Hybrid vs. Regular Car

[Jimmy]

I got rid of my Prius when I found out about the risk of serious health matters including the possible risk of leukemia among children by being exposed to the high E.M.F.'s when riding in these Hybrids. Besides the gas milage was no where near the ratings.

[Micron234]

Obviously they did not know how to drive a hybrid. They must have been flooring the thing at take off. A couple of years ago a comparison was done amongst all the hybrids due to customer complaints about not getting the mileage quoted on the window. The Escape fared far better than the others. It came the closest to the state mpg. Based on the other "more scientific" study comparing the top selling hybrids it appears Channel 2 doesn't have a clue.

[clarence]

Infuriated 20 something wrote:

This story is about as unscientific as you can get. This story really touched a nerve as an up and coming member of a very green generation. As a Prius hybrid owner, my exeperience has been entirely positive AND ECONOMICAL! The Prius in my experience averages approximately 47 miles to the gallon. I shopped around quite a bit before purchasing and crunched the numbers. As a long distance communter, the Prius continues to save money especially with rising gas prices.
The technology of hybrid cars is in its infancy. Things have continued to improve over the years. Why would Channel 2 even consider to report such an unscientific study? It only leads me to question the merit of further reporting.
Let's face things head on. Gas prices are skyrocketing and CO2 emissions are through the roof. There is no silver bullet that will fix the problem.
People who purchase a hybrid car make several statements. Until recently, the statement was mostly concern for the environment and their own personal carbon footprint. However, since gas prices are rising quickly hybrids are now looked at as an smart investment. I commend and thank all hybrids drivers. I extend the thank you from generations to come. We're all shaping the world future generations will live in. Shouldn't we be doing everything we can?

Get real people....cars such as the prius use the battery part of the system to start. the rest of the time they are using GAS. Not much savings inless you are in a city driving enviroment where you utilize the battery more than the gas.

.

[funnyguy]

Tired wrote:

And if you own the car 50 years, you will really, really see a savings! That one extra mile really will add up.

You think a car will last for 50 yrs ? yep put it on blocks in the garage then in 50 yrs bring it out thats because the makers will never build a car that lasts 50 yrs

[funnyguy]

OOOOPS did I goof I was in IOWA & put in 18 gallons of E 85 wow where was I going to put all that fuel & buy gas ? oh well I drove the pontiac from DES MOINS IOWA to CLEVLAND OHIO before I looked at the guage FUNNY it didnt hurt a thing & the pontiac grand prix ran great had power smoothness & I think I got about 35 36 mpg THAT WAS A MISTAKE IT was cheaper tham gas also

[James from KT]

The parst and battery of that car creates more damage than any other. You stupid liberal greenie losers. Plus you pay MORE!

Build that bridge and to hell with some stupid bird. You morons.

I'm so sick and tired of these liberals losers telling the majority what to do.

[DMG]

born again atheist wrote:

kinda funny that my regular toyota corolla gets 36 mpg and has interior volume of 90 cubic feet with 140 horsepower and cost me $14K
ford escape gets 18 mpg and has interior volume of 99 cubic feet, 146 horsepower and cost $9K MORE.
God i can't wait until gas is $8 a gallon and there will be no more SUVs on the road.

I'll keep my suv thank you no matter what the price of gas.

[Dave K]

I drive a 2004 Toyota Prius. I bought it because no American car maker had one on the market. My lowest MPG was 22.21 on a fill up on 2/2/05. My highest MPG was 55.24 on 7/9/04. I would say I average about 35 MPG generally. I save my receipts & log the info on my computer, so I could check total miles driven by total gallons.
I take exception to the remark that the Hybrid technology doesn't work when the temperature falls below 48 degrees. It certainly does. The thing about it is, the heater still works conventionally with the radiator. When the car is fully warmed up, the Hybrid stuff kicks in at lights, etc.. If you make a short jaunt to the store, typically the car isn't warm enough for the heat to work without the engine running. If Ford's Hybrid Escape only averages 18MPG, I'm glad I didn't wait for that to come out! I think Ford and Chevy should really try harder as I would have preferred to by a GOOD Hybrid car from an American company.

[Full size truck driver]

DMG wrote:

<quoted text>
I'll keep my suv thank you no matter what the price of gas.

we will keep our large vehicles too.

How else will I transport my polygamist sect. I have 4 wives and 13 children. exluding 5 children with their kids. And my 2 boys have kids with their sisters.
I told them I got first dibs on their first daughter but lost that one in an arm wrestling match with wife #2 to our daughter together. Thats ok, I'll just have to get over it and move on. Or I may offer a rematch and offer her a Prius.

[Todd]

I have two Honda Civics (non-hybrid), 35 mpg around town driving mostly, just checked it. Great resale values and they seem to be nearly built proof maintenance wise (knock-on-wood).

[janis]

thanx for this story--I was actually considering going hybrid assuming I would save money in gas---I don't want to wait 7 years to start saving...

[This is OK I guess]

DMG wrote:

<quoted text>
I'll keep my suv thank you no matter what the price of gas.

That's great! It's people who drive the big gas pigs that are adding to the SUPPLY problem. Your SUV needs more, you use more, demand is up, prices stay up for everybody. Thanks!

[This is OK I guess]

janis wrote:

thanx for this story--I was actually considering going hybrid assuming I would save money in gas---I don't want to wait 7 years to start saving...

Janis...I know I've told this story before, but in case you didn't see it...my brother-in-law bought a base model manual Chevy Cavalier a few years ago. He drives about 60 miles to work each day and gets 42+ miles per gallon. The car was dirt cheap. Nothing fancy, just basic transportation with great gas mileage.

[Todd]

Those poor people driving SUV's, they've have to keep them because they are worthless in the resale market. Have fun urban assault vehicle lovers, it costs what -$100.-/fill up? I hope your other car is a Schwinn scooter. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing though, don't get me wrong, if you can afford it more power to you.

[born again atheist]

Full size truck driver wrote:

<quoted text>
we will keep our large vehicles too.
How else will I transport my polygamist sect. I have 4 wives and 13 children. exluding 5 children with their kids. And my 2 boys have kids with their sisters.
I told them I got first dibs on their first daughter but lost that one in an arm wrestling match with wife #2 to our daughter together. Thats ok, I'll just have to get over it and move on. Or I may offer a rematch and offer her a Prius.

you'll keep your large vehicles because no one wants them. its kind of like if USA offered george bush to be a leader of a different country....no one would want him because he only causes destruction.

[Chris]

Dave wrote:

<quoted text>
The thing of it is that the auto makers know that the consumer really wants to drive an SUV sized vehicle. They know that people are turning to the puddle jumpers because they have to for affordability reasons; but they're not really happy about it.
Sure there's a relative handful of eco types out there trying to make to make one "statement" or another by driving vehicles with engines made by SINGER but the majority aren't happy being shoe horned into those cheese boxes.
If or when the makers come up with the technology to make driving SUV's affordable they'll fly off the dealers' lots and the Tonka Toys will just sit there.
That's why the makers are putting so much affort into making fuel efficient SUV's. Happy consumers in their fuel efficient SUV's will equal happy stockholders, and that's what it's all about.
As far as WGR's test between the two types of vehicles goes....it is what it is.

All you have to do is look at US auto sales to know that your statement is false. MOST americans are not buying SUV's, as shown by the fact that Toyota is now the number 1 auto maker, and GM and Ford are the only companies that continue to lose money.

[SIR LANCELOT]

I sure do love my 5 mile per gallon Peterbilt and my thirsty Ford f250 supercab.