Hi folks,

Recently David Pool posted in a Prius newsgroup the following article:

"The Hype About Hybrids" by Ed Wallace for the Star-Telegram. Dec. 29, 2005

An award winning journalist, apparently he hasn't noticed the backlog of orders for hybrids and lack of dealer markdowns. Regardless, it may be entertaining to enumerate:

'HYPE' IS RIGHT:

". . . if everyone designed and built first-class six-speed automatics, . . . that would save more gasoline than making half of all cars on the road hybrids" - assuming one doesn't make a six-speed, hybrid, OK.

'HYPE' IS WRONG:

". . . as the years have gone by and the fuel efficiency of hybrid-powered automobiles has fallen slightly . . ." - compare 01-03 Prius to 04-06 Prius. The 06 Prius is larger yet gets nearly 3 MPG better mileage. Fall off?

". . . hybrid-powered SUVs have been introduced that get no better mileage than a regular engine . . ." - Toyota Highlander hybrid gets ~40% better MPG than gas-only Highlander (http://www.toyota.com/). So 40% is 'no better'?

Be sure to cite sources. Once we have a full list, someone might craft a 'letter to the editor' to the Star-Telegram.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Good stuff. And he apparently missed the point about driving a greener vehicle that will reduce all that nasty pollution that most other vehicles produce. These media folks just don't get it. They dictate from closed offices and closed minds..
lol.

A while back I told someone I had a hybrid and got the standard "ah, but they are not worth they extra money" speech. I pointed out that emissions are extremely low which is good for the environment. He responded "Well that is good for other people, not you".

People just don't get it. It's better for everyone. Even drivers of the Ford Excursion benefit from someone choosing a hybrid.

The best answer is, "GOOD! Toyota has a six month waiting list and adds $4,500 on top of the list price. As long as you keep believing that crap we have a chance of getting the waiting list down and reasonable prices. You can continue to enjoy GM products . . . for as long as they remain in business."

Take a deep breath and blow it out and say, "I'm breathin', I'm happy."

You have to make a value judgement about whether or not this person is worth spending any more time on the subject. Value your time and be prepared to mentally "dust off your sandels" and change the subject. Say, look at your watch and say,

"I'm late for my monthly fill-up. I've gotta go."

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Granted it's because of the vehicle I drive, and I'm no math whiz, but getting 34+ MPGs seems to be substantially more than 16 MPGs, comparing FE of an Escape Hybrid and a conventional Escape, similarly equiped.

First 4WD Hypermiler

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