| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:30 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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I'm in the market for a new car, and I'm seriously considering a hybrid. I've been looking at this site and some others, comparing. Yesterday I test drove the Altima. I'm planning on checking out a few more before I decide, but I was wondering if anyone here has a hybrid (BESIDES the Prius...I think it's ugly and wouldn't dream of buying one) and what they think of it.
You should know that I do prolly 98% of my driving on city streets. Ken drives for the long trips, and we take his car. My car is Mom's Taxi...I shuttle the kids around and run errands...that's about it.
Here's another link
I'm interested in the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, and the Ford Escape. If anyone knows anything about these cars or hybrid technology that I should know, please, speak up!
Motor Trend
OH! And OPTIONS! MUST HAVE GPS! Sliding Moonroof! XM Radio! Bluetooth! I want this thing FULLY loaded.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:37 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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Until they make one that looks good too, I will stay with my big bad Bonneville. 
I do love the Mini Cooper though. I just can't afford one.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:41 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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Katts...check out the Altima and the Camry. They're really nice looking cars!
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:54 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,173
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A friend told me the other day about riding in a Ford hybrid. Apparently the AC did not run until the car was was moving ~40 mph or so. He said that it was very uncomfortable in stop and go traffic.
I love the looks of the Aptera, but I am strongly considering building an XR-3.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:56 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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Those are cool, but impractical for my purposes. I have 3 kids so I need at least a 4 seater 
Which Ford was it...do you know? Thank you tho...that's another thing I will need to check while test driving 
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 12:57 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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Solly
Posts: 2
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Personally Hybrid cars are very good on fuel consumption but for the extra money you pay im not totally convinced that its worth it. I used to sell American cars to the US army here in Germany and we sold the Escape Hybrid. Its a great vehicle and very safe but when you take into consideration the extra you pay for the Hybrid Engine (approx $4K) and the lesser rebate you get (probably a $2K Difference) it ends up costing you a lot móre. Lets say on the Escape it costs nearly $6K more for a hybrid. How long will it take for you to save $6K in fuel? The car i think you would really like is the BMW 128i. Sporty, small and good on gas. Your moonroof is standard and bluetooth is an option too. Im not sure what they sell for over there but I sell them here in Germany (US Spec) and they start around $25,600.00. Just a thought. Good luck car shopping!!!!
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 1:01 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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Solly
Posts: 2
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Oops, I just read a reply of yours (having 3 kids) in that case, the BMW 128i seems a little small! I should read before i post! :)
A car i like with space and good gas mileage on a 4cyl engine is the Ford Fusion! Looks Europena and a lot more attention to interior and comfort was made, i also hear they are coming out with a Hybrid too for 2009.
Have a great Sunday!
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 1:02 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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I'm looking for something that gets better than 30 mpg city
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 1:38 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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Ef, the only one I saw for that was the Prius. That is an ugly car!
My car gets 21-28 mpg. It has a 6 cy and from what I was looking at, my car is just as good at gas milage as most of them.
I also want an American made car. Or lets say one that is part of the big 3 or maybe a Saturn.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 4:07 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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keeno
Posts: 2,363
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i love my vw jetta diesel wagon. it gets 50mpg. they are coming out with a new one with more power and similar mileage. sedans should be here soon and wagons in the fall. oh it routinely passes those creepy prius's up here in the mountains 
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 4:22 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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signme
Posts: 12,588
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Check them out carefully EF. I've read that the cost of the hybrids overrides the savings on gas. In the long run, you could lose money.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 4:31 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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Laidback742
Posts: 4,679
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I have a 2003 Ford Escape that I bought last fall. Not a hybrid.
Mostly got it for the size ( not cramped or too large ), and 4 wheel drive in winter. Very easy for 4-5 people to be comfortable, plus the rear storage area and hatch. Drives nice, has auto 4 wheel drive; I couldn't get that thing off the road last winter if I tried.
