So I want a hybrid car in 2010, what are my options?

[EliteLamer]

I really don't know what to get anymore because it seems so far all hybrid cars really don't save any energy at all and you have to look at the big picture to understand it. The batteries in hybrid cars like the Chevy Volt, which is what I was looking at, use so much resources to make they really are not worth the mileage you save. This applies to pretty much any battery hybrid car. So this takes all hybrid out of the equation...

What do you all think of the VW Jetta TDI that can run on bio diesel? These cars cost quite a bit of money and everyone I know says VW is crap..

Right now I drive a car that gets 12mpg.

[jjski78]

The TDI is a very reliable engine. However, make damn sure it's coupled to a manual transmission because the autos are garbage.

[EliteLamer]

The TDI is a very reliable engine. However, make damn sure it's coupled to a manual transmission because the autos are garbage.

All I drive is manual..

[Nitroholic]

I have a 2001 TDI Golf, and I'd say do not buy a hybrid, buy a diesel. Gets great mileage, do not have to replace batteries, and faster. If you plan to run Bio-Diesel I'd recommend the the engines prior to the year 2004. As said above, the automatic is shit. Overall its a great car, with a bit of potential, such as changing nozzles and getting a tune can result in 40 HP and 60 TQ. Read up on the TDI forum if you are serious www.tdiclub.com (http://www.tdiclub.com)

btw 50 mpg ftw

[DvBoard]

Apparently diesel hybrids are out/coming out. Might look into one of those.

[EliteLamer]

Apparently diesel hybrids are out/coming out. Might look into one of those.


Doesn't that lead back to the fact that cars that rely on batteries waste just as much energy as a normal car or more.

[midnightwolfmoon]

be careful with bio diesel cars because i live on the east coast and i dont know of any places that sell bio diesel fuel within 50 miles. go online, im sure you can check to see if there are any in your area.

[jjski78]

be careful with bio diesel cars because i live on the east coast and i dont know of any places that sell bio diesel fuel within 50 miles. go online, im sure you can check to see if there are any in your area.

Any car that can burn bio-diesel can also burn dino-diesel, so I'm failing to see your point.

[EliteLamer]

I live on the east coast too and I think his point is don't expect to find cheaper bio diesel.

[EliteLamer]

Yeah the TDI club told me not to get a TDI cause I want it for the wrong reasons..


Then they got pissy cause I said "gas mileage" instead of "Fuel"

[Toeshoes]

The car that runs on air It is being predicted that the e.Volution will be able to travel up to 200km (120 miles) for only 30 US cents.http://www.debateanything.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/988265.stm

It is expected to sell in South Africa for about R74,000 ($10,000)

[bdm]

As a master VW technician, I will add that diesel is the most cost effective of the alternative fuel vehicles. But, I will also add that the cost of upkeep is more expensive. Only if you do serious commuting will you save in the cost of owning one. Maitenance is much more expensive, the initial cost is much more expensive, and diesel fuel is ridiculously expensive.

As for hybrids, extensive research on my part, (along with 20yrs experience in the automotive field) have shown that they are most effective in heavy traffic areas, where you spend a lot of time idling i.e. stop lights, and traffic jams. Also, finding a proper place with trained technicians to handle the special needs of a hybrid can be far and few between. Note, that if you do the proper research you will also find that the battery packs used in a hybrid are rediculously expensive. Example, I priced a battery pack setup for a civic hybrid which was traded in. The costs $4200, so how much do you save in operating costs?

I have chosen to go a more traditional route. I commute 75 miles a day, and have picked an auto that runs on petrol, and gets approximately 32 miles per gallon. By crunching the numbers over a 5 year run, at todays cost for fuel and diesel with no increase, including maitenance cost. I found that it was still approximately $7200 less expensive to own a fuel efficient regular automobile.

No hate involved, just pure statistics. I will remind you that I absoluetly love the VW diesel, I have 2 customers with tdi's that have well over 300k on them each with no major malfunctions. They have recouped their investments, and profited. But for those who chose to change vehicles every 3-6 years, and drive less than 60k miles per year, your just wasting your money.

[EliteLamer]

BDM thanks for the insight the VW TDI was something I was really looking at and now I really see how it is not for me. Also, I knew about the batteries for the hybrid which also rule it out as a car to get. This leaves me with like no options. I am thinking about the Mazda3 but I really want something that is going to last into the future once gas hits 5+ in the next few years. So I am looking for something 40+ but that doesn't seem to exist.

[AMG_Fred]

The car that runs on air It is being predicted that the e.Volution will be able to travel up to 200km (120 miles) for only 30 US cents.http://www.debateanything.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/988265.stm



Failures
1. They are marketing cars in Africa. They ride cheetahs!
2. Do you think many Africans are going to spend 10 grand on a car?
3. Why not debut the car in London or some other clusterfuck city?

