Roster call

SO, who here has a hybrid, what is your gas mileage like, and do you resent your decision to go with electric over a conventional gas?

-Mike

no problems with it at all huh? I was worried how long the engine would last having to start/stop/start/stop/start at every stop. It is common knowledge that the #1 engine killer is start-up.

huh? my cavy gets 25mph (4 cylinder manual) and if a hybrid can pull 45-50mph (4 cylinder auto) how is that not more fuel efficient?

quote:

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Originally posted by NoSUV
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Opinion: MDC is an idiot studying to be a moron. Mileage is one of MANY factors that could play into honorable and intelligent consumers. The environmental impact, of course, is also big from the far lower emissions (I never have to have an emissions test - unlike those who drive gas guzzlers), but mileage remains an added factor.

The assumptions above are also skewed in that some slugs never share driving duties, unlike formal car pools. I wonder how the slug-driver equilibrium will change when gas is $4 later this year?

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Here are some much better assumptions that aren't biased to help the hybrids look better.
Assumptions:
- Civic hybrid gets 45 mpg
- comparable Civic(automatic) conventional vehicle gets 35 mpg (not 25MPG)
- annual mileage is 15,000 (20,000 is not average, according to EPA the real average is 11,700 per car, I95/395 HOV commuters probably average more so 15,000 is a good number)

Facts:
- hybrid will take around 333 gal/year
- conventional vehicle takes 428 gal/year
- fuel difference is around 95 gal/year
- annual hybrid $ savings at $2/gal = $190
- annual hybrid $ savings at $3/gal = $285

Even if you say the Conventional Civic gets 30 MPG you only save $500 in gas at $3/gal. Good luck in trying to make the purchase look financially sound. Considering a lot of the mileage for commuters would be highway miles and a regular civic or corolla gets 40MPG on the highway the comparison isn't looking all that great.

Calling MDC an idiot just shows your lack of understanding. Anyone that thinks they are going to get a payback on the extra they pay to get a hybrid through the better gas mileage is exactly what MDC said "lying, or stupid". Either they never took the time to do the math or they are too dumb to do the math correctly.

Granted, hybrids don't need to get emissions testing done but that isn't because they are all so "clean". It is because the state never came up with a testing program since there were so few of the hybrid cars on the road. The testing program for a conventional vehicle won't work correctly on a hybrid. I guess since large dump trucks don't get emissions testing they are really clean too!

NoSUV, as I told you before a new 2006 V8 Ford explorer is cleaner than your ?2002? Prius- first generation.

oddly, I have been checking my gas mileage since I started driving everyday. As you all know, it is a manual 4 cylinder 2800lb. car with me in it. Add my regular slugs and your looking at about 3100 being moved by 140hp. I have NOT run the a/c on my morning commute, and at 70-80mph my tach is around 2500. The best gas mileage I can pull has been this morning at 27. In my eyes, that SUCKS! My 95 corvette did that and it weighed the same with just me as the cavy does fully loaded!!!! and has DOUBLE the power!

I dunno, after reading the debate occuring on the hybrids.........I dunno. I want to save as much fuel as possible but still be able to enjoy the car. Any ideas?