> Hybrids