Anyone else having hybrid urges?
02-01-2008, 03:31 PM
#41
Senior Moderator
Really, really leaning towards a GS430H as my next car after I'm married in 2009. But, I won't know until I try out the Caddy CTS, Infiniti M45 or Acura MDX (the two other cars in consideration).
02-01-2008, 03:54 PM
#42
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Yumchah
Really, really leaning towards a GS430H as my next car after I'm married in 2009. But, I won't know until I try out the Caddy CTS, Infiniti M45 or Acura MDX (the two other cars in consideration).
02-02-2008, 05:29 AM
#43
What is the point of a hybrid powertrain in a luxo-barge or an SUV anyway? 
I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.
Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
02-02-2008, 06:05 AM
#44
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
What is the point of a hybrid powertrain in a luxo-barge or an SUV anyway? I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.
Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
02-02-2008, 10:46 AM
#45
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
What is the point of a hybrid powertrain in a luxo-barge or an SUV anyway? I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.
Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
A hybrid is something I would never have considered until I drove my mom's Accord hybrid a number of times. Admittedly, I'm more impressed with the technology of the car than it's increased fuel mileage, but each time I've driven it I have been amazed with how it functions. And that was a car manufactured in '05. I would expect that if Honda ever revives it's Accord hybrids, they would even be more efficient and less expensive than the first attempt.
Terry
02-02-2008, 12:46 PM
#46
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
What is the point of a hybrid powertrain in a luxo-barge or an SUV anyway? I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.
Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
I guess it improves on the mediocre and often times terrible gas mileage, but the extra weight from the hybrids systems tacks on a few hundred pounds.Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery. There has been a handful of independent hybrid shops popping up lately, but I doubt the service charge is cheap. A fraction of an amp can KILL you, but these hybrid batteries are packing much more than that.
And anyone who buys a hybrid for the tree-hugging factor is a twit.
[fail]
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...58204&from=rss
[/fail]
In the Lexus lineup, hybrids have established themselves as terrific power adders without the fuel economy penalites that accompany increased engine displacement or the addition of forced induction. (IMHO, Honda should have done likewise with the Acura RL.)
The real question is do luxury car buyers in this segment really care about fuel economy that much? I cannot say.
I am sure there is a niche of buyers who want something on the higher end of the upscale spectrum without having to result to buying a shameless gas guzzler. Though I cannot imagine this being a large buying segment, I do not know how large it may be. That aside, I would take the LS600hL over its S550 or 750Li counterpart any day of the week.As for battery replacement costs in the near future, battery costs may actually become cheaper in the future as more hybrid cars hit the streets. Technology generally becomes cheaper as time marches on.
With regard to your "twit" comment, I think that is generalization when it comes to Prius owners. I do tend to agree as, many of these are folks bought them in order to make a treehugger statement. In their defense though, the other hybrids available when the 2G Prius debuted were fairly small (i.e.: Honda Insight, 1G Prius, 7G Honda Civic). The 2G Prius is actually a respectably sized family sedan. That said, I am starting to see A LOT of Camry Hybrids on the roads and few less of the Prius.
02-02-2008, 02:10 PM
#47
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by F23A4
GS450H. I drove all the Lexus hybrids at a recent Lexus event and came away very impressed.
In any case, I'll be coming back to the US to buy my car. No way I'm paying the Canadian MSRP.
02-02-2008, 02:40 PM
#48
^^^^Hmm.... I was a little too eager in my post. After some googling, yes that story is actually quite blown out of proportion. Hybrids aren't so bad after all. I still wouldn't buy one at this very moment, but if in the future I were in the market for a fuel saver, with newer and improved technology a hybrid would definitely be an option for me.
I just see pics of hybrid battery systems and I'm thinking
that's a boatload of weight. Maybe in the future they'll be able to package the hybrid battery in the size of a laptop and efficient enough for a 1000-mile round trip I would definitely be wholly impressed.
