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Hummer Versus Prius
WISC TV Channel 3000 ^ | April 14, 2005 | Staff Writer

Posted on 04/14/2005 2:25:36 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

Hummer Vs. Prius Waiting List For Hybrids Pushing Up Cost

MADISON, Wis. -- GM is taking the wraps off the 2006 military-style, Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 Hummer H1.

A 300-horsepower engine moves the 7,600-pound beast.

But with gas prices inching toward $2.50 this summer, the Toyota Prius is the hot ride in the Madison area. The Prius hybrids are well known for their fuel efficiency, but now they're also becoming known as one of the only mass-produced cars that can demand $1,000 or more -- used -- than its original price.

Joanne McCann just bought her second Prius and wants to sell her first one.

"I paid a little over $20,000 for the car in '01, and I'm selling it for $15,000," McCann said.

With 19,000 miles on it, she feels this is a steal.

"There certainly is a market now for these cars," she said.

It's not common to pay more for a used car than a new one, but with gas prices increasing, dealers say it's also not surprising.

"Supply and demand can dictate that," said Doug Peitz, sales manager at Jon Lancaster Toyota. "Instant gratification is that you can get the used Prius right now. Some people don't want to wait the four to eight months to get a new Prius."

Peitz says at least two requests come in every day for hybrids -- 22 people are already on the April waiting list.

Other hybrids like the Honda Accord and Civic are also selling like hotcakes, but dealers here say they;re not dealing with a shortage of these hybrid vehicles.

A Kelly Blue Book survey says if gas hits $3 per gallon, 77 percent of buyers will seriously consider a more fuel-efficient car.

McCann said the growing price of her Prius is not what she expected when she bought the car, but is definitely not worried about getting it sold.

"You expect real estate to go up, but whenever you buy a car you expect it to depreciate -- that's just how it is," McCann said.

Because the Prius is so popular, other companies are coming out with hybrid vehicles. Look for them beginning this summer.

News 3 auto expert Matt Joseph said not all used Priuses will sell for more. Joseph said that while the hybrid cars bring a premium, they don't routinely sell for more than new cars.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: generalmotors; hummer
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To: martin_fierro

And here I was thinking of getting something smaller for my commute into work. After seeing what even just a motorcycle can do to one of these mini-cars, I think I'll keep my Durango.


41 posted on 04/14/2005 3:03:49 PM PDT by FreedomHammer
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To: martin_fierro

That's hard hitting and true.

I love it when they take their frameless, lightweight compact car and say "With airbag". (sarcasm)

In Europe there are so so many of these communist cars. They all seem to have them. They are the new Trabants and Ladas of the semi socialist Europe where big government thinks for the people by eliminating freedom through taxation (But technically, it's not illegal- you just can’t afford it as a normal person). I’d feel guilty if I stuck my wife and daughter in such a car on the Autobahn or Highway.

I have a friend in Fairbanks who hit a Moose on the Main Highway between Eielson AFB and Ft. Wainwright. He threw the Moose 40 feet (He was speeding a bit) and that animal was HUGE! He had the biggest Ford SUV built (Excursion?) and it was totaled. NO ONE in the car was hurt.

Red6


42 posted on 04/14/2005 3:06:35 PM PDT by Red6
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To: Red6
The moral of the story is...

Buy both. A Duramax V8 diesel Hummer H1 is a great utility vehicle for the special occassions. A gas-sipping Prius is great for a daily driver.

43 posted on 04/14/2005 3:11:08 PM PDT by Frohickey
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To: Spktyr

My lesbian friend drives a Matrix. I think the point might hold up ;P

Need more data samples I guess...


44 posted on 04/14/2005 3:11:55 PM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Spktyr
I always assumed that Prius was meant to mean "Pry Us out of this tin can after the accident."
45 posted on 04/14/2005 3:12:29 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If Islam is a religion of peace, they should fire their P.R. guy!)
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To: MD_Willington_1976
a diesel hybrid is way more efficient
If the electric portion of the hybrid is flexible enough to completely control the engine RPM by controlling the load, you could even use the dual-fuel diesel. Which, the book said 50 years ago, might be the most efficient practical thermodynamic cycle.

It consists of a diesel engine with a lean carburator, which requires a pilot charge of diesel to ignite the main charge of gas. Runs smoother than the diesel, but can't be throttled and must be controlled by main force through its torque loading.


46 posted on 04/14/2005 3:13:18 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: conservlib
Rush Limbaugh foolishly insisted on telling his listeners to get the biggest SUV.

While Rush defends SUV's and those who buy them, I don't believe he has told his listeners to go buy the biggest SUV.

The irony is that the SUV caze was driven by the liberals and their attack on cars with, in their opinion, poor gas mileage.

