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Hybrid Vehicles Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid
1054 messages, Last post on Nov 01, 2009 at 2:52 PM
You are in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Jan 07, 2009 7:23 am) Why doesn't Lexus offer a ES hybrid? It's the same platform as the Camry. |
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Replying to: texases (Jan 07, 2009 7:36 am) That's because nobody buys a radio or suspension to save money, but most folks use cost savings (fuel) as a justification for buying a hybrid. Not saying they need to justify it, but that's what happens more often than not. Same reason people use the cost of upcoming repairs as a justification to buy a new vehicle. |
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Replying to: texases (Jan 07, 2009 7:36 am) When the hybrid costs 6 or 7 thousand dollars over the normal version of the car, yes, it might get a little scrutiny from most folks. I do like your comments about giving up acceleration for fuel economy. If one is willing to do this, and, say is willing to get a vehicle with a 10 sec 0-60 mph time, then fuel economy gets really good. Take the '10 Fusion 4-cylinder, for example, as its going to get 34 MPG on the highway without being a hybrid and costing thousands more.
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 07, 2009 8:15 am) Safety: The hybrid is carrying an extra 400 lb set of 'slugs' under your butt. That is not good for collision performance. Handling: High speed maneuvering can't be good with the extra weight of the hybrid. Performance: Since AWD eats gas, you don't typically see this on the more serious hybrids like Prius and Fusion hybrids. A friend of mine with a Prius says it does crappy in the snow because the battery weight is over the back wheels. Acceleration of hybrids tends to be worse, due to the extra battery weight. For my money, I would: Get a 4-cylinder, high-MPG, version of a car, and put the $6,000 bucks I save into an FDIC insured savings account. My choices are getting better as they add direct-injection, higher-compression (more efficient) engines and put CVTs or 6-speed automatics in more cars, increasing MPG of the basic 4-cylinder models of Malibu, Fusion, etc. With non-hybrids like that, I can still thumb my nose at the Saudis and Chavez, too, while driving something that doesn't have a ton of batteries attached to my butt. |
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 07, 2009 8:15 am) I guess I'm adding other factors into the purchase, like decreasing oil imports and having fun (I'm an engineer, so I may have a strange definition of fun) working with the hybrid technology. |
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 06, 2009 8:04 am) The original post that set off this mini blaze stated that hybrids were not intended for highway driving. I disagree, that's all. They all do wonderfully on the highway. As regards pricing that's far far more subjective. There is no right/wrong or good/bad barometer. If a person normally expects to spend $25000 - $35000 on a vehicle then the hybrids are simply the most economical choice. There is no 'premium', it doesn't exist for these buyers. In fact there's a discount, i.e. the amount of fuel saved.
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Jan 07, 2009 10:38 am) Some people will pay more for newer tech, as well as for having a certain level of comfort while still knowing they are doing some small part to address dwindling resources and the need to burn less fuel to have cleaner air. The lower fuel cost is just a bonus, but one the hybrid owner gets to take advantage of each and every week of ownership. Actual "payback" is beside the point. If all vehicle purchases were made with a spreadsheet in mind, there would be a lot fewer choices out there. |
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Jan 07, 2009 10:38 am) |
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Replying to: akirby (Jan 07, 2009 10:50 am)
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Replying to: gregg_vw (Jan 07, 2009 10:58 am) If a person normally expects to spend $25000 - $35000 on a vehicle then the hybrids are simply the most economical choice. There is no 'premium', it doesn't exist for these buyers. In fact there's a discount, i.e. the amount of fuel saved. I agree that a person willing to spend that much may not care that the hybrid cost $3K more. Just like they may be willing to spend $3K on a DVD/NAV/Stereo option or $5K on a luxury package. If a person plans to spend $25K to $35K on a car, where is the premium? Well DUH - It's in the extra $3K cost of the hybrid over the non hybrid. If you're both saying that buyers won't PERCEIVE it as a premium then that I can agree with. They will also PERCEIVE that they're saving money overall based on lower fuel costs. But PERCEPTION is not REALITY. I'm sorry but I'm a literal person. If you say there's no premium when there clearly is I have a problem with it. If you say there is a premium but nobody cares then that's fine.
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