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Hybrids in the News
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Simple, Take the Lexus, Suburban or Passat. Oh, and our Costco in La Mesa, CA has had two of the EV charging stations since it was built new.
None of the mentioned products for saving the environment are cost effective. Solar panels, Wind generators, EV's or hybrids. It all depends on your willingness to spend money to try and help the environment. You and a few others feel the hybrids are cost effective, I disagree. I think it is mostly show and very little actual benefit. Each person has to weigh their priorities and make their choices. Mine was to buy a diesel and use biodiesel when it becomes available.
Think about that for a minute.
Then you talk about the cost effectiveness of hybrids.
Think about that one too, for a minute.
Anyway, I do agree completely with your statement, "Each person has to weigh their priorities and make their choices."
From Great Britain...
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=642355
Motorists who drive fuel-hungry BMWs, people carriers and Range Rovers face a five-fold increase in road tax under radical plans to combat Britain's spiralling greenhouse gas emissions...
the agency has said, ministers should also make the most energy-efficient cars tax free or even give motorists a £150 annual tax rebate as a reward for buying them.
And how does that help the general population??
Anyways here is a RX400H review!
http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/greenwheels,view,Lexus.spy?artid=41625&pg=1
I have nothing against those that buy hybrids for whatever reason. What bothers me is they are so against other means of saving energy and keeping the air clean. It seems very intolerant. And I don't need to think a long time about which other vehicle I will drive. It will be the Passat TDI most of the time. It gets great mileage and is very nice to drive. Only the original 3 small hybrids get better mileage. I find it hard to believe that anyone that buys a hybrid that gets only 28 MPG combined would say negative things about someone that buys a vehicle that gets 33 MPG combined. I am using 16% less fossil fuel than the guy driving the HAH. I am using the cleanest diesel on the planet. What's the beef?
In wanting a vehicle for around town all I need is something that goes 35 miles at the most round trip. An EV would be perfect. My gripe with all the automakers is the fact that they developed those cars on my nickel then crushed them. If they were a total flop, I could understand. The truth is those that owned them loved them. To the point they tried to block them from being taken to the crusher. These vehicles did not get a lousy 50 MPG. They got 200 MPG equivalent. You are passionate about hybrids I am passionate about alternate fuels. I would buy an EV for my around town errands. I wouldn't give some leasing company $500 per month then have nothing to show for it after 3 years, as suggested.
If you have noticed the automakers gladly used the NiMH batteries WE developed in their hybrids.
This may be my next car. Just don't get in the way with your pokey RX400h or HAH cause they are real slow compared to this baby.
http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/tzero_home.htm
Look out 0-60 in 4.1 seconds with no ICE to slow it down. And no waiting in line at the gas station.
http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/DSC00232.JPG
I just returned from the UK after a one week visit. I noticed most of the cars are what would be considered compact or subcompact. Diesels are very popular over there as just about every maker offers diesel ( even Honda and Toyota). The diesel Accord CDT-i actually outsells the gasoline version, at least that is what I have been told. Btw, the British Accord looks exactly like the Acura TSX. Price of gas ( or petrol as Brits like to call it ) costs about 85 pence per Liter. That translates to almost $6.00 per gallon or almost three times what we yanks pay. Any engine bigger than 2.0L is considered a gas guzzler over there :P I saw plenty of Smart cars and other super subcompact over there. One mini car I liked was the Ford KA. Puny but looks cool. The only Toyotas I saw in the UK was two 2nd genaration Prius and one Avensis. It seems Hondas are more popular there than Toyotas.
I see so many hybrids and diesels in my neighborhood in Toronto. BUT once you travel beyond the city you will start to see far more trucks including Tahoes with Canadian plates . And there are plenty of diesels in our country-side, diesels with John Deere logos.
That probably explains the new diesel factory that Honda is setting up in the UK. Also why VW builds a 2.0L TDI for the British. I find the 2.0L has more than enough power for me. Jumps from 60-90 MPH quicker than our LS400.
I would think that the Prius would be popular over there with $6 gas. Did you see any Insights? Does the UK have high speed roadways where sustained high speeds are used?
