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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
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Jun 05, 2004 5:54 pm) As to what hybrid is the best, I'd have to say that a hybrid that is in stock would be the best as no one seems to have a hybrid in stock. I have yet to see a 04 Prius on the road although I've test driven one when I was trying to get my father in-law to purchase one. I see several Insight and older Prius as well as many Honda Civic Hybrids. The Honda Civic Hybrid appears to be the most popular based on sightings.
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A reporter is looking for residents of states other than California who drive hybrids. Please contact jfallon edmunds.com by Wednesday, June 16, 2004 with your daytime contact info and a few lines about your hybrid.
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Replying to: moparbad (Jun 07, 2004 1:48 pm) http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_news22/ |
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"This was a totally Ford-designed system" -- Bill Ford, Jr. Well, there goes any thought I'd ever have of buying an Escape hybrid, at least in its first few years of existence. What sticks in my mind is Ford's last two efforts in passenger car design for the U.S.: The Contique/Mystour and the Focus. Do you recall how many times each of those vehicles was recalled in their early years? I do. I owned a '95 Mystique that spent much of its first year in the dealer's service bay. I added up the recalls on the Focus in its first couple of years and lost count at 13. And the hybrid system in the Escape is far more complex than anything in the Mystique or Focus. If I were Mr. Ford, I think I might try building buyer confidence by referring to the proven technology they have licensed from Toyota rather than saying "it's a totally Ford-designed system."
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Replying to: backy (Jun 19, 2004 7:32 pm) |
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...in addition to the compacts (Insight, Civic, Prius - which is still a compact IMHO), we've now got an SUV hybrid - the Escape. Although it's 4 cylinders, it offers equivalent power to the 6 cylinder ICE model. However, the price is $3K more than the 6 cylinder ICE, and with the incentives it's probably more than that. So I, the typical consumer who's not so worried about global warming, still don't have a compelling reason to buy a hybrid. The money you save in gas can pretty much never make up for the extra you paid up front, and there's basically no other tangible benefit (again IMHO). Maybe the upcoming Highlander or RX400H will be able to justify their price premium with better power, but I doubt it. |
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Be sure to check out our Town Hall chat lineup for Tuesdays... everyone is welcome and ALL things automotive (and some not-so-automotive topics) are fair game! Stop in tonight and get to know some of your fellow Town Hall residents better. We may even play a little automotive trivia! Getting things started, from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET, If your passion is Mazda or you just like to go ZOOM ZOOM, the place to be is the Mazda Mania chat. Mazda Mania Chat Room Imediately following from 7-8pm PT/10-11pm ET, talk the latest in new automotive technology during the Hybrid Vehicles Chat Hybrid Vehicles Chat Room The Town Hall chats are a great place to take these message board topics LIVE. Hope to see you there this week! PF Flyer Host Pickups & News & Views Message Boards |
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Okay, so USA Today reports in on the '05 Honda Accord Hybrid. So what does it offer me, the consumer who wants better fuel economy but is not so worried about emissions. Good: 1. 15 more HP than the ICE Accord V6. 2. Fuel economy rated at 30/37 (ICE is 21/30). Bad. 1. Costs $3400 more than the equivalent ICE V6. Assuming 15-20K of driving a year, and even assuming that the EPA rating is accurate, it'll take 6-8 years to recoup this cost. 2. Only offered in totally loaded form for a bit more than $30K. 3. Gimmicky, odd-feeling electric steering rather than hydraulics to save fuel. The added horsepower is a step in the right direction, but I still see nothing to spend an additional $3400 on. So for Joe Average, still no go. Gives Prius owners something to trade up to I guess.
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