"I don't want to drive a Prius. I had one for 6 months"

If you don't want to drive a Prius, why did you buy one in the first place?

Jack, that's a really silly question. I leased a Prius because I wanted to get better mileage (I was driving the Lexus RX400h hybrid at the time) and I thought I would like it, but it turned out I didn't. That's how I KNOW I don't want to drive a Prius - because I drove one for 6 months and I didn't like it. Duh. Have you NEVER bought something that you thought you would like and then later realized you don't like it? It happens all the time.

Jack, that's a really silly question. I leased a Prius because I wanted to get better mileage (I was driving the Lexus RX400h hybrid at the time) and I thought I would like it, but it turned out I didn't. That's how I KNOW I don't want to drive a Prius - because I drove one for 6 months and I didn't like it. Duh. Have you NEVER bought something that you thought you would like and then later realized you don't like it? It happens all the time.

Nice that you can afford $50,000 vehicles, Paul.

Thank you Jack.

Tested the Prius last week.
Drove from So Cal to Nebraska via us 70 thru Colorado and some of the longest steepest mountain climbs in the us sea level to 11,100 At Lookout mountain.
Battery monitor showed a drained battery on 2 occassions but performance of car was not a problem. Results- at speeds between 60-65mph set with the cruse control car exceeded 55mpg. The speed limit is 75 on much of the trip and when using the cruise control at that speed the fuel consumption was 46 mpg. In 2800 + miles the overall average was 46 mpg. I did not baby the car in anyway. I was not attempting to get the best fuel economy
It a great car with fine performance, comfort and road handling. I was amazed at the cars performance in the mountains.

@paul:

Why so pessimistic? Well, considering that the 2-mode-equipped gasoline-powered trucks from GM does not show aything more than a 25% improvement in fuel economy at the very most, I remain pessimistic that you will be able to jump from a 30MPG to 46MPG improvement (which is a 50% improvement) with the Mercedes hybrid, which is due to incorporate that very same 2-mode system.

I hope I'm wrong, because a 50% improvement in fuel economy would be very nice in a Mercedes. But as I said, we've all be sold worthless bill of goods before.

the 400H can be bought with a giant discount and along with the tax credit, is a good deal. Clean and much better gas mileage than any comparable mid suv

Um... Anon, the E320 diesel that I drive today, which gets about 30 MPG, has a great big ol' V6 engine. The diesel that will power the 2010 E300 hybrid will be a tiny lil 4 cylinder. This smaller engine, combined with the hybrid system, should easily increase the mileage from 30 to 46. Just because GM is too stupid to figure it out doesn't mean Mercedes is! By the way, if you guys would like to read about the upcoming Mercedes hybrids (it's very exciting), the article is right beneath this one under the topic "Hybrids."

Ron Rose,
your result might have a meaning in US, with 75MPH limit that is enforced. Where I live (continental Europe), speed limit is also 75, but no one cares for it. It's usual to drive Prius-sized car at least 90. I usually keep it about 100, and that is when I'm not in the hurry. And if you have an E-class car, 120 is far more often then 75. Try that in Prius.

Mirko:

“Try that in Prius”

Some already tried:

“According to police, Orange County Sheriff's deputies spotted the younger Gore's blue Toyota Prius going more than 100 miles per hour and when they stopped him, they smelled marijuana.”

http://www.starmagazine.com/al%20gore%20son%20dui/celebrity_news_gossip/entertainment/12405

@paul:

FYI, the 2-mode hybrid systems Mercedes will be using are developed in collaboration WITH (in your words) "too stupid to figure it out" GM. That is why I remain unconvinced.

Yes, GM stuff in a Mercedes. A few years ago that would have been sacriledge. :-P

Many of us don't want hybrids because you can't bring it to your local independent car repair guy.With Ethanol you can convert your current car for under $1000 and burn clean renewable fuel that is creating well paying jobs all over the US.Corn based ethanol may have been a necessary evil first step because you need some rich guys looking to get richer if you are going to take profits away from other rich guys.Corn based ethanol production will hopefully shrink as 2nd gen becomes more viable.

Anon, the point you seem to be missing is the SMALLER ENGINE. By going from a 6 cylinder to a 4, and by adding a hybrid system (regardless of who developed it), Mercedes will create a car that gets significantly better mileage than the current model. The GM hybrid truck you referred to, which only managed a small increse in mileage, didn't use a small gas engine. That's where they went wrong. Lexus made the same mistake (3 times). Looks like Mercedes will finally get it right and the result will be a true luxury car that gets great mileage!