I just see pics of hybrid battery systems and I'm thinking
that's a boatload of weight. Maybe in the future they'll be able to package the hybrid battery in the size of a laptop and efficient enough for a 1000-mile round trip I would definitely be wholly impressed.
02-02-2008, 02:47 PM
#49
Moderator
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
Eventually I see hybrids rotting away in their later years. Who the hell would spend $2000 (fine, maybe $1000 years down the road) on a battery when the car is worth, say, only $5000? Would you? Not to mention you would NEED a hybrid specialist to replace the battery.
Look at the vehicles that are at your local transmission shop. Many of them are around seven years old with over 100k miles and are probably worth no more than 5-7k. Yet, owners still dump 2-3k on a transmission rebuild. I see no reason why people won't do the same for a hybrid, especially when a new battery could easily give them another 150k of reliable service from the vehicle.
The CVT used in the Toyota Prius has been extremely reliable and there are a number of these units with over 200k miles on them now with no problems. Replacement cost is in-line with any other 4,5, or 6-speed automatic today. Therefore, operating conditions of a hybrid should be the same as any other vehicle on the road, if not less.
02-02-2008, 07:23 PM
#50
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
^^^^Hmm.... I was a little too eager in my post. After some googling, yes that story is actually quite blown out of proportion. Hybrids aren't so bad after all. I still wouldn't buy one at this very moment, but if in the future I were in the market for a fuel saver, with newer and improved technology a hybrid would definitely be an option for me.
I just see pics of hybrid battery systems and I'm thinking that's a boatload of weight. Maybe in the future they'll be able to package the hybrid battery in the size of a laptop and efficient enough for a 1000-mile round trip I would definitely be wholly impressed.
I just see pics of hybrid battery systems and I'm thinking
that's a boatload of weight. Maybe in the future they'll be able to package the hybrid battery in the size of a laptop and efficient enough for a 1000-mile round trip I would definitely be wholly impressed.Sidenote: At the Lexus event, I neglected to tell my wife about the sudden torque delivery of the GS450h and she almost let it get away from her. Perspective: She had no problem with hard accelerating the IS350 she drove.
02-02-2008, 08:03 PM
#51
Originally Posted by SodaLuvr
NEED a hybrid specialist? I'm sure most of the R/R could be done by yourself if you followed the FSM.
Look at the vehicles that are at your local transmission shop. Many of them are around seven years old with over 100k miles and are probably worth no more than 5-7k. Yet, owners still dump 2-3k on a transmission rebuild. I see no reason why people won't do the same for a hybrid, especially when a new battery could easily give them another 150k of reliable service from the vehicle.
The CVT used in the Toyota Prius has been extremely reliable and there are a number of these units with over 200k miles on them now with no problems. Replacement cost is in-line with any other 4,5, or 6-speed automatic today. Therefore, operating conditions of a hybrid should be the same as any other vehicle on the road, if not less.
Look at the vehicles that are at your local transmission shop. Many of them are around seven years old with over 100k miles and are probably worth no more than 5-7k. Yet, owners still dump 2-3k on a transmission rebuild. I see no reason why people won't do the same for a hybrid, especially when a new battery could easily give them another 150k of reliable service from the vehicle.
The CVT used in the Toyota Prius has been extremely reliable and there are a number of these units with over 200k miles on them now with no problems. Replacement cost is in-line with any other 4,5, or 6-speed automatic today. Therefore, operating conditions of a hybrid should be the same as any other vehicle on the road, if not less.
CVTs are reliable, no doubt.... but all but a handful of Prius drivers have modified their Priuses for additonal power. Most modern CVTs are very reliable, aside from the ones where owners try to add bolt-ons for more power. What annoys me is the CVT drone... you'll never get used to it, and you'll never realize how annoying it is until you drive or take a ride in one. Some people are different, but still.
02-02-2008, 08:11 PM
#52
^^Another thing to note.... I went on google to search for a Prius wiring diagram, and went through several pages, but couldn't find a single one.
