable so ended up having to change it for a RAV4.

Sorry, drifting off topic...