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.
If there truly is an energy shortage, people will buy energy efficient cars on their own, without regard to pronouncements by either Rush or by politicians.
IMO, though, any energy crisis we may have has been artificially created.
It's too much to ask.
Yugo with batteries.
(response to: your side-impact numbers suck):
But I got these huge side and curtain airbags to knock me out so at least I won't suffer. :->
97 DX 5-speed 4-door. While it can have some acceleration at higher RPM's, it's still too slow for my tastes. I still get about 33 on the freeway, but then again I drive fast all the time.
There's your problem right there. The engine on the Honda Civic DX/LX models are rated only at 102 bhp, which is a tad anemic for the 6th-generation Civic (1996-2000 models). My Civic HX CVT coupé has an engine rated at 115 bhp and believe me, up to 75 mph the car has quite a lot of "oomph."
From what I've read, the 2006 Civic sedans will sport 140 bhp and will have five-speed automatics and six-speed manuals. The result in very good performance--even more than my car.
It does seem to me that whenever I see a vehicle operated carelessly or recklessly it's almost invariably one of these little shoebox cars. My wife and I frequently drive at night in elk country. We plod along at 65, keeping a careful eye out. We get passed like we were standing still by Neons and Metros zipping away into the darkness. We call these guys "interceptors" and joke about them "leaping into their graves laughing." These underpowered cars don't get any gas mileage at extreme speeds either, too far removed from their torque peaks.
From fueleconomy.gov:
2005 Honda Accord 3L EX Automatic: 21/30, 0-60 in 7.0
2005 Honda Accord 3L Hybrid Automatic: 29/37, 0-60 in 6.5
That's about a 30% overall improvement in economy with an *improvement* in performance over the conventional Accord. The base price for the hybrid is $30,140, vs. $26,850 for the conventional version. Very little delta in price; certainly not a huge expense, and it should pay off fairly quickly. On top of that, it's an Accord, not some weird bodystyle (Prius, Insight).
Toyota is coming out with a hybrid version of the Highlander. Same electrics as the Prius (IIRC) but with a V-6. They claim that it's a screamer from 0-60. The electric motor kicks in at the low end and takes some of the load off of the gas engine. One feature I like is that the gas engine will completely shut off at low speeds. I like the idea of having "stealth mode" available during hunting season. ; )
The hybrid Accord accelerates just fine when the charge is low - it has the same 3L engine as its conventional siblings. The added weight makes it a hair slower, but not enough to worry about.
"I paid a little over $20,000 for the car in '01, and I'm selling it for $15,000," McCann said.
Liberal math at work. How is 15,000 more than 20,000? Makes you wonder about their mileage claims too
"I ran my prius into a concrete light post at over 20 mph and walked away"
Walked away, meaning the car wasn't driveable? What kinda mileage do you get with those Hushpuppies?
Filled up my Nissan Maxima yesterday. A bone-dry fill up had been costing me $24.00. Yesterday, a full tank was $30.00. ($1.21/gallon) A tank of gas lasts me close to two weeks @ 30 MPG or so.
Crisis? What crisis? ;)
yes even bio-diesel hybrids...there are many other options too, propane, ethane, methane hybrids, alcohol hybrids etc...
We are the smartest species on this planet, it is through lack of innovation & badgering by those who make huge proffits from oil that we are stuck on one main source of fuel for our vehicles.
I KNOW that's a typo!
LOL! I'm obviously in denial. The total for a tank was correct, but you're right, the ppg is $2.21. :)
Right, the car was not drivable after I hit the post. Both front airbags went off, as well as the two front explosive seat belt retractors, and the car bounced a foot off the concrete post. The post was unharmed. I'd post a picture if I had any idea how. I'll have to learn that trick.
I worry sometimes about driving a car around with so many explosive devices in it (front air bags, side air bags,
curtain air bags, and explosive seat belt tensioners).
I only bring it up because there is a misperception among some about high-gas-mileage cars being made of tin foil and being death traps. They aren't Hummers, but they do well in crash tests in terms of passenger protection. And I can't get it to go fast enough to roll it over :->
I get much better gas mileage with my electric assist bicycle.
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