I did find, however, a few threads on Prius and Toyota forums asking for a Prius wiring diagram, and there were no replies.
forgot, electric motors generate full torque capability starting from 0rpm<*
I did find, however, a few threads on Prius and Toyota forums asking for a Prius wiring diagram, and there were no replies.
Originally Posted by F23A4
Bare in mind that the electric motor results in some serious torque levels right off the line. In the case of the GS450h, 203lb-ft is generated by the electric motor in the 0-4000rpm range all the while further supplemented by the gas motor's normal powerband. Translation: 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds despite its 4,135lb curb weight. (Admittedly, the weight wont do much for handling.)
Sidenote: At the Lexus event, I neglected to tell my wife about the sudden torque delivery of the GS450h and she almost let it get away from her. Perspective: She had no problem with hard accelerating the IS350 she drove.
Sidenote: At the Lexus event, I neglected to tell my wife about the sudden torque delivery of the GS450h and she almost let it get away from her. Perspective: She had no problem with hard accelerating the IS350 she drove.
forgot, electric motors generate full torque capability starting from 0rpm<*
02-05-2008, 06:35 PM
#54
Moderator
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
Good points.... but I'm confident that you would need access to wiring diagrams PLUS the ability to read them to know how to properly install a hybrid battery pack. Not to mention that the 288-volt battery charger is not sold anywhere (only dealers have it, AFAIK). Yes, the Prius has proven to be reliable all-around, but the 288-volt battery is just another wear item that will eventually need replacing.
CVTs are reliable, no doubt.... but all but a handful of Prius drivers have modified their Priuses for additonal power. Most modern CVTs are very reliable, aside from the ones where owners try to add bolt-ons for more power. What annoys me is the CVT drone... you'll never get used to it, and you'll never realize how annoying it is until you drive or take a ride in one. Some people are different, but still.
CVTs are reliable, no doubt.... but all but a handful of Prius drivers have modified their Priuses for additonal power. Most modern CVTs are very reliable, aside from the ones where owners try to add bolt-ons for more power. What annoys me is the CVT drone... you'll never get used to it, and you'll never realize how annoying it is until you drive or take a ride in one. Some people are different, but still.
The battery is a replacement item that can be treated as a transmission rebuild for a normal car, except in the Prius, the battery should not require replacement until well after 150,000 miles. Who knows if you'll even have the car after 150k, or would it have been totaled before then.
07-29-2008, 11:22 PM
#55
I Hate Hybrids
http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightlin...hotopanel..1.*
interesting responses to the mechanic's rant...
Hybrid.
Hybrid, hybrid, hybrid.
It's all you ever hear anymore. Hybrid this. Hybrid that. Hybrid wore a funny hat.
Driving a hybrid sucks. A real hybrid, like a Prius, or a Civic. Please don't lump those fake hybrids into this rant. And by fake hybrids, I mean those leather-laden Lexuses and big fat Escalades. They're about as green as Al Gore and his private aircraft.
No, I mean real hybrids. The ones that pack the entertainment value of a Post-it. The ones that suck the car down to its basic intent: transportation. A to B. Nothing more. Nothing. No cool. No smiles. No looking at it in your driveway because it's fun to just look at it in your driveway.
Screw that. The car can and should be so much more. You should want it to be more. You should want your car. You should want to be in your car. Desire. That's the word I'm looking for. Does anybody really desire a Prius? You remember desire, don't you? How about covet? Yearn for? Crave? Of course not. It's the soy milk of the car world. You drink it because some doctor convinced you you're lactose-intolerant and now 6 months later you've convinced yourself that it tastes good. But it doesn't. It's a mind game. It still tastes like chalk and you know it. Put the Lactaid down, Eujean. Have a Coke. Life's too short.
I know, I know, they're good on gas and gas is expensive. Hey, jughead, anything worth having is expensive. A good car. A good house. A hot wife. PlayStation. HDTV. Table service. You pay for what you get in this world and if you want to live a good life, it costs money.
