Posted on 10/15/2006 12:14:10 PM PDT by kellynla
A recent study by J.D. Power and Associates, the independent researcher of buyer behavior and customer satisfaction, found that more than half the consumers planning to buy a new car in the next two years were considering a hybrid. And why not? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the estimated mileage for the electric/ gasoline-driven cars is great. What isn't said: EPA uses an estimating system that's 20 years old, and doesn't reflect today's drivers or automobiles.
With 57 percent of prospective purchasers saying they would consider a hybrid, it was the most prevailing alternative to the gasoline engine. A car burning an E85 ethanol blend was being considered by 49 percent, a diesel-burning car or truck by 12 percent.
But the Power report noted that expectations differ greatly where hybrids are involved. Foremost among the inflated expectations: gas mileage.
Those buyers considering hybrids told poll takers that they believed they would get an average of 28 miles per gallon more over a conventional automobile. But Power and Associates' 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study showed that gas-mileage increases are closer to 9 mpg.
(Excerpt) Read more at theledger.com ...
No thanks! I'll keep plugging along in my SUV.
My liberal friends who bought hybrids are on suicide watch every time gas goes down a few cents.
Might have something to do with my suggestion that they can borrow my Sawsall, cut off the roof, and make a nifty golfcart.
My wife just took a trip cross country with her 2001 VW Beetle TDI. She averaged 78 MPH and 52MPG.
Thats right! She was speeding most of the time. But consider the 52 miles per gallon while doing it.
All that out of a diesel. Makes the highbreds look sick.
That compares to about 27 percent of those who were dissatisfied with the mileage of conventional gasoline engines.
Well heck, someone had to say it! :-)
Wow! Excellent numbers!
and diesel!
can you pump that bio-diesel in those cars?
Ya ever check out what it costs to replace the battery?
Wowzers!
Let me understand this.
You buy a hybrid that MAY GET 30-35 mpg and pay 30K or more. Is that right. Not a real good deal as I see it.
I bought a Toyota Yaris in June, paid 12K + and was told I could get 30 MPG.
When the rubber met the road I got 37 in town w/a.c. on;
41 mpg on the road, again w/the a.c. on.
Now that it's cooled down here in Fla. I figure I get 40 MPG in the city. Have not taken a road trip yet.
The down side of the car is that not a bolt/screw anything is made here in the USA. And you have to drive it as a small car. The vehical will not go 0-60 in 6 seconds. You have to build up speed, Its only got a 170 horse engine thats a little bigger then a bread box- to those of you that remember what a bread box is.
As for my little car, yes I like it. And buy the way I'm
6'2" and 295 lbs and have plenty of room inside...
Gas Mileage is a function of curb weight !
I own a Lincoln Town Car too. 190,000 miles, 25 mpg in actual real mileage day in and day out. My bragging has caused Volvo drivers to go into serious depressions.
Ping
Say what you will....I drive the Honda Civic Hybrid.
I get @41 MPG. I paid within @$1k of what a regular Civic would have cost, and that includes the long-term care plan that will also replace the batteries before 100,000 miles.
I don't know who these idiots are talking to, but I'm happy with mine. It has nothing to do with politics, it's a great car, and when I bought it, gas was @$1.50. When it went over 3, I was even more satisfied with my purchase.
I expect when it's time to turn it in, I will be looking at a hydrogen car or something...so we can tell the Middle East oil producers to go pound sand...literally.
Absolutely. All you need to do is filter it and treat it.
I understand that the end cost of making your own bio-diesel out of fryer oil is about 50 cents a gallon. They sell kits on-line to purify it and the end result of the proccess is glycerin which is the filtered out stuff from the purified bio-diesel fuel.
Your figures are inflated and incorrect. New batteries (all of them) for a Toyota or Lexus hybrid run in the range of $5300 to $8000. And original Toyota hybrid batteries are fully warrantied for 7 or 8 years or 100,000 miles.
well heck, you can make your own bio-diesel and drive practically drive for free! LOL
Here's the link how to make your own.
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
I get around 50 mpg with my smart (European queer-mobile). I also save around $250 a month in parking fees which is what it costs in central Frankfurt. All told I'm saving around $500 a month vs my old gas-burning VW Golf.
Agree with above on the VW TDI Diesel engines. You get super mileage and the cars will run forever if you change the oil properly.
The '07 Toyota Camry Hybrid looks exactly like the non-hybrid Camry, other than the small "Hybrid" model thingy on the trunk, which is no larger than any model 'thingy' on a car ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.