Hi Everyone,
I am seriously looking at getting a hybrid vehicle and have a question that I want an honest answer to (I know that most car dealers used to be Army recruiters and will tell you anything to sell a car!)

I live in Alaska and am concerned about how a hybrid - I am particularly looking at the HCH II - does during the winter. I would like to hear from some folks who drive theirs in real winter conditions such as -20 or -30 degrees F.

If I do get one, I want to use it as much during the winter as I can and only rely on my *gasp* diesel truck during the coldest, nastiest days.

I drive about 156 miles round trip once a week for my job and I need to cut down my driving expenses considerably! At 19 mpg and almost $5.00 a gallon for fuel, it is getting harder and harder to get to work!

My HCH2 has been fine down to +10F (in Ohio) through two winters, even without (available) block heaters.

Should be some northern US and Canada owners who can chime in.

You might consider the Ford Escape hybrid because of the greater ground clearance. Living in North Alabama, I don't have temperatures even close but the engineering data suggests you might want to think about getting some JC Whitney, battery heaters as well as a block heater.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

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Are you sure you need private transportation at all?

Thanks for the reply Bob but I looked at the Escape and it wasn't for me. The fit didn't feel good and I wasn't that impressed with the mileage either for the price they want for them up here.

As for the heaters, yes we have to do that with any vehicle up here. So we either pay at the pump or pay at the electric company!

Yes I need private transportation - there are no bus lines or other public transportation that run down this way and it wouldn't work for me anyway with my family situation.