I can assure you that first responders take the badges very seriously. So much so that you could delay attempts to extract you or your passengers from an accident or a disabled vehicle for any other cause until they had assessed the "hybrid" claim on a vehicle that isn't supposed to have it, that they have not had training on, and that they have no knowledge of.

I don't want to get into the mud slinging here... just pointing out a very real ramification of false badges. IMHO, They have the same potential as removing badges from a real hybrid and both should not be taken lightly.

 

Good job "error checking" my post without actually reading and examining context. I said we bought OUR hybrids, meaning my wife and I, who own a HAH and a HCH-II.

 

The leaf emblem the original poster is irked to see on some non-hybrid Fords denotes FFV -- a Flex Fuel Vehicle (eg. one that can run one normal gasoline and, say, ethanol.) It's just the leaf and road logo--it does not say HYBRID.

I find it comical that someone would actually put the emblem on a non-hybrid or non-FFV, so much so that I think our single-post-to-his-name diesel F350 driver is pulling everyone's leg. For one thing, the badging is so small I'd wager 99.9% of people don't see them anyway... only other hybrid drivers really notice them, because they're typically looking for "kin" on the roadways. I mean really, do you notice every Mustang GT vs. non-GT Mustang, or every Dodge HEMI vs. non-HEMI pickup?

 

I doubt any emblem fools the fuel pump.

Bob Wilson

 

One possibility not mentioned yet - to avoid being vandalized.

In some areas there is a high incidence of SUV's being damaged by
eco-vandals. Flattened tires, keyed paintjobs, etc. occur more
frequently than you might imagine in heavily Left-leaning areas
(e.g. West Seattle).

I realize many of you may find that hard to believe - because you
would never think of doing such an intolerant thing yourselves.

But there are individuals out there who fail to understand the fact
that vandalizing large vehicles in the name of environmentalism
does more harm to the cause than it does good.

Sometimes it's not so obvious why a vehicle was vandalized, but
sometimes there is no doubt (when messages are scratched
into paint or left along with vandalism done).

Personally, I think Hybrids are a fad, and eventually high efficiency
diesels (e.g. Opel Eco Speedster and even current small diesel vehicles)
will supplant hybrids. High efficiency alternative fuel, or even diesel,
has greater potential. Hybrids appear to be high tech (and they are),
but the technology has inherent limitations that will be made clearer
when we have the hindsight of historical perspective.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/04/coming-soon-to.html

For now, I will enjoy my Huge SUV when it is the most practical for
the purpose, and intend to replace my small car with a Diesel Jetta
or Passat Station Wagon.

Yes, this is my first post - I just wanted to make y'all aware that
people who drive SUVs do have vandalism as a concern. Vandals
don't ask why the SUV is most practical for for the person who
uses it - they assume that a small car would be adequate.

 

Hi Mark,

You mean those west coast SUVs out there are not covered with a fine layer to dirt and wheel wells with caked on mud? How about the tires, any cuts or evidence of unusual wear patterns?

I don't know about anyone else but when I see an SUV with dirt, mud, and a few scratches, I figure it has been doing what an SUV does best ... goin' out into the bushes. Heck, even a few dents make an SUV look like what it should be, a practical and useful tool. But I understand different areas have different standards.

In the 1960s, my parents drove through Boston and I noticed: (1) every car, even the new ones, had dents, and (2) more horns were heard in 5 minutes than in a year in Oklahoma. If figured it was just the way they were and vowed never to spend any more time in Boston than I had to. So maybe your west coast SUVs aren't really used for real work?

Bob Wilson

 

Honestly, ours gets used mostly like a station wagon &/or a pickup truck.

We own 3 SUVs, but the Excursion is the only one we use - it was bought
to replace the other two.

The old ones got good & dirty - our kids love to get airborne in the truck.
So far, I haven't had time to get the Excursion dirty.

It will be a good vehicle for going snowboarding. Carrying forur people and
snowboarding gear, and a dog and provisions for two days takes up a lot
of space. Four wheel drive is fantastic in snow & ice.

We also pull trailers with it from time to time. A heavy trailer needs a
heavy vehicle - horsepower is not as important as mass for controlling
a trailer. Trailer brakes can overcome an undersized tow vehicle, but
stability when going down the road and when maneuvering require a
vehicle sized for the trailer.

But mostly, it's a big station wagon, which is why we will by a Jetta or
Passat diesel after we sell our old vehicles.

 

to each there own but with SUV values plummeting over the last year or two I was so happy to get rid of mine. I think that we will move towards electric, CNG & hydrogen cars in time and this hybrid will serve me for the years that it will take for those to become viable.

 

As you say, to each his own.

The low prices were why we bought an Excursion.
I considered an H1 Hummer (the real one) but for practical reasons
decided against it - and they are still outside my budget.

In the "to each his own" spirit, just chuckle next time you see a
big SUV with a hybrid emblem, knowing it's 'prolly just a joke.

 

The highest-volume Toyota dealership in Canada is not above exploiting the look of the Hybrid Synergy Drive emblem for their own means. Don Valley North Toyota sells the following emblem for $18, seen here on a non-hybrid Camry:



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