Does anyone here drive a hybrid?

[widget]

(Movie Zombie suggested this thread elsewhere...)

I am SERIOUSLY considering trading in my gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid.

I''d love to hear more about them...how are they to drive? How are they different from regular vehicles? What are their "down sides"? How many choices are there out there? Will there be more in the near future?

I understand that Ford how has a smaller SUV-type model that comes in a hybrid version...does anyone else?

How do they work? Do you plug them in at night?

questions, questions...

...any thoughts or input welcome!

widget

 

[Ann]

My 18 yr. old son has a Honda Insight, 2000 year.

It is small !!! I do not feel safe in it at all. I liken it to an electric toothbrush.

But, it does get 55mpg. It scoots around great, but in a hilly enviornment, he hates it. We are going to sell it this spring, he needs something larger and safer to drive back and forth to college in west Texas. We bought this for $2500.00!!! And we can sell for around $6,000. Hopefully.

I think the newer ones are much nicer. I drive a Navigator and woulod love to get more than 14 mpg. Supposedly there are new models that will be hitting the showrooms later this year. Good luck.

 

[widget]

Thanks, Ann!

Actually you've reminded me of another question I had...I live at the top of a hill. There's actually about one and a half miles of uphill grade to get to my house. I wonder how the new models would handle that...

 

[crafftygrrl]

I heard from my Acura dealer that they were coming out with a MDX hybrid.

My guess is that it''s going to be great, but very expensive ($50K+). I have an MDX that''s close to 5 years old with 105K miles on it. I absolutely love the car/truck. My hubby has an old Honda Accord. We are trying to keep it together until the hybrid comes out and the wait diminishes.

 

[Ann]

Battery charges going downhill or coasting or braking

When engine requires extra power, like when going uphill or passing, or accelerating, the electric motor assists the gas motor and therefore draws down the battery.

Too technical for me! I just want to put it in drive and go.

 

[kenny]

I have a hybrid; I loooooooove it.

You never plug in a hybrid,
Never
They don't even have plugs.
I'll explain in a moment where the electricity comes from.

I bought my Honda Civic Hybrid in April 2004.
EPA rates it at 47/48 MPG.
My lifetime average of 35 tanks is 60.1 MPG.
But I drive like an old lady on morphine to get that good MPG.
I could EASILY get 48 driving like a “normal” person.

A ton of metal moving 60 MPH has a lot of kinetic energy.
How much energy?, you ask.
A lot, if you don't believe me just stand infront of a car doing 60!
Regular cars waste this energy by converting it to heat in the brake pads.

When you slow down a hybrid it connects the rotating wheels to a generator.
This converts the kinetic enegy into electricity that charges a battery.
A moment later the car uses this stored energy to power an electric motor to help accelerate the car when the light turns green.
BTW the generator and the motor are the same object, that just works in two directions.
In one direction it changes movement into elecricity, in the other direction it changes electricity into movement.
Very smart.

Also hybrids stop the engine when the car is stopped at a red light; the car is dead silent, as though it stalled, but you get used to it.
As you lift your foot off the brake the engine instantly comes back on.
Why use gas to make smog while you wait at a red light?
Very smart.
Hybrids can also shut off all but one cylinder when cruising at a steady speed (but you never notice it).

Ford makes the Escape, their smallest SUV, in a hybrid model.
Lexus has a SUV hybrid model.
Toyota has the Highlander in hybrids.
Toyota Prius is the most famous (if you don't mind a 6-month wait and $5000 OVER MSRP) with a fold down rear seat and hatchback and tons of hi-tech bells and whistles.
The Honda Accord Hybrid is nice; it has 6 cylinders and has even more power than their conventional 6-cylinder Accord.

But my favorite is the all-new redesigned Honda civic Hybrid for 2006.
Two days ago Motor Trend named it as their car of the year.
It has more power but better MPG than mine, EPA rates it at 50 MPG.
Full window-curtain and side airbags are standard.
All 50 states are getting in the AT-PZEV version for emissions that are the lowest of any gas vehicle on the road.
I am seriously considering selling my 04 to get an 06.
BTW, I paid $19,300 for my 04; today its Kelly blue book value, with 20,000 miles is $20,150.
The 06s are just hitting the lots now.
Most are paying about one or two thousand over MSRP but some are getting them AT MSRP, (about $21,500)

I'm in California and can now drive my hybrid in the carpool lane solo.
Many cities offer free parking to hybrids.


