Anyone own a Hybrid vehicle?

[cdcox]

I just gave up my F150 after owning it for 18 years. I was looking for a daily commuter that I could drive for similar period of time. Hybrids and electrics just didn't make sense to me, given the lack of experience with the technology over the long time periods I'm likely to drive the vehicle and the cost of the vehicle. I went with a Mazda 3 with the new skydrive technology. I get around 30 mpg on my commute (rated 38 hwy) with good performance at under $20K. Pretty happy with the choice.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I just gave up my F150 after owning it for 18 years. I was looking for a daily commuter that I could drive for similar period of time. Hybrids and electrics just didn't make sense to me, given the lack of experience with the technology over the long time periods I'm likely to drive the vehicle and the cost of the vehicle. I went with a Mazda 3 with the new skydrive technology. I get around 30 mpg on my commute (rated 38 hwy) with good performance at under $20K. Pretty happy with the choice.

That's a good way to look at it, and it seems you made a good choice. Mazda is one of the few cars i've never owned.

[Red Beans]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I just gave up my F150 after owning it for 18 years. I was looking for a daily commuter that I could drive for similar period of time. Hybrids and electrics just didn't make sense to me, given the lack of experience with the technology over the long time periods I'm likely to drive the vehicle and the cost of the vehicle. I went with a Mazda 3 with the new skydrive technology. I get around 30 mpg on my commute (rated 38 hwy) with good performance at under $20K. Pretty happy with the choice.

We bought one new last February. Its been an exceptional car, the hwy mileage is awesome. We made from the Missouri/Arkansas border to St. Joe and back on one tank of gas.

[Molitoth]

Just bought a 2009 Highlander Limited Hybrid a few months back for the wife and she absolutely loves it. Anything Hybrid related has factory warranty until 100k. This is my first hybrid and I'm a fan. It's nice to have a SUV in the house that gets 27 MPG, considering mine gets me about 11 MPG. I've owned many Toyota's and have never had an issue with anything, my Porsche on the other hand...

From my research, the only other Hybrid SUV in the same price range that gets better MPG is the new Escape with around 32 MPG. I recommend the Highlander, and even though you may see a gazillion of them around town, most of them are not hybrids.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Just bought a 2009 Highlander Limited Hybrid a few months back for the wife and she absolutely loves it. Anything Hybrid related has factory warranty until 100k. This is my first hybrid and I'm a fan. It's nice to have a SUV in the house that gets 27 MPG, considering mine gets me about 11 MPG. I've owned many Toyota's and have never had an issue with anything, my Porsche on the other hand...

From my research, the only other Hybrid SUV in the same price range that gets better MPG is the new Escape with around 32 MPG. I recommend the Highlander, and even though you may see a gazillion of them around town, most of them are not hybrids.

Hey thanks for the input, too bad though I had my heart set on the Porsche. I heard the 2006 models had a problem where one of the electric parts gave out and killed the engine at high speeds. People were having a problem getting a recall on it, not to mention how dangerous that sounds.

[dmahurin]

I drive a ford escape hybrid at work. The MPG is better than other suv's but not great. At low speeds it cuts the engine and runs on the battery but only below 15 mph. Then it has to use to more gas to restart the engine. The hybrid vehicle needs gas just as often as the non hybrid escape. Maintenance is higher on the hybrid, the cost is higher on the hybrid, and the gas savings MIGHT let you break even on the higher costs of owning over the lifetime of the vehicle, but breaking even defeats the purpose of saving money on gas doesn't it?

[R8RFAN]

Personally I think the best deal going in new cars, warranty + mpg is the Hyundai cars

[Chieftain58]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Just curious, was thinking of buying either a hybrid Camry or hybrid Highlander. My brother in law usually does all of my repairs but says he won't touch a hybrid because he knows nothing about them. If you have a problem do you have to take it to a dealer? Any small repair shops that service them in the KC area(Overland Park specifically)? Anyone have any experience with them?

2010 Prius we've had 2 years.... I absolutely love it... People call it gay but I fill up every 3 weeks for about $30 bucks... How do you beat that? And having worked here at our college .. the automotive students have it in their curriculum.... Plus the college owns 5 hybrids themselves ... It's the future for sure!!!

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Chieftain58

2010 Prius we've had 2 years.... I absolutely love it... People call it gay but I fill up every 3 weeks for about $30 bucks... How do you beat that? And having worked here at our college .. the automotive students have it in their curriculum.... Plus the college owns 5 hybrids themselves ... It's the future for sure!!!

Does the Prius get 50mpg on average?

[Infidel Goat]

Originally Posted by Chieftain58

2010 Prius we've had 2 years.... I absolutely love it... People call it gay but I fill up every 3 weeks for about $30 bucks... How do you beat that? And having worked here at our college .. the automotive students have it in their curriculum.... Plus the college owns 5 hybrids themselves ... It's the future for sure!!!

Pretty much this for me as well. I bought a one year old Prius with 20,000 miles on it. It's now a three year old Prius with closer to 40,000 miles on it.

I just take it to a local place rather than the dealer.

On gas mileage: when you replace your tires, you might want to stick with the tires that Toyota recommends or you'll lose a few miles per gallon. I've never gotten less than 40 mpg on a tank and I've gotten over 50 mpg. A lead foot and non-Toyota approved tires will get you in the low 40's routinely if you are driving around town.

Really, though, once you are averaging over 40 mpg there isn't much cost savings in gas by improving your gas mileage by another 5 mpg, and I'm not one to accelerate slowly.

[R8RFAN]

[Easy 6]

Get a 13 Ford Fusion hybrid, 47mpg combined.

You can get one nicely equipped for under 30k.

Buy American

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by scott free

Get a 13 Ford Fusion hybrid, 47mpg combined.

You can get one nicely equipped for under 30k.

Buy American

Fix or repair daily right? or has the motto changed?

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Fix or repair daily right? or has the motto changed?

surely you're not going to resort to outdated gearhead jokes & lore.

They've got it down pat, atleast look into it.