<p>Would anyone be willing to share their experience with, or advice about, hybrid cars?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>My mom has a Prius. Overall, we’re happy with it. If the gas gauge and odometer are to be believed, it gets even better mileage than the computer says it is getting. The big complaint is that it has pretty bad blind spots. Ours is a couple of years old; I don’t know if they’ve fixed that problem on later models.</p>
<p>With the battery hybrids someone has to incur the charge of disposing of the battery when it no longer holds a charge. The dealer could not at the time answer the question of “who pays.” I would ask what the current cost of battery replacement is and who pays now that they are more common.</p>
<p>read this
<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060331/31hybrids.htm[/url]”>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060331/31hybrids.htm</a></p>
<p>You might want to look into an EA85 vehicle like Chevrolet is producing.</p>
<p>We love our 2 hybrids, both Pruis models. Appears small on the outside, but seems to us they have a lot of room inside. No big bump down the middle of the car might be the reason, but it definitely seems bigger inside than a car of similar outside size. Good features available, and the rumors of long wait times didn’t affect us. Waited 4 - 6 weeks for each of them. I do agree with Hanna that there are two blind spots that we don’t like at all, and have to learn to work around or face the consequences. The integrity and quality of the chassis has been excellent - very solid feel. As for the battery, it’s guaranteed for 8 years, so getting rid of the battery will be for us - hopefully - academic.</p>
<p>We have a Honda Civic hybrid, and like it quite a lot. It drives just like a regular Civic, but it’s quieter. MPG averages about 49: more in summer, less in winter.</p>
<p>We also have a Honda Civic Hybrid. We probably averaged about the same last summer (we just got it then) are averaging lower this winter. Overall, averaging mid to high 40s. We can get over 50 on the highway, but less around town. We also like the extremely low emissions level.</p>
<p>As a car, apart from the hybridness, it’s great, too. Very comfortable, well-designed. We’re huge fans.</p>
<p>Also, it was several thousand less than a Prius (also a great car) and we didn’t have to wait–bought it off the lot.</p>
<p>Not a hybrid, but–
When my car was in the shop recently, the dealership gave me a loaner-- a 2-door Toyota Yaris liftback. It was truly the smallest car I’ve ever seen. I only had it a day, not long enough to see what the mileage was like, but it was zippy and fun to drive. The big downside was that it seemed about the size and shape of a Little Tykes cozy coupe, and even standard-sized cars seemed gigantic in comparison. Here in the land of big SUV’s it felt like I was driving practically from ground level – a bit intimidating.</p>
<p>Don’t believe the mileage figures on the window sticker. These have always been off due to the unrealistic method being used but in the case of hybrids it’s even more off. I think the EPA has changed their method and 2008 models will have figures a bit closer to reality. That said, most hybrids are still stingy with the gas.</p>
<p>Have had a Prius for 3 yrs. Upside: 40 - 45 mpg of regular; better pick-up than other 4 cyl sub-compacts I have had. Relatively spacious interior and generous storage capacity. In california - use of carpool lane.
