Comments on: Low Impact Living: Think Hybrid Cars are Too Expensive? http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/ What is the future of fuel? What's new? What's next? Since 2007, Gas 2 has covered a rapidly changing world coming to terms with its oil addiction. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:57:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Uncle B http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3049 Uncle B Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:40:03 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3049 I gave up cars completely. I use my bike, or public transportation. Every now and then, I take the equivalent of one months car insurance payment out of the bank and buy a bottle of French wine for me and my wife. Every night I spend an extra hour awake with my wife, to wear off the extra energy I have after sleeping on the train on my way home each day. I don't drive so my six pack is coming back, and I have time for my garden on the weekends so my food bill is going down as the quality of my home-grown food goes up. Every so often I have a nightmare where I'm six months behind on my car payments and my car is last years model, then I wake up and thank God for showing me the way out of this addiction! I gave up cars completely. I use my bike, or public transportation. Every now and then, I take the equivalent of one months car insurance payment out of the bank and buy a bottle of French wine for me and my wife. Every night I spend an extra hour awake with my wife, to wear off the extra energy I have after sleeping on the train on my way home each day. I don’t drive so my six pack is coming back, and I have time for my garden on the weekends so my food bill is going down as the quality of my home-grown food goes up. Every so often I have a nightmare where I’m six months behind on my car payments and my car is last years model, then I wake up and thank God for showing me the way out of this addiction!

]]> By: Uncle B http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24698 Uncle B Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:40:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24698 I gave up cars completely. I use my bike, or public transportation. Every now and then, I take the equivalent of one months car insurance payment out of the bank and buy a bottle of French wine for me and my wife. Every night I spend an extra hour awake with my wife, to wear off the extra energy I have after sleeping on the train on my way home each day. I don't drive so my six pack is coming back, and I have time for my garden on the weekends so my food bill is going down as the quality of my home-grown food goes up. Every so often I have a nightmare where I'm six months behind on my car payments and my car is last years model, then I wake up and thank God for showing me the way out of this addiction! I gave up cars completely. I use my bike, or public transportation. Every now and then, I take the equivalent of one months car insurance payment out of the bank and buy a bottle of French wine for me and my wife. Every night I spend an extra hour awake with my wife, to wear off the extra energy I have after sleeping on the train on my way home each day. I don’t drive so my six pack is coming back, and I have time for my garden on the weekends so my food bill is going down as the quality of my home-grown food goes up. Every so often I have a nightmare where I’m six months behind on my car payments and my car is last years model, then I wake up and thank God for showing me the way out of this addiction!

]]> By: David http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3048 David Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:52:46 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3048 How come the Honda Fit only gets 35 mpg and the US Smart cart only 41 mpg? I have the UK version of the Fit, the Jazz and I can manage 50mpg on the highway, 40-45 in town. I'm sure the Smart car here gets at least 50 mpg too. Why wouldn't they sell the more economical versions of these cars in the US? Its not like the European Jazz is underpowered. How come the Honda Fit only gets 35 mpg and the US Smart cart only 41 mpg? I have the UK version of the Fit, the Jazz and I can manage 50mpg on the highway, 40-45 in town. I’m sure the Smart car here gets at least 50 mpg too. Why wouldn’t they sell the more economical versions of these cars in the US? Its not like the European Jazz is underpowered.

]]> By: David http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24697 David Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:52:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24697 How come the Honda Fit only gets 35 mpg and the US Smart cart only 41 mpg? I have the UK version of the Fit, the Jazz and I can manage 50mpg on the highway, 40-45 in town. I'm sure the Smart car here gets at least 50 mpg too. Why wouldn't they sell the more economical versions of these cars in the US? Its not like the European Jazz is underpowered. How come the Honda Fit only gets 35 mpg and the US Smart cart only 41 mpg? I have the UK version of the Fit, the Jazz and I can manage 50mpg on the highway, 40-45 in town. I’m sure the Smart car here gets at least 50 mpg too. Why wouldn’t they sell the more economical versions of these cars in the US? Its not like the European Jazz is underpowered.

]]> By: d_x http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3047 d_x Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:20:22 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3047 I just bought one of the new Chevy Cobalt XFE models, sticker says 36mpg highway. Out the door the price was $13,450 (incl tax, title, license, and $600 in cosmetic options) I mainly do city driving, and over 702 miles I've averaged 32.7 mpg. This is with a 5 speed, but for 09 every model (including automatics) will get the same tweaks the XFE models got mid way through the 08 model year, which bumped it from 33hwy to 36, 5mpg better than the automatic transmission. I'll be traveling from Detroit MI to Boulder CO in just over a month, and will get a good look at what the true highway mileage is. Plus I get the added bonus that this American car is actually built in the US. I just bought one of the new Chevy Cobalt XFE models, sticker says 36mpg highway. Out the door the price was $13,450 (incl tax, title, license, and $600 in cosmetic options)

I mainly do city driving, and over 702 miles I’ve averaged 32.7 mpg. This is with a 5 speed, but for 09 every model (including automatics) will get the same tweaks the XFE models got mid way through the 08 model year, which bumped it from 33hwy to 36, 5mpg better than the automatic transmission.

I’ll be traveling from Detroit MI to Boulder CO in just over a month, and will get a good look at what the true highway mileage is.

