Posted on 11/12/2008 8:11:00 AM PST by doug from upland
THESE ARE ARE 5 FINALISTS FOR "GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR"
GREAT INFO AT THE WEBSITE GREENCAR.COM
Maybe I’m the only one, but I hate the term “green” used for machines that release less CO2.
Trees (ie green things) survive on and LOVE CO2. Take away all the CO2s and see what happens to all the plants!
That guy looks like Rudy Giuliani.
Five never to buy!
Maybe I should have made this a humor thread.
Actually, there is only one that should never be bought. It’s probably the one that’s going to win.
The BMW 335d from the list is an awesome machine. Four cylinder Camry mileage with 425 ft-lbs of torque and 0-60 in 6.2. Thats awesome anyway you slice it. I’d love one.
“Five never to buy!”
I take it you didn’t click the link. The Smart is a doofus car but the others are good cars. The BMW 335 and the Jetta TDI are nice. The new Fushion is supposed to be good. I’ve heard good things about the Saturn Vue. All are good cars that work well for everyday living and don’t sacrifice much for mileage. They aren’t your dinky little Smart cars or some 40 horsepower death trap.
I can’t You Tube at work - can you list them for me?
Nevermind. Finally got the 2nd link to load.
Having had personal experience with the VW Jetta TDI, it’s a great car. My husband’s a manager at a VW/BMW dealership, and we had a Jetta TDI for a while, for test purposes. LOTS of power, quiet, no smelly exhaust, and got 43 MPG when not even broken in. Up until now, at least, the dealership has been sold out. I can’t tell you if demand has slowed presently yet, but since so many folks aren’t buying much of anything, it might be expected.
I’d still rather have a Bentley.
(pictured on right)
I must be color blind that looks like a red car to me.
Consumer desires have shifted in recent years – driven by an increased interest in environmental impact and a desire for better fuel economy in the face of wildly spiking gas prices – and the industry is responding. This has brought better choices for environmentally-inclined buyers. It’s about to get better … a lot better.
As Green Car Journal editors sifted through the mass of information available on coming new car models to identify nominees for the 2009 Green Car of the Year program, it became apparent that a sea change is occurring. The auto industry is not simply responding to a changing consumer market and tighter emissions and fuel economy laws. It is, in important ways, reinventing itself. This doesn’t mean the loss of the kind of vehicles we’ve come to appreciate over the years. Rather, it means that an evolution is occurring before our eyes. The cars and SUVS/crossovers that fill so many driveways today are still around, but new models are generally getting more fuel efficient and in many cases offering a lighter environmental impact. That’s clearly a good sign for years to come.
After thorough research and evaluation, Green Car Journal’s Top 5 for 2009™ – the year’s best-of-the-best ‘green’ vehicles - have been identified by the magazine’s editors. These vehicles are (listed alphabetically) the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, smart fortwo, and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. One of these exceptional models will be named the 2009 Green Car of the Year on November 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Vehicles using all types of technologies, fuels, and powerplants are eligible for the Green Car of the Year program. To qualify for consideration as a nominee, a vehicle must exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year. Plus, a potential nominee must be driven by Green Car Journal to allow experiencing driving dynamics first-hand. This driving requirement allows determining that those making the final cut live up to the promises made on paper. Production dates are important to ensure that nominee vehicles will actually be available for purchase during the award year.
Of course, these requirements might preclude some vehicles that are widely perceived as being fine examples of ‘green’ cars from making the cut. Ones that come to mind include the Tesla Roadster, the electric MINI E, and the coming Honda Insight. We’re told the 2009 Tesla Roadster will not be in production until April 2009, while the electric MINI E and Honda Insight have not yet been available for behind-the-wheel evaluation. There are other ‘green’ cars offering positive environmental attributes that also didn’t make the cut. But then, there’s always next year.
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