Thinking About a Hybrid

[KJRGT]

OK, OK, don't skewer me on this.
Living in SoCal I drive 80 to 100 miles a day, mostly freeway cruising at 65-75 mph. Needing to provide my youngest (4 of 4) with a vehicle for driving in a few months, I'm thinking about giving her my ride and going with a hybrid if I can find one that is a real car.
I've done some research to date and am looking at the two Lexus models at this time, the GS and LS.
Just wondering if anyone has some experience in this arena and/or know of some new model coming out that I should be aware of.

 

[Empty Pockets]

OK, OK, don't skewer me on this.
Living in SoCal I drive 80 to 100 miles a day, mostly freeway cruising at 65-75 mph. Needing to provide my youngest (4 of 4) with a vehicle for driving in a few months, I'm thinking about giving her my ride and going with a hybrid if I can find one that is a real car.
I've done some research to date and am looking at the two Lexus models at this time, the GS and LS.
Just wondering if anyone has some experience in this arena and/or know of some new model coming out that I should be aware of.

Take 2 asprin...an' lie down 'til this "hybrid" feeling passes...:ack

 

[Jason's Auto Spa]

How about a fuel efficient vehicle from Chevrolet or Ford?

 

[KJRGT]

Thanks Dr. E.P. I'll take your advice :lol
If I go the hybrid route, I'd love to buy American iron, but I enjoy driving so much I need something that I'll enjoy every day...does Ford or GM build such a car...or will they soon?

 

[GT Tech]

Just a thought here, but Ford makes a really good hybrid called the Escape. (Mercury version too) Great mileage, and an SUV to boot. Try it, you might just like it. :thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[nthfinity]

.... If you want milage, small displacement turbo diesel is the way to go... I'm not sure if Audi have the turbo V8 A8? available in the US or not... but that will get much better, or similar milage to any hybrid on the market, and hold better resale/throttle response etc. etc.

 

[fjpikul]

As GT Tech said, there is the Escape, but for highway driving, it won't get you much as it is really more "green" for the city portion. I bought a Ford Focus for the kids and it was great and held its value pretty well. Upgraded to a Fusion when I bought the GT and it's been excellent with solid 26 mpg with the 3 liter 6. New ones can be better, or you can get a four banger. I would recommend you at least look at the Fusion. Build quality has been excellent.

 

[cobrar1339]

I have a company Hybrid 2005 Escape. I have 83,000 on it now. The car is a test for our fleet to determine how it holds up vs. the Taurus/Fusion.

21,000 - Elect Motor coolant pump replaced under warranty. This was the only one of the four test Escapes that needed one.

Oil changes at 7,500 per factory
Original tires - rotated twice, maybe 8k left in them
Original brake pads - Very surprised they are running this long, still 5-8 k left is my estimate.

Avg. Mpg for the entire 83,000 31.4mpg. This includes about 70% freeway and many 300 mile one way trips to Vegas and Southern Utah.

Best LA mileage is in a traffic jam, have had tanks as high as 34-36 many times.

The elec motor acts like a mini turbo. It is faster than the V6 version. CVT trans is different, but I have come to like it.

The battery is under the back seat, so the weight is well placed and weight distribution is favorable. You can tell the difference vs. a V6.

Pros
Good Mpg for a vehicle I can haul my race tires in .
Sits up high and is very easy and comfortable to drive.
Good turing radius and is small enough to park most anywhere.
Ride is better than a Truck or Explorer IMO
Handling is better than you would think, not great or real good, just better, feels more car like than other SUVs. I think I can take a 06 Taurus in a road race on a tight track. ( not saying much ).
Stock Radio/CD player is not bad, but not great.

No rattles or any other problems whatsoever.

Fit and finish is pretty good for the $25k sticker


Cons based on a $25k sticker
In hot weather the AC pump stops when the motor stops. Gets warm quick in heavy traffic. To keep the AC running all the time, you have to set it to max AC, which causes the motor to start. But then you have defeated the Hybrid part of the car.

The same applies in cold weather( Max Heat), but is never really a problem as the engine does not cool that fast.

Everyone says, just wait till the battery dies, you will be sorry. Our fleet dealer still has never replaced one. It is warrantied till 100,000.

My wife likes driving it better than her 330i TT BMW. Says it's more practical ( boring). I think she just likes it because I never complain about a door ding or rock chip on this car.

My Car guys friends want me to drive, yet they poke fun of me going green.

Will miss it when it's gone as I will end up with a New Taurus/Ford 500. I will miss the utility part the most.

 

[Fubar]

I lost a bet and may have to drive one of these for 6 months. :bored

http://www.smartusa.com/

My one saving grace is that they are selling for sticker plus right now; all bets are off until I can get this P.O.S. cheap.

