| Click to Post a New Message!
Page [ 1 ] |
|
|
|
Hybrid cars
I believe most of the efficiency gain in hybrids is due to less energy lost to waste heat, smaller engines that operate almost exclusively in their optimum efficiency bands, and recovery of some energy through brake regeneration. That, and the fact that most hybrids to date are pretty dinky cars. I personally think hybrid technology is a dead end street due to large amounts of hazardous waste (batteries), needless complexity, risk of electrocution in accidents, etc. At one point this technology was heavily subsidized and the automakers sold every one at a loss, but I'm not sure what the economics are these days. IMHO, small diesels will be the wave of the future due to better economics and renewable bio-diesel fuels.
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
I guess dinky is in the eye of the beholder. A good friend of mine has a Prius and we drive around in it all the time. It's dinky in my opinion, but the color dash display is fun to watch.
My understanding is that development was subsidized a bit by the government and sales were encouraged through tax credits so maybe Detroit chose not to be a party to that arrangement. I don't blame 'em if that's the case, subsidies come and go and when they go guess who is left holding the bag? If it were my manufacturing company I wouldn't want to make something that couldn't profitably sell on it's own merits.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
My friends Prius is an '02 so I guess it was smaller. He has had great luck with it and it's been a reliable car. I hope I didn't sound like I was criticizing them, but compared to our Taurus the 02 is a small car (at least on the outside). I'll have to look at the 04 models sometime. Certainly can't blame anyone for shopping for fuel economy these days. We're looking at replacing the wifes Taurus with a Jeep Liberty Diesel in the next year and I'm looking for a used VW TDI to get better mileage as well.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
AV8R, I know what you mean about the TDIs. I've been keeping an eye on eBay motors for one to pop up that might be in my area. I'd take a Jetta, Passat, or Golf TDI but no Beetle - those are ladies cars!
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
I'd rather have the diesel too. For one, I have a far better chance of doing my own repairs on it and for another the diesel engine will probably outlast any hybrid drivetrain.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
The fact that it's a Toyota doesn't mean anything to me. We had a Corolla that was as big a POS as our current Fords.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
One point in the hybrids favor was brought up that I'm unclear about. The hybrids certainly produce fewer exhaust emissions than diesels, but when you consider the big picture with hundreds of lbs. of battery waste I'm not sure it's a net environmental benefit. Aren't the batteries toxic waste? What kind of battery technology do they use?
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Hybrid cars
slbroug, my experience with CRs ratings have been spotty at best. I've bought a few top rated items that have sucked big time and after my last experience gave up on them. I agree that Toyota's generally are decent, but I'd probably not buy another. I still don't think hybrids are a long term solution though. The complexity is just too expensive to produce profitably IMHO, but if they help the manufacturer meet CAFE standards they can make up for it in their product mix with bigger, faster, more powerful, and more profitable vehicles.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page [ 1 ] | Thread 94069 Filter by Poster:
1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
|
()
Picture of the Day
Coachlarry
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
08-22-2004, 13:15 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us