Bought a Hybrid

I come from a long line of mechanics and I've been somewhat "afraid" of the Hybrids. Well, after putting over $100 worth of go-go juice in my 14 mpg Tundra for the last time, I decided to check them out.

I ended up with a Camry Hybrid and actually love the thing. We're averaging 39 mpg a tank with 90% city driving. It's freaking nice.

I thought about a VW diesel, but as I said, I come from a long line of mechanics and we specialize on the German models. I still remember the days of the diesel rabbit trucks literally blowing chunks of the head off instead of just cracking. Still, a VW diesel would have been my second choice.

I simply couldn't turn down the deal on the Camry.

If you guys ever want a Toyota, please contact Doug Moreland at Mt. States and tell him James sent ya. He's like buying a car from a friend and has always given me the best deals.

I gotta stop drinking before hopping online! I'm rambling...

[Coffee]

I want a car but can't justify it

I would have picked the TDI... they are great engines.

Talking about old diesel Rabbits... my Dad still drives an 82 diesel Rabbit with too many miles on it to count. That thing still purrs like a tank (you have to wear earplugs when you drive it so you won't lose your hearing though).

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Originally Posted by IDFYF8

I come from a long line of mechanics and I've been somewhat "afraid" of the Hybrids. Well, after putting over $100 worth of go-go juice in my 14 mpg Tundra for the last time, I decided to check them out.

I ended up with a Camry Hybrid and actually love the thing. We're averaging 39 mpg a tank with 90% city driving. It's freaking nice.

I thought about a VW diesel, but as I said, I come from a long line of mechanics and we specialize on the German models. I still remember the days of the diesel rabbit trucks literally blowing chunks of the head off instead of just cracking. Still, a VW diesel would have been my second choice.

I simply couldn't turn down the deal on the Camry.

If you guys ever want a Toyota, please contact Doug Moreland at Mt. States and tell him James sent ya. He's like buying a car from a friend and has always given me the best deals.

I gotta stop drinking before hopping online! I'm rambling...

[Coffee]

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Nice info. I was in there a week ago looking at a new ride for the mrs. Hell I drive a cummins which gets decent mileage towing my trailers but damn over $100 every other day sometimes other two days is ridiculous. Won't be able to drive to work here soon.

I wish they made hybrid yaris', I would buy it in a heart beat.

I get a lot of battery calls on the Lexus SUV hybrids. I think it is the RX440H. It is usually that the vehicle won't start. I never get to see if there was an actual issue or not though.

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Originally Posted by Irving

I get a lot of battery calls on the Lexus SUV hybrids. I think it is the RX440H. It is usually that the vehicle won't start. I never get to see if there was an actual issue or not though.

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Hybrids aren't really meant to be in cold weather. I remember working for lexus and on those super cold days the Hybrids wouldn't even start. The cold really deteriorates those nickel batteries.

That must be it then. Most of those calls were during those cold snaps.

delete

Six Kids?!? [Eek3]
Good God man!!!

well 5. the 6th is due this week. but, the babys car seat is allready installed.

the volks gets 36 on gas engines. my versa gets 33 in town, of course the trucks get 17. enjoy the new ride.

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Originally Posted by Graves

Six Kids?!? [Eek3]
Good God man!!!

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Thats nothing, My wifes oldest sister has 8. Between her 2 sisters and a brother I have 18 nieces and nephews.


I agree about needing to get beeter gas, I have a f150 that I can pull 300 out of but damn its a 24 ga tank. Looking at getting something just dont know what yet.

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Originally Posted by Graves

Six Kids?!? [Eek3]
Good God man!!!

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This is also the result of those cold snaps. Good thing you don't drive a Lexus Hybrid SUV, or you'd have 8!

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Originally Posted by Mazin

Thats nothing...

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Yeah,
Keep tellin' yourself that. I don't even want one.

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Originally Posted by Graves

Yeah,
Keep tellin' yourself that. I don't even want one.

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You already have like 45 don't you? I saw all those 1911's, those are as good as children [Tooth]

Yugo.

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Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck

well 5. the 6th is due this week. but, the babys car seat is allready installed.

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The tahoe comes in a hybrid. Get one with a front bench seat and you will be good to go seating 8 comfortably.

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Originally Posted by Graves

Six Kids?!? [Eek3]
Good God man!!!

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remember, he lives out there in Pawnee.
I Don't think they have Cable TV.

"Hey Honey, there's noting good on PBS tonight, what do you say we wrastle?"



[ROFL1]

My 03 civic gets 35 mpg and my Gixxer gets 50 mpg.

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Originally Posted by Mobat555

My 03 civic gets 35 mpg and my Gixxer gets 50 mpg.

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Your '03 Civic barely has enough power to get out of it's own way and your Gixxer does not get 50mpg. If it does then you're doing it wrong.

Especially up here in the mountains, I would agree that a TDI is better than a hybrid. But for city driving your hybrid should be fine.

One advantage to a diesel is that you can run it off of a plethora of fuels (including used oil if you have to). So they make good TEOTWAWKI vehicles.

Down side is they stink.

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Originally Posted by Jer

Your '03 Civic barely has enough power to get out of it's own way and your Gixxer does not get 50mpg. If it does then you're doing it wrong.

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I am doing it wrong with my Gixxer, I am sure many of commuters are let down by my unwillingness to pop wheelies, split traffic, go in excess of 150 mph. To their disappointment I run 5th gear at 60 mph. Sure I can go 75 mph in 1st gear and not even come close to red lining, but whats the point if its gonna drop me down 10-15 mpg?

As for the civic, it has enough power to push me and the extra contents of my wallet to work and back.

Your hybrid will be fine anywhere that a normal car would be. They did extensive testing with hybrids in Alaska and plenty of other places to work out the kinks. Some companies still pump out vehicles before fully testing them to catch up to the market and there is nothing that the public can do about it but buy one and complain when it doesn't work. Your honda will be fine.

For those knocking on the Hyrbid and saying it's not fit for this elevation or the mountains... drive one. Not a Prius either. Go drive a Camry Hybrid and you'll see for yourself that it's MORE than adequate for just about anything you could want a car to do. I drove the Prius after they came out and while that particular car wasn't for me I didn't label ALL Hybrids slow and boring. When the new Camry Hybrid arrived I drove it and I'm glad I did. On paper it looks like it would be slow based on the numbers but keep in mind that the electric motor has all of it's torque available from idle (no need to rev up to a power band like a internal combustion engine) and then the CVT can put the gasoline engine in it's power band immediately and hold it there. The acceleration is very peppy and when people try to compare their 105hp economy cars to it it's comparing apples to fruit rollups. Ask my buddy with a modified Trailblazer SS what he thinks of our Camry Hybrid's acceleration. If all you care about is mpg then yeah, get an old beater that gets mid 30's for fuel economy but if you're like me and want your cake and want to eat it too then drive a Camry Hybrid. This newer generation of Hybrids aren't just focused on MPG and are actually enjoyable to drive. Ours is fully loaded w/heated leather, touchscreen bluetooth navigation, proximity sensing remotes w//push buttons start and lots of other creature comforts. When people go for a ride in our car they're always amazed that it's a Camry Hybrid. A few of our friends have even bought themselves one specifically after riding in ours and they've admitted they had zero plans to buy a car let alone a Hybrid prior to riding in ours.

Point is that a lot of people have some negative things to say about a Hybrid that think they ALL are like the Prius and they're not. We traded in a loaded widebody 4.2L V8 AWD Audi A6 that cost $60k when it was new for our Camry Hybrid and were amazed at the ride quality and build quality and didn't feel like we were stepping down at all. I caught myself speeding a lot at first because of how smoothly it acceleration and how quite it rode. It made the A6 feel like a POS in comparison.

If you're going to finance a new car I can't see why one would exclude the hybrids out of hand. And in general Toyota makes good stuff.

As for me, I pay cash for used cars (I refuse to take on interest bearing debt for an item that will depreciate ... that and I's po').

So I won't be looking at a hybrid any time soon (for that matter I won't be looking at any "new" wheels any time soon ... my 2002 PT Cruiser only has 60k on it).

I just wish they would perfect Hydrogen.

Forget hybrids, I'm waiting for them to come out with affordable all electrics. Till then, something like this will work!

Those are so cool, but I would miss the roar of the engine.

I took the Camry Hybrid up through the mountains and it has tons of power. I actually like it better than our 09 Civic Si. The Camry is just plain nice. We bought it certified pre-owned from a lease return and got a smokin' deal. I could drive it for a year and not lose a dime if I sold it.

I've gotta agree with the Toyota quality comment. My 2003 Duramax racked up $20k in warranty bills. My 2005 GMC blew an engine at 15k and tranny at 20k. My 2008 VortecMax cracked a head and blew both head gaskets pulling a 3500 lb boat at 16k. Yet my '85 4Runner is still running strong with almost 300k on it and I've beat the hell out of it. My 2009 Civic went through a tranny at 8k (but they're known for that).

I go through a lot of cars, but the Toyotas seem to stick around the longest.

Biggest issue I've had with my Yota's is a blown head gasket in a 3.slow 4Runner at 160k and a leaking rear wheel seal in a 98 4Runner.

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Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck

can you get 6 kids and 2 adults in it? if so, i am in for one...othewise our family has to stick with our non hybrid 15 passenger 1 ton ford van.

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six kids here too. and we also have a 15 passenger Ford van. 7.3 powerstroke. [Beer]


and when we don't ALL have to go (which is most of the time), the 91 Volvo wagon gets called up to work and save fuel costs.

we have four kids and everything we own is 7 passenger or more including my 8 passenger one ton ram dually,

i would trade any of those little cars for my rangos or my dually in a head on collision

guaranteed my 7200 lb one ton dodge pickup wins hands down in that fight.

small cars have their place, but all the gas savings in the world won't make me buy one.

did you see the photos of the accident yesterday here in town, 7 cars the first was a 4 door honda sedan that was rearended by a saturn, even small car to small car it was nasty, and fatal,

rear end my truck with your saturn and they will be pulling my class four hitch out of your windshield, but i walk away more likely than not.

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Originally Posted by Jer

Your '03 Civic barely has enough power to get out of it's own way and your Gixxer does not get 50mpg. If it does then you're doing it wrong.

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+1

I'm lucky if I get 35mpg on my bike.. You riding it like a scooter? Or do you not know your fuel capacity?

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Originally Posted by Monky

+1

I'm lucky if I get 35mpg on my bike.. You riding it like a scooter? Or do you not know your fuel capacity?

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I average about 49 mpg commuting on the bike(01 FZ1), closer to 35 in the canyons. I have customers with Harley Dressers that average above 50. Some bikes (notably japanese twins like TLs and VTRs) get absolutely atrocious mileage (sub 30, if you're beating on 'em). My XT350 will get 65 mpg at 60-70 mph, but I can't feel my hands at the end of my 27 mile one way commute.[Stooge] My F250 on the other hand gets 14 mpg.

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Originally Posted by ghettodub

Those are so cool, but I would miss the roar of the engine.

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http://www.soundracer.se/

my Softail Deluxe gets 46-50mpg

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Originally Posted by Monky

I'm lucky if I get 35mpg on my bike.. You riding it like a scooter? Or do you not know your fuel capacity?

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Yes, when commuting no reason to ride it like anything but a scooter. Weekend rides I do not get 50 mpg.

Capacity is 4.8 gal but thats seems irrelevant, unless of course you run the bike bone dry to see how far you can go.