My F-150, 5.8 liter V-8 eats these as snacks.
Posted on 01/12/2009 6:02:31 AM PST by decimon
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At this point, buying a hybrid makes as much economic sense as buying a gas-guzzling SUV did last summer.
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(Excerpt) Read more at newsvine.com ...
I quit my job as a flight attendant and sold the car to buy a bigger one. Life is much better with more room in the car and less standing on my feet for 14 hours a stretch.
Yeah, that’s the point of my question. Auto industry has invested billions...to catch up to 1970s gas mileage.
Creature comforts and federal emissions regulations.
And how well they do on crash tests. Added weight for added safety.
Mmmm. Crunchy, with a chewy filling!
New federal emissions and safety regulations. Plus, if you note, the new Civic is as big as the old Accord used to be. The new Fit is more the size of the old Civics. However, it has to live with the new safety and emissions standards, which is why it can't get 40MPG. That additional weight, plus the federal bloat, reduces MPG.
I remember hearing about a study that shows that the reduction in MPG from all the new mandated emissions regulations actually off-sets the benefits for them. I say this because I never actually read a study about it, just heard of one being done. Can anyone else out there confirm and link?
And my 1996 V8 Town Car sneers at them.
I drive a comfortable car as many years as it is willing.
Read a great analysis. If gas cost $ 2.79/gallon, it would take 150,000 miles of driving before a Prius would save you money if you had, instead, bought a standard compact. At $ 1.69/gallon, you would never break even.
And you can kiss my hybrid SUV driving butt, Mr. Pretentious.
Thanks. That's good info when buying a vehicle for economy.
I haven't much of an emotional stake in vehicle type. That is, I don't make assumptions about drivers based on the vehicle they are driving. I've known guys with tiny Civics who were not guys to be messed with. Their buying decisions were financial.
I really like the idea of plug-in hybrids. Should the price of gas skyrocket or there be gas shortages then plugging in at night would provide a lot of necessary driving without any need for gasoline. They may not be practical at present but I hope they become so.
“I look DOWN on people who own hybrids.”....
I also like watching them get blown from lane to lane on the freeway in a wind gust.....
Liberals don't care about reality - they care about appearances. That said you are right, Code.
Well, what isn't?
I’d rather give my money to a Japanese car company than an oil company and some enemy country.
I don't plan to replace my vehicle every six months, so why should I change my buying plans every six months?
Every vehicle adds up. It depends on what function the vehicle is intended to serve.
A family with six children would not be able to travel together in most of the fine economical cars available. A SUV or Van may serve their purpose nicely. A retired urban couple with a generous pension may find a hybrid means their needs.
Using the word “efficiency” without an appreciation of what the word means is not useful. Energy efficiency means exhibiting a high ratio of output to input. A truck moving forty tons six miles for $3.00 is more efficient than a hybrid moving 1/1/2 tons forty miles for $2.00. A train is far more efficient than cars, trucks, buses, or airplanes. A two ton car would have to get 375 miles to the gallon to equal the energy efficiency of a train.
Why would you have buying plans every six months? Buying plans are for people in the market for a new vehicle.
Decisions should be individual. My individual need might be satisfied with a Miata or with a Caravan.
I have an idea in mind of what car I want and need, even if I'm not in the market for one right now. My opinion doesn't change with every short-term fluctuation in gas prices.
My point, which I could have made much more clearly, is that a car is a long-term purchase, and it's not a decision that should be made on short-term considerations like a couple bucks' fluctuation in gas prices.
All other things being equal, more MPG is better; but all things aren't equal. You have to deal with less cargo space, power and/or range, and/or a higher initial purchase price. Those equations shouldn't be based on what gas costs this week, and anyone making a rational vehicle-buying decision shouldn't be eyeing a different vehicle than he was six months ago based on falling gas prices alone.
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