Hybrid SUV's

[Rack Fu]

Not that there are a lot of options but I'm looking into it.

Lexus 400h: 3.3L, 268hp, 28-33 mpg, $44K-$49K
Ford Escape & Mercury Mariner: 2.3L, 155hp, 31-36 mpg, $27K-$32K
Toyota Highlander: 3.3L, 268hp, 28-33 mpg, $34K-$39K
Saturn Vue: 2.4L, 170hp, 27-32 mpg, $23K-$26K

The Escape seems way overpriced at $28K. The Vue has more horsepower and about 5 mpg less than the Escape.

You get tax credits for having Hybrid vehicles as well.

Anyone with any 411 on these rigs? I've been reading up at all the usual car buying sites. Just wnated some personal opinions.

[Mikey]

Do any of them come with 4WD?

Guess it doesn't really matter though, does it?

[Rack Fu]

Do any of them come with 4WD?

Yes.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Lexus 400h: 3.3L, 268hp, 28-33 mpg, $44K-$49K
Ford Escape & Mercury Mariner: 2.3L, 155hp, 31-36 mpg, $27K-$32K
Toyota Highlander: 3.3L, 268hp, 28-33 mpg, $34K-$39K
Saturn Vue: 2.4L, 170hp, 27-32 mpg, $23K-$26K

How do they handle in grass clippings?

[Atomic Punk]

"We spend alot ub money, 'cause we makes alots ub money."



Let's by a "hybrid!" YES!!!! A hybrid! Good idear!

Fu, I'm calling you out on this. Luther is in the basement once again because people like yourself aren't down with fossil fuels. I don't care how many gigawatts you get out of yer hybrid, but Luther is stuck in the past because of you and that silly nonsense.

Seriously, don't you feel the ass pinch at the pump? When your SUV filled tardmobile pulls into McD's at 6 AM, be advised that Dins is on his unicycle making his way through early morning Portland gun battles to fix up that McGriddle for you and the newly bristed son of yours.

[Mikey]

I test drove a Toyota FJ Cruiser this afternoon. That is one serious tank............................................................................ But sweet ground clearance and machismo..

Machismo? That is the most faggoty looking rig I have seen in my life.

The only mud those rigs ever see is when the owners life partner wipes his cock on the floormats.

Did you test drive the yellow one or the eye-shadow blue one Nancy?

Personally I like the lime green one.

You should check out one of these. Closest thing on the road to an Urban Assault Vehicle...

[smackaholic]

'splain to me why a special agent in teehaaas needs an suv. I still don't get the fukking lemming mentality that drives idjits to those things. If you want a high mileage wagon with a decent amount of room, check out a VW TDI wagon. Real life mileage north of 40 mpg, no batteries, extremely low maintenance. Price tag somewhere in the mid 20s, I think.

Hybrids are a good idea IF the majority of your driving is low speed urban stop and go. Otherwise, they sux and are gax.

check this place out for some good info on TDIs along with some hybrid flaming.

tdiclub.com

ohh, and rack r-jack. That silly looking toyota is about has about as much machismo as a fuscia rabbit convertible full of dork snorklers.

[Rack Fu]

Not that there are a lot of options but I'm looking into it.

Don't bother. The Lexus has had acceleration issues and the real world increase in milage is about 5%. Do you really think GM would put together a quality vehicle and give it the Saturn badge? Car & Driver put the milage on the Ford ones at about 25mpg. The Toyota may be allright, but it is the same engine as the one in the Lexus. Plus expect to pay on the high end of that price range and even more.

Yes you get the tax credit, but unless you are buying a Prius or (depending on how you drive) a Civic hybrid, the savings in gas are not enough to offset the high price tag.

Lets compare a base Escape with a base Escape hybrid for example. The regular Escape is listed at getting 24-29mpg (that figure is probably bullshit like the hybrids figure, but let's go with both inflated figures). There is about an $7000 difference in the price (which could get even larger based on dealers looking to unload gas models and mark up the hybrids). Take out the credit you are paying about $4000 more. Even going off of the mileage estimates from Ford you would only save about $220 a year if you drive both 18,000 miles, split between city and highway.

But that all depends if you only pay sticker. Like I said, you may get a gas one for less but you will pay above sticker for the hybrid.

Oh yeah don't forget the expensive battery replacement at 70-90K.

Do the math on the others and you will probably get similar results. Hybrid SUV are not only not a good option yet, but it is only offered in vehicles so small the barely qualify as a useful SUV anyfuckinway.

I was just reading some forums about the Escape and people stating that they aren't getting anywhere near mid-30's in mpg and that it was more like 25 to 27 mpg.

Just read an ad in the paper about the Jeep Liberty being discounted $6000 with 0% APR. I might look into that for a second rig and maybe unload the $75 per gas station visit which is the Lincoln Navigator. I rented a Liberty when I was on vacation a couple of weeks back. Not a bad vehicle at all. I think that mpg is in the low 20's which is still double what the Nav gets.

