Hybrid vehicles

[chrpai]

Big-t-2538 once bubbled...
For once, I actually agree with you chris....the only thing I didn't see you mention is that there's the peace of mind in "helping with the environment"

But I agree...the cost of servicing that nice pretty little vehicle has to be substantially higher than that of a traditional combustion engine....very few people can do it....and even less will do it right.

I'm a red blooded, meat eating male. I don't worry about things like "helping with the environment" when spending tens of thousands of dollars.

Besides me driving a hybrid would only save 250 gallons a gas per year. That is a drop in the bucket. I save that much polution just by doing things like using a natural gas hot water heater, using a programmable thermostat and replacing most of my incadescent light bulbs around the house with energy efficient flourescent bulbs.

 

[Big-t-2538]

chrpai once bubbled...
I'm a red blooded, meat eating male. I don't worry about things like "helping with the environment" when spending tens of thousands of dollars.

I'm in the same boat...however, there are lots of people out there who aren't in that boat....it's just another "factor" in the equation is all...

Now...back to bashing FORD...."F-d Over Rebuilt Dodge"

 

[Tractor Tom]

...when I was looking for a car for the wife durning the summer. NOT ONE for sale here in Frankenmuth (GM Country) Michigan. Settled on a 2 year lease return Bonneville with 28K miles. Got it for less than $15K in great shape.

Just got back from a week in the Keys and did the math last night. AVERAGE mileage on the 3800 V6 over the trip was nearly 29 mpg. At highway speeds of 73-80 mph, I got over 30 mpg on one tank full, where it was flat and the traffic kept moving. With numbers like that, a hybrid wouldn't pay off in my lifetime! Plus, the Bonny is a good size for this 6'-4" diver and has scads of trunkspace for all our clothes and my dive gear.

Good luck with the 'green' vehicle, I'll stick with my Detroit Iron....

 

[kelpmermaid]

I'll be in the market for a new car soon and plan to take a look at the Prius. I'll be curious to see what the warranty covers and what my regular mechanics think. I do have a concern about buying anything the first year it is introduced, though.

As a salad-eating, urban dwelling woman, I am concerned about the environment and suspect that my local gas prices may change the math, at least for my anticipated usage.

 

[clearwtr]

The prius has been out since 2000.The shifting transmission has been replaced with a differential plantetary gear.
I estimate my fuel savings to be >40 gallons of gas per month.
I can appreciate that there are 30 - 35 mpg cars available at competitive prices. But can they get 35 - 65 mpg in the city with ultra low and frequently no emmissions? Are they what we want for our future? I'm all for fuel cells but they aren't here and if they were who wants to take 20 minutes to fill up the cell?
If we can get mileage standards to 40 mpgby 2012, by 2024 we will have saved more oil than is in the arctic national wildlife reserve.
Driving the car in stealth mode is like when you release the air in your bc and descend---quiet, a different mode, a different world.

 

[PhotoTJ]

Big-t-2538 once bubbled...
Oh yeah....if I haven't mentioned it before Ford prodcts aren't worth much besides melting down and re-using the scrap metal.....

Wait, who won the Championship this year? Wasn't Kenseth driving a...FORD?:mean:

 

[chrpai]

PhotoTJ once bubbled...


Wait, who won the Championship this year? Wasn't Kenseth driving a...FORD?:mean:

Alas, NASCAR. Where fuel economy actually IS important.

If you can get 5.3 mpg instead of 4mpg you win races.

 

[IslandHopper]

Would me and my wife and our four kids FIT in the Prius ???

J/k ... If they were priced more competetively, they'd probably sell a lot better (makes one think the manufacturers don't really care for the technology.) ... I'd consider it if I wanted that size vehicle AND if it were made by Ford.

The technology is not all that advanced though ... nothing that hasn't been around for decades... it's just never been in cars till recently.

chrpai ....
I know lots of folks in the Woodlands ... after seeing you post on the America3000 thread , I can't help but wonder what your occupation is. ("Systems Engineer" could be considered kinda vague.)

 

[chrpai]

IslandHopper once bubbled...
Would me and my wife and our four kids FIT in the Prius ???

J/k ... If they were priced more competetively, they'd probably sell a lot better (makes one think the manufacturers don't really care for the technology.) ... I'd consider it if I wanted that size vehicle AND if it were made by Ford.

The technology is not all that advanced though ... nothing that hasn't been around for decades... it's just never been in cars till recently.

chrpai ....
I know lots of folks in the Woodlands ... after seeing you post on the America3000 thread , I can't help but wonder what your occupation is. ("Systems Engineer" could be considered kinda vague.)

Yes, you can't help wonder if the hybrids are just a token attempt to make the government happy.

As for my occupation, I'm not sure if I'm reading into the question to deeply or not. I'll answer any questions in PM's.

 

[Big-t-2538]

PhotoTJ once bubbled...


Wait, who won the Championship this year? Wasn't Kenseth driving a...FORD?:mean:

Yeah....but when was the last time you ever saw any vehicle remotely close to a Cup car that Ford produces....

I know they have "Body Templates"....but that says absolutely zilch about what is beneath the skin they call sheet metal. I'm 100% certain they're not using genuine Ford motor product parts for anything beneath the sponsorship cover.