Hybrids, etc

[floridaorange]

Curious to know which members currently drive hybrids or shopping for one. I would imagine that by 2018 hybrids will be the standard for people who buy new cars, if that's not already the case. I personally can hardly wait with all the driving I do. The Chevy Volt gets such good mileage that a lot of owners put in a gallon of gas only to have to run their cars in order to burn off the unused gas. Or perhaps hydrogen will be the way to go.

And for all the Conan die hard fans on here, try to see past the fact that Jay Leno is in the following videos. Like him or not, he knows a lot about cars.


This FTW btw:

and this

and lastly

[Kamal]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Hybrid power is good but Gas Engine's themselves are making remarkable strides in improving fuel consumption. Granted they are a way's behind Hybrids but Direct Fuel Injection has really helped the gas engine make even more power while burning lesser fuel. It's a matter of time until the technology continues to improve and regular engines themselves continue to get better.

I'm not much for a hybrid that's designed specifically for saving gas (eg Prius) simply because of the shapes of the hybrids and the roar of a gas engine car. I'll give a nod for mild hybrids that help push the mpgs of a regular fuel burner a little more by taking away some of the onboard functions of a car that depend on engine and add to the consumption by switching them to the battery.

Best of both worlds.

[Jenks]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Diesel

[Kamal]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Only for the first few years, in the U.S., the chemical replacements in the muffler to soothe out the toxic exhaust fumes is an unnecessary and avoidable pain in the ass. Now if you lived overseas, I'd give you a "hell yea".

[floridaorange]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Why burn any gas or diesel when you can burn water or vegetable oil?

[Jenks]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Why burn any gas or diesel when you can burn water or vegetable oil?

Because there aren't any water or vegetable oil cars on the market. Duh.

[Jenks]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Now if you lived overseas, I'd give you a "hell yea".

That's kinda what I was referring to. They're coming here btw. Many are already here, bmw, audi/VW, etc.

[floridaorange]

Re: Hybrids, etc

[floridaorange]

Re: Hybrids, etc

[Jenks]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Wife has an 09 VW GTI. Definitely considering the new diesel platform in the new A3 or the Golf.

[ddr]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Diesel

Agree... Audi/VW's TDI variants are amazing... if only they weren't so darn expensive, lol.

[floridaorange]

Re: Hybrids, etc

the bluetech line from mercedes is impressive.

[gizze]

Re: Hybrids, etc

I drive a Mercedes E350cdi blutech thingie, on paper it is great, in the real world no so impressive.



I average around 34mpg from it, (UK gallons, which is around 29 us I guess).

My wife was driving a BMW 320d M-Sport touring.......


This is an auto, mapped to 220bhp and would not drop below 39mpg no matter what. Averaged around 46mpg and would see silly figures on a run....


I had a 535d M-Sport touring before that, and that would struggle to average 26mpg, and would see as low as 12mpg while driving it 'properly'.
My M3 CSL wouldn't drop that low!!!!!


As much as I think the new hybrids mean well, I think things like the latest BMW Efficent Dynamics cars are far better. One of the guys on the UK BMW forum has the latest 1 series ED model and he gets over 99mpg on his commute. The on board computer maxes out at 99mpg.

[Donny Concrete]

Re: Hybrids, etc

[sbando]

Re: Hybrids, etc

Florida likes hybrids 'cos he's one himself.