Is the Hybrid really the solution?

[chris ok]

I worked for Toyota many years. The hybrids have been pretty darn good overall. We had a shortage of 12 voltbatteries for a time in 95. Had 7 or 8 Priuses waiting for one for too long.
The smell inside of a new one when we prepped them was like plastic poison. Lasted quite a while too. They the first gens all had a distinctive smell, but so many cars do.
We sure made a lot of garbage preppingthem with all the parts wrapped in cardboard and plastic wraps.
Ford and Nissan bought the technology for their hybrids.
Toyota bought into Subaru which is why it still exists for its battery technology.
Toyota is an impressive car brand and likes to be the best.
Hybrid camrys and highlanders followed and they were excellent too. Get a hybrid highlander rear electric diff, it makes 37hp.Thats a lot for an electric motor.
The problem is no good maintenance to earn money from. Techs starve.
I left in 08, but I know they are still better then most.
I've been told trucks will follow for hybrids.
I was also told Honda was working on diesels a while back. Still have not seen one.

[Eddies66]

It would seem that more auto makers are jumping on the hybrid market:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_news.shtml

BMW is working on a 7 Series that is hydrogen powered and a number of Hollywood celebs have been given them to test drive.

With regards to the hybrids, I have to go along with my non-gearhead oldest daughter who bought a Prius two years ago and is extremely happy. She did have a battery problem but the customer service made it seamless and she was back on the road in a couple of days.

[Jeff Niceswanger]

I don't know the reason why people are left with a bad taste for Hybrids, I've myself never owned one, but if they are slugs...it would be understandable...I tried to go the " great gas mileage " way recently. I did not buy a hybrid, but settled for a 4 cylinder shoved in a new Malibu (2009). Bought it new...nice car...I hated that power-plant. Every time you went up a little grade...it downshifted. Constantly flaring the motor. Yea it got GREAT gas mileage....got 36 mpg on our first trip out west.Fact is ..it just wasn't enough motor for that car. ..So in 2010 I got rid of it and bought a V-6. Same car( one year newer) ...different motor. I think it has 255 HP. I can not explain to you in print how different that engine makes this car...There is NO comparison. It is night and day. I really like this thing....Guess what..Lost 8 miles per gallon . you know what? I would not go back ...The loss of gas mileage is WORTH having something you like to drive....I wonder if this survey is not something along these lines.?

[NewHemi]

The last underpowered car I bought was a 1968 Dodge Monaco with a 318. I hated that particular car before it was stolen. But then it got returned all beat to crap, and I liked it even less. I had traded a 1963 390 Merc convertible on it. That merc was big and heavy, but still ran like a bear... The Dodge with a 318 ran more like a mouse..

Next to my current driver a 2008 Dodge SRT8, my favorite car was my 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 455 and posi. It even had an electric sun roof and an 8 track in it...

No more underpowered cars for this dude..

If gas gets too expensive to drive my fun cars, I will move to a house on a big hill, and just coast them down ocassionaly for the "thrill".

By then it will be OK. I probably won't remember that I live at the top of the hill. So I dont need to worry about how to tget the cars back to the top. .

David
The New Hemi Guy

[Hagen Gary]

I guess we are breaking new ground here. 2 out of 3 people don't buy the exact car they just got rid of. I drive a new prius and Love it. Compared to a 30 mpg car at 1000 miles a month, I save $58/month at current gas prices. Over 100,000 miles, thats $5,800. Can you find a $18,000 car that can compete with the prius in room, saftey features and basic options? thats what you would need to break even, I'm pretty sure gas prices aint going down either.

[Eddies66]

Scuderi Split Fire Engine......65 MPG then couple to a hybrid it will be higher.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/...ntcmp=features

[Tom keedle]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

I guess we are breaking new ground here. 2 out of 3 people don't buy the exact car they just got rid of. I drive a new prius and Love it. Compared to a 30 mpg car at 1000 miles a month, I save $58/month at current gas prices. Over 100,000 miles, thats $5,800. Can you find a $18,000 car that can compete with the prius in room, saftey features and basic options? thats what you would need to break even, I'm pretty sure gas prices aint going down either.

where did you find a prius for 18K?
not new....
and when the battery craps out?

[Hagen Gary]

I didn't find a new prius for $18,000. I found a new one for $23,700. Hence, the breaking even part.

[Tom keedle]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

I didn't find a new prius for $18,000. I found a new one for $23,700. Hence, the breaking even part.

when that 7-10K battery takes a hike, you may want to scrap it

although of the hybrids, the toyota is the best (for what THATS worth)...

to me, it would make more sense to have a diesel/hybrid...

my wife has a scion xa that'll get 35 mpg without trying and i have got as high as 49 running in the hills

[Hagen Gary]

Do you just pull numbers out of your butt to make your point of view? The whole drivetrain including the battery is warrantied for 100,000 miles or 8 years. The cost of a Brand New Battery is less than $3000 installed. The XA is not near the car a prius is. I should know, I had a XB. A 100,000 mile prius, with our without a new battery, holds its value considerably better than a 100,000 mile XA. Less that 1% of Prius batteries have failed before 180,000 miles. All facts