$5.20/gallon

[dudevf1]

Originally Posted by Elisheva

Hey guys,

Can you give me the lowdown on Hybrids? I am seriously thinking about trading in my Camry for a Prius. My relatives in Europe have told me for 6 mos that U.S. gas will hit and exceed $6 per gallon. I'm putting miles on my car more than ever right now (teenager).

This is the problem: spoke to a Auction dealer today and he DID NOT recommend Hybrids stating they don't get the gas mileage they claim they do. Case in point is the Honda Civic they discontinued.

Every person I've spoken to that owns a Hybrid loves them, loves the savings in gas. But, come on, at some point they must purchase a new battery with labor costs. I'm told $3500 for battery and $500 to put in.

Since we are in a recession and gas prices are expected to rise, I'm thinking maybe I'm better off in a 2007 Corolla.

Help me out here!! Thanks!

There's no black and white answer because the mileage varies quite a bit depending on how a person drives. There's a limit to what it can get because it still is mainly a gasoline engine. You probably have to alter your driving habits significantly to get the 50+ mpg, if at all.

If money is tight then there are more affordable options that get above average MPG and are ultra low emissions.

I am hoping that our accord and camry will last us until Plug-In hybrids are mass produced. Until then, I'll go easier on my accord, drive less to ride my bike, and maybe ride the bike a day or two per week to work.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned motorcycles. Scooters are great, but have their limits. I bought a motorcycle ('07 Honda CBR600rr) in October and have enjoyed the many benefits of all the time (lane-splitting & carpool lane) and money (~45mpg) I have saved since. Not only that, it's a lot of fun. I chose to keep my '98 pick-up and buy a motorcycle instead of buying a new pick-up.

[HardCharger]

Motorcycles are great! I had an F4i which I recently sold. It was awesome on gas... but, cant take the kids anywhere and cant carry the bike .

At times I wish I still had mine; actually almost bought another one (1000RR). Unfortunately I have seen a few guys go down on the freeway that made me think twice...

Becareful - they're fun but dangerous.

[Elisheva]

[quote=autoduel;236166]

Originally Posted by TURNERob

Only if it's a V6. The 4 cyl switched to a timing chain in 2002.

Originally Posted by Epic_Mtn_Biker

I'm surprised no one has mentioned motorcycles. Scooters are great, but have their limits. I bought a motorcycle ('07 Honda CBR600rr) in October and have enjoyed the many benefits of all the time (lane-splitting & carpool lane) and money (~45mpg) I have saved since. Not only that, it's a lot of fun. I chose to keep my '98 pick-up and buy a motorcycle instead of buying a new pick-up.

I like my legs, thank you.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by silverspot

Time to invest in one of these babys if you're going to continue to drive...
40/45 mpg MEEEEP MEEEEP!!

Great until you get in a crash...and lose your legs.

[evdog]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I'm in a quandry....

My work pays me a car allowance. It's a healthy amount, but it's what I've got used to as additional income, so I was only using a portion of it towards my car. My allowance has not changed in over 10 years, but we all know what has happened to gas/insurance/maintenance and prices of vehicles in this amount of time. My boss got quite angry when I started to ride my bike to work. He did mention that I was being paid to have a car at work. The final straw came last summer when it was a particular nice day and I said to hell with it, I'm going to ride into work. Well, there was an unscheduled meeting that day being called at one of our other companies at another location and I wasn't able to get over there soon enough. Anyways I was told then, no more bike riding to work. It wasn't to far (33 miles) and the ride home was mostly uphill so I got a good workout on the way home.

So should I ask to be able to ride my bike in once or twice a week to offset my new costs?

That's a bit of a tough one. On one hand its no one's business how you get to work. On the other, if your job requires you to be at meetings off site then there's no question you need to get there on time. If you frequently have unscheduled meetings then you will need your car. If you choose to ride and are unable to carpool with someone from your office then you might have to swallow the odd cab ride. I can see why the boss would be pissed off for riding your bike when you get an allowance. Maybe its time to ask for a raise in the car allowance to account for increased costs. Or give up the allowance, ride your bike whenever you want, and expense the cab ride to the meetings.