If they would have left it alone people would be driving cars getting better mileage that the SUV's. In classic overreach they got laws passed requiring cars to get better mileage (smaller cars) but the people didn't want to buy smaller cars, so they bought much larger SUV's that were classified as trucks and were not required to meet their mileage requirements.

47 posted on 04/14/2005 3:14:36 PM PDT by RJL
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To: All
Here ya go, one of my favorite cars, a 1968 Buick Wildcat.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
48 posted on 04/14/2005 3:23:24 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Lutheran, Conservative, Neo-Victorian/Edwardian - Any Questions?)
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To: Pukin Dog

In my opinion, the Hummer has replaced the Corvette as the #1 small penis car. Everyone who owns has to tells us how big and powerful it is and how it drive over small cars. I wonder what Freud would say?

In the interest of full disclosure I drive the following:
2000 Honda CBR 600 F4 Motorcycle - Track / Group ride toy
2001 Honda S2000 – It’s my weekend / track car. It has about 1000 track miles on it (@ Summit Point.) You’d have to gather about 500 SUVs to equal that in off road miles.
2005 Honda Civic Si – My Daily driver. My last tank yielded 28+mpg


49 posted on 04/14/2005 3:23:24 PM PDT by ElTianti
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I'm confused. She buys it for around $20k and is selling it for $15k. According to my elementary school arithmatic, she is selling the car for LESS than she paid for it, not more.


50 posted on 04/14/2005 3:27:34 PM PDT by RobRoy (Child support and maintenence (alimony) are what we used to call indentured slavery)
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To: RJL
I agree 100%. The problem was the short vision of our politicians, and leaders. They should have taken the lead in demanding better efficient cars AND "trucks"! The national energy policy has been played with, marginalized, and made fun of. At the end, we have one thing clear: the US has prostituted itself to Saudi Arabia! That is a position I cannot imagine how red blooded Americans accept.

To me if Saudi Arabia is given a card blanch to build thousands of mosques and preach hate against us in our own country, and we are forbidden from building even one single church in that country, you tell me who is the bitch in this relationship.

51 posted on 04/14/2005 3:30:43 PM PDT by conservlib
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
With 19,000 miles on it, she feels this is a steal.

Fours years old with 19K, does she live in Pasadena?

52 posted on 04/14/2005 3:36:03 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Have you had your Flag-o-Gram today?)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

That's fine. Too bad your side impact stats on the Prius suck.


53 posted on 04/14/2005 3:37:59 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: ElTianti

You replaced the differential in the S2000 yet? ;)


54 posted on 04/14/2005 3:41:40 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Frohickey
"The moral of the story is...

Buy both. A Duramax V8 diesel Hummer H1 is a great utility vehicle for the special occassions. A gas-sipping Prius is great for a daily driver."

Good point. I did. A Ford E350 Powerstroke extended van and a Honda Insight. As a side note, the mileage champ Insight has a lousy resale value. I believe this is a direct result of it being dissed by Consumer Reports and the herd mentality of its mostly liberal readers.

Anyone who wants to try a hybrid might want to look at the Insight. It gets excellent mileage, can be bought cheaply used, and is a great commuting car. There are downsides, though, and I think these are issues with all hybrids:

- poor performance when the battery is low. This happens more often than you think.
- the dealers and their staff are clueless.
- battery replacement will be a big, expensive problem.
- more systems that are generally more complicated.

All in all, I think hybrids are a flash in the pan. If you want good mileage, get a small car with a small engine. If you want better mileage, get a diesel (any size) and run it on used fryer oil.
55 posted on 04/14/2005 3:43:43 PM PDT by beef (Who Killed Kennewick Man?)
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To: ambrose

Honda has a much better idea on hybrids. It must be a usable car first, a hybrid second. The Civic and Accord hybrids are actual cars, and you can't tell them apart from their conventional siblings if you take the sticker off.


56 posted on 04/14/2005 3:45:58 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: beef

The Insight has the same problem - it's a hybrid first and a car second. Honda has remedied this with the Civic and Accord hybrids.


57 posted on 04/14/2005 4:00:55 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: speed_addiction
Can I come over? I live near San Diego. Highest gas prices in the nation.
58 posted on 04/14/2005 4:01:58 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: martin_fierro

owie!


59 posted on 04/14/2005 4:01:59 PM PDT by null and void (RFID - It's all in the wristâ„¢...)
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To: ambrose
I have my eye on the Accord Hybrid... goes 0 to 60 in 6 seconds.

Same here. The Accord Hybrid will be my....er...I mean, my wife's next car. I get the hand-me-downs.

60 posted on 04/14/2005 4:29:22 PM PDT by Keeper of the Turf (Fore!!!)
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