When I visited the UK during 1998, I was amazed that so many would actually buy a BMW 518i or a MB E180. Try selling these vehicles in North America. Good luck!!
Lower pay and higher taxes. It drove my cousins that were born and raised in Toronto to move to the USA and seek our citizenship. No where is perfect, even Hawaii.
Nothing could stop PT Barnum and his circus either. I like it the sign of a good economy when people have plenty of money for excesses.
"Car News briefs: Volkswagen may offer Jetta hybrid;
Posted Date: 5/31/05
MUNICH, Germany -- Volkswagen AG may introduce a hybrid-powered Jetta in the United States in two years.
A VW spokesman confirmed that VW is considering a so-called mild hybrid vehicle. A mild hybrid uses an electric motor to assist a gasoline-powered engine, but the motor alone does not drive the vehicle. The Honda Civic Hybrid is an example.
VW did not forecast sales volumes or discuss the costs. The company said it has not decided which supplier would provide the technology."
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102479
Thank you for your cooperation on this.
PF Flyer
Host
News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
The Mazda Mania Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
I guess that explains why Porsche is having hybrid negotiations with VW?
http://www.gizmag.com/go/1666/
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=642854
It's an interesting new world, where automakers are facing competition with themselves. Accord, Civic, Escape, Highlander, and RX400 each have both traditional & hybrid configurations changes everything. Someday you'll have the choice of engine size for a vehicle model, perhaps battery size/type too. In the meantime, it's interesting to watch how quiet those with the traditional versions of vehicles are becoming. They know that their days of being in the spotlight are over.
So naturally, I'm thrilled to hear about a possible hybrid version of Jetta. That's another automaker joining in on the newer technology. The upcoming Altima will be yet another. But the ultimate is the fact that the #1 selling car in the US, the Toyota Camry, will be available as a hybrid in a little bit more than a year from now.
It's over. Gas is expensive and reducing smog-related emissions is becoming a higher priority.
In just a few months, some of us (including me) will be celebrating their fifth anniversary of owning a hybrid. It will be increasing more difficult to deny the growing reports of positive long-term ownership experiences. And of course, the ultimate spite is pointing out how rapidly improvements are being made to the hybrid models being offered. It only gets better from here. Ha!
JOHN
ABSOLUTELY AGREE! But this forum appears to have an overwhelming thirst for positive commentary and a thin-skinned intolerance towards any negative comments.
Bottom Line: The most informative auto forums are skeptically agnostic by nature! All comments that are disagreeable should be challenged with facts and not treated as a personal attack!!!
The fact that traditional (engine-only) designs are quickly losing favor
It's interesting to watch how quiet those with the traditional versions of vehicles are becoming
They know that their days of being in the spotlight are over
You are still and will always be my all-time favorite “Go Team Hybrid - Go Team Hybrid - Ra Ra”
Would you pay ~ $3,000 less for a car that receives 2.4 mpg less then your Prius II, has far longer range between fill-ups, is larger, has much better performance, is safer, has even lower emissions, and is by far, more luxurious?
http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/car/595-pzev-accord.html
The hybrid powers that be should hope to keep this “news” buried for as long as humanly possible Or at least until a Euro V/EPA Tier II-Bin3 through 5 spec’ed - US Accord’s w/ an iCDTi arrives here in the states in a few years
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
Break-in done, warmer temps, driver education - seems like SOMEBODY around here predicted this turn of events back in December......who WAS that masked man?
Long time no hear. How is that new Hyundai doing? Do you still think it was a better overall value then the Prius II you were considering at $21K + big ones a year or so ago? I am in the camp that thinks you chose the right path for your situation. On the other side of the coin, the Prius II drivers are sitting on a real nice resale right now.
Actually, xcel did achieve pretty close mpg to the 160 hp 4-cylinder Accord with the 255 hp V6 HAH, although not over the same course and conditions. Perhaps he will tell us about it.
Are you speaking about the pic in the Larsb reply - below? I cannot link the details here because the thought police might arrest me. Why don’t you link it for us?
We had all better get back on topic.
