Hybrid Cars in Northern CA
07-07-2008, 01:05 PM
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Hybrid Cars in Northern CA
So I ran into something very interesting...
I live in the Chicago burbs, but just spent 5 days in San Fransisco and the surrounding areas this past week. I was totally shocked by the number of Hybrid cars (particularily Prius' and Escape Hybrids) in Northern California. It seems like 1 out of every 8 cars in the city are hybrids. You can hardly drive a block without seeing a Prius, Camry, Escape, Civic or Altima hybrid. All of the newer cabs are also hybrids.
Gas prices were only about $.25/gallon more than Chicago...about $4.60/gallon in San Fran. There must be some other reason. Any thoughts?
BTW...I rented an Altima hybrid as my rental. Pretty dang cool...wish they sold them in Illinois (only sell them in 6 states). I managed 35.1 mpg on my first tank with a light foot and 32.1 mpg on my second tank with pretty normal, mostly city driving.
I live in the Chicago burbs, but just spent 5 days in San Fransisco and the surrounding areas this past week. I was totally shocked by the number of Hybrid cars (particularily Prius' and Escape Hybrids) in Northern California. It seems like 1 out of every 8 cars in the city are hybrids. You can hardly drive a block without seeing a Prius, Camry, Escape, Civic or Altima hybrid. All of the newer cabs are also hybrids.
Gas prices were only about $.25/gallon more than Chicago...about $4.60/gallon in San Fran. There must be some other reason. Any thoughts?
BTW...I rented an Altima hybrid as my rental. Pretty dang cool...wish they sold them in Illinois (only sell them in 6 states). I managed 35.1 mpg on my first tank with a light foot and 32.1 mpg on my second tank with pretty normal, mostly city driving.
07-07-2008, 01:40 PM
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I was staying at the Hyatt Regency on Embarcadero Street in the heart of the Financial District. I was there Monday through Saturday last week. I saw quite a few Porsches, a few Mercedes, but still a ton of Prius' and other Hybrids.
I drove 10 miles in the Chicago burbs today on my way to work. Didn't see a hybrid during the entire trip!
I drove 10 miles in the Chicago burbs today on my way to work. Didn't see a hybrid during the entire trip!
07-07-2008, 02:06 PM
#6
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There was also a big push a while back to give driver in hybrids access to car pool lanes by themselves during commute times. That in addition to gas prices I'm sure helped sell a ton of them.
07-07-2008, 02:09 PM
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Cali is hybrid central, doesnt matter which area you are in.
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
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07-07-2008, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Sarlacc
Cali is hybrid central, doesnt matter which area you are in.
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
My old boss stayed at a "green" hotel in Costa Rica that served "to-go" meals in styrofoam containers.
07-07-2008, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Sly Raskal
The more north you go in california, the more environmentally conscious and practical people you will find. 
07-07-2008, 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Sly Raskal
The more north you go in california, the more environmentally conscious and practical people you will find.
Environmentally conscious and practical shouldn't automatically be used to describe the same person.
07-08-2008, 08:32 AM
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I have family in SoCA and don't see nearly the quantity of hybrids down there. Seems as though residents there are still addicted to their BMWs and Mercedes. 
07-08-2008, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by felixthekat
Hybrids EVERYWHERE. Actually, I'm also beginning to see more SMART cars on the streets here in the Bay Area.
07-08-2008, 03:09 PM
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Code:
States where hybrids are most popular Rank State Hybrids per 1000 residents* 1 California 1.87 2 Oregon 1.65 3 District of Columbia 1.61 4 Vermont 1.45 5 Virginia 1.38 6 Washington 1.38 7 Hawaii 1.26 8 New Hampshire 1.30 9 Maryland 1.23 10 Colorado 1.21 *2006 Registrations (December 2006 YTD)
07-08-2008, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by dom
Regardless, given the stop and go traffic in SF, I'd get a hybrid as well.
And in today's forecast, be prepared for high levels of "SMUG"...
07-08-2008, 03:29 PM
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I think there's been the same amount of hybrids in my area, it's just that I'm noticing them more since gas prices are higher... I'm sure the number of hybrids on the road is slowly increasing, but it's not like there's hundreds of thousands being made overn ight.
