the new Honda Prius...er I mean Insight

[Dave]

Originally Posted by vickibocc

Hybrids really are not that expensive. Yes, theya re more expensive than the regular model of the same car (Civic vs. Civic Hybrid, etc). The Prius is a bit weird looking, but it's built for effiency in the aerodynamics...which is why the new Honda Insight will have the same funny looking hatchback and short nose. But the civic looks exactly the same as the regular model. It starts at about 8k more than the regular model but it depends on what's more important to you.

For those of you that are more into horsepower and an impressive car than high gas mileage...if you knew you could get a significant amount more power out of a car that was 8k more (say its turbocharged or whatever)...I think you would pay it..because being able to go fast is important to you.

But if you're worried about gas mileage and the environment...than the 8k is worth paying to get 10 extra miles to the gallon.

If my Blazer got 31mpg vs. the 21mpg I get now...I'd be all over it. It's a significant difference.

if you were at all concerned about the envioronment you would buy a conventional small displacement car and not something that will have such an ugly impact when you eventually send it to the breakers. you might learn how to drive stick too

[vickibocc]

Originally Posted by Dave

if you were at all concerned about the envioronment you would buy a conventional small displacement car and not something that will have such an ugly impact when you eventually send it to the breakers. you might learn how to drive stick too

Believe me I'd love to do both of those. Unfortunately, I'm a poor college kid at the moment without any money to get a new car. But my boyfriend can vouch for me that I am car shopping online pretty much every day and a regular sized car will be my first big purchase once I graduate and DO have a full time job. When I bought the Blazer, my boyfriend and I needed something with space because we've been moving just about every year, and something with the capability to tow the bike. But since it's mine and I pay for the gas and insurance (as well as the car of course), I've made it clear that next time, I'm buying something that I want.

[vickibocc]

And I haven't heard or read anything about hybrids possibly being bad for the environment because of the batteries. Does anyone have an article or source for this information?

[Mr Lefty]

Originally Posted by vickibocc

And I haven't heard or read anything about hybrids possibly being bad for the environment because of the batteries. Does anyone have an article or source for this information?

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0003334AA1xn5K

http://www.motorauthority.com/hybrid...hnologies.html

those are just a few I've found... I don't know if I believe they're worse than normal gas or diesel motorvehicles... but they're not what they're cracked up to be IMO.

[vickibocc]

Those were all interesting reads. Thanks for them. I agree that I'm not sure I'm convinced that hybrids are really worse than normal gas vehicles. They may nto be the end-all solution but they are definitely a step in the right direction IMO. That last article talked about how the clever marketing of hybrids is holding back the development of other alternatively fueled vehicles. Before reading that article I was thinking that I was giong to respond saying that soon enough the technology will be improved and concepts like the hydrogen fuel cell honda fcx will be the next step. But after reading that article, people shuold definitely do more research before running out to be a hybrid. I've had my eye on the fcx for a while but it hans;t been released to the masses yet. I've considered holding onto my guzzler attempting to save the money to buy one when they do but am still debating if it'll be more worth it to wait, or get something liek an older civic that gets better mileage than what i have now in the mean time and see where the technology road takes us.

[Mr Lefty]

to be honest... for me the only reason I'd ever drive a hybrid is for the MPG. but I love my truck... and can deal with the 17-20mpg... and I'll drive it till it dies... then probably rebuild it... and by then... I'll either be dead or we'll be out of fuel.

if they can come up with a VIABLE 0 emissions vehicle, that doesn't require me spending 80k and has a range equal to that of my tank of gas... THEN I'll think about it... but until then... fuck that. they're obviously not THAT worried themselves or we'd have the technology right now.

[pauldun170]

Screw these hybrids...I only drive stick.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by vickibocc

Believe me I'd love to do both of those. Unfortunately, I'm a poor college kid at the moment without any money to get a new car. But my boyfriend can vouch for me that I am car shopping online pretty much every day and a regular sized car will be my first big purchase once I graduate and DO have a full time job. When I bought the Blazer, my boyfriend and I needed something with space because we've been moving just about every year, and something with the capability to tow the bike. But since it's mine and I pay for the gas and insurance (as well as the car of course), I've made it clear that next time, I'm buying something that I want.

why does it have to be a new car? poor college kid and craigslist special go hand in hand. and any old stick shift four banger under 2.5 litres ought to be capable of 30+ in the right hands

[vickibocc]

Originally Posted by Dave

why does it have to be a new car? poor college kid and craigslist special go hand in hand. and any old stick shift four banger under 2.5 litres ought to be capable of 30+ in the right hands

That's exactly what I look for. I look on craigslist everyday. Not necessarily a new car. Maybe a new car..maybe not. But NOT buying a car costs a lot less than buying a car. And even though I'm sick of the Blazer and filling it up, it's given me next to no problems and is way under the average miles for an 8 year old car. Until I can afford to buy a car, I won't buy a car. Does that not make sense? I've gone back and forth in my head trying to decide if it would make more sense to drive this into the ground while saving because I obviously won't be spending money on a car if I'm not buying one...or if it would be more worth it to trade-in or sell the Blazer and use the money as a down payment on something else. And what it comes down to at the moment is that if I traded in the Blazer as a down payment, I do not make enough money to add another bill (ie-car payments..even on something used) into my life. So again, until I can afford to buy another car, I won't.