Plus I get the added bonus that this American car is actually built in the US.

]]> By: d_x http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24696 d_x Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:20:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24696 I just bought one of the new Chevy Cobalt XFE models, sticker says 36mpg highway. Out the door the price was $13,450 (incl tax, title, license, and $600 in cosmetic options) I mainly do city driving, and over 702 miles I've averaged 32.7 mpg. This is with a 5 speed, but for 09 every model (including automatics) will get the same tweaks the XFE models got mid way through the 08 model year, which bumped it from 33hwy to 36, 5mpg better than the automatic transmission. I'll be traveling from Detroit MI to Boulder CO in just over a month, and will get a good look at what the true highway mileage is. Plus I get the added bonus that this American car is actually built in the US. I just bought one of the new Chevy Cobalt XFE models, sticker says 36mpg highway. Out the door the price was $13,450 (incl tax, title, license, and $600 in cosmetic options)

I mainly do city driving, and over 702 miles I’ve averaged 32.7 mpg. This is with a 5 speed, but for 09 every model (including automatics) will get the same tweaks the XFE models got mid way through the 08 model year, which bumped it from 33hwy to 36, 5mpg better than the automatic transmission.

I’ll be traveling from Detroit MI to Boulder CO in just over a month, and will get a good look at what the true highway mileage is.

Plus I get the added bonus that this American car is actually built in the US.

]]> By: James http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3046 James Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:34:05 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3046 My buddy drives a 1990 corolla and it used to get 39 mpg, sadly it's starting to get old and with the new ethanol blends in California he now only gets around 34 to 35, but it's still quite puzzling to see a 18 year old car routinely beat fuel mileage of newer vehicles. Hybrids while they are nice are expensive and really your paying for the fuel you save up front. It will take 7 - 10 years to pay for the added expense, at least until they come down in price or fuel gets more expensive. I'd rather get a new VW diesel or even a used diesel and convert to run on veg oi, then wait for a few years and get a plug in. My buddy drives a 1990 corolla and it used to get 39 mpg, sadly it’s starting to get old and with the new ethanol blends in California he now only gets around 34 to 35, but it’s still quite puzzling to see a 18 year old car routinely beat fuel mileage of newer vehicles. Hybrids while they are nice are expensive and really your paying for the fuel you save up front. It will take 7 – 10 years to pay for the added expense, at least until they come down in price or fuel gets more expensive. I’d rather get a new VW diesel or even a used diesel and convert to run on veg oi, then wait for a few years and get a plug in.

]]> By: James http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24695 James Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:34:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24695 My buddy drives a 1990 corolla and it used to get 39 mpg, sadly it's starting to get old and with the new ethanol blends in California he now only gets around 34 to 35, but it's still quite puzzling to see a 18 year old car routinely beat fuel mileage of newer vehicles. Hybrids while they are nice are expensive and really your paying for the fuel you save up front. It will take 7 - 10 years to pay for the added expense, at least until they come down in price or fuel gets more expensive. I'd rather get a new VW diesel or even a used diesel and convert to run on veg oi, then wait for a few years and get a plug in. My buddy drives a 1990 corolla and it used to get 39 mpg, sadly it’s starting to get old and with the new ethanol blends in California he now only gets around 34 to 35, but it’s still quite puzzling to see a 18 year old car routinely beat fuel mileage of newer vehicles. Hybrids while they are nice are expensive and really your paying for the fuel you save up front. It will take 7 – 10 years to pay for the added expense, at least until they come down in price or fuel gets more expensive. I’d rather get a new VW diesel or even a used diesel and convert to run on veg oi, then wait for a few years and get a plug in.

]]> By: will http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3045 will Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:58:54 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-3045 you know, it's weird... i used to drive a ford escort - i think it was a '94. a european guy i drove to the airport as a favor to a friend told me it was a model of the escort that was designed in germany. it got 40mpg - no bullshit. sure, it was a stick, was basically all plastic, had no a/c, etc., but it had a hell of a lot more personality than a yaris or a hybrid, and 40mpg? you know, it’s weird… i used to drive a ford escort – i think it was a ’94. a european guy i drove to the airport as a favor to a friend told me it was a model of the escort that was designed in germany. it got 40mpg – no bullshit. sure, it was a stick, was basically all plastic, had no a/c, etc., but it had a hell of a lot more personality than a yaris or a hybrid, and 40mpg?

]]> By: will http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24694 will Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:58:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/low-impact-living-think-hybrid-cars-are-too-expensive/#comment-24694 you know, it's weird... i used to drive a ford escort - i think it was a '94. a european guy i drove to the airport as a favor to a friend told me it was a model of the escort that was designed in germany. it got 40mpg - no bullshit. sure, it was a stick, was basically all plastic, had no a/c, etc., but it had a hell of a lot more personality than a yaris or a hybrid, and 40mpg? you know, it’s weird… i used to drive a ford escort – i think it was a ’94. a european guy i drove to the airport as a favor to a friend told me it was a model of the escort that was designed in germany. it got 40mpg – no bullshit. sure, it was a stick, was basically all plastic, had no a/c, etc., but it had a hell of a lot more personality than a yaris or a hybrid, and 40mpg?

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