Hybrid vehicles, who has one?

[JohnMickish]

The wife and I are looking at getting either a Prius or an Escape hybrid. Does anyone here have any first hand knowledge of either? We are kind of leaning toward the Escape right now. How long are the batteries supposed to last on these things?

[DTro]

Quote:

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Not everybody that owns a hybrid is doing it strictly for the MPG's. Some people are doing it to try to reduce the need for forign oil and maybe try to to something a little "green" to compensate for the 14mpg monster I use to tow the toys around with.

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You could just go ahead and buy some carbon offsets

Heck I found a site that you can purchase a ton offset for as little as 5.50. So for about couple hundred dollars a year a guy could be carbon neutral.

Problem solved.

Me?

I'll just keep on keeping on and not let the mainstream media make decisions for me.

[CJH]

I believe the 07 VW was discontinued, the 08 is the new diesel, and is supposed to be out in May the last I heard. Its supposed to get mid 40's in the city and mid 50's on the highway, so its actually more efficient than a hybrid in the combined cycle (until they are fully electric rechargeable). So you would be saving more oil than in a hybrid.

Its great there are going to be more options out there for efficient vehicles. Good luck!

[Glockwinger]

[quote

You could just go ahead and buy some carbon offsets

Heck I found a site that you can purchase a ton offset for as little as 5.50. So for about couple hundred dollars a year a guy could be carbon neutral.

Problem solved.

Me?

I'll just keep on keeping on and not let the mainstream media make decisions for me.

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That is a great post! Not hybrid, but E85...when I bought my last car, the sales guy asked if I wanted an E85 car. In the end I got him to tell me that they actually got worse gas mileage on average than a standard gas engine.

Do your research and buy what is best for you, not what the Gore machine with all the carbon offsets is trying to sell you.

[JohnMickish]

Yes, a vehicle running on E-85 will not get the same MPG's but the fuel cost less, and there is less foreign oil in it.

[shamrock7]

Bought a 2008 Camry Hybrid in Novemeber. Wanted the fuel economy of the Prius but just could stomach the looks of that car. Gets really close to book MPG of 34 Highway didn't do much city driving so can't comment on that. We have gotten up to 44 MPG. Took the car on a 5000 mile road trip to Florida. We were impressed with the overall ride of the vehicle. Have a Suburban sitting in the garage also so expected nice ride and got it. We were told by the salesman (known) that they have yet to replace a battery on a Toyota so they do not know how long the battery will last. As previously stated, if you get in and just drive it like your old car, you will not get the mileage. But, if you use your instrumentation , you will really improve your mileage.

Overall. Worth the money. IMO

Burns less than 1/2 the fuel of the Suburban but doesn't have room for the 3 large dogs

[Powerstroke]

I am glad that you made the statement about buying a hybrid being a statement against foreign oil.

I believe that to be the main reason to own a hybrid or to switch to E-85. They do not save as much money as buyers would like and rarely do they perform the same.

I agree because it would be one of my reasons. I would use domestically made fuel or hybrid to reduce my use of fuels in general. As many know, most of the US oil comes from Canada and S. America. Unfortunately in our worldwide economy it still is effected by world oil markets.

Unfortunately I would want my hybrid to be at least comparable to the extra investment, so that is why I pass on it. Yes it is making a statement, but its not a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Also, the prius has only been around since '01 (maybe late '00) so battery changes should start coming up.

[Kodiak]

how do you heat an electrical vehicle in the winter and keep the windows clear, there is no coolant to heat??

[BobT]

Electric heat I would imagine.

[fishwidow]

Can't speak to other hybrids, but the Ford Escape does have a 4 cylinder gas engine. When the defroster of A/C is on the gas engine runs.

[Capt. Don*]

There is a dc/dc converter from the battery to the electric traction motor, this conversion creates a great deal of heat and needs to be cooled, there are two separate cooling systems, one for the engine, one for the converter which is used to provide cabin heat when running on electric power.

[Jeremy airjer W]

So that how they do it!!