Here's a link to my MPG record on the greenhybrid.com website (which also has lots of great info and forums on all the hybrid models.

kenny's Hybrid MPG recordlink

 

[movie zombie]

widget, i see hybrids here in the santa cruz mountains going faster than i am! i, too, live on a steep hill and there is someone in the area that has one that has no problem going up the steep grade....it is, however, paved so i don''t know what it would do on an unpaved upgrade.

i keep asking people in the area how they like their hybrids and they all say they love them. one woman drove hers from ohio to california when she moved here and wouldn''t part with it.

peace, movie zombie

 

[AGBF]

We have a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid. It is really my husband's car. I still have a Jeep Cherokee. We bought our first Jeep (used) when our daughter was born 1n 1992. Someone had told me it was easier to get babies in and out of their carseats if the car was high. (True. But getting elderly Golden Retrievers into high cars is harder. No one thought of that.) I am on my third Jeep Cherokee now, and we are still hanging onto our second one which has gone well over 100,000 miles.

My Jeeps are not huge SUVs, but they use a lot more gasoline than a hybrid. I have loved having the 4-wheel drive for hills and snow, however. I am going to hang on to a Jeep until there is a small hybrid with 4-wheel drive. Even if I only use the Jeep in snowstorms, I want it for those.

Deb

 

[portoar]

Widget,

I have test driven the Honda Accord Hybrid. If you are used to the power of your SUV and if it''s too big an adjustment to go down to a smaller car like a Prius or Civic, I suggest you take this for a test drive!

Pros: It''s very powerful (255 hp), V6 engine and luxurious -- it''s basically the Honda Accord V6 EX with leather seats and a host of convenient features. The ''06 will have a moonroof. It comes in 2 trims, with GPS and without.

Cons: It''s rated 29/37, which makes it very economical for a powerful car, but not in the league of the Prius or the Civic. It won''t qualify for the california commuter lane.

The reason I''m considering the Accord Hybrid is simple -- I''m a realtor. I can''t drive around in a Civic or a Prius. Appearance and comfort matters, and the car I drive is makes a visible statement about how successful my business is. I was actually on the verge of a BMW 325 purchase, but increasingly I''ve become sickened by the conspicuous consumption and complete disregard most americans have for their blatant wastefullness.

I figure the Accord Hybrid is a good enough car for my "realtor image" and I''ll get better gas mileage than most cars on the road today offer.

If I didn''t have to be concerned about the comfort and luxury I need to present to my clients, I would just go out and buy a Prius or Civic. I looked them over pretty thoroughly at last year''s auto show, and have talked to many prius owners. I bet the new Civic model is pretty cool too, but I haven''t seen it.


Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[MINE!!]

We don''t.. but they sure sound tempting. Would love to save a little on gas.

 

[widget]

Author: MINE!!
.. but they sure sound tempting....

Boy, they sure do!!!

I''m tempted not only for the gas savings, but for ending my guilt for driving a big gas guzzler, and finally contributing in a small way to the environment.

I want to thank everyone for their input...especially Kenny and Portoar. I think Ill start looking after the first of the year. I''ll definitely refer back to this thread, and post of my progress and final decision.

MZ: If they''re all over Santa Cruz, then I shouldn''t have any problem. And AGBF: I know what you mean about getting arthritic old dogs into big SUVs....I had to buy a doggie ramp for my old guy! I''m not getting any younger myself and a smaller car will definitely be nice for me in the years ahead...

Again...thanks, everyone!

widget

 

[movie zombie]

widget, besides seeing them all over the bay area and santa cruz, they''re up here in the santa cruz mountains: boulder creek to be exact. i''m not kidding when i say i see them going faster than me through the mountains and coming up the steep hill towards the hill i live on! i''ve ridden in one in the mountains going from ben lomond to boulder creek and while it wasn''t the longest trip in the world [about 6 miles], i was impressed with how it was handling the roads. and there is some guy that commutes that i have to pull over to let him pass in his hybrid....and i don''t drive slow!

peace, movie zombie

 

[widget]

MZ...I''m such a dummy, and so out of it, I had NO IDEA that they were so all over the place in the Bay Area!. I think I thought they were still mostly experimental!

