High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps?

We ordered another Toyota Prius in two weeks our dealer will have a red one in, the color I wanted but it has High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. I don't think I want them - I hate to be blinded by them myself and don't want to do it to others. I also heard that they are expensive to replace when they burn out.

Do I take it or continue waiting (ordered it last October?

But I've never been bothered by them, personally.

I havent' driven a car with them, but I think I'd love the extra sight.

Good on ya for buying a Prius. You rock!

...up to $5 grand more than sticker in some cases.

The Prius will be more expensive to have serviced when stuff eventually starts to go wrong.

There has been an investigation of the Prius by the feds because the mileage figures appear overstated by the manufacturer when compared to the actual dash guage mileage readouts. Pissed consumers have complained.

If it were my decision, I would stick with a high mileage convenional small car. Some Hondas get right at 56-60 mpg, and they have been proven reliable and cheaper to fix.

I'm just sayin', as a former pro mechanic and current auto section editor.

If you want the cache of the name, go for it. But cheaper alternatives that are just as miserly on fuel are out there.

The mileage isn't as good as they say - then again all manufactures overstate their mileage. We bought our first one because that is the only way any alternative is ever going to happen.

Hybrid is a great technology, it works very well, and it is only going to get better and more useful.

It's biggest advantages have yet to be tapped, and only will be tapped if it gets enough momentum. The economy combined with the torque, makes it a great technology for bigger vehicles. Potentially, the technology can do more good in SUV's than in Insights.

I think I read recently that someone is about to intro a commercial diesel vehicle that is a hybrid. All good.

...is a truck for contractors by Dodge.

Hybrid is a stopgap technology, because we do not have the fuel infrastructure for other, potentially more long-term solutions as yet.

Fuel cells will eventually supplant hybrid, probably also fueled by gasoline or other petrochemicals.

Actually, a hydrogen fuel cell car could require nothing more than water from your hose for fuel. Carroll Shelby (of Shelby Mustang fame) has already built one using a Cobra kit car body. I believe his company intends to produce them on a limited basis.

But you can imagine how much resistance to that being mainstream there will be! No more Big Oil? The lobbying bucks flow just from the THOUGHT of it!

it may be clean at the car end of it but they need to have a better way of producing it.

I'll wait til it mainstreams. Been in one already. Didn't care for it.

I'm too fiscally conservative. For example, I figure if a 1994 Honda Civic, driven at 60 mph, will deliver 56 mpg (which it will), then by buying that I am:

1.) Not depleting the Earth's resources any farther to make a new car;

2.) Getting great mileage;

3.) Saving purchase cash.

Everything's a trade-off.

these days,
at least in my neck in the woods (Westchester County, NY)

Link:
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/012705/b0127headlights.html

(snip)
"...(name)and (name)are among hundreds of Lexus owners in Westchester County victimized by people who are after the high-intensity discharge, or HID, headlights and a component that makes them work. The ultra-bright headlights, which often give off a blue or violet light, are made with xenon gas and are a popular feature on many high-end vehicles. They are optional on the Lexus RX330.

The rash of larcenies has many owners — some of them repeat victims — furious and scornful, and has set off investigations by police in New York City, Westchester County and Connecticut, as well as by Lexus.

"What they want are the guts, (the) mechanisms inside," said... a mechanic in Tuckahoe.

(name) is referring to a control box that regulates the voltage to the lights, a feature that has made the Lexus lights attractive to thieves because they are easy to steal and adaptable to other vehicles..."




:evilfrown:

They might have their use in rural areas or areas with little or no street lighting. There's no need for them on highways or urban areas.

The DOT officials who approved their use should be slapped in the head.

lamps in the oncoming car.

But cost at $1000 makes them hot for the "used" market.

But I don't curse the other drivers or anything.

:shrug:

And I have had no problems with it. As to brightness, on low beam all of those lights have to meet Federal Limits as to Brightness, thus the only time I have had any problem driving was when it was clear the other person's HID light was on high beam (and than I have found them just as bad as other people's high beam).

While I have a HID for my Bicycle my Jeep only has Halogens, thus the above Comment relates to me being blinded by the lights as opposed to blinding other people.

Thus I see no reason NOT to opt for the HID lights, the issue is NOT how bright the HID light CAN BE but what it is. The later is restricted by Federal Regulation and as such no brighter than other lights on low beam.

One last comment, on my local speed limit and other signs the lgith from the HID lights them up "Whiter" than Halogens lights. I noticed it when I use my bike light in the rural areas I live in (I have a Schmidt Generator light for city use). I only use by HID as a "High Beam" i.e. I use it when the road is empty and I want to see more of the road (It is a helmet light so I can "adjust" it by moving my head downward so I rarely blind anyone). Other than the "problem" of the road signs being a different color than I am use to I have had no problems with my HID.

You can always replace them with regular lights and re sell the high intensity ones, the price they would bring would probably cover any replacement costs you incur, with a little left over.

I drive 400-600 miles per week on my commute, half at night and most of the time, I find the idiot with a regular set of white-light headlamps left on bright to be more irritating than properly used HID's. In fact, I've noticed that some of the HID's are less glaring all around. A couple of times, the HID's have been annoying, but they have been on big trucks that were jacked way up in the air.

:D

We may have to wait a few more months but we're still number one on the list.

The price tag of $350.00 to replace a light bulb really killed the deal for me.

The blinding ones are generally after market add ons, they aren't exactly the same, the real ones don't have that effect.