Downside: blindspots and poor visibility out of the rear. Have only done regular maintenance, but I have taken it to the dealer for this and it is more expensive than my regular mechanic, including some type of special draining of the cooling system which cost way too much. ( I don’t remember the price, but I do recall being shocked)</p>
<p>Concerning battery costs : Did a little research and Toyota will pay you $200 for the old battery and it can be totally recycled. The cars have not been around long enough that they have had to replace a battery yet.</p>
<p>Have a Prius and we enjoy it. The rear view vision problem has been addressed in the newer models with a camera that switches on when you go into reverse. We like the camera, though you have to be careful to look around as well, and not just get fixated on your dashboard. I would like a better design where the front windshield joins the side window – it feels as if there is an unnecessary obstacle there to viewing someone who steps off the curb, for example. Other minor complaint is that the automatic key system seems to get out of sequence once in a while, and either not want to let me in, or not want to let me lock, without actually taking the key out of pocket and using it. But I’m probably doing something wrong. The thing’s complicated, and I have no patience for reading manuals.</p>
<p>It’s a lot of fun to drive, very peppy on our steep hills. We’re getting in the mid-to high 40s for mileage, the hills putting somewhat of a dent in what would otherwise be around 50 mpg. Given that we don’t drive that much, we go more than a month without visiting a gas station. Oh, and I love the color – red as a candy apple.</p>
<p>^That sound pretty. Our Civic is a beautiful pearl blue.</p>
<p>Concerning visibility; it’s true that coming from a Caravan, I’ve had a little trouble adjusting to the back visibility as far as backing up. It doesn’t bother me on highways. The front visibility is fine.</p>
<p>My biggest complaint was the uncomfortable headrests, but I seem to have adjusted to them–I’m sure they’re keeping me safe!</p>
<p>If the point is to save energy, I recommend a heavily “pre-owned” car. You’ll save all the energy costs and greenhouse gases created in building and delivering a new car, and if/when things to wrong (if you buy one old enough, not much will), you’ll be supporting the local economy.</p>
<p>Mini, I agree with you. Most of what we own is used/refurbished. Our van is 12 and going strong. We will run it till it can’t run any longer.</p>
<p>We decided it was important to support the hybrid movement. The car companies, esp the US ones, should see that keeping energy use down is the future. New cars will still be built (or else they’re eventually will not be any used ones :)), and meanwhile, I still feel better about the lower gas usage, plus the almost non-existent emissions.</p>
<p>But truthfully, our car sits in the driveway most days. We walk to work, church, library, PO, and many stores. In good weather we bike.</p>
<p>We find feet to be the ideal hybrid technology!</p>
<p>I just don’t think folks are aware just how much energy (and water!) is consumed in building and delivering a new car. The energy differential in miles per gallon would have to be huge before it makes any “green sense”. </p>
<p>But I did learn something new today - the palladium used in building catalytic converters is the same stuff utilized to fashion handles for Hermes handbags. ;)</p>
<p>We bought a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid last month. I wanted a small SUV because I like being up off the road and I like their utility (comes in handy when transporting a 160-pound Saint Bernard) but didn’t want the higher gas mileage/emissions. You can get a really great deal on the 2007 hybrid Escapes right now because Ford slightly remodeled the 2008 version and is rolling them out in March or April. We got ours at invoice, whereas just 6 months ago they were going for sticker, and 1 year ago they were sticker plus a grand or so. Also, we will be able to claim a $2,500 federal tax credit, which brings total cost down around $19K.</p>
<p>The one thing about hybrids is you sort of have to relearn how to drive in order to maximize mpg. You learn to accelerate smoothly and slowly whenever feasible, to coast on the downhill roads, and to drive the speed limit or lower when you’re not in a hurry and aren’t bugging other people. The Escape is supposed to get 36 city and 30 freeway. I haven’t been able to get 36 city yet, but I did hit 31 freeway on a recent 500 mile trip. Hybrids are not that economical on short trips because it takes a little while for the engine and brakes to charge the battery. They say to run your furthest-away errand first and then work your way back towards home. That way you charge the battery on the longer drive and it stays charged all the way home.</p>
<p>The coolest thing about my new truck is the utter silence it makes when stopped at an intersection. It sounds just like it does when the engine is off. I love the idea that no fumes are coming from it while waiting for a light to change. By the way, in California, the hybrid technology comes with a state-mandated 150K mile warranty. It will probably take me 10 to 12 years to put that many miles on it.</p>
<p>I read that Toyota actually has an extra stock of the Prius right now since they haven’t sold quite as well as expected recently. As a result, Toyota’s supposed to be dealing on them now in ways they haven’t previously so if that car appeals to you, you might be able to find some good deals that you would have had a hard time finding a year ago.</p>
<p>momof2inca:
Your mileage-maximizing tips apply to all cars and we’d all get better mileage if we followed them. I’ll admit that I tend not to though.</p>
<p>mini:
You should be proud of me for driving a 41 y/o car. In that timeframe many people would have gone through 10 new cars. Maybe I should get tax credits for this.</p>
<p>I was reluctant to give up the wagon for a Prius, thinking I’d need more room. Decided I could rent a bigger car if I needed it - better than lugging excess capacity around all the time. Haven’t needed to rent in the 2 1/2 years since I got the Prius. We even got a whole twin bed (mattress, box springs, side rails, pillows, and head and foot boards) in the back and shut the hatch, with plenty of room for two of us in the front. I can amazed by the cargo capacity.</p>