Sort of like noticing cars with one headlight out, when you have a headlight out...
Random cartalk trivia... A Pediddle is the technical name for a car with one headlight out (google it, if you don't believe me).
Sort of like noticing cars with one headlight out, when you have a headlight out...
Random cartalk trivia... A Pediddle is the technical name for a car with one headlight out (google it, if you don't believe me).
07-08-2008, 03:51 PM
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I may be in the minority here but am I the only one to think that SUV and Hybrid doesn't go in the same sentence...?
07-08-2008, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by nokiaman
I may be in the minority here but am I the only one to think that SUV and Hybrid doesn't go in the same sentence...?
The Chevy Tahoe hybrid is
6.0L V8
330+hp
360+ ft/lbs
4 wheel drive
6200 lbs of towing capacity
20 city/ 20 hwy
For a full size SUV with that type of capability those are fantastic stats.
07-08-2008, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by mrsteve
Code:
States where hybrids are most popular Rank State Hybrids per 1000 residents* 1 California 1.87 2 Oregon 1.65 3 District of Columbia 1.61 4 Vermont 1.45 5 Virginia 1.38 6 Washington 1.38 7 Hawaii 1.26 8 New Hampshire 1.30 9 Maryland 1.23 10 Colorado 1.21 *2006 Registrations (December 2006 YTD)
07-08-2008, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by mrsteve
The Chevy Tahoe hybrid is
6.0L V8
330+hp
360+ ft/lbs
4 wheel drive
6200 lbs of towing capacity
20 city/ 20 hwy
For a full size SUV with that type of capability those are fantastic stats.
6.0L V8
330+hp
360+ ft/lbs
4 wheel drive
6200 lbs of towing capacity
20 city/ 20 hwy
For a full size SUV with that type of capability those are fantastic stats.
07-08-2008, 08:07 PM
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Hybrids are a social statement here in the west. Its a dose of smug plus a dose of ignorance.
- You don't save money, the price premium will take you hundreds of thousands of miles worth of driving to make up
- Hybrids require nickel for their batteries. Nickel mining is VERY anti-environment, polluting entire regions of Canada for example (see Sudbury)
- You then have to dispose of the batteries
Sounds like a bunch of pompous windbags trying to be do-gooders but in the end, they're probably polluting more than Hummers
- You don't save money, the price premium will take you hundreds of thousands of miles worth of driving to make up
- Hybrids require nickel for their batteries. Nickel mining is VERY anti-environment, polluting entire regions of Canada for example (see Sudbury)
- You then have to dispose of the batteries
Sounds like a bunch of pompous windbags trying to be do-gooders but in the end, they're probably polluting more than Hummers
07-09-2008, 12:44 AM
#28
Originally Posted by carguyrob
So I ran into something very interesting...
I live in the Chicago burbs, but just spent 5 days in San Fransisco and the surrounding areas this past week. I was totally shocked by the number of Hybrid cars (particularily Prius' and Escape Hybrids) in Northern California. It seems like 1 out of every 8 cars in the city are hybrids. You can hardly drive a block without seeing a Prius, Camry, Escape, Civic or Altima hybrid. All of the newer cabs are also hybrids.
Gas prices were only about $.25/gallon more than Chicago...about $4.60/gallon in San Fran. There must be some other reason. Any thoughts?
BTW...I rented an Altima hybrid as my rental. Pretty dang cool...wish they sold them in Illinois (only sell them in 6 states). I managed 35.1 mpg on my first tank with a light foot and 32.1 mpg on my second tank with pretty normal, mostly city driving.
I live in the Chicago burbs, but just spent 5 days in San Fransisco and the surrounding areas this past week. I was totally shocked by the number of Hybrid cars (particularily Prius' and Escape Hybrids) in Northern California. It seems like 1 out of every 8 cars in the city are hybrids. You can hardly drive a block without seeing a Prius, Camry, Escape, Civic or Altima hybrid. All of the newer cabs are also hybrids.
