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VW Jetta and Pollo diesels and other diesel powered vehicles haven't been allowed in California and other states because they don't meet state smog laws. I don't understand that. My brother ownes a VW Jetta that he bought in Colorado. It only gets about 46-48 mpg.
George
George & Karen W
2004 Allegro 30DA
2000 Jimmy toad
FMCA F334632
cvrvr wrote: My brother ownes a VW Jetta that he bought in Colorado. It only gets about 46-48 mpg.
George
I bet my 2-tons Mercedes diesel would get that mileage as well if I drive it around 60 mph. But I am not tempted to try it. At least not till fuel hits $20/gal. 2003 Jetta averaged 38 mpg with my driving, but I had lot of fan passing all those Ferraris, Brabuses and Corvettes in So. CA.
Corky you know what engine was it? I am afraid the 400 torque from new cdi might torn Suzuki apart.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
cjoseph wrote: We got out before the big gas hikes --June 2006.
Glad we did. I was able to get a decent trade on the DW's Landcruiser. She wanted a Camry, so we bought an 07 Hybrid.
Talk about numbers. She was averaging 12 MPG. She now averages 36 MPG. We got a $2600 tax credit from the feds and about $800 X 3 years from the state. That will be $5000 in taxes returned to us once we do our state return next year. The batteries (as well as the hybrid system) are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. So, in about 8 years, if we still have it, I think I can fork over whatever a battery replacement might cost, if it comes to that.
Of course we still have one gas guzzler to tow with, but that second vehicle now costs us much less per year to operate.
To each their own, I guess?
My original post centered on foresight, not hindsight!
That is another side of the hybrid story. Why it takes government bribes to get people into "new" technology?
Hybrids are allowed on carpool lines with single occupants. So the 36 mpg hybrid can drive carpool lines with driver only, but my old 45 mpg Volkswagen can not. How corrupted the business really is?
We are keeping our diesel Ford trucks but getting a 2009 VW TDI diesel Jetta Wagon, if they ever get here. They pass the all state (yes - even CA) standards. Seen varying degrees of claims of mpg, but should be @45 mpg hwy. I also wonder why the U.S. can't have the same high mpg diesels as the rest of the world - guess it is the CA standards that killed the diesels here in U.S. Next year several mfgs will come out with their new "clean diesel" technology to meet all state standards.
* This post was
edited 07/13/08 05:48pm by TxTwo *
This is the second time I've heard this on this thread. If the battery is replaced in 5 to 7 years (or less), the average customer would pay NOTHING! The battery and all other "hybrid" portions are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. Assuming 15,000 miles/year, in 7 total years, this driver will have covered 105,000 miles (just out of warranty). I'm sure most consumers would be fine with free battery replacement after 5 years. Toyota Prius warranty link.
100K warranty? I don't know ANYONE who wouldn't be past 100K in 5 years or so. Heck, my stepfather's 2003 Concorde has 110K. In 5 years, my Magnum (a 2007, bought new 1/22/08) probably be close to 125K.
The new hybrid mileage isn't that impressive. My wife's Festiva, without an elaborate hybrid system, a CVT, without overdrive or even fuel injection, and with over 200,000 miles on it, manages mid-40's for mileage, and has NEVER turned in less than 40. My old diesel Escort, much larger in every way (5-door hatchback) and with over 250K when I had it, pulls down high 40's easily, will (and has) manage 50 on a highway trip. It will also pull a 5% grade at 70 with 2 people on board wiuthout shifting out of 5th gear (torque rules), which many economy cars will not do even now.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
Corky52 wrote: About a week ago I saw what I'd say was the coolest towed I've ever seen, 1988 Suzuki Samurai with a removable hardtop and the engine replaces with a Volkswagen turbo diesel. The gentleman claimed to get about 60mpg, and let me drive it. The beastie drove right smartly and was a blast.
While not a hybrid I'd have no problem with it being my towed and also as a daily drive.
I've seen those conversions (though I will flat-out say 60MPG is an absolute fantasy in a flying-brick Sammy), and also Mazda rotaries in the Samurais. Both are cool.
The problem is the basic platform: the Samurai, while an amazingly capable 4x4, is an absolutely dreadful road vehicle. Liz had one and it was literally painful to drive. It was slow, painfully loud, rode like a 5-ton Army truck, and handled like a bus. It also chugged down the fuel, due to insanely deep gearing and a tiny (1.3 litre), overworked, hopelessly-underpowered engine.
turninghawk wrote: Maybe this should have gone in Dinghy Towing, but I thought it might be of general interest.
People are literally scrambling to buy hybrid vehicles now, some more than others. The Toyota Prius seems to be a much sought after car now, so let's use it in our unscientific analysis.
We'll compare it to a Toyota Corolla -- same manufacturer, and very similar in size.
I entered a 300-mile AutoTrader search from my home, and shopped specifically for 2007 models, with fewer than 30,000 miles, with Automatic transmissions.
The Prius' ranged from $24,800 to $29,900
The Corolla's ranged from $11,500 to $18,995
The Prius had an EPA highway rating of 51mpg in '07
The Corolla had an EPA highway rating of 38mpg in '07
Average miles driven per year in the US is 15,000
We'll use $4.25 per gallon for gasoline
I'll use the mid-range Prius price of $27,360 and the mid-range Corolla price of $15,250.
Based on the above figures, the BREAK-EVEN point for gas savings for the Prius owner would happen in JUST OVER 28 YEARS of ownership!!!
Interesting, isn't it?
Always a good idea to thoroughly do the math before jumping to the conclusion that a particular vehicle would be a good investment. Wish I were a Toyota dealer right about now, however!.......
~
Always a good idea to pick the right forum before posting too!!
No math involved.
~
Shouldn't be in Dinghy Towing . . . .
should be in "ATC" - Around The Campfire!
Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying anything bad about your decision to buy a Hybrid Camry, but 36MPG from a hybrid is pathetic. I think we're being hosed in the U.S. by our lack of choices. Not to get off topic, but in Brazil, Ford offers a version of the Ranger pickup with a turbo diesel. Over 30MPG.
No offense. Not really a gas miser wannabe. She wanted a Camry. The hybrid was there. I did some research, so we bought it.
A four-door sedan with those mileage figures is pretty good for us. We needed a little room (two young kids with car seats) and some semblance of a car wrapped around us. So, it works for us.
Her mileage is for mostly city driving on her commute to work. I actually get the mileage up to 38-39 when I drive it on the highway.
I agree that it is pathetic that the EPA limits our choices with their emissions limits. We burn more gas to get cleaner emissions.
The big question is, would we be emitting less pollution by having less restrictions and burning less gas? I hope the experts have looked into that, but wouldn't doubt it if I heard they didn't.
I think the safety standards restrict our mileage, too. Not sure how much, though. All those neat safety features add weight.
Chuck, Heidi, Jessica, Nicholas & Tan Puppy
2008 3/4-ton Yukon XL, Flagstaff 831BHSS
Equalizer Hitch and Prodigy
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