Mileage isn't the best, but for a small family it would be good size-wise.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 5:06 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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Kenn159
Posts: 4,402
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I'm not sure why you think the Prius is ugly; it's about practicality anyway isn't it?
Prius is the highest rated and gets the best gas mileage out of all of the current hybrids in real life road test[not just factory specs] and many drivers have developed a technique in driving which can double gas mileage to about 110 miles per gallon.
Some people are also converting them to plug in hybrids and getting about 250 miles per gallon until the plug in charge is used up then it reverts back to standard hybrid fuel economy.
Prius gets my vote and I think they are nice looking.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 5:20 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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ash_is_unforgetable
Posts: 842
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Well I won't be much help since I know absolutely nothing about vehicles unless you ask my opinion on colour lol. But I do have a question, is a moonroof the same as a sunroof? or is it only for looking at the moon with? I've never heard of a "moonroof" so curiousity has me wondering lol. Best of luck in your search and hope you find a great vehicle! -Ash
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 5:43 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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Kenn159
Posts: 4,402
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i love my vw jetta diesel wagon. it gets 50mpg. they are coming out with a new one with more power and similar mileage. sedans should be here soon and wagons in the fall. oh it routinely passes those creepy prius's up here in the mountains
Deisel has gotten crazy expensive unless you can find biodiesel which should be able to run in the Jetta.
Creeping saves gas.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 5:55 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 11,116
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EF - if you can be talked out of hybrids....I bought a Toyota Yaris two years ago, and if I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a minute. It's a little car on the outside...but it's a BIG car on the inside. I can put 3 adults in the back seat and they are not the least bit cramped - the leg room is unbelievable.
And although they're rated at 28 city/35 hwy, mine gets a lot better than that. To/from work and around town, depending on how heavy my foot is, I generally get between 31 and 35 mpg (yeah, I got 36 once...after driving all week with an egg under my foot!). I get about 40 mpg strictly on the highway.
But it's a fun car with 4 doors and LOTS of room for kids (I bought it with kids in the back seat in mind; I showed my 27 y/o son last week just how much room there was and he nearly died - he couldn't believe it!), and extremely cheap as far as new car prices are concerned.
Just a thought...
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 6:00 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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With all the cars on the market today, why shouldn't I want something that looks good along with getting good gas milage?
I won't go hybrid until it is a law.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 7:27 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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emptypages
Posts: 1,014
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if you want the best as far as gas mileage, the Toyota Prius wins hands down.
It's one ugly ass car though. I'm seeing lots of them on the road nowadays.
Volkswagon is going to sell some Diesel powered vehicles in the future that will great great gas mileage. Mercedes also has clean burning diesels that get 35 mpg.
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 9:29 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose?
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 11,116
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I want to know what happened.
I bought a new Corolla in 1991 that got 31 city/38 highway.
I dated a girl in college, so this would have been the mid-70's that had a VW Rabbit. She got mid-30's around town and over 40 on the highway.
How come we can't do that any more?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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| Jun 29, 2008 @ 11:34 PM |
Hybrid Cars - Which to choose? |
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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Jester, I was wondering the same thing. In 1993 I bought a Plymouth Colt that got 42 mpg.
I was out looking around today again and decided that I really don't care if it's a hybrid or not...I want 30 mpg or better.
Kenn...what technique do Prius owners do to get such amazing gas mileage? SPILL! And I think they're ugly cuz of the rear end...and I really don't care for hatchbacks at all. It's just a personal preference....and I DO want something that appeals to me in looks as well as getting fantastic gas mileage.
For Ash...
I don't know when it happened, but a sunroof is a moonroof now. I think the difference is whether or not it slides open, but I don't know (My daughter just said that a moonroof doesn't open, but then why do they call it a SLIDING MOONROOF in the options package for the Altima??? Wouldn't that be an oxymoron? Hell, I don't know. I just know I want a power window on the roof of my car with a shade I can close to keep the sun out if need be. Call it what you want...LOL)
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