Those of you who have owned hybrids for a few years have, no doubt, heard all sorts of whining and criticism of your cars. Everything from "they don't work" to "they won't last" to "they're ugly."
But these days, with gasoline blowing through $3.50 on its way to $4, does it seem that the critics have grown quiet? It sure does to me.
Two people in our office got gas this morning and were told that it was a good thing they got it then. It is currently $3.55\gal and the clerk told them it was going to $3.69 this afternoon. This was at Speedway.
You are correct.
I am a member on another forum somewhat notorious for conservative, no scratch that, ATAVISTIC views. There were many members who just couldn't restrain themselves even a little bit with the insults and the ignorant comments; the "informed" economic and technical analysis, etc. There's a lot more silence there now.
Our Saturn Relay pig pulls 26 MPG highway, but averages 12 MPG because we do mostly short around town trips. It's driven less than 600 miles a month, but at 12 MPG Between monthly payment and fuel, cost alone has me looking hard at either a FEH or a HiHy. The wife is proving resistant to trading her "baby", but given that a HiHy or FEH would double or almost triple city MPG, "baby" might get put up "for adoption".
I do so little driving of our Saturn SW2, less than 200 miles a month, I've crunched the numbers and even if gas went to $10 a gallon, a new car payment doesn't begin to make sense, financially, short term. However, there are other factors in the financial equation.
The SW2 is a 2000 model, it has just over 49K miles, and it's in pretty good shape. We bought it new almost 8 years ago, it was our first new vehicle purchase, and I have no reason to believe it won't outlive the 80K mile tires that went on about 6K miles ago. This simply means I keep my cars for a while, long enough to reap the payoff of a higher priced, more fuel efficient vehicle.
Even though I'm driving just a few miles a day to the train station, if I got laid off and had to change jobs, I could easily end up having to commute much further and then the price of gas and fuel efficiency would suddenly become huge factors.
Car sales overall are down, but hybrid sales are up. No matter how close or far away from Peak Oil we are today, one thing is for certain--a lot of people are taking note of the value of hybrids. As the price of gas rises, then more people are going to start taking note, and in turn taking on new car notes of hybrids. Demand for hybrids will rise as the price of gas and oil rise, but at what rate and when is anyone's guess. Few are arguing that gas and oil prices will fall, so we know demand for hybrids is going to rise. If the supply doesn't keep pace, then the prices are going to climb even higher.
Even though it might end up costing me money now, as a hedge against the future need for a hybrid which could strike suddenly and without warning, I'm also looking hard at replacing my SW2 with a hybrid and soon. Either '08 or '09 model.
From what I'm finding, doesn't appear that I'd reap any big savings from buying used.
I still think the price of oil is artifically high, not that I'm complaining of the good this has done. So high prices forces alternative thinking. Now if they can only get the biodiesel algae into the mainstream along with the Mini D (bringing it to the USA), and I would be in heaven.
[quote=kengrubb;168789]Our Saturn Relay pig pulls 26 MPG highway, but averages 12 MPG because we do mostly short around town trips. It's driven less than 600 miles a month, but at 12 MPG Between monthly payment and fuel, cost alone has me looking hard at either a FEH or a HiHy. The wife is proving resistant to trading her "baby", but given that a HiHy or FEH would double or almost triple city MPG, "baby" might get put up "for adoption".
I do so little driving of our Saturn SW2, less than 200 miles a month, I've crunched the numbers and even if gas went to $10 a gallon, a new car payment doesn't begin to make sense, financially, short term. However, there are other factors in the financial equation.
The SW2 is a 2000 model, it has just over 49K miles, and it's in pretty good shape. We bought it new almost 8 years ago, it was our first new vehicle purchase, and I have no reason to believe it won't outlive the 80K mile tires that went on about 6K miles ago. This simply means I keep my cars for a while, long enough to reap the payoff of a higher priced, more fuel efficient vehicle.
Even though I'm driving just a few miles a day to the train station, if I got laid off and had to change jobs, I could easily end up having to commute much further and then the price of gas and fuel efficiency would suddenly become huge factors.
Car sales overall are down, but hybrid sales are up. No matter how close or far away from Peak Oil we are today, one thing is for certain--a lot of people are taking note of the value of hybrids. As the price of gas rises, then more people are going to start taking note, and in turn taking on new car notes of hybrids. Demand for hybrids will rise as the price of gas and oil rise, but at what rate and when is anyone's guess. Few are arguing that gas and oil prices will fall, so we know demand for hybrids is going to rise. If the supply doesn't keep pace, then the prices are going to climb even higher.
Even though it might end up costing me money now, as a hedge against the future need for a hybrid which could strike suddenly and without warning, I'm also looking hard at replacing my SW2 with a hybrid and soon. Either '08 or '09 model.
If you drive only a few miles to the train station and are expecting the FEH or Highland Hybrid to reveal 30+mpg, you are going to be disappointed. That is too short of a distance for the vehicle to fully warmup and maximize fuel economy. This has been reported by a number of posters.
From what I'm finding, doesn't appear that I'd reap any big savings from buying used.[/quote]
2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.
Best Interstatetank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.
Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.
I chuckle, as a local grocery chain offers 5 cents off for every $25 in groceries purchased...I'll see people spring for a couple of $.99 candy bars to hit $25...spending $2 to save $1 (they cap you at 15 gallons too!)
At low speed, wouldn't it be running only on electric?
Neither hybrid goes into electric mode immediately. There is a warmup period required. When the outdoor temerature drops, the warmup period can last longer. In the FEH you can not get into electric mode until the engine cylinder head temperature reaches at least 154 degrees for the first time after a cold start. Your electric mode is only good for somewhere around 1.5 to 2 miles of continuous duration and can easily go into internal combustion mode with a too quick of an accleration.
This does not mean your hybrid will deliever on improved mileage over "most" non-hybrid midsize and larger vehicles. Keep reading and learning more about these vehicles prior to actually going to the dealership.
2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.
Best Interstatetank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.
Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.
Higher Prices = Fewer Critics
That is too short of a distance for the vehicle to fully warmup and maximize fuel economy. This has been reported by a number of posters.
There is a warmup period required. When the outdoor temerature drops, the warmup period can last longer. In the FEH you can not get into electric mode until the engine cylinder head temperature reaches at least 154 degrees for the first time after a cold start. Your electric mode is only good for somewhere around 1.5 to 2 miles of continuous duration and can easily go into internal combustion mode with a too quick of an accleration.
