Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions What type of hybrid should I buy? 
453 messages, Last post on Aug 19, 2005 at 6:05 PM
You are in the Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hybrids Host for directions! discussion.
| I know how you feel. I had even started to lobby for our company to put in charging stations. This was back when California supported car pooling to the point of having a state car pooling site where you could contact other people in your area and they even mandated a percentage of people do just that depending on the size of your company. Wasn't the RAV4 the one with a range of close to 120 miles? I don't remember. But I had sent away for some literature on the Sparrow even if it turned out to be a flop. I still think the EV-1 Was the best of the lot at that time but that could be because I belonged to a Saturn Club at the time and some of the Members drove EV-1s. It is no secret that I consider hybrids a step from progress and a even bigger step back in car performance. To me the Insight was the smallest retreat back from the EV but it was a surrender none the less. Just in my opinion. I got to ride in one and it was interesting and got great mileage. But it left the enthusiast in me a bit cold. Still if someone is interested in a Hybrid for whatever reason, being clean or seperating us from foreign oil are smoke and mirrors, they can get a Honda or Toyota. It is as simple as that. I just wonder if they will have 30 years of development like EVs did or will they see the crusher pile even sooner? | |
|
|
| I feel a little sad that the EV-1 owners are being forced to give back their cars despite their willingness to let GM off the hook for future warranty coverage, future servicing and parts, etc. That is one loyal little club - they oughtta be able to keep their cars. | |
|
Hi Djasonw: ___Someone in another forum pointed me towards the following: http://www.consumerreports.org/static/0404pic0.html ___The Toyota Prius made it to a “Top pick” category: “As a sign of how vehicles in general are improving, a number of new models made this year’s list. The Acura TL, Toyota Prius gas/electric hybrid, and Toyota Sienna minivan received major redesigns for 2004, and all topped their categories in our testing.” ___The Ford Focus made it to 2! “The Ford Focus has always performed well in our testing, and its improved reliability now allows us to recommend it. As a result, the Focus is our Top Pick in two categories: small sedan and fun to drive.” ___Good Luck ___Wayne R. Gerdes |
|
|
Hi Nippononly: ___When the EV-1’s were crushed, some of those that had owned them actually gave them a funeral of sorts. The EV groups were up in arms. GM did it so that they could write off the entire project as an expense (loss) in its entirety. I am sure they (some of the engineers working on the project) would have liked to leave a few in the owners hands but those few that would have been able to keep them even if given to them by GM would have caused GM tax complications. Aren’t there still a few out in the publics hands w/ possible lawsuits keeping GM from taking them back? I thought I had read this somewhere anyway? In any case, it is a sad time in the history and evolution of EV’s as the EV-1 (EV-1-Gen2’s or EV-2’s as some called them w/ the more powerful Ni-MH packs) were supposedly good out to something like 120 - 140 miles? I will have to find some of the older EV sites but I thought I had read of one owner w/ the stronger Ni-MH pack pushing one into the 170 mile + range using std. ICE fuel saving like techniques. That is getting very close to ideal for just about everyone for a strict commuter or even more if you ask me … ___Good Luck ___Wayne R. Gerdes |
|
|
Focus is NOT a hybrid and should not even be mentioned here. But..as usual... Wayne who happens to be a closet Prius junky (nothing wrong with that!) likes to compare apples to oranges. But.. if we are to continue this comparison let's do it. I must qualify my comparison and restate that the Ford Focus does NOT have smary entry exit. I mispoke. Ford (as usual) took a step backwards and does NOT offer stability control. A VERY stupid mistake. That's tantamount to a car manufacturer NOT putting in airbags! Stability is the most misunderstood safety feature available today. Now please hear me out. I would DEFINITELY consider buying a new Ford Focus IF it had some of the goodies that you can get with the Prius. I did NOT solely buy the Prius for the gas mileage. I bought it because of the safety features and all the toys. I also wish the ZX3 were a little bigger as it appears the Prius has tons more legroom in the rear. Again,, we're comparing apples to oranges. If the Focus once again offers stability, I would definitely consider it as an additional car for the family. Anyone know what the average individual is experiencing with gas mileage with the new engine? re: NVH in Prius and Focus... the Prius definitely is smoother. I've driven both. |
|
| You might get more responses on a question about the Focus' real-world fuel economy if you posted it on a board frequented by Focus owners, like the ZX5 board for which I posted the link awhile back. | |
|
Hi Djasonw: ___If you ask for Focus data, I will be more then happy to oblige … Traction control although not VSC was pulled from the PZEV because they had not integrated it in with the 2.3 L PZEV motor just yet. Maybe next year? I can only hope the Prius adds a more comfortable or even luxurious seating arrangement in its next iteration as well. Currently, it doesn’t have height adjusters, heated options, or even an option for leather although there are some indications that leather covered seating surfaces directly from Toyota themselves is available now? Then again, I don’t know where you live and the lack of heated, height adjustable, leather seats and a telescopic steering wheel may not mean much for $4,500 - $11,000 more? ___As for the safety of VSC, head into a corner a little hot in an 04 Prius and guess what? VSC might bring you back but if you are beyond the limits of the skid pad data on a perfectly clean and flat road like those it was tested on, your toast. The Focus’ higher slalom and skid pad numbers however may allow you to continue without crashing because it wouldn’t have broken loose yet? This is all hypothetical of course. Well maybe not given the Focus exudes much more confidence in the twisties and you are more then likely pushing it much further then in an 04 Prius? I would have to make an assumption that because you can, most will which is really a bad thing for all of our sakes  ___NVH in the Prius being better then the Focus PZEV? I have driven both as well and the 1.5 L Prius motor makes an unnatural raucous when accelerating hard. ___Good Luck ___Wayne R. Gerdes |
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions What type of hybrid should I buy?
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
