I suppose here, that should remain as my big dark secret. I am no "tree hugging hippy", as I have often called them. I have never fought for clean air. In fact, the environment and its current state is pretty much never on my mind, and has pretty much never been a concern of mine. When I see a Hummer, I don't think, "What a waste." (I think what an ungodly behemoth. )

Now, that's not to say I'm some sort of litterbuging petrol wasting smog fan, I recycle and whatnot, but really, I'm not a "Green" person.

I am, however, a tech person. Though, somewhat ironically, I'm seldom on the cutting edge, I just so happen to be in this case.

As I said in my introduction, when my '95 Explorer was becoming more problematic, and with my current fiscal situation in such good terms, I, and my family, decided it was time to get a new vehicle, and I looked into the Escape. It just happens that the hybrid was the choice for me.

I didn't buy it to decrease dependence on foreign oil, to lessen the impact of our exhausts, protect the air, or save the trees. Oh sure, that kind of stuff is a nice bonus, but it did little to impact my decision.

So, perhaps it is yet another irony that I am here, with an environmentally friendly vehicle, on a "Green" board. I felt compelled to post this admission after reading the GM Graphite thread, where people were criticizing Hummer owners.

Hopefully the truth will set me free rather than condemn me here to a pariah. Then again, I may not be that alone.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Read My Automotive Blog at Rich Rambles

Hi Pravus Prime:

___I cannot say I have an exactly similar outlook but I don’t mind the H2’s, Suburban’s, and Excursions running around as long as they are not doing so at ungodly speeds that kill. There are 2 H2 owners, 1, 2 doors to the south and the neighbor to the North. Our MDX is a very nice ULEV-II rated 4WD SUV and I actually love driving it. I do not like filling it up however so the wife has taken over that responsibility given it is her daily driver … In regards to the H2, I wouldn’t doubt it is worth 18 - 20 + mpg out on the highway with the right pilot after setup. That may not be great FE compared to what we discuss here but it sure beats what many may have received in their previous ride depending on what it was and the habits learned while driving it. Does anyone want to loan me their H2 for a few days of real world testing

___That being said, if there is a technology that is cleaner, more efficient, and cost effective in the same automobile, I do not see a reason to not own it myself. Thus the PZEV Accord vs. a LEV-II based one. The $135.00 up charge is a pittance for the huge drop in emissions imho.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

"Tree hugger" is probably too gentle of a term for me. Yes, I'm an unabashed environmentalist, and my primary motivation for buying a hybrid is to help participate in a cultural change that will result in the lessening of man's impact upon the planet. If you don't care about these things, that's fine. You're still, like me, participating in the hybrid phenomenon - casting your dollar votes in favor of lower emissions and a more sensible attitude towards fossil fuels, even if nothing else in your life reflects this attitude.

A single H2 (or for that matter, all the Hummers ever made) doesn't singlehandedly destroy the planet, but I think that the wastefully ignorant attitude that convinces people that it's good to drive one is responsible for much of the unnecessary damage to our planet that our society has inflicted over the last century or two. The way I see it, though, as oil dries up and profoundly disturbing environmental problems become manifest in the next few decades, larger and larger chunks of the people will be more inclined to incorporate sustainable living practices and thinking into their everyday modus operandi. In just a handful of years, hybrid drivers won't be a fringe minority, and will represent a major force in social and economic policies - whether they're conscious of their contribution or not.

Me neither. I'm a conservationist. We should reduce our oil use/energy use as much as possible. If that helps clean the air, great, but high MPG is my priority. I'd rather drive a 250 mpg "dirty diesel" than a 50mpg "super-ultra-califragilicious low emission" car.

troy

Pravus Prime,
I'm in your boat. I bought my car because it gets good mileage. The fact that it helps "save the world" is just an added benefit.

My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"

I don't consider myself an enviromentalist. I would not fit in Greenpeace or the Green Party. In fact, I've been voting Republican all my life. Yet, I don't see a good reason to consume excessively just because I can...

I'm still looking for a sensible reason for driving a civilan H2 and similiar vehichles. "I've got the money" is not a valid reason. William Buffet probably makes sounder investments...

An H2:

• is 50 to 100% larger and heavier than a sedan, putting proportionally that much more wear-and-tear on the roads<
• Crowds the streets 50 to 100% more than a sedan. Very difficult to turn in a median in traffic when a vehicle this size is blocking your view.<
• Gets 8-12mpg, depending. Members in this forum probably get at least three times better FE<
• If payload is a true motivation for driving one, why not a pickup truck or mini-van? I suspect that many could just rent a truck when needed and drive a sedan if they were honest about it.<

Still don't see a problem with an H2 getting a proportionally higher road tax than a Prius or Camary. That seems consistent with the working of a market economy.

