Where's the Hybrids!

Yeah, just make all cars 10 or 15% more efficient and we can stop going
around the world attacking other countries for their oil.

Don

 

Take your political shit some where else. Fucking Idiot.

 

What's with you? Geez.
....and what I said is absolutely true. We only import about 8% of our oil
from the Persian Gulf area. If we just made ourselves 10% more efficient we
wouldn't have to worry about it.

 

whine, whine, whine

 

What you said is not at all true. We have not attacked any country
for oil.

 

Oh excuse me, it was for WMD's (snicker).

The fact is though that we really need to develop this sort of technology to
become more energy independant. That is why I responded to this, and I
applaud any company that goes in this direction. We have a 2003 Sante Fe
which we love but I'm in the market now for a second car which will probably
be a Toyota Prius. I hope Hyundai will develop similar cars ...and I would
consider them as I am very impressed with Hyundai quality.

But unfortunately, this does all tie in with politics. China and India
(1/3 of the world population) are rapidly developing. Their energy needs
are going to skyrocket soon. Oil prices will do the same. The more energy
independant we are, the better.

Don

 

Good post!
Seamus J. Wilson

 

At the Petersen Car Museum in Los Angeles I saw an unrestored
gas/electric hybrid car that was manuafactured in 1918.

Old_Timer

 

Better mileage than what? If you mean better than an Accent, you're
dreaming! Thats' not even remotely possible.

Well, if is saves you so much money on other things, what are you
complaining about?

How often do you carry more than four people, or more than two, for that
matter? Asmall car, a trailer hitch and a cheap utility trailer costs a
lot less than an SUV, hauls more stuff and gets better gas mileage when
you're not hauling the trailer.

Who said anything about a Hyundai hybrid for '05? I haven't heard about
anything coming out this year.

 

Boy do they stink & majority of them have black smoke out the tailpipe.

Diesel fuel is $.30 more a gallon than 98 Octane!

 

What a joke HONDA has. They advertise a hybrid but it get 29 mpg????
As the salesman attempted to explain their pantented hybrid technology
he stated the gas engine is ALWAYS RUNNING!

Our deaership manager still states the MG is due out in a few months to
replace the Accent, then the hybrid Tucson will follow for 2006. Santa
Fe will not be hybrid.

 

diesel may cost more, but its goes alot farther per tank than a gas car...
ive never seen a vw tdi yet belch black smoke..

 

A friend has had a Toyota Prius for about 6 months. He keeps pretty
meticulous records and uses it on the job, so he puts a lot of miles on it.
He says he's been getting about 52 mpg. His last trip was to go skiing so
there was considerable climbing too.

Don

 

id love one those hybrid things,
but a , to $$$ and i dont think thyed be too good in our winters when its
like - 30 f. cold kills batteries =(

 

If you actually sit down and do the math, figuring the increased cost of
the car and fuel vs. the improved mileage, you'll probably find that it
will take you in excess of 10 years to actually save any money.

 

One thing that people lose sight of in all this hybrid craze is that
whether buying a hybrid is a good idea from an economic standpoint or
not depends on your current automotive situation. If you definitely need
a new car - because your current car is worn out or you need an
additional vehicle - buying a hybrid makes sense. However, if you have a
functioning car that gets reasonable gas mileage and has a few years of
life left in it, getting rid of it and buying a hybrid is unlikely to
save you any money, due to the high cost of the initial purchase. If
you're the type of person who regularly turns their cars over every few
years, you're used to wasting money so you may as well go for it. ;-)

 

yes over time, but if im just leasing like we intend to do its not so bad..
the jetta doesnt cost any more than a loaded sonata so....
if hyundai would bring their damn cdi's to canada theyed kick vws butt

 

thats your look / view what ever u call it i guess =)
i just dont like paying for unexpected car repairs id rather have new every
5 yrs

 

The friend with the Prius is in Boston ...pretty chilly there.

Don

 

Leasing is the most expensive way to "own" a car. It ranks right up
there with buying and trading in every 2-3 years. Essentially, you're
paying for the cost of the car's depreciation during the years when it
depreciates the most. The reason that car companies push leasing is
because that's where they make the most money. While leasing makes sense
for businesses, it rarely makes economic sense for an individual.

Nothing personal, but it seems a bit odd to me to quibble over a few
bucks in fuel costs when you're throwing away thousands of dollars due
to your choice of ownership method.

If you're truly interested in saving money, the best way is to buy a car
that's 2-3 years old and keep it until it's worn out. Second best is to
buy a new car and keep it until it's worn out. By "worn out", I mean
that the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle. With
reasonable maintenance, that can easily be ten years and 150,000 miles
or more.

I'm generalizing here and perhaps you're in a special situation that
creates a different need. There are some good books available that
explain this in greater detail and help you decide what ownership method
makes the most sense for your situation, and how to negotiate the best
deal. The "classic" text on the subject is Remar Sutton's book, "Don't
get Taken Every Time". The few bucks you spend on the book will save you
thousands.