ltdiver 3 #1 January 19, 2005 Been doing some browsing once a friend of mine informed me that his new car would be a hybrid car. He mentioned some of the perks of owning such a car, so I decided to research. The current cars that are on the production line. 1) Honda Civic (billvon owns) 2) Honda Insight (rjackson owns) 3) Toyota Prius (anyone?) 4) Ford Escape SUV 5) Lexus 330 (still in development) Perks of owning such a vehicle: 1) Obvious higher gas mileage (especially highway and rush hour traffic) 2) The Clean Fuel Tax Deduction .pdf file 3) Possible New Law being passed to allow solo driving in car pool lanes! (hello Los Angeles!) 4) Just tonight on the news...possible law to allow a Permit Parking Waiver (no charge). What else have you heard? And for those who have a hybrid car...what has been your experience out there? Both performance and nice little perks on the road. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mx757 4 #2 January 19, 2005 I got a 2005 VW Jetta TDI Diesel 5 speed. you can't get them in California, but they burn cleaner than most cars do now.. and I consently avg 48 mpg to / from work (all highway) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 January 19, 2005 Quote I got a 2005 VW Jetta TDI Diesel 5 speed Not to mention its a cooler car then any of the hybrids being made.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #4 January 19, 2005 I have questions about hybrids.... how much will it cost to replace the batteries when they will not accept a charge...? what will the landfills do with these batteries? there are drawbacks to any kind of battery....... just ask anyone who got sucked into buying a electric car years ago.... RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_squared431 0 #5 January 19, 2005 My friend owns a Honda Hybrid. I have driven it a few times and didn't notice much of a difference. She did say it didn't drive very well in really cold temps or in snow. Not enough power. Other then that she loves the car. TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1 I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #6 January 19, 2005 QuoteI have questions about hybrids.... how much will it cost to replace the batteries when they will not accept a charge...? what will the landfills do with these batteries? there are drawbacks to any kind of battery....... just ask anyone who got sucked into buying a electric car years ago.... Roy Good question. billvon, do you have an answer for this one? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottbre 0 #7 January 19, 2005 Quote 3) Possible New Law being passed to allow solo driving in car pool lanes! (hello Los Angeles!) This is a stupid idea. All this will do is make carpooling (which still has the potential to save more gas that hybrid cars) less desireable, because now the carpool lane will be clogged up with a bunch of people driving their hybrids alone. I think there is a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid now too. "Your mother's full of stupidjuice!" My Art Project Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #8 January 19, 2005 QuoteI think there is a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid now too Due for release this summer. Honda Accord Hybrid ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #9 January 19, 2005 I think it's a good idea. There needs to be incentives for people to buy and drive hybrids. More incentives like this will draw people to this technology and with the resultant demand will come big advances in the technology. Once everyone's doing it perhaps then things will change again? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #10 January 19, 2005 Jeep Liberty is coming out with a turbo-diesel....... But instead of buying a hybrid now,I think I will hold out for a fuel cell carMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JYorkster 0 #11 January 19, 2005 We have a Toyota Prius and love it. Obviously gas mileage is the big plus. With gas prices as they are, I'm saving well over $100 per month with my 20 minute commute to and from work. It gets better mileage in the warm months than the cold months, but still averages in the high 40's. Newer models are claiming even better mileage. Also, we got a $2000 tax break (2K off the total taxable income) the year we purchased the vehicle. Many cities already have the carpool lane rule for hybrids, and it is actually working to reduce pollution. My brother lives in DC, and he sees a ton of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles in the carpool lane. I'm sure its not helping congestion, but I guess you gotta decide if time of clean air is more important to you. Batteries in the Prius are under warrantee for 10 years. They are also made in cells instead of one large battery. That way if a cell goes bad, you just replace that cell...similar in size to a normal car battery. That's my 2 cents, Rock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #12 January 19, 2005 How much did you pay for it? And what other cars were you looking at if you went normal vehical?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,078 #13 January 19, 2005 >how much will it cost to replace the batteries when they will not accept a charge...? About $2000. Most of them are warranteed between 80,000 and 100,000 miles. Note that hybrids do not need the batteries to accept much charge to operate; I have driven my car without the hybrid system enabled. >what will the landfills do with these batteries? Nickel-metal hydride batteries are pretty benign. They are about as dangerous environmentally as aluminum cans. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,078 #14 January 19, 2005 > I got a 2005 VW Jetta TDI Diesel 5 speed. I might consider a diesel after 2007, when the new emissions laws for diesels come into place. Currently a TDI pollutes about as much as 1500 SULEV cars like the Prius (depending on pollutant.) Once the 2007 rules kick in, this will be reduced by a factor of 100, and using biodiesel will reduce it even further. