New Ads Claim You Can Speed on Less Gas - GreenHybrid

Delta Flyer · #1 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by article

Today, car buyers may say they want to save money on gas, but they still want tire-squealing power, analysts say......

.....Car makers are also beginning to put gas-electric hybrid engines in cars like the Honda Accord, or the Toyota Highlander, said Chung. The fuel efficiency gains in these cars are minimal

The whole truth please - the Accord and Highlander are performance-oriented hybrids.

Here we go again - advertisers are appealing to the consumer's earthier desires. On the original Star Trek, Mr Spock's logic prevailed - with automarketer's emotion wins.

bar10dah · #2 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by article
Today, car buyers may say they want to save money on gas, but they still want tire-squealing power, analysts say......

That's why I bought MY Accord Hybrid.

Drove the HCH first. Nice car, but wanted more.

Drove the TL next. LOVED that car. Hated the sticker.

Drove the HAH next, wow, this is a FE car?! Only slightly less par than the TL, but not much.

The out the door price was about $4K less for the HAH. HAH, gets better FE. Tires are cheaper for the HAH. Where do I sign??

RichC · #3 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 11:09 AM

Manufacturers are doing their best to offer performance equal to their gas cousins. In some cases impressive performance. I attended the Beyond a Billion event in Cincinnati and had a chance to chat with a Toyota Hybrid specialist ... his primary point to me while we looked at the lineup of cars was that the Highlander had 0-60 times under 7 seconds. My only thought (should have said something) was that 'Wow' ... too bad they didn't give up a little of that for better mileage. On the other hand there was a Prius and Insight sitting there too.

All in all the cars were impressive but unfortunately way over my budget. That Highlander was over $40K. Whew.

bar10dah · #4 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 11:27 AM

Cars are getting so freakin' expensive. As is everything else.

My '59 Ford with 96K miles... I bought it several years back for $2800. If I recall correctly, back in Dec of 1958, the sticker was $2500! Now, I think I could get about $5K for it.

Too bad my '93 GMC isn't like that. I bought it for $10,200 in May of '93. Now, I think it books out for $1,200. I can probably get $2K if I tried. Who knows. Maybe when it's 46 years old, I'll be able to get $40K for it! Nah...

IMAhybrid · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bar10dah

Cars are getting so freakin' expensive. As is everything else.

When we bought my HCH my grandfather was telling me how he bought his first house for about the same price I bought my car for. crazy!

Pravus Prime · #6 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 12:18 PM

Outside of a home (And even in some cases even with them), an automobile is where the majority of American dollars go, and is their biggest purchase in their lifetime.

I'm wondering if in the future, the option to set the hybrid will be part of the system, so you can go for more performance or FE, as you wish, when you wish, like on some older models 4WD, and there you could switch between 2 and 4WD, as needed.

bar10dah · #7 (**permalink**) 10-19-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pravus Prime

...like on some older models 4WD, and there you could switch between 2 and 4WD, as needed.

OLDER models?! Sheesh, that was last year!

My '04 Escape has said switch. But you're right. Everything is becoming automated.

It would be nice if I had a switch that would allow me to constantly run my HAH in 3 cyl mode. Maybe an Economy/Performance toggle?