But the people who have them love 'em. Heck, the Toyota Prius is so popular, Toyota is upping production as fast as it can. Just last week the automaker announced it will produce 70 percent more Prius hybrids next year. And in 2010 Prius production will move to a new production facility in Mississippi.
Too bad popularity is not a measure of good. Never has been. Millions of people watch Grey's Anatomy. Millions more smoke menthol. Last year a ridiculous number of people paid to see Celine Dion in concert. No thanks.
What about the environment? What about it? The best thing you can do for the environment is drive the car you have.
You heard me. The fact is, it takes thousands of factories to build a car. Think about it. The tires, the steel, the rubber, the aluminum, the plastics, the seats; every individual component of a car is made somewhere else before it is trucked to the assembly plant where it's built into a car. In the case of the Toyota Prius, that plant is in Tsutsumi, Japan.
And if that car is a hybrid it takes even more factories and even more trucks because the car is now that much more complex. There's an electric motor, batteries, etc.
Then of course, they ship them to America on a big smelly ship. Talk about a gas guzzler.
But if we all just continued to drive the car we have, then we can shut down all those dirty factories that build all those new cars. And if we do that, we can stop all the trucks and the ships that transport all those new cars to those new car dealers. And then all those new car dealers can turn off their lights and the employees can stop driving their cars to work. And so on. And so on. And so on.
Sure we'll all be in bottomless economic depression, but if you want to be green, then let's be freakin' green.
Bottom line, get over it. Get over this hybrid fixation. Drive the car you desire. Whether it's new or old, drive it and enjoy it. Enjoy driving. Pay for the gas. It's worth it. Cut something else from your life if you have to. It may not be politically correct, but it's the right thing to do. -- The Mechanic
Posted by: The Mechanic July 29, 2008, 11:02 AM
Hybrid, hybrid, hybrid.
It's all you ever hear anymore. Hybrid this. Hybrid that. Hybrid wore a funny hat.
Driving a hybrid sucks. A real hybrid, like a Prius, or a Civic. Please don't lump those fake hybrids into this rant. And by fake hybrids, I mean those leather-laden Lexuses and big fat Escalades. They're about as green as Al Gore and his private aircraft.
No, I mean real hybrids. The ones that pack the entertainment value of a Post-it. The ones that suck the car down to its basic intent: transportation. A to B. Nothing more. Nothing. No cool. No smiles. No looking at it in your driveway because it's fun to just look at it in your driveway.
Screw that. The car can and should be so much more. You should want it to be more. You should want your car. You should want to be in your car. Desire. That's the word I'm looking for. Does anybody really desire a Prius? You remember desire, don't you? How about covet? Yearn for? Crave? Of course not. It's the soy milk of the car world. You drink it because some doctor convinced you you're lactose-intolerant and now 6 months later you've convinced yourself that it tastes good. But it doesn't. It's a mind game. It still tastes like chalk and you know it. Put the Lactaid down, Eujean. Have a Coke. Life's too short.
I know, I know, they're good on gas and gas is expensive. Hey, jughead, anything worth having is expensive. A good car. A good house. A hot wife. PlayStation. HDTV. Table service. You pay for what you get in this world and if you want to live a good life, it costs money.
But the people who have them love 'em. Heck, the Toyota Prius is so popular, Toyota is upping production as fast as it can. Just last week the automaker announced it will produce 70 percent more Prius hybrids next year. And in 2010 Prius production will move to a new production facility in Mississippi.
Too bad popularity is not a measure of good. Never has been. Millions of people watch Grey's Anatomy. Millions more smoke menthol. Last year a ridiculous number of people paid to see Celine Dion in concert. No thanks.
What about the environment? What about it? The best thing you can do for the environment is drive the car you have.