Gas prices were only about $.25/gallon more than Chicago...about $4.60/gallon in San Fran. There must be some other reason. Any thoughts?
BTW...I rented an Altima hybrid as my rental. Pretty dang cool...wish they sold them in Illinois (only sell them in 6 states). I managed 35.1 mpg on my first tank with a light foot and 32.1 mpg on my second tank with pretty normal, mostly city driving.
Does everyone from Chicago use the phrase "Chicago burbs" as a slang term for the area around Chicago? Like, is that a common catch phrase around there?
07-09-2008, 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Brandon24pdx
San Fran and Portland are the hippie capitals of the country...possibly the universe.
07-09-2008, 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Sarlacc
Nah, I'd say Vermont and New Hampshire still win.
New Hampshire is filled with 4th generation French Canadians, Massholes and frugal/cheapass Yankees. The hippies live out in the woods in old Boy Scout camps and unused KOAs.
07-09-2008, 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Brandon24pdx
San Fran and Portland are the hippie capitals of the country...possibly the universe.
Does everyone from Chicago use the phrase "Chicago burbs" as a slang term for the area around Chicago? Like, is that a common catch phrase around there?
Does everyone from Chicago use the phrase "Chicago burbs" as a slang term for the area around Chicago? Like, is that a common catch phrase around there?
07-09-2008, 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Sarlacc
Cali is hybrid central, doesnt matter which area you are in.
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
We just a hippy liberal state
San Fran has one of the only "green" hotels in the world. I was put up there back in March when working on a commercial that was "green" selling "green" products.
It was a NICE hotel. Very much like a W, only green :grimace:
For the most part, that is until you journey to the central valley. Then you see American truck galore. Most people in Hybrids are more than likely bay area transplants.
Here is an example of how rediculously conservative it is around here. At our 4th of July parade downtown a group of kids were booed by the crowd for marching with the Obama campain. I mean they're just kids, give em a freakin break!
07-09-2008, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by laidback93
For the most part, that is until you journey to the central valley. Then you see American truck galore. Most people in Hybrids are more than likely bay area transplants.
Here is an example of how rediculously conservative it is around here. At our 4th of July parade downtown a group of kids were booed by the crowd for marching with the Obama campain. I mean they're just kids, give em a freakin break!
Here is an example of how rediculously conservative it is around here. At our 4th of July parade downtown a group of kids were booed by the crowd for marching with the Obama campain. I mean they're just kids, give em a freakin break!
Yeah Cali has its areas of white trash redneckiness
07-09-2008, 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by laidback93
For the most part, that is until you journey to the central valley. Then you see American truck galore. Most people in Hybrids are more than likely bay area transplants.
Here is an example of how rediculously conservative it is around here. At our 4th of July parade downtown a group of kids were booed by the crowd for marching with the Obama campain. I mean they're just kids, give em a freakin break!
Here is an example of how rediculously conservative it is around here. At our 4th of July parade downtown a group of kids were booed by the crowd for marching with the Obama campain. I mean they're just kids, give em a freakin break!
Though I'm sure your original assertion is the primary reason
07-10-2008, 12:19 AM
#37
I'm sure hybrids currently have both advantages and disadvantages, but like anything else, technology and efficiency tends to improve over time. In the following years I'm sure their manufacturing costs will decrease, making them even more attractive.
My mother took delivery of one of the first Hybrid Accords in western Canada in December of '04. I'm not sure of the mileage she gets with it, but it sure seems to be an a great car up to this point. I drove it last week to pick it up for tires, and it seems to run as well as it did when she took delivery. It now has over 100 000 km., and has only required one servicing outside of regular oil changes, that being for one programming update. She tells me the dealer checked the battery a few months ago, and was told it was performing as new.
Terry
My mother took delivery of one of the first Hybrid Accords in western Canada in December of '04. I'm not sure of the mileage she gets with it, but it sure seems to be an a great car up to this point. I drove it last week to pick it up for tires, and it seems to run as well as it did when she took delivery. It now has over 100 000 km., and has only required one servicing outside of regular oil changes, that being for one programming update. She tells me the dealer checked the battery a few months ago, and was told it was performing as new.
Terry
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