[AMG_Fred]

oh shit, wrong section. In this case, its good that people are finally trying to get cars to run on some alternative fuel. I didn't read the article but do you know whether or not the mixture of the air matters? Air is mainly made up of nitrogen and I don't think that nitrogen would be that good as a fuel

[Toeshoes]

Failures
1. They are marketing cars in Africa. They ride cheetahs!
2. Do you think many Africans are going to spend 10 grand on a car?
3. Why not debut the car in London or some other clusterfuck city?They are also building them in five other countries now. :oopsie:

[Toeshoes]

oh shit, wrong section. In this case, its good that people are finally trying to get cars to run on some alternative fuel. I didn't read the article but do you know whether or not the mixture of the air matters? Air is mainly made up of nitrogen and I don't think that nitrogen would be that good as a fuel120 miles for .30 cents.

[EliteLamer]

I don't see that car having many features.

[Toeshoes]

I don't see that car having many features.The only feature I need to see is 120 miles = .30 cents :bowdown:

[jjski78]

BDM thanks for the insight the VW TDI was something I was really looking at and now I really see how it is not for me. Also, I knew about the batteries for the hybrid which also rule it out as a car to get. This leaves me with like no options. I am thinking about the Mazda3 but I really want something that is going to last into the future once gas hits 5+ in the next few years. So I am looking for something 40+ but that doesn't seem to exist.


Shit, if you want 40+MPG go find yourself a used Civic HX from the mid 90's or a CRX HF. Those both get well over 40MPG on the highway.

[EliteLamer]

I need AC and leather, and a car I can polish.

[jjski78]

Civic HX has AC, Leather is easy to have put in, and you can polish any car as long as it has decent paint.

[EliteLamer]

That air car didn't have normal paint on it.

[bdm]

I will say that honda, toyota, mazda, nissan,hyundai, kia, and suzuki seem to be the route to owning a cheaper automobile to operate. A chain operated, 4 cylinder naturally aspirated smaller vehicle will certainly produce cheaper operating costs.

And, during the current battle for supremecy in the economy car class, the materiels used, as well as creature comforts are getting better year by year. I love my german cars, and until recently, only would own german cars, I repair them on a daily basis, and know every thing about a VW to keep it running properly. But, common sense is the key to economic soundness.

I currently own a suzuki sx4 (2007). I purchased it when it was traded in for a truck. Initial cost $11k, it gets approximately 32 mpg, has all the creature comforts with all wheel drive as a plus. I am now at 30k miles, no issues what so ever. The maitenance has been inexpensive, and very simple. even a novice could upkeep this car with no issues. IT has a timing chain with no immediate change interval, runs on 87 octane, uses non synthetic oil, and has normal non-platinum spark plugs. Would I own another german car? yeah, but I want to see what the economy is going to do before I step up again. As for now, I am quite smitten with this car, and forsee no problems in the future.

[EliteLamer]

What do you think of the Mazda3?

[jjski78]

The 3 seems to be a pretty decent little car. I know quite a few people that own them and have not heard one complaint.

I, however am waiting for the VW Tiguan TDI to come out. That's gonna be the wife's next car.

[kendog]

Failures
1. They are marketing cars in Africa. They ride cheetahs!
2. Do you think many Africans are going to spend 10 grand on a car?
3. Why not debut the car in London or some other clusterfuck city?

S africa isnt that poor

[EliteLamer]

I still can't believe cars have not broke the 40mpg mark.

[jjski78]

I still can't believe cars have not broke the 40mpg mark.

Some have. The civic was getting 40MPG in the fucking 80's. Same with the old tercels and corollas. What's sad is that the technology has been out there to get high mileage for years, but the American public won't sacrifice anything to get better fuel economy. Go to Europe and it's a different story altogether.

[EliteLamer]

Civic gets 32ish I think now.. So wtf is up?

[Toeshoes]

S africa isnt that poorTrue. I post on another board with a guy from South Africa. He has all kinds of good shit and a good job too. He knows nothing of starvation and the genocide in Dafur. They are well-insulated from the rest of Africa.

[EliteLamer]

Honda Civic Hybrid is like 25k for the good model.

[jjski78]

Civic gets 32ish I think now.. So wtf is up?


What the EPA says, and real world experiences are totally different. A buddy of mine had a '05 Civic EX and he was getting around 40MPG in mixed driving. My gf back in high school had an '87 Civic that got well over 40MPG. It couldn't get out of it's own way, but it got great mileage.

[urmama]

The car that runs on air It is being predicted that the e.Volution will be able to travel up to 200km (120 miles) for only 30 US cents.http://www.debateanything.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/988265.stm


that article is from 2000. you got an update? i would figure oil companies would buy out the patents to them and others that have come before them.