USA Today/Edmunds.com article
#11
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
What I find absolutely amazing is how the payback concept has entered into how hybrids are evaluated by some members of the press, and yet that has never been a talking point in any of their other articles about other vehicles. That just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. No vehicle has any economic payback or break even. You always spend money on cars from day one, they are a continuing expense. If the expense is not just fuel, then it is maintenance, tires, repairs, etc.
If auto journalists want to add another dimension to their articles, then they should be doing B/E analysis for all vehicles they write about, not just a select few.
If auto journalists want to add another dimension to their articles, then they should be doing B/E analysis for all vehicles they write about, not just a select few.
#12
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
Originally Posted by JeromeP
What I find absolutely amazing is how the payback concept has entered into how hybrids are evaluated by some members of the press, and yet that has never been a talking point in any of their other articles about other vehicles. That just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. No vehicle has any economic payback or break even. You always spend money on cars from day one, they are a continuing expense. If the expense is not just fuel, then it is maintenance, tires, repairs, etc.
If auto journalists want to add another dimension to their articles, then they should be doing B/E analysis for all vehicles they write about, not just a select few.
If auto journalists want to add another dimension to their articles, then they should be doing B/E analysis for all vehicles they write about, not just a select few.
Since gas prices are the main driving force, clearly people are expecting to save money with a hybrid purchase.
#13
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
Sure
City driving. Accelerate to 35 mpg. Time saved: 3 seconds.
Caught at the next light -- time savings lost
Total time savings: Nothing.
City driving. Accelerate to 35 mpg. Time saved: 3 seconds.
Caught at the next light -- time savings lost
Total time savings: Nothing.
Originally Posted by tbaleno
I fudged with my assumptions to make the numbers look worse. Thats what journalists do right? I still need to find ways to make the numbers look reasonable and get the payback out to around 10 years. Any ideas?
#14
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
LakeDude,
Spot on regarding gas prices and purchasing behavior. But those people are comparing a hybrid to their current gas guzzler, not a Honda civic hybrid to a regular civic.
I agree that it is illogical to think hybrid vs SUV, and ignore all the choices in the middle -- but there you have it. I'm no marketing shrink, but I can throw out a couple of possibilities to explain consumer behavior:
1. A lot of those SUV buyers were just following the fashion, and continue to do so.
2. Americans predominantly value car size above everything else ('power' is second). The Prius is the biggest car they can buy for their price range that gets excellent mpg. I really think this is the dominant reason for the Prius' success.
Spot on regarding gas prices and purchasing behavior. But those people are comparing a hybrid to their current gas guzzler, not a Honda civic hybrid to a regular civic.
I agree that it is illogical to think hybrid vs SUV, and ignore all the choices in the middle -- but there you have it. I'm no marketing shrink, but I can throw out a couple of possibilities to explain consumer behavior:
1. A lot of those SUV buyers were just following the fashion, and continue to do so.
2. Americans predominantly value car size above everything else ('power' is second). The Prius is the biggest car they can buy for their price range that gets excellent mpg. I really think this is the dominant reason for the Prius' success.
#15
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
I read the Newsweek article and agree about the need to excellerate and decelerate slowly frustrates drivers behind me. I know it's the way I should be driving from now on in order to optimize my mpg, but if I were in back of me, I'd have to wring my neck. I used to hate the kind of drive I now must become.
#16
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
I had an experience where I was slowing for a red light. Of course I took my foot off the gas far before most people. So this car comes up behind me and honks. I was about 25ft from the last car in line at the red light and still coasting. My speed was probably about 15mph.
So this guy honks and zooms around to get between me and the car I'm coming up on. The light turns green and this guy signals for a right turn. For fun I honked at him because he is blocking me from going straight. So basicly he zoomed to get around me so he could wait in line to make a turn. I hope it was worth his time
I'd also like to know why if I am driving too slow the time to get to work hasn't changed?
So this guy honks and zooms around to get between me and the car I'm coming up on. The light turns green and this guy signals for a right turn. For fun I honked at him because he is blocking me from going straight. So basicly he zoomed to get around me so he could wait in line to make a turn. I hope it was worth his time
I'd also like to know why if I am driving too slow the time to get to work hasn't changed?
#18
Re: USA Today/Edmunds.com article
Accelerating slowly does not improve MPG. In my Prius, 1/3 to 1/2 depression of the gas pedal is optimal.
Originally Posted by laruski
I read the Newsweek article and agree about the need to excellerate and decelerate slowly frustrates drivers behind me. I know it's the way I should be driving from now on in order to optimize my mpg, but if I were in back of me, I'd have to wring my neck. I used to hate the kind of drive I now must become.
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