Hybrid cars question

[El Coyote]

Anyone see the new Dodge Dart coming out next year??

[kfd82]

I see no advantage to a hybrid over a lot of the other economy cars on the road.

There are economical cars that get just as good a mileage without the added expense.

Besides the VW Diesels that are getting ~ 45 or so MPG, what other cars are coming close to the 40-50 MPG that the hybrid owners are posting here?

[Tommyh]

Ever price the battery pack that will have to be replaced by the dealer once it is no longer functional? Ever wonder what happens to said battery when its replaced? theyre not typical car batteries and treated differently. can't see how its good for the environment.

[Johnny Dangerr]

One of the junk yards #1 request is hybrid batteries. 2 grand new? You can buy a lot of gas for 2 grand. I would get a regular Corolla or Civic...

[kfd82]

According to motor trend the only one that comes close in price and mileage is the Honda Insight (And I thought those were hybrids, but I guess not)

http://www.motortrend.com/new_cars/03/35_45_mpg/

Kelly Blue Book lists only the Smart ForTwo as the only non hybrid in the top 10 best mileage cars. (45 mpg hwy)

[F250DSLPWR]

My sister has a Prius to drive back and forth to work (65 miles each way) and it gets 45-48 miles per gallon. It has worked out really well for her. My Dad has the TDI diesel VW and love it. It gets great mileage and is pretty peppy for that small of a diesel.

[Mike D]

Just a quick list of cars that are rated near 40mpg or higher

Chevy Cruze
Fiat 500
Kia Rio
Hyundai Accent
Smart Car
Toyota Camry (Lowest @ 35mpg but a much larger car than the others mentioned.)
I'm sure the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are up there too.

Not saying hybrids don't get good mileage. But all things considered they are not that much better.

[dstreet]

22k for a brand new prius is not an expensive price. It is the base model but is nicely equipped. As far as replacement batteries if you do research you will see typically the batteries last 300k-400k miles. There is a cab company in New York that has original prius's with over 1 million miles on them with only replacing the batteries once and routine maintenance such as brakes, tires, and oil changes being the only maintenance required.

If I can pay 22k for a car that is going to last 300k-400k before any major repairs and get 47-50mpg its a no brainer over a civic or corolla much more roomy as well.

[flywise]

if you buy one because of perceived positive impact on the earth then, well.....I'll stop there.
If you want fuel milage buy a VW diesel

[Steve_243]

wife had a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid that got 32 mpg. Nice ride but had to trade in on a truck for her to pull our boat.

[Limbwalker]

If you want fuel milage buy a VW diesel

IMO, I think that we sould all be driving diesels instead of gasoline motors

I've been waiting for over 10 years for a U.S. company to make a 1/2 ton pickup with a diesel engine. All three of the major U.S. companies had one designed up. Dodge had a cummins engine in a 1/2 ton pu that could get over 30 mpg. All three trashed their plans. Best case scenario for me would be a mid-sized pickup with a small diesel engine. Isuzu used to have this technology, but they aren't available in the U.S. anymore.

I finally got sick of waiting and pulled the trigger on my VW TDI diesel instead. Thanks Detroit.

All over the world, there are Isuzu, Toyota and Nissan pickups with small diesel engines getting up to 40 mpg. Do we have them here in the U.S.? Nope.

Detroit, you're really just the best.

Between the incompetent U.S. Auto Makers (or are they really made in Mexico now?) and the idiotic unions that have enslaved them, we're really screwed here in the states. Greed, greed, greed. It's catching up with them (and us) now.

Last time I checked, the TOYOTA TUNDRA had more U.S. made content of any U.S. built truck. And it's made right here in San Antonio. So the most "American" truck on the road is now a Toyota. Go figure.

Ford, Chevy and Dodge are sellouts. Esp. Chevy and Dodge. At least Ford didn't hold their hand out for a bailout, and they have a "real" hybrid on the road that isn't subsidized by taxpayers.

When are we ever going to wake up and hold the U.S. automakers responsible?

I'd love nothing better than to buy a U.S. built car or truck made with U.S. parts. But someone please tell me why I have to shop at VW or Toyota for a cutting edge, reliable vehicle?