GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

wcmack · #20 (**permalink**) 09-28-2006, 02:03 PM

Dear livvie,

Although you don't need me to, I like your "we can do better" attitude. What I'm wondering is, how can we help each other to get where you want to go?

Here I thought I was doing a personal good thing, trading in a gas-guzzler for a car with significantly higher MPG and significantly lower emissions. OK, so you're not impressed with the eco-performance of the new car I just got. I didn't buy the Camry Hybrid because I thought it was unimpressive... I thought it was gee-whiz hot stuff tech-wise. But I could be wrong. My college philosophy mentor used to tell me "strive to make your mistakes clearly [so that you can be corrected and learn from them]." I'm cool with that. Where did I go wrong?

If there is something out there that will give me, say, 100+ MPG with only 10% of the current average air emissions of the best cars now on the road, name it and I'll take a serious look at it.

Oh, it needs to seat at least 3 people...me, my wife and mother-in-law (no jokes, please). And it needs to have weather protection, a comfortable ride and easy in and out...my wife's mother has Parkinson's. Also, it needs to be at least a little roomy...I am 6'1" and still growing (not vertically, to my shame) and, as a lawyer, I often chauffeur clients around. Solar probably won't work, since I live in the northeast where insolation rates are not optimal. I need something with good crash protection. I have to be able to run for several hundred miles in a trip, so it has to be capable of interstate speeds, and refueling/recharging has to be publicly and conveniently available. And I would want something that can be serviced conveniently and carries a pretty long warranty, since whatever technology is involved will be cutting- (read bleeding-) edge.

See, given all these goals (none of which have to do with super-high MPG or super-low emissions), I thought I did pretty well in choosing the TCH. But I can learn. Whip me into shape. MAKE ME DO BETTER!