 

[AlohaGT]

Great write up, Wally. Your tires will end up going over 90k miles?! :eek

 

[AlohaGT]

I lost a bet and may have to drive one of these for 6 months. :bored

http://www.smartusa.com/

My one saving grace is that they are selling for sticker plus right now; all bets are off until I can get this P.O.S. cheap.

How safe is that in a wreck?

 

[Empty Pockets]

I lost a bet and may have to drive one of these for 6 months. :bored

http://www.smartusa.com/

My one saving grace is that they are selling for sticker plus right now; all bets are off until I can get this P.O.S. cheap.

Driving that I wouldn't wanna be in a collision with anything bigger than a bicycle.:willy:willy:willy

(A semi rig must look like the Empire State Building from the driver's seat of that thing.:eek)

 

[THamonGT]

As a Dealer the Escape Hybrid is a great Vehicle if you live in the right type of climate area. When you turn on the Air conditioner the electric engine switches to gas power. In Texas it's not practical.(hot climate) Because of that it's hard to get allocation in
Texas to sell any. Most of Fords production is going to Calif. and New York for Taxi -cabs. Great safety car and well built. You will have to pay a premium probably to get one as Fords production is not huge. Tomy

 

[KJRGT]

Cobrar,
Thanks for the detailed run down with your first hand experiences driving the Ford Escape over 80,000. Very informative, appreciate the time. :thumbsup
THamon, as I live in SoCal, the heat is not as bad as Texas, but I am running AC constantly nearly year round.

 

[Neilda]

and going with a hybrid if I can find one that is a real car.
I've done some research to date and am looking at the two Lexus models at this time, the GS and LS.

:eek

Have you lost your mind?

Have you suddenly grown a beard, developed an appetite for lentils and started living in a wigwam??

Hybrid cars being discussed on the Ford GT forum? This is the Forum for MEN, men who eat dolphins, men who drive GT's, men who laugh in the face of toxic gas, men who tread on daffodils, men who tweak the nose of danger, men who pop an ice cube down the cleavage of fear. Men, godammit.






Go with the GS, I hear it delivers great milegage. :biggrin

 

[PILOTJPW1]

Go with the Tax Stimulus BUY AMERICAN!!!

The Escape is a fine vehicle and provides alot more safety than a Prius or almost all of that sub compact high mileage stuff.


Consumers just don't get it. Japan's vehicle sales are at a 35 year low in Japan it is know wonder they are manipulating the currency and rushing to the USA.

Did you hear me I said "Buy American!"

 

[kjslider]

OK, OK, don't skewer me on this.
Living in SoCal I drive 80 to 100 miles a day, mostly freeway cruising at 65-75 mph. Needing to provide my youngest (4 of 4) with a vehicle for driving in a few months, I'm thinking about giving her my ride and going with a hybrid if I can find one that is a real car.
I've done some research to date and am looking at the two Lexus models at this time, the GS and LS.
Just wondering if anyone has some experience in this arena and/or know of some new model coming out that I should be aware of.

What LS series are you looking at? The LS460H doesn't get any better milage that the standard non hybrid LS460 but you do get fancy blue hybrid patches.

 

[Mark O]

I have a E320 diesel M/B which gets 38-39 mpg on the highway & 25-28 mpg around town. I got my son a used diesel Jetta which gets 50/43 mpg.

Hybrids are a fad. Once the batteries need to be replaced, any savings you had gained is kaput. A turbo diesel gets about 25-35% better fuel economy & will last almost forever. I just don't understand why the diesel engine isn't promoted more in this country. 50% of the cars in Europe are diesel powered.

 

[fordcapri]

These hybrids are less environmentally friendly than what people make out. Some of the reports I have read put diesel cars more friendly than some of these hybrids. Both Ford and General Motors have got new technology coming out in the next 18 months. General Motors are going bio-ethanol type engines which are much more eco-friendly and Ford have developed new turbo technology which is supposed to be 20% more efficient, so save your money and buy one of these other options.

 

[GT Tech]

Mark
I agree with you on the diesels. I've been driving F-250 diesels for 13 years now. I love the power and the fuel mileage is much better than the gas motors. Trouble is, for the last year or two, Diesel is MUCH more expensive than Gas.

I'm not a chemist, or a refiner, but common sense tells me that Diesel fuel would be less costly to make.

I think the stigma attached to diesels from the poor attempt at them in the 70s still has people turned off. When people see 20 -30 cents per gallon more for diesel, along with the added upkeep and maintenance, that 30 mpg Focus looks mighty good.

IMHO