You heard me. The fact is, it takes thousands of factories to build a car. Think about it. The tires, the steel, the rubber, the aluminum, the plastics, the seats; every individual component of a car is made somewhere else before it is trucked to the assembly plant where it's built into a car. In the case of the Toyota Prius, that plant is in Tsutsumi, Japan.
And if that car is a hybrid it takes even more factories and even more trucks because the car is now that much more complex. There's an electric motor, batteries, etc.
Then of course, they ship them to America on a big smelly ship. Talk about a gas guzzler.
But if we all just continued to drive the car we have, then we can shut down all those dirty factories that build all those new cars. And if we do that, we can stop all the trucks and the ships that transport all those new cars to those new car dealers. And then all those new car dealers can turn off their lights and the employees can stop driving their cars to work. And so on. And so on. And so on.
Sure we'll all be in bottomless economic depression, but if you want to be green, then let's be freakin' green.
Bottom line, get over it. Get over this hybrid fixation. Drive the car you desire. Whether it's new or old, drive it and enjoy it. Enjoy driving. Pay for the gas. It's worth it. Cut something else from your life if you have to. It may not be politically correct, but it's the right thing to do. -- The Mechanic
Posted by: The Mechanic July 29, 2008, 11:02 AM
interesting responses to the mechanic's rant...
07-30-2008, 12:28 AM
#56
^I see a lot of Prius owners read the article.... 
But he has a great point. And me personally, I don't have a horrific commute because I don't think its worth it, at least at this point in my life with my earning potential being pretty low. Why drive 2 hours to work and end up being tired as shit before your workday even begins? I like my commute the way it is, and I'm perfectly fine with getting 20 mpg on it. Plus I bet if the Prius weren't a "hybrid" but just some random car that got 45 miles to the gallon, it wouldn't be so special.
My philosophy? I'll be able to rip out my gooch hairs with my teeth before you see me at the Toyota dealership trading in my Z28 for a Prius. End of story. Laugh now hybrid owners..... I'll laugh when you park your boring turd of a Prius in your garage and bask in the glory of what could have been a used M3, Corvette, or my favorite.... the guy who sold his Mustang GT to buy a Focus, but said that he's buying a new Camaro SS once his Focus is paid off. There's a man who finally got his common sense back.
Life is short. Enjoy. I'm going to drive like a dumbass in my V8 sportscar now while I can and have people think I'm just a typical teenager before I hit a certain age where people will think I'm just another douchebag having a mid-life crisis.
I hate hybrids too.
But he has a great point. And me personally, I don't have a horrific commute because I don't think its worth it, at least at this point in my life with my earning potential being pretty low. Why drive 2 hours to work and end up being tired as shit before your workday even begins? I like my commute the way it is, and I'm perfectly fine with getting 20 mpg on it. Plus I bet if the Prius weren't a "hybrid" but just some random car that got 45 miles to the gallon, it wouldn't be so special.
My philosophy? I'll be able to rip out my gooch hairs with my teeth before you see me at the Toyota dealership trading in my Z28 for a Prius. End of story. Laugh now hybrid owners..... I'll laugh when you park your boring turd of a Prius in your garage and bask in the glory of what could have been a used M3, Corvette, or my favorite.... the guy who sold his Mustang GT to buy a Focus, but said that he's buying a new Camaro SS once his Focus is paid off. There's a man who finally got his common sense back.
Life is short. Enjoy. I'm going to drive like a dumbass in my V8 sportscar now while I can and have people think I'm just a typical teenager before I hit a certain age where people will think I'm just another douchebag having a mid-life crisis.
I hate hybrids too.
07-30-2008, 05:04 AM
#58
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
Originally Posted by juniorbean
Same here. Plus, on most (notice I said most, not all) hybrids, paying the premium for the hybrid version of the car does not really get you any benefits other then the "look, I bought the hybrid version, I care about earth" feeling you will portray. Most of the hybrid versions of cars get only slightly better mileage, but when you factor in how much more you pay for the car, you either need to keep the car for a decade or so, or hope gas prices triple and hold for years upon years in order to break even. Because of that I really never considered a hybrid.
