OK- now you are doing selective data mining. The only way to compare mpg for different vehicles is to use the EPA numbers for both (same test conditions, etc), or to have the same drivers in both cars over the same conditions, or to use a significant sample size for both- where variances average out to a degree. The fueleconomy.gov sample sizes are, well, pathetically insufficient to draw any conclusions. That is why this site exists- to try to build up significant numbers and show the distribution.

That is the only fair way to compare. HAH wins based on the EPA numbers- the only fair comparison available to date.

You use the HAH fueleconomy.gov data (sample size 8. And I'm one of them.) to drag off the HAH's fuel economy to at/below Malibu's EPA numbers, yet make no mention of the same #s for Malibu. Sample size ZERO. 1 for the 6cyl. There is no way to make a comparison. without user ranges for each vehicle.

 

I think you are misreading my intentions. I went to fueleconomy.gov specifically to get the EPA numbers and I posted those in my reply. I also discussed being shocked at the owner mileage reports and also skeptical of the sample sizes. I'm the last guy to use a sample size of one to try to make a point.

Peace,

Martin

 

ok. my mistake. I guess I'm conditioned to see too many folks/orgs/causes who intentionally use selective information comparisons to make a point. Sound-bite culture.

 

Hi martinjlm!

I was just curious: in your opinion, why has the U.S. in general been slower to embrace or develop hybrid autos? I realize our society loves its 4x4's and 'over-compensators' but Ford has acknowledged this and produced the hybrid Escape. Why have GM and Daimler-Chrystler been ignoring this mostly until recently? The green VUE has been repeatedly placed on the back burner and the Hybrid Silverado is a joke (no offense intended). I guess what I'm asking is what has happend to the Big Three's ingenuity? For example, if an electric motor is valued for its superb torque, than why not place one in a pickup that kicks on for pulling stumps (or whatever)? Why don't ALL cars have AT LEAST an auto stop feature alone? Forgive me if I seem ignorant, I have zero engineering experience, but even these small changes would seem to be a start in the right direction.

 

The US market seems to be very much a horsepower culture. Whenever the question of hybrids comes up "Are they worth it," the discussion descends into some analysis saying that they don't save more fuel than it would cost just to buy a poorly equipped economy car. Of course, if you look on the other side of the equasion at, say, a Chrysler 300C an someone asks if it's worth the extra $12,000 to go from the V6 model to the 425hp SRT-8, the entire automotive journalist world will jump up and down saying what a stellar deal it is to spend $12,000 so you can get far worse gas mileage and increased maintenance costs in exchange for having 425 horsepower.

What's even more frustrating is that amount of intense hatred that most folks seem to harbor for hybrids. You can go on a lot of other forums and ask about hybrids and you'll almost immidiately get a bunch of replies pretty much equating hybrids to the work of the devil. I can't explain it, but the more that fuel prices go up, the quieter the voices of opposition should be. The good news is that when people vote their pocketbook, they are buying hybrids in ever-increasing quantities month after month.

 

I almost hit 40 mpg with my best ever tank. My average is just under 30 mpg but most of the time I'm not trying so hard when driving the Vette. I try really hard most of the time with the HCH so driving the Vette tends to be more of an act of tire squalling rebellion. The Vette is actually easier to drive for mileage cause it will pull most hills around here in 6th gear at 700 rpm with power to spare.

 

Nicely done. If we still had a respect-o-meter I'd give you a point for that one.

 

This is so true and I can't begin to understand or expain it either. I posted a "are you ready to buy a hybrid now that gas is over $3 a gallon thread" and a few were interested and came over here. Most were very hostile. My Avatar has been a picture of a hybrid with my running lifetime calculated mileage manually added as a signature for months. One of the questions was what do I drive and what do I get out of it!

I tried to help but almost no one would listen.

 

Uh...Wow. I was just going to say, it's nice to have a local! (Or rather another local) Do you work at the tech center in Warren at 12 and Van Dyke, or somewhere else?

Anyway, sorry to interupt, but welcome!

 

Hi Lakedude:

___A bit OT but I have had some real doozey’s over at DriveAccord.net in the last 6 months. Low and behold, even some of the most strident opponents of our higher FE techniques are now over here behind the scenes and learning how the hybrid and non-hybrid hypermiling pilots get the FE they do Just 3 months ago, I would have been roasted alive over there for mentioning the acronym “FAS” and today, you have a lot of guys starting to improve their own relatively poor FE with just that one technique alone! Things are looking up for the rest of the country if we can just teach them about the tools to improve on their own …

___Never, ever, give up.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net