Posted on 01/13/2006 8:53:07 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2
DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, aiming to boost the ailing domestic auto industry and encourage conservation, on Friday outlined details of proposed tax breaks for people who buy hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles. ADVERTISEMENT
At a Ford Motor Co. research center in suburban Detroit, Snow discussed tax policy changes that would give people who buy or lease increasingly popular hybrid cars and trucks a tax credit up to $3,400.
When you are looking, test drive the Prius even if you think you don't want it. My husband fell in love with the Prius after driving it. He's a computer geek and was interested in the technology, but he's practical and loved the way it drove.
Cool! DON'T LET HIME TEST DRIVE A VETTE! hehe
I love the technology as well. I have more computers and systems that the Space Shuttle. LOL!
The Prius has great acceleration, better than our old Maxda RX-7 and Toyota Celica.
For one thing, it doesn't have gears like other cars. That was one of the things that impressed my husband. On the highway, my husband can pass all these sports cars.
There's a lot of misconceptions about Prius'. They are good cars, and shouldn't be knocked. I wish everyone was driving hybrids because they are much quieter. You wouldn't hear as much noise from automobiles if all cars were hybrids.
Well, this time around we also had some other practical considerations. We had to have a car that could fit 2 adults and 3 carseats. The Prius actually handled the 3 carseats better than some of the smaller SUVs we were looking at. The Prius has a decent sized back seat. Lots of cars say they are 5 passenger cars, but they don't fit 3 carseats.
If they are so popular, why did they need to be subsidized?
sounds way to logical...
We've had one for 5 years, and ours is better than sticker.
I'll take our real world experience over anything I read.
Pretty cool. :-) Not sure it would pass mine though. LOL! - See just like the arguments at work. hehehe (All in fun BTW)
My Vette has active handling, anti-lock braking, active traction control, electronic active ride control, performance algorithm shifting, electronic throttle control (included in the engine controller), engine knock sensors, dual electronic spark control sensors, camshaft position sensors, OnStar, Homelink, XM Satellite radio, Heads-up display (includes dot-matrix readouts for street mode, track mode with g-meter, vehicle speed, engine rpm, and readings from key gauges including water temperature and oil pressure), GPS Nav with LCD color map, an OLED two line Driver Information Center that monitors many vehicle functions such as tire pressure, oil temp, etc. (over 56 in all), electronic indexed windows, electrochromic mirrors, voice recognition (I can talk to the Vette and it talks back), keyless entry, push button start, all electronic guages (with white LED and fiber optic diaplays), electronic emission controls and sensors, HID headlights, dual six-way power leather seats, dual climate control, dual roof (one see thru lexan), air filtration, run-flat 19" super tires, etc.
I could go on but have been boring enough already. LOL!
Some of the above allows a car that can do 0-60 in ~4 seconds and has a top end of better than 190 mph to get over 20 miles per gallon.
If I see that the Prius can doing 0-60 in 4 seconds, I will be out buying one. :-)
My husband went 700 miles on 1 tank of gas. The tank holds 11 gallons.
That was the best we got. On average we get around 40-45 mpg. Sometimes it's up to 50, especially when I'm not driving. I like to crank up the heat or a/c.
How about a $10K credit for people serving time in prison.
Those great citizens do no harm to our environment at all.
Probably not, but the Prius is not a whimp especially for a 5 passenger car.
We test drove Echo (awful), RAV4, Corollas, Camrys, Ford Escapes, and I forgot the other ones. The Prius and the Camry were our favorites when it came down to the test drive, but my husband thought the Camry was boring.
Since I have ridden in his, I agree completely. It was a very nice car. (and I mean that in all sincerity)
Ummm...Boring, but nice. hehehe (Take a curve rated at 45 at over 70 with the G meter pushing .75 gees laterally and you will understand. :-) Why I also love flying airplanes and doing acrobatics!
But then I am a complete nut!
p.s. Skydiving was a rush as well. That I don't do anymore, but I still love scuba. :-)
There's alot of posters here that like to think themselves experts and who will say hybrids are a scam or words to that effect.
But if you really want to find out about hybrids, go talk to a hybrid owner or better to go to a car rental and rent one for a month or so. And keep in mind not all hybrids are the same. To be sure, make sure you talk to a Prius owner or rent one.
I know for a fact that the Toyota Prius gets greater than 50 mpg. I will repeat "it is a fact that the Prius gets greater than 50 mpg".
You and others can call me a liar but it will not change the fact that the Prius gets greater than 50 mpg.
But energy or greater mpg is not the real issue here. Everyone so far on this thread has missed the bigger issue.
But that acceleration and handling is a blast. I love it. :-)
2. Driving slower is better much easier on the insurance. I've got no tickets or accidents in the hybrid, despite at least 1 ticket per year in the old car.
I have not had a ticket in 7 years. You just need to be carful when you romp on it. Oh and a good Passport" ain't bad as well. LOL
3. Saving gas is common sense. Watch the meter on the dash, an accelerate slower, coast when possible, and slow if you see traffic ahead. Being alert saves gas big time.
Not a issue with me. So that was not a factor in my purchase.
4. Being on a cell phone ruins concentration, and results in much lower mileage, in addition to being very unsafe.
I use hands free cell when I am driving. No different than talking to a passenger in the car.
Much of the rest if physics; smaller, lighter pays off.
To a point. Even though the C6 is about 500lbs more, its performance is way up there.
6. Hybrids have an extremely high "cool factor" in most circles. The image is of being aware and on the cutting edge of technology. Envy increases as a function of gas prices.
Drive a Vette and watch heads turn. :-)
That is great. :-) My average 20 mpg in the city is fine for me. But again I was not worried about gas milage.
It "feels" good because it has too, because you paid more.
I feel the same way when I rent a car, not as comfortable as mine.
Structurally your car is no different than a comparable conventional Toyota, which are good, solid cars.
You are not hearing the engine during startup because you are under electric power. That doesn't translate to a higher quality car.
I don't have to test drive any cars to know that the hype behind Hybrids is B.S.
Your right the bigger issue is why should we subsidize one flavor of car and not beer or guns or fruitcake? What business does the IRS have in attempting to manipulate the legal behavior of citizens. - None if protecting liberty was the goal of government
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