Ask:
Does anyone own or know someone that owns a hybrid? Do they save money?
Answer:
I just bought my Toyota Prius tonight. For me it is going to be a huge money saver. With my Nissan Murano I was paying $60 a week in gas (just for my car) and with the Prius I am estimating it will be $20 to fill up every 7 to 10 days (we drive a lot). It's actually really roomy inside, has a lot of get up and go compared to what one might expect, and has all sorts of fun "gadgets" like key less entry, rear back-up cam, etc. It was really weird for me not to put a key in the ignition, and instead just hit a start button, but I'll get used to it.
Anyway, for us it will be a money saver, but some would argue that they don't save money because they aren't terribly cheap to start out with. We really love the idea of using significantly less gas, though, so for us it is a win-win situation.
Answer:
nope dh wont and has very good reasons. E85 is not going to go anywhere... We can't plant that much corn for supply so that will dye out sooner than later. Less efficant to prduce it. The procces to produce it makes more emissons then the cars now. As for all the batteries that will be still around if 5 years and the cost to replace them. So we will not be jumping on this fad. We are just doing are part as to driving less and car pooling.
Answer:
I know a few people with hybrids. They are a good investment for some and not so much for others. If most of your driving is done in town (stop and go), it's a huge money saver. If most of your driving is done on the freeway, it is NOT a money saver. You'd be better off with a less expensive, regular car.
I don't know if that helps with your question.
-Lucky
Answer:
I dont have one but I hear that is you do more town running instead of highway,it might benifit you.Only if you dont spend more in a monthly payment vs what it would cost in gas.I have a 2002 Escape and I love mine.I do do more town running but I dont think I do enough to go out and start over on huge car payments.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Lucky Mom
If most of your driving is done in town (stop and go), it's a huge money saver. If most of your driving is done on the freeway, it is NOT a money saver. Y
I didn't know this. We should look into it. We only hit the highway about 2-3 time a year. 95% of our driving is city driving. I'm so glad to learn this. I had assumed it was the opposite (better on the highway).
Thanks!
Answer:
When the car is on the highway, it switches over to the regular, gas part of the engine. But when it's in stop and go style traffic is when the electrical part of the engine kicks on. So in the city, you can get 40-60 mpg, depending on model. On the freeway, they usually get 30-something mpg, which you can get with regular cars.
-Lucky
Answer:
Nope, I'm driving my Jeep until it falls apart. After that I need another 4WD for where we live -- too hilly and winters are bad.
Answer:
I, too, am interested in finding out more about whether or not buying a hybrid is cost-efficiant in the long run. I can't imagine having another monthly bill to pay right now, so it's not even an option for us at the moment. On the other hand, I'm into doing whatever it takes to help save gas, etc., but I'm starting small...like changing my OWN ways of life and thinking about saving energy, paper, recycling, etc...And, as someone else said..."Can we actually GROW enough corn (or whatever) in a timely manner with which to produce the fuel?" That's a good question. And the answer is "probably not", I would think.
There sure are some cute cars out there, though. I just wonder how LONG you'd have to own one (and make payments) before it would actually SAVE you money...and gas.
Good questions!! Deserves some looking into!!
Answer:
Originally Posted by Lucky Mom
When the car is on the highway, it switches over to the regular, gas part of the engine. But when it's in stop and go style traffic is when the electrical part of the engine kicks on. So in the city, you can get 40-60 mpg, depending on model. On the freeway, they usually get 30-something mpg, which you can get with regular cars.
-Lucky
Not exactly, (maybe it just depends on the particular hybrid, but my experience is this Basically, city or highway, when you are stepping on the gas, it is using the gas engine. Whenever you are coasting or breaking, that's when the electrical part kicks in. So, it's never entirely gas or entirely electric. It is constantly (and seamlessly) switching back and forth between the gas and the electric. It just so happens that since you are breaking and coasting more in the city, you do get better gas mileage.
I think on the sticker it says 60 city, 51hwy. Real world mileage tests on the Prius have it averaging about 44 mpg, which is still very impressive compared most cars on the road. (That 44 is a combination of city and highway.) I haven't looked into the real world mileage of the Civic hybrid yet.