[chargerfan]

You should check out one of these. Closest thing on the road to an Urban Assault Vehicle...

I have the truck version of that. 4x4 all the bells and whistles. They're great but get ready for 11-12 mpg city and 15-16 mpg highway. Great ride, awesome power just better have the wallet to fill it.

[smackaholic]

But they still aren't gayer than an FJ cruiser though.

I drove a yellow one. My gaydar didn't go off. Here's a pic of a blue one.

your gaydar needs calibrating.

[Dinsdale]

"I want to save gas, but I also want to drive the most conspicuous consumption vehicle that I can get my hands on."


Sometimes, I think the entire planet has gone crazy, except for me.

And there's been some serious doubts raised about me.

[Y2K]

Just remember to use the right routine when learning the batteries. Make sure you drive it to where it's "all the way charged" and then drive your ass off until you completely "discharge" your rig. It's important to do this througout the 1000 mile break- in period. Remember that proper "learning" of your hybrid will make it good for many many years to come.

Your welcome in advance.

[YD]

yor sled is a subaru, right dins?

[Goober McTuber]

your gaydar needs calibrating.

And you’re just the man to do it.

[Dinsdale]

yor sled is a subaru, right dins?

3/4 ton Chev truck.

Your point was?


Allllthough...I drove a Sub wagon for a looooong time. Was my secondary "fishing rig." But over time, the sucker became my "primary rig." Bought that sucker for like $150, fixed a couple of little things, and drove the living bejesus out of it for many years. Don't know how many miles I put on that sucker, but it must have been close to 100K. Sucker got about 40MPG going to the coast and back, and even being 2WD, saw some off-roading that no mere passenger rice wagon should ever be subjected to.


Broke down on me out in the sticks once(I didn't do quite a good enough shitty-repair-job on an axle...my fault), and I'll be damned if I didn't get into the best sea-run cutthroat fishing I've ever had, while waiting for rescue. (Wait...you Drysiders don't have sea-run cuts...your loss...a FINE member of the salmonid family).

So, even when it wasn't at its greatest, it still turned into a blessing in disguise.


What a great car that was. But, its time came and went.

[YD]

Your point was?


Allllthough...I drove a Sub wagon for a looooong time. Was my secondary "fishing rig."

that's it. know it all portland flyfishing expert can be seen in late model suba's all over the U&L. Its actually pretty rackable. Did it have a sewage smell from one of your floats on the Johnny D, when you didn't want to empty your "bucket" at the ramp? thats ALWAYS a BIG mistake.

that would really seal the deal. double keep it real points

[Ken]

Just read an ad in the paper about the Jeep Liberty being discounted $6000 with 0% APR. I might look into that...

Had one of those dumped on me at a rental car center when they ran out of cars. Wonder why this was the last car on the lot except for a minivan or two?

The liberty was quite possibly the biggest piece of shit I've ever had the misfortune of driving from Charlotte to Asheville in. That thing couldn't have been less peppy if it were dragging a jtr or two behind. Handled like shit too. I drive by Liberties and feel bad for their owners.

[Ken]

awesome power just better have the wallet to fill it.

sup?
zy

[Dinsdale]

know it all portland flyfishing expert can be seen in late model suba's all over the U&L.

I have been severely mischarcterized here.

My Sub was 1 1983(?) beater. I have nothing against the art of fly-fishing...I just have utter disdian for its practitioners.

Late model Outbacks and whatnot are poser rigs. 80's model Subs are a definitive U&L vehicle...I don't think most of the transplants/tourists realize that just about every one of those beater Subis with the Earth Liberation Front and Greenpeace stickers in the back window are also almost invariably equipped with a sawed-off 12 gauge under the driver's seat. Wouldn't dream of harming a feather on a spotted owl, but piss them off in traffic and it's open gunplay.

We're funny that way.

I've never fished the John Day. My fishing buddy has a pic of him with a MASSIVE smallmouth he caught ther a few years ago, though. I'll check it out one of these days, hopefully for better game than bass...bass fishing is for inbreds, who don't have access to real fish.


But really...if you've somehow gotten the impression that I'm some neo-liberal Portland dork...you're severely mistaken. OPnly people who meet that definition are transplants...Midwesterners and calis. I'm OG, dyed-in-the-wool U&L real-deal. Take that one to the bank, brother.


Save a tree -- use your unregistered, concealed handgun to take out an innocent logger.


^^^Would a psuedo-U&Ler type that?

[YD]

Save a tree -- use your unregistered, concealed handgun to take out an innocent logger.


^^^Would a psuedo-U&Ler type that?

nope that checks out fine


I went to school with dudes (and chicks) who'd write pro choice papers and gut shot pregnant animals for a gas.

yup its the paradox that makes this place what it is.

I'll even admit to teahing outdoor safety to middle schoolers, then driving to Harper the next day to yard rattlesnakes out from under rocks.

comedic self contradiction = the U&L way