Give it another 5-10 years and maybe there will be better technology to help it make more sense... for now, I'd either look diesel, or stick to cars like my wife's A4 2.0T which averages 34mpg per tank for her and is still fun to drive.
And add to this that you are driving an ecological disaster. Nickel metal hydride batteries are not "earth friendly"..... What a f-ing fleecing Toyota and the others are doing. I just can't wait for California to ban them once they start showing up in landfills. Then what? Oh, biodiesel?
07-30-2008, 08:19 AM
#59
Senior Moderator
I LOVE this response:
By kendahl on July 29, 2008 7:05 PM
Last fall, I bought an Infiniti G37S coupe to replace my 24-year-old Mazda RX-7. I also looked at the Porsche Cayman, BMW 328i coupe and V6 Quattro versions of the Audi TT and A4. If the BMW 128i coupe had been available, it would have a candidate also.
Gas mileage was a consideration, but not the top one. It's worth several hundred dollars per year for me to drive a car I enjoy. Driving an econobox, whether or not it is a hybrid, is like taking out the garbage -- an unrewarding task you do only because the alternative is even more unpleasant.
If you want me to drive a hybrid, build a rear wheel drive model with a manual transmission that matches my G37S in performance and comfort. Otherwise, go pound sand!
Last fall, I bought an Infiniti G37S coupe to replace my 24-year-old Mazda RX-7. I also looked at the Porsche Cayman, BMW 328i coupe and V6 Quattro versions of the Audi TT and A4. If the BMW 128i coupe had been available, it would have a candidate also.
Gas mileage was a consideration, but not the top one. It's worth several hundred dollars per year for me to drive a car I enjoy. Driving an econobox, whether or not it is a hybrid, is like taking out the garbage -- an unrewarding task you do only because the alternative is even more unpleasant.
If you want me to drive a hybrid, build a rear wheel drive model with a manual transmission that matches my G37S in performance and comfort. Otherwise, go pound sand!
07-30-2008, 02:30 PM
#62
we test drove a highlander hybrid this year... it was actually pretty fun. parents drive 2 miles to work UNDER 30mph so the gas engine would barely turn on. i think this would save more money and hell, none of the hybrid surveys look at if the commute is small and slow
07-30-2008, 03:53 PM
#65
The sizzle in the Steak
Originally Posted by Acuraluvr
we test drove a highlander hybrid this year... it was actually pretty fun. parents drive 2 miles to work UNDER 30mph so the gas engine would barely turn on. i think this would save more money and hell, none of the hybrid surveys look at if the commute is small and slow
2 mile commute and looking at a highlander hybrid?!?!?
07-30-2008, 04:37 PM
#67
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Originally Posted by Acuraluvr
we test drove a highlander hybrid this year... it was actually pretty fun. parents drive 2 miles to work UNDER 30mph so the gas engine would barely turn on. i think this would save more money and hell, none of the hybrid surveys look at if the commute is small and slow
07-30-2008, 04:40 PM
#68
The sizzle in the Steak
Originally Posted by Black Tire
Motorcycles FTW...they have been the most fuel efficient forms for personnel transport for almost 100 years. Only drawbacks are cargo space.
07-30-2008, 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Acuraluvr
we test drove a highlander hybrid this year... it was actually pretty fun. parents drive 2 miles to work UNDER 30mph so the gas engine would barely turn on. i think this would save more money and hell, none of the hybrid surveys look at if the commute is small and slow
07-30-2008, 07:00 PM
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No hybrids here either. I've been trying to help my brother in looking for a car and we've been looking at a lot of compacts (Civics, Corollas, etc...). I'd get a regular 4 cylinder Civic before getting its hybrid counterpart. The regular ones are already considered ultra low emissions vehicles, get great mileage (30+ mpg), and it's just not worth the premium price to me.
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