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 January 19, 2005 QuoteNickel-metal hydride batteries are pretty benign. They are about as dangerous environmentally as aluminum cans. I thought that nickel was considered semi-toxic and that there were some electrolytes that in large amounts were pretty hazardous. Large amounts like a lot of cars using them, and people discarding them. Whats ironic is Lead-Acid batteries, pretty crappy, pretty bad for the environment, but they're about 98% recycled.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,078 #16 January 19, 2005 >Large amounts like a lot of cars using them, and people discarding them. If you had half the cars in the country using them, then it might become a problem. They are recyclable, and if a lot of people _do_ start driving hybrids, recycling spent Ni-MH batteries will be as common as recycling lead-acid batteries. Currently the big problem is nickel cadmium, since that's very toxic and most cordless tools still use them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #17 January 19, 2005 QuoteHow much did you pay for it? And what other cars were you looking at if you went normal vehical? The Prius is on backorder pretty much everywhere. You cannot get it for a discount, and often find a markup. Also, to get one, you need to put down a decent down payment to get hold of it. The Prius will run you anywhere from $21k to $30k depending on the options you get. The new Acura starts at $29k and goes up from there - it will be a V6 and the mileage will be the same as a typical Civic or Corolla. Someone in my work complex drives a Prius and I've had a chat with him. In the cold Chicago weather it handles fine but mileage does dip down into the 40's in stop and go traffic. On the highway its a little less. In the summer even with the AC on he says he gets into the 50's without a problem. I tend to stop most owners and ask them what they think about it - at the moment I've talked to about 23 Prius owners and I've yet to hear a complaint. A jumper friend of mine is a certified Toyota mechanic and has worked on quite a few of them (there was a small recall on them and Toyota payed for anything connected to that recall). He told me he would recommend them to anyone that likes smaller cars that want good mileage. He says they are built great and the repairs on them will most likely be in the typical cost range of bringing a car to the dealership (there are very few people certified to work on them yet outside of the dealerships). Basically he said that Toyota is going to do anything it takes to make the hybrid owners happy so they continue to sell._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #18 January 19, 2005 QuoteCurrently the big problem is nickel cadmium, since that's very toxic and most cordless tools still use them. Yup, and how many people do you think recycle them...maybe 10%--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #19 January 19, 2005 kinda makes you wonder: During the '70s when oil prices went way up, everyone wanted to get smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Now, oil prices have gone up, plus we have all these problems due to reliance on foreign oil. And although some people are going for hybrids, there are all these other people who want even bigger, LESS fuel-efficient cars. Giant SUVs and HUMvees. In spite of all that's going on in the world, we have this strange trend in which people want to basically drive their living room around town. I can't quite understand it. All I know is I have a hard time finding my little Mazda Protege in parking lots when it's surrounded by a canyon of giant SUVs towering over it. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #20 January 19, 2005 QuoteAll I know is I have a hard time finding my little Mazda Protege in parking lots when it's surrounded by a canyon of giant SUVs towering over it. hehehe...that reminds me of the windstorm we had a month or so ago. There were gusts over 80 mph at the airport that is all of a half mile away from my office. Anyway there was stand and gravel swirling around the parking garage so I opted to park in the open lot, what I did though was park between tow huge SUVs to block the wind and it worked. There were quite a few blown out windows and a light pole blew over slamming into a few cars, but my car didn't even have a scratch. So I say please buy more SUVs so my car can be safe during wind storms. Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #21 January 19, 2005 QuoteSo I say please buy more SUVs so my car can be safe during wind storms. Screw SUVs. I like large trucks, they can do more, hold more and haul more.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #22 January 19, 2005 QuoteQuoteSo I say please buy more SUVs so my car can be safe during wind storms. Screw SUVs. I like large trucks, they can do more, hold more and haul more. Which most truck owners never do._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #23 January 19, 2005 QuoteWhich most truck owners never do. Maybe around Chicago they don't...I use my truck as a truck more often then you would probably think. That's why I got a truck in the first place.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #24 January 19, 2005 Give him a break, Dave....he's from the city, right? The only pickups he's used to seeing are chopped and slammed.... damn waste, if you ask me.... Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #25 January 19, 2005 QuoteThe only pickups he's used to seeing are chopped and slammed.... damn waste, if you ask me.... Or lifted 25" and now worthless, even for offroading.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
