The Hybrid Myth (El Rushbo Exposes Hybrid Cars As Fancy Yugos For Liberal Do-Gooders Alert)

Rush Limbaugh.com ^ | December 1, 2005 | Rush Limbaugh

[goldstategop]

Rush's take on the hybrid car craze? Its not saving the environment, its not saving gas and its not saving money. What the Toyota Prius and similar cars are - bottom line - are fancy Yugos for liberals. That's why they buy them to make a fashion statement and to feel good. Now fire away.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[B Knotts]

Some people think that hybrids somehow overcome the laws of physics, but they do not.

Usually, when you point this out to someone, they will counter with "well, they pollute less." Which is only true if you're talking about specific pollutants, or comparing with a substantially different vehicle.

Take a Prius, remove all the hybrid gear, and it would likely get better fuel economy (thus less pollutants) overally.

[RayChuang88]

I'd rather get this car that is frugal on gas, has really flexible cargo carrying capacity, and really easy to park:

The Honda Fit is coming to the USA March 2006.

[small voice in the wilderness]

...my son-in-law just...bought a...Prius. That's all I want to say on this subject. Except one thing: as we were leaving their house Sunday, they were getting ready to go buy their Christmas tree. And they were taking the Prius. I would have given anything to see the lightbulb go off in the SIL's head when he started back home, and it dawned on him he was carrying a FRESH CUT TREE home on the roof of his "Save the Planet" hybrid.

Irony. I just love irony.

[Looking4Truth]

And also aren't these cars made of the same type of materials as regular cars for the most part?

The little 'greenie' mobile has to get its plastic, steel, aluminum and other materials from the same kind of factories that supply materials for 'regular' cars so the factories aren't polluting any less by supplying parts for the hybrid than for any other type of vehicle, right?

[Tall_Texan]

Of course, the hybrid gets its improved mileage primarily by recycling the energy used in decelerating which means that the more you drive it on highways, the less advantage you are seeing in gas mileage. To really benefit, you need to do a lot of stop-and-start driving which means more wear and tear on other automtive parts.

My liberal brother drove us around in his Prius during the holidays so I spotted an immediate advantage. When deciding who's vehicle to take, we always chose the one that used the least gas (i.e. the Prius), so my truck didn't need to be driven until it was time to go home. He spent the money for gas while I got free chauffering! ;))

[billhilly]

"I am never going to buy a car that gets anything over 14 miles a gallon, on average, because it's going to be too small. It's going to be too risky."

That was Rush speaking, and while I agree with him about the Prius, he obviously does not know about another Toyota product, the Avalon. A full size car, it has all the luxury one could expect, tremendous safety, lots of power from its 260-70 HP V-6, and 31 mpg highway miles. The top of the line Avalon sells for about $35,000, not much more than the Prius, but twice the car.

[goldstategop]

Exactly! To break even on the premium battery, gas prices would have to double in the next ten years. They've only doubled in the past twenty! So if you're a hybrid car owner, you may be waiting a long time to recoup your investment. But if you're a liberal, the symbolism is more important any way even if you don't end up making the planet cleaner. What's important is you're making a statement of moral superiority. So that's why, like with electric cars, there exists something of a market for these vehicles. In purchasing one, you can make it clear you're better than any one else and you're the smartest person on earth. Even if the whole thing, from a purely rational perspective, is stupid. Don't ask why liberals do things differently. They just do.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[1066AD]

About a Corolla if you take out the big batteries etc isn't it ?

[SIDENET]

I read that the Fit gets over 50 mpg.

[RayChuang88]

What the Toyota Prius and similar cars are - bottom line - are fancy Yugos for liberals.

While I agree with that for the first-generation version of the Prius sold here, the second-generation car--despite its bulbous looks--is actually quite practical. The interior is quite roomy (just as roomy as a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord!) and you can actually fold down the rear seat backs to creat a large cargo space accessed through the back hatch door.

[RayChuang88]

I read that the Fit gets over 50 mpg.

That's assuming the British Imperial gallon. Subtract about 20% and you'll get the true US fuel mileage.

[LonePalm]

Ssssshhhhhhh! Don't tell them.

It lowers our gas prices and if one of these things hits my van I'll just touch up the paint.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[B Knotts]

I don't know exactly how much the batteries weigh, but I suspect that without them, it's lighter than the Corolla.

Also, keep in mind that lower drag of the Prius body.

[goldstategop]

The EPA figures are never realistic. Real world driving is different and I'd cut the figure by a third. So 33 mpg is the ballpark on what you can expect to save driving this hybrid over time. You're basically paying a premium to get the same mileage you would driving a well-engineered gas powered car. What have you really saved? People can drive what they want - its a free country but they shouldn't think hybrids are going to make the internal combustion engine histoire. It'll be a long time before fuel cell technology is ready for the automobile market.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[B Knotts]

The Avalon is considered full-size, but it's not really. It's more 3/4 size.

A Crown Vic is full-size, IMO. Although it gets better than 14 mpg.

Heck, my F-150 4x4 gets better than 14 mpg.

[JDoutrider]

BTTT!

[GBA]

All a Prius is good for is moving 2 people from point a to point b without a guilt trip.

My favorite vehicle is my supercharged 4WD V6 Tacoma. My Tacoma doesn't get the mileage the Prius gets, but it will go anywhere in any weather, can haul and/or pull a decent load and, work or play, it looks damn good whatever it's doing. It's deceptively quick, has a very good crash safety record, outstanding reliability and it is FUN to drive on the road, in the sand, out in the desert, up and down narrow mountain trails, on snow and ice or just on my daily commute. Oh, what a feeling! And for less money than a Prius.

When a Prius can do all my Tacoma can do, I'll buy one. Otherwise, why would I want it?

[Wheens]

Think Rush has a Maybach.

[bert]

.....are fancy Yugos for liberals.....

This is a misconception.

I was driving upgrade on an interstate doing about 75 and a prius blew my doors off on the inside lane. It took me a while to get through the other traffic to catch up.

It was definitely a Prius and it was doing a good solid 85mph up the long grade.

No Hugo could ever do that.