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
Predicted this turn of events? How about “Just do it” term of events?
GreenAndBlue’s AH in semi-decent temps and conditions when coming home from a Hybrid Group meet earlier this spring:
If only I had another 150 or so more miles
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
I remember. Looks like the HAH could get in the 30s overall if it weren't for a few street racers in the field.
I wonder what a hypermiler would get in the Prius. I don't even have to try and I get close to 50 this time of year in my Prius. Sure beats driving with 50 lbs of pressure in my tires.
The only world class hypermiler I know that owns a Prius II hit something like 86 mpg over 950 + miles but his average speed was something like 32 - 34 mph IIRC? If one were traveling at a 62.5 mph average, I don’t know but I bet you might achieve the lowly John1701a numbers possibly? When the speeds come up, the FE tanks as do most Toyota’s I have owned and driven
or when I slowed down a bit with a touch heavier Chicago area - Interstate traffic
When we finally see mid-70 degree temps in and around the city of Chicago with little to no traffic, look out. We will see the higher temperatures for sure but little to no traffic? Only on an early Sunday morning after a Cub’s World Series Win The nice thing about it is that an I am sitting in my heated - power - leather seats (for those cold mornings), driving with the sunroof open in the heavier traffic jams on the few nice days we have in this locale, and all the while listening to XM Satellite radio. You just can’t beat that with a stick.
50 #’s in a non-hybrid Accord’s Michelin’s is more comfortable and better handling at speed then 42 - 44 #’s in a John1701a prepped Prius II, in my experience.
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
I'd never be able to achieve such numbers with my driving style and I have no intention of changing.
I am actually sorry to hear this for the sake of all hybrid and non-hybrid owners alike
I also have a lot more content than a standard Accord.
Not a PZEV based - EX-L w/ Auto and NAVI at $23,200 you don’t.
I also insist on VSC which isn't even offered in an Accord.
I actually insisted on one of the best all-around automobile crash ratings which is not in the cards for the Prius II unfortunately
Mileage is nice, but the HAH power and comfort are worth the tradeoff in mileage.
Are you defending the AH? I like it too. Comfort wise, the AH and the EX-L are twins. Plus or minus a few items. Performance wise, the AH is a smoking hoot! I hope you get the opportunity to drive an AH sometime as they are like an HCH, and both an I4 and V6 Accord all rolled up into one!
478 mile drive back from Canada. 75-80 on the NYS Thruway and 65 on some secondary roads. Some traffic,, averaged 48.1. Not bad! Can you do that in your Accord? If so, I wonder what the trick is? Seriously!
And your average speed was what? If you say it was 70 - 75 mph, I can’t wait for you to take a pic of your garage with the Prius II run through the back of it and sitting in your neighbor’s swimming pool
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
Don't you feel a bit guilty driving around in all that luxury? You didn't disappoint me with that mileage. I can only envy that kind of skill. Have fun in your new car... Gary
I chose the safer and larger Accord vs. the Prius II myself. As for amenities, BT and SS did not mean as much to me as powered - heated - leather seats, tilt-telescopic steering - powered sunroof, dual-auto-climate, best NAVI in the automobile business, and the 120 W AM/FM/6-CD in dash changer w/ XM Satellite. The fact that it is larger, has higher performance, includes more luxury based amenities, has even lower emissions, and is a less expensive automobile just made that much more sense to me is all?
In terms of the RXh, the RX330’s safety ratings were just a tad behind that of our MDX and it was a much smaller automobile. I haven’t seen the crash ratings on the RXh yet but am looking forward to the full gamut as soon as they are available. Especially given the knee air-bags as that is a neat safety feature.
Gagrice, you have been driving around in an LS for over 15 years, right? I believe I had just sold my Chevrolet Chevette a short period before that LOL! Talk about the lap of luxury
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
I'm TRYING to give you guys a chance to control yourselves, but it seems that you can't. Let's put a little effort into it and not rise to the bair once in a while OK?
I'm going back over the latest stretch of posts and taking down all the off topic personal stuff. Please don't continue this behavior!
PF Flyer
Host
News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
The Mazda Mania Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule