Gas prices...

[chrissreef]

Has gas prices caused any of you to look at cars like the Prius lately? I still have 3 yrs left on my auto loan... but with $200 barels expected next year and my 45min work commute, I don't know what to do. Esp. since I heard the battery packs on the Prius are worse for the environment than "a fleet of Hummers"

Anyone elses thoughts?

 

[buck50bmg]

Go with a VW Jetta TDI. I get 48 to 50 mpg. Im still making better than those prius guys, even with diesel at 4.50

 

[scottras]

Any small TDI will give you close to the mileage of a Prius. But they have know resale value. I doubt the Prius will hold its value for long when battery replacement comes up.

I am looking at changing at the moment, this will mean some compromises at work as I have a commercial vehicle.

 

[Diatome]

Good gas mileage from a VW or some Hondas can match some of the hybrids. Definitely check around the web.

 

[BigJay]

Re: Gas prices...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12593150#post12593150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
Has gas prices caused any of you to look at cars like the Prius lately? I still have 3 yrs left on my auto loan... but with $200 barels expected next year and my 45min work commute, I don't know what to do. Esp. since I heard the battery packs on the Prius are worse for the environment than "a fleet of Hummers"

Anyone elses thoughts?

I made the hybrid switch earlier this year and couldn't be happier with my Prius. 50MPG isn't half bad on regular unleaded, which is still cheaper than diesel.

Like some have already said before, a small TDI may be a better buy. The current VW's get 45 MPG, and next year's models supposedly get 60+ MPG. Supposedly future Prius hybrids are going to be plug-in models that will drive for the first 60 miles on electricity alone.

I don't know about the batteries, but I imagine that the dealerships either recycle them or dispose of them properly as opposed to throwing them in the dump. I didn't buy the car for environmental reasons, I want our country to be free from dependence on the middle east someday. The batteries will most likely last until I am ready to trade up to something better, if they don't then the extended warranty will cover it.

 

[AquariumPerson]

i drive a 2002 TDI beetle, heh it works out rly good

 

[Bebo77]

civic hybrid... 45 mpg....

 

[cK_ShOts]

IF YOUR WORRIED ABOUT GAS PRICES THEN YOUR IN THE WRONG HOBBY!!!! 4 DOLLARS A GALLON OF GAS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO 80 DOLLARS A STICK!!! LMFAO

 

[chrissreef]

$4 is fine... but estimates show it will be 5-6 within a year and 6+ after that... and that's not good for commuters (or the truckers that cause price increases at grocery stores and other stores). This will cause everyones overall expenses to rise.

if i wasn't planning a wedding, stocking my tank, paying off some major college debts (grad school x2) i wouldn't be as worried. with the goal of paying everything off b4 jumping into a mortgage... we're looking at yeeaars b4 we can get a house - and i don't like the thought of that =/

 

[airinhere]

Gas prices are the reason I am selling my old Explorer and driving my neon full time. I will miss the Explorer (it was much nicer) but the mileage driving 3 hours each direction to go SCUBA diving in Monterey every weekend was killing me.

 

[scottras]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12604291#post12604291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
$4 is fine... but estimates show it will be 5-6 within a year and 6+ after that... and that's not good for commuters (or the truckers that cause price increases at grocery stores and other stores). This will cause everyones overall expenses to rise.

if i wasn't planning a wedding, stocking my tank, paying off some major college debts (grad school x2) i wouldn't be as worried. with the goal of paying everything off b4 jumping into a mortgage... we're looking at yeeaars b4 we can get a house - and i don't like the thought of that =/

Lets not forget the most terrifying price rise of all: Beer prices are set to increase. If I had to decide between driving a larger car or being able to afford beer, well I know which one I will choose.

 

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12607986#post12607986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottras
Beer prices are set to increase.

It's due do the hop shortage, that's why I'm growing my own hops

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12607986#post12607986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottras
Lets not forget the most terrifying price rise of all: Beer prices are set to increase. If I had to decide between driving a larger car or being able to afford beer, well I know which one I will choose.

Beer shortage?

NOW I'm worried.

AAAh the world is coming to an end!

 

[kannorsk]

My next vehicle for work will be something on the lines of a Honda Metro scooter. Most of these types get about 85+MPG and considering I live 8 miles from work, in arid San Antonio, with back streets available to get to work, it's economical all the way around.

I can even fit a six pack on it.

 

[DAKOOP]

Stay away from most of the hybrids. Over the life of the vehicle they cost more(purchase price,depreciation and maint) than gas sippers like Civic,Sentra.

BEER SHORTAGE!!! WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO!!!

 

[trojan9137]

Just an FYI... Dont get the Altima Hybrid for the gas millage. The EPA estimate is so far off its ridiculous. The dealer sold me on the car at 41 MPG city which is an absolute joke. I get 27 MPG city (All I drive is city). I had a TDI jetta a while back and loved it but it was a bit annoying too. Just didn't really care for the sound and feel. Vibration is an utmost certainty, they're noisy, still a bit smelly of course, and please have another car if you're single. You NEVER want to pickup a chick in the TDI. They just dont get it! HA.

On the other hand SOOOOO many people complement me on the Altima Hybrid and how COOL it is that you dont hear anything at all coming from the car when its in EV MODE. Kinda crazy.

So there's pro's and cons with everything I guess.

Oh yeah, I believe Honda made the Insite until 2006 which got an INSAINE 61 mpg. So you might be able to pickup one of these bad boys and get the MPGs your looking for too.

 

[Spears A418tm]

All I can say is I love my Prius. GREAT car - plus a wonderful warranty (7 years on the batteries and everything related to the Hybrid drive)

 

[pdelcast]

Why would I ever want to drive a Prius? Over its lifetime, a Civic or Corolla (non-hybrid) will use fewer total resources than a Prius.


I drive a Lotus Elise - - 40+mpg, and doesn't make me look like an ecoass.

 

[virginiadiver69]

Yes...but does it give you the smug feeling of superiority that you are "making a difference"?
SIMPLIFY MAN :smokin:

 

[BigJay]

ecoass :lol:

I'm not that bad, but I do have something against our country sending all of it's wealth and treasure overseas to buy more oil from extremely hostile countries. Gas stations are collection boxes for terrorist organizations. Where do you think Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda get their money?

Call me a patriot, not an eco-freak. Imagine what our country could do with an excess domestic oil supply. Flip OPEC the bird and buy a more fuel efficient car already.

Yeah I still use gas, but I spend like $25.00 or so every two weeks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12664034#post12664034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by virginiadiver69
Yes...but does it give you the smug feeling of superiority that you are "making a difference"?
SIMPLIFY MAN :smokin:

No, I feel sad that our president has to go to the middle east with his hat in hand, begging for more oil, only to be told "no". That kind of kicks the "smug" out of me. This is not the country that I remember growing up in.