G.M. to Cut jobs sell Hummer

[4RE KLR]

I have said this before:

If the auto manufacturers would build what people want, people would buy what the auto manufactures are building.

I have one question.

Why do all of the Hybrid type vehicles have to be Ugly? It is like a prerequisite that before it can be a Hybrid they have to first make it UGLY.

What's up with that?

[Ron61]

Steve,

Even more so than why do they have to be boxes with wheels, is why they don't get better mileage than they advertise. I was just looking at a list of the top 10 hybrids on my home page Reuters News Feed and I believe the top mileage given was around 38 MPG and that figured out to almost 16 years for a person to gain any savings on that car. Now keep in mind this is a news source reporting on this, so it may or may not be accurate. But the mileage they gave on those over priced shoe boxes wasn't any more than some of the cars in the late 50s and early 60s got with bigger engines. I think it must be a conspiracy, ( Isn't everything any more ) to keep people from buying them. Over priced, low Mileage, and look like boxes with wheels.

Here is the chart they gave.

The Big Question
So, is going green worth it? The answer, as you may have learned by now, is that it all depends on what car you're buying. The key is to choose wisely, consider your options carefully, and always take time to do the math.



Check out this chart for specifics on how hybrids compare to their conventional versions.


Hybrid Average MPG Price Premium for Hybrid Version Annual Gas Savings Years to Pay Off

Mercury Mariner 32.2 $1,770.00 $801 2.2

Ford Escape 32.2 $2,740.00 $581 4.7

Lexus RX 400h 25.65 $4,180.00 $641 6.5

Saturn VUE 28.15 $4,120.00 $593 6.9

Nissan Altima 34.1 $6,860.00 $926 7.4

Toyota Highlander 26.1 $6,700.00 $616 10.8

Toyota Camry 33.45 $6,630.00 $575 11.5

Honda Civic 42.25 $7,590.00 $920 15.9

GMC Yukon 21.45 $14,700.00 $920 15.9

Chevrolet Tahoe 21.45 $14,960.00 $920 16.2

Saturn Aura 27.6 $3,495.00 $175 20

Chevrolet Malibu 27.6 $3,995.00 $175 22.8


Ron

[Excaliber]

I've 'worked the numbers' many differenet ways myself, indeed, it will take YEARS to even approach 'pay off' UNLESS your going to buy a new car anyway. But to go out and trade in your big SUV, take a HUGE hit on the trade in value, and buy a new SUV/Car/Motorcycle to 'save money' with better mpg,,, it's not a wise investment.

[427 S/O]

The big three should have something similar to this?.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4219904.html

[Ron61]

Perry,

The only thing that I saw wrong with that was his reported price of diesel. It is now over $5 a gallon around here in several places, but they say it is going to drop back down. But the 70 MPG sounds good and if they would make clean diesel, they could sell a ton of them I bet.

Ron

[427sharpe]

OK..another rhetorical question!
How can a non-fancy non-hybrid non-electric car like the old 80's Honda Civic HFsi be lost at 57 MPG and we call it progress to go to the 40 mpg range for 5 times the price??????