| |
|
|
Hybrid cars
slbroug: For me it's just a diesel thing. Everything I own except the Harleys, the push mower and pressure washer are diesel. I even keep a news article around of a guy who built a V-Twin diesel motor for his Harley.
No, I'm not normal.
|
|
 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
For those of us who live in the more northern parts of the continent a diesel motor sitting over the drive wheels makes a HUGE difference in drivability in winter weather also.
I don't think anybody would make it out of their driveway around here with one of those lightweight buggies after a good dump of snow blows down off the bay and lands in the front yard.
Best of luck.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hybrid cars
The Ford Escape hybrid comes in 4x2 and 4x4 models which is much like all wheel drive that turns on as you need it. It should get you most places in northern climates. I couldn't find the mileage ratings for the 4x4. They only shown it for 4x2 which is 36/32 which still isn't bad for a small SUV.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hybrid cars
A number of years ago Ford offered an "electronic all wheel drive" version of the Aerostar which was a RWD vehicle. Basically it was a 2WD vehicle that had a high torque motor that kicked in to assist by powering the front wheels when it sensed the back wheels slipping.
A neighbour at my cottage bought on which he still drives today, it has been very dependable for him.
I remember reading in I think it was Popular Mechanics at the time they came out that Ford viewed it as the first step towards more electric drive systems.
Best of luck.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hybrid cars
This is becoming humorous. FYI - The '04 Prius weighs 2890 lbs and is front wheel drive. I live in Massachusetts and have no difficulty in the snow. 0 - 60 takes 11 sec or 14 sec for a Jetta (90 HP) turbodiesel. My mileage does drop in January & February due to a longer warm up period and interior heating requirements. My opinion - today there is no advantage to diesel except for tractors where speed does not matter & torque reigns supreme. My Prius is approaching 9K miles with zero problems - this is a Toyota after all. Oh, the battery guarantee is 8 years/100Kmi.
|
|
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
The comment about weight is exactly what I was talking about.
The Jetta weighs almost exactly 3000 lbs. and not very much of it is batteries, a 1.9 litre diesel sitting over the wheels means a considerable amount more weight is on the drive tires to increase traction.
Are ALL the batteries in a Prius under the hood together with the electric drive system and the 1.5 litre gas motor?
|
|
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
The Prius uses a sealed Nickel-metal hybrid battery, although I have not seen any description of what the metal is. Presumably the battery would have a very long life and even then it would be recycled as most rechargeable batteries are today.
I have not seen the spec.'s on the emissions either, although it is a very high-tech 4 valve per cylinder 4 banger, the fact still remains, it is a 1.5 litre GAS motor.
The diesel can't be THAT far behind it in cleanliness considering how thrifty it is on fuel in the first place, at 50ish miles per gallon there just isn't a lot fuel left to create emissions after making 100hp along the way.
Best of luck.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
08-24-2004, 21:17 
Pics
Reply
Digg It 
Del.icio.us 