[rockyt70]

wow that is just crazy, time to start riding my bike to work

. . .and I was going to get a bigger truck silly me

[DBD]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I'm in a quandry....

My work pays me a car allowance. It's a healthy amount, but it's what I've got used to as additional income, so I was only using a portion of it towards my car. My allowance has not changed in over 10 years, but we all know what has happened to gas/insurance/maintenance and prices of vehicles in this amount of time. My boss got quite angry when I started to ride my bike to work. He did mention that I was being paid to have a car at work. The final straw came last summer when it was a particular nice day and I said to hell with it, I'm going to ride into work. Well, there was an unscheduled meeting that day being called at one of our other companies at another location and I wasn't able to get over there soon enough. Anyways I was told then, no more bike riding to work. It wasn't to far (33 miles) and the ride home was mostly uphill so I got a good workout on the way home.

So should I ask to be able to ride my bike in once or twice a week to offset my new costs?

Hell, I would. Or tell them to give you a company car to drive back and forth to work with.

Also, the part about not being able to get to a meeting at another site, why could you not have carpooled with another employee?

[silverspot]

Originally Posted by HardCharger

Motorcycles are great! I had an F4i which I recently sold. It was awesome on gas... but, cant take the kids anywhere and cant carry the bike .

Can't carry the bike? Sure you can!

If I remember correctly, I think HUGH carries his bike on his BIKE...

That last pic NOT recommended if you're lane splitting

[HardCharger]

Originally Posted by silverspot

Can't carry the bike? Sure you can!

Nice... No room for teenage kids and a newborn

I saw one of those at Sea Otter two years ago; carried two bikes.

[chauvinist_youth]

Originally Posted by evdog

If it makes you guys feel any better the prices in Vancouver went up as high as $1.40/litre last year and are around $1.20 right now. The 'experts' are saying it will go to $1.50 this summer.

$1.20/L works out to $4.53/gallon assuming currencies are equal. And that's just for regular. $1.50 would be $5.67/Gal.

Yes, but they have high taxes on their gas to pay for everyones health insurance. Canada is also the largest exporter of petrol I'd like to add, even more than Saudi Arabia.

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Seat Sniffer

what about the fast food joints?

Nope. No drive thru of any kind.

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I'm in a quandry....

My work pays me a car allowance. It's a healthy amount, but it's what I've got used to as additional income, so I was only using a portion of it towards my car. My allowance has not changed in over 10 years, but we all know what has happened to gas/insurance/maintenance and prices of vehicles in this amount of time. My boss got quite angry when I started to ride my bike to work. He did mention that I was being paid to have a car at work. The final straw came last summer when it was a particular nice day and I said to hell with it, I'm going to ride into work. Well, there was an unscheduled meeting that day being called at one of our other companies at another location and I wasn't able to get over there soon enough. Anyways I was told then, no more bike riding to work. It wasn't to far (33 miles) and the ride home was mostly uphill so I got a good workout on the way home.

So should I ask to be able to ride my bike in once or twice a week to offset my new costs?

I would! Either that or ask them to up the car allowance.

[dudevf1]

I came across this interesting looking electric scooter earlier this week. Cool, but pricey. You could surely use it to commute if you had surface streets only route. Plugs in to the regular wall outlet to recharge 2-3 hours. Apparently they are going to sell to military and other companies with fleet needs, as well as the citizen commuter. Cool stuff.

http://www.vectrix.com/US/index.htm

[Dman233]

The pre 08' diesels (pre particulate filter) of any make are the way to go. My 7k+ lb Chevy diesel truck gets an average of 17 mpg in mixed driving and 21/22 mpg on the highway. The small diesel cars get approx. 40-50 mpg.

Unfortunately they went to Ultra low sulfer diesel, which jacked the price up past super unleaded. About 3 years back diesel used to be way cheaper than reg. unleaded.

[pitmang1]

VW is supposed to be introducing a diesel Hybrid that gets somewhere around 70 mpg. Not an ugly statement car like the Prius and Diesel and electric both deliver torque so 0-60 shouldn't be too bad.
LINK