I've lost 40 pounds over the last year. If I elected to remain obese, run my bills up and lose days at work, I'd cost private and public health care more over my lifetime. To me, I'd be making others to pick up the tab, just like driving an H2. Some won't agree with this comparison.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Here, here!

I am not an environmentalist (tree hugger) either. I am politically conservative. I believe that people need to be responsible for their actions and activities, that our choices in life lead to our successes and failures. It is patriotic to embrace technologies that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil, such as hybrids, but I also support further exploration and development of fossil fuel resources in U.S. states and territories and further expansion of refining capacity with the overall goal of a 20% reserve refining capacity at all times. I firmly believe that we need to start taking a serious look at making petroleum products go further. We must be proactive about this in order to ensure that other petroleum uses, such as plastics and chemicals, and the uses by other modes of transportation, specifically aviation, do not get squandered along with the burning of oil.

Electricity should be generated using renewable and economical domestic sources, such as hydro, nuclear, coal (all resources that are in abundance right now, we have mastery over the technology, and economical to operate). Wind power is a nice idea, but cannot generate enough power per generator or land mass to be economical. The same goes for geo-thermal, solar-thermal and photovoltaic, just not enough energy is generated for the cost of establishing and running these systems, at least today. Keep researching!

The Prius was the least expensive overall, and most comfortable car that I had been looking at before I made my purchase. I was highly attracted to the technology set and how it was all integrated into the vehicle. I suppose it is the armchair engineer in me which wanted this vehicle, but it is the cheapskate in me that said fuel economy rules. Anyway, how many cars in the 20,000-25,000 price range have auto climate and digital dash standard. None!

I made my purchase just before the gas prices spiked. People at my work continue to comment that I bit the bullet on that one. Of course, I’m not clairvoyant and didn’t know that the prices were going to spike, but it is nice knowing that my overall monthly fuel cost hasn’t changed much, and I still drive my old car around in the evenings to keep it functional. A 20 year old car doesn’t have a lot of trade in value. It is worth more in my garage than as a trade.

At the end of the day you may value my purchase because of low emissions, however I value it for low fuel consumption and technological advancement and competitive price.

It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

I've been pleasantly surprised by the responses on this thread. I previously held the misconception that the majority of hybrid enthusiasts were likely to be politically liberal, environmentally conscious folks. It's so great to see that the real appeal of hybrid cars, at least to those on this site, is grounded in real-life practical issues like conservationism and cutting-edge technology. I'm proud of the camaraderie amongst people of such varying political ideologies; I always thought that the hybrid vehicle itself was a politically polarizing topic. Now I see that isn't so. Even though I, personally, am slightly left-of-center, it's great to see that others here aren't.

I'm not surprised at all! I too am conservative, and purchased my Prius a year ago this past April. I got it for two reasons:

1) I needed a bigger car (bigger than my Z-3 was), so I can lug all my friends and their junk around.
2) I wanted to burn less fuel.

I can afford gasoline. Even if it were to double or triple in price (which, I believe, it will eventually do; 'cause mother Earth ain't making anymore oil...but that's a whole 'nuther topic). Yeah, I can afford it all right. But I've decided that I want to burn less of it.

It's nice to know that even in bumper-to-bumper stop/go traffic, I can still make Atlanta on just about 3/4's of tank of gas. Especially handy when a hurricane is bearing down on my beeehind.

And I've sworn off GM, Chrysler, and Ford cars. They're too much like wasabi...you know, that "love-hate" relationship, except with those manufacturers, there's no love left at all! Not at all healthy, that stubborn, misplaced sense of loyalty I had. Thank you, Chevvy dealer and Oldsmobile dealer, for nearly killing me with your awful service!

Anyhow, I love my Prius, even more than my other cars. My second car, should I decide to buy one, will be an Insight. Red, please! With a sunroof!

And I look forward to seeing real hybrid sportscars in the future. What ever happened to the Volta?

Anyhow, hello folks! Have a super Independence Day holiday! Be safe; don't mix drinking and driving, or I'll personally come take your car keys away and post your car on Ebay!

Interesting that you do not link conservationism to environmentalism.
Or techno-geekiness with liberalism.

From a hardcore environmentalist, and sometime/sort of liberal ..

Welcome! to the hybrid coalition

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."