I only figured it out recently when I went to the city with my son and he started pointing them out to me...they were everywhere!

widget

 

[movie zombie]

widget, you''re not a dummy......just busy!



peace, movie zombie

 

[Rank Amateur]

VW makes some nice powerful clean deisel engines which get in excess of 45 mpg. Give them a look.

 

[MissAva]

Lexus 400h....yummy!

 

[MissAva]

I love Edmunds! This link will take you to the current Hybirds out! HTH

 

[portoar]

The current issue of Kiplinger''s has an article that addresses the hybrid craze. I gave it a glance over in the grocery store and it looks like an article worth delving into. Brings up the point that hybrids don''t really pay for themselves, if you get one, you are paying more and it''s just for the satisfaction of doing your bit for the environment. Other vehicle choices can sip gas nearly as well and have low emissions. Having said that, the Kiplinger''s article summarizes the stats on most cars in broad price ranges, e.g., under $20K, $20-30K, $30-40K, and so on. In each category they choose "the best" for different categories, eg in the over $30K category the Accord Hybrid gets the best rating for fuel economy, but other models are rated "the best" for other things. Sorry to be vague, but I just had a brief glimpse of the article and need to go back and pick up the mag for further reading . . .

 

[movie zombie]

widget, i happened to be out on highway 17 today in the santa cruz mountains and a toyota prius passed me with no problems....i was going 55 uphill!

peace, movie zombie

 

[portoar]

bump.

Yesterday we test drove the Honda V6 Hybrid again, and also test drove the regular EX 4 cylinder Accord for comparison purposes. My dh was initially opposed to the HAH because he felt we could get comparable gas mileage from a regular 4 cylinder Accord, for several thousand dollars less. But, comparing them right after the other in test drives, the HAH wins hands down for two reasons:

1) the 255 hp, V6 Hybrid Accord has incredibly low emissions and better gas mileage thant the 4 cylindar. (29/37 vs. 24/34). Not to mention more power.

2) The V6 Hybrid has more soundproofing and is quieter on the road.

When you come to a full stop, the engine shuts down and the electric motor takes over. When you start up again, there is a very slight vibration as the gas engine starts up again. This may bother some people, indeed I''ve read about it in Hybrid forums. But it doesn''t even register on my radar. I would never even notice it unless I was specifically paying attention to it.

We didn''t have a chance to test drive a Civic Hybrid, because they''re all sold before they hit the lot, but we did sit in the newly redesigned Civic and it is a totally cool car. If we didn''t need the bigger space we''d probably buy the Civic. I am a tall woman (5'' 11") and I sat in the back drivers side seat with the driver''s seat all the way back, and I still had plenty of leg room!

 

[tessa]

I drive a Prius and I love it.
I have plenty of power and it''s surprisingly roomy on the inside.
Pwerful engine,interestingnavi, and bluetooth connected so I can do my calling through a speakerphone hands free.

I only just got it but I got it before my dad was hospitalized and he could get in and out easily and that says something.

I am very happy with it.
It tores the energy you create as you drive, like a kinetic movement watch.

The hybrids are coiming out way faser nowadays and i only had to wait about 2.5 weeks for mine
t'' s a lot biger inside than it looksfrom the outside.
Now they are going for regular prices too. No more over the sticker shock here.
is small on the outside and large on the inside.

try one. with the cmommute my DH has we are spending 1/3 of that we did before on gas now and I live in california where the gas is really expnseive!!

I am sold on mine~

 

[tessa]

did I say that the engine is plenty powerful. I live in the foothills outside of Big Sur and I need the power,

Allin all I am very happy with it.There are 6 price tiers to choose from too.

The really good SUV highlanders are behind by about a year.

The ford hybrid SUV is very small but since it was too small for my needs I didn''t really test drive them.
My recommendation:
Go look at the hybrids. Like with my Prius, you leave a deposit but it is totally refundable.
So if you change your mind or don''t want it they don''t care.
There is someone right behind you who will take it.

 

[portoar]

Just wanted to update that we just test drove the Ford Escape Hybrid today. I didn''t really want to, but DH was interested. It has about the same sticker price as the Accord, and I did not like it one bit. It has quite a bit of space, and I was thinking about how many signs I could fit in the back and how roomy it would be, but the interior finish didn''t have nearly the quality finish of the Honda, it doesn''t have as much power, and it had A LOT of road noise. So nix on the Ford Escape for us. Just to be thorough, I suppose we''ll be test driving the Prius, but I think we''re going with the accord.