Hybrid Cars

[billvon 2,990]

> Now show me how to carry home 4 bags of groceries from
> the supermarket on foot or on my bike.


http://www.bikesatwork.com/
http://www.bobtrailers.com/trailers/trailer.php?product_id=10
http://www.bobtrailers.com/trailers/trailer.php?product_id=11
http://www.burley.com/products/nomad.html


Also see below for a powered option.

[kelpdiver 2]

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i'm a tree-hugging, sierra club card-holding green freak, but we will be getting a jetta (or maybe even a BMW) deisel once CA finally catches up to the rest of the damned world next year and actually allows them to be sold in the state.

If our current car craps out before then...well, we'll drive to vegas and buy one.

I'm not optimistic about our chances for diesel in California. Is it still just a matter of logging 7500 miles, or do you have to pay an import fee as well?

Here's a funky all electric option (possibly) coming to Californai next year.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12/17/aptera_s_sub_30k_300_mpg_car_will_be_here_in_2009/
Unfortunately, the 120 mile range doesn't do it for driving out to the DZ. But under 30k - the more tries made, the further along we'll get.

[jm951 0]

I'm partial to biodiesel until fuel cells become economically viable. The conversion on a conventional diesel can by done by the average guy who is somewhat acquainted with a set of wrenches.

Until those days come, keep your tires slightly overinflated, keep the front end properly aligned, change the airfilter regularly, keep good plugs and wires on, and drive thinking of how often you can coast. Try to combine trips whenever possible.

[JohnMitchell 16]

My Ford Escort 5-speed gets 36 mpg, the newer one the kids drive with an automatic tranny gets about the same. We try to limit and combine our trips. We bike to the local store, weather permitting. Still, I would like an all electric car with a 120 mile range. That would get me the 12 miles to work and back everyday, to the DZ with ease, and just about any other place in Puget Sound I want to go.

[billvon 2,990]

>I'm not optimistic about our chances for diesel in California.

I think the following diesels are planned for the 2008/2009 model years in CA:

Mercedes Benz: E320, ML SUV, R-class sport wagon, GL SUV.

Chrysler: Grand Cherokee

VW: Jetta, Touraeg, Passat and new car (Tiguan?)

Audi: will sell a diesel in CA but no definite model yet

[wrightskyguy 1]

I'm working on a car that runs on the ozone from the layer above California, I'll keep you posted.

John Wright

World's most beloved skydiver

[Gawain 0]

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>I'm not optimistic about our chances for diesel in California.

I think the following diesels are planned for the 2008/2009 model years in CA:

Mercedes Benz: E320, ML SUV, R-class sport wagon, GL SUV.

Chrysler: Grand Cherokee

VW: Jetta, Touraeg, Passat and new car (Tiguan?)

Audi: will sell a diesel in CA but no definite model yet

MB E-Class Diesel: $51,500 MSRP
Jeep Grand Cherokee: $35,000 MSRP
VW Touareg/2 $59,000-68,000 MSRP
VW Passat, Jetta Diesels are not here yet, pricing not verified, but typical diesel components add a $2500-6000 premium over their gasoline counterpart.

I'm pointing out that of the millions of cars sold in the US every year, the current line up of "consumer diesel" vehicles has somewhere less than 1% of the market. The US cannot currently afford to infuse a mass demand for diesel with current refining costs and Bio-fuels increasing the cost of food (and everything else for that matter). It's too bad too, because I think it's a better short term option than ethanol. Regardless, the currently available vehicles are not designed for the "masses".

Diesel is a good idea. Hybrids are a good idea. However, if you're driving a truck, and tired of $100/tank fill ups, then simply adjusting to a Toyota Camry LE or Honda Accord 4-cyl, you'll get consistent mileage over 30mpg on the highway, and given their capacities, over 450 miles per tank. The Civic and Corolla will provide better mileage, but they have smaller gas tanks and so you'll likely see 350/tank. All without paying a premium for the diesel or battery power plants.

There may be new tax incentives in 2008 for hybrids, but if you carefully do the math based on fuel consumption, you'll find equally appealing savings with existing economically geared cars.

So, if it were me, and I was driving well over 15,000 miles annually, I would look seriously at hybrids. But, I would also look at their conventional counterparts, as the new EPA mileage standards compress the difference in MPG. Regardless of choice, if you're driving a truck, you'll reduce your consumption and save money on fuel.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[jm951 0]

My daily is a truck and it's used as a work truck. There are currently no hybrid options out there that are economically viable for my purpose. There are lots of guys like me, independent contractors, who have to have a truck to work out of. It's hard to put a load of lumber, concrete and tools in a Honda. I'd like to see some diesel trucks that weren't so expensive.

Here's something I've observed on weekends. When I'm calling soccer matches, most of the parents will pull up in some type of SUV and there seems to be some competition as to who has the bigger vehicle. There is no reason to have something the size of a Ford Expedition to haul around 2 kids and get groceries. If people would just use some common sense about what vehicle they really need v just want, the operating costs would go down, along with overall fuel consumption. It wouldn't surprise me to hear off in the future an economist doing a study about how the truck/SUV exemption from CAFE standards caused the huge increase in fuel consumption in this country.

[billvon 2,990]

>It wouldn't surprise me to hear off in the future an economist doing
>a study about how the truck/SUV exemption from CAFE standards caused
>the huge increase in fuel consumption in this country.

Nothing "future" about it. The transition from cars to SUV's has been the #1 cause of decreasing average fuel economy in the US.

[Elisha 1]

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>One word: don't. The fuel economy on hybrid cars isn't really worth it for
>what you'll eventually end up paying in maintenance for the car's electrical
>system.

We have two hybrids with 100,000 miles between them. (Civic and Prius) No problems so far. There's no scheduled maintenance on the electrical system, and the traction battery has made it past 300,000 miles. Out of hundreds of thousands of Priuses sold so far, they've had to replace fewer than 10 batteries, and most of them were due to things like a stereo installer driving a screw through it.

With the Prius we average between 38mpg (driving like maniacs) and 62mpg (being really careful.)

>If you want to save money on gas, get a VW golf or jetta diesel, and then
>drive it forever, or modify it to run on vegetable oil.

That works too. And the newer diesels are a lot cleaner, easier to start and quieter than the 1980's circa diesels.

I just bought me an '07 Prius - white with the full package. Beautiful with charcoal gray leather. Through my first 220 miles, I'm averaging 45.5 mpg. Compared to my '93 Volvo 940 Turbo which gets at best 21.5 mpg, I should be saving around $1800 per year in gas, assuming about 18K miles and $3.50 per gallon....and my emissions are much lower than a strict gas car that would get the same mpg. I'm NOT disliking it so far. There were a few civics on the Toyota lot - people had turned them in for Priuses.

[DJL 235]

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http://www.greasecar.com/

I'm looking forward to Jeep's diesel engine (by VW) getting approved for the US. I don't like most diesels that are currently available.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[Gawain 0]

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http://www.greasecar.com/

I'm looking forward to Jeep's diesel engine (by VW) getting approved for the US. I don't like most diesels that are currently available.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel is a Mercedes-Benz design.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Muenkel 0]

My brother drives a Prius and loooves it. No complaints whatsoever.

Me, I have a Civic Si that gets in the mid 30's. Since I only have 2200 miles on it, it'll be a couple of years before I'm in the market. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer in regard to hybrids at that time.

_________________________________________
Chris

[Elisha 1]

Bill,

Do you have any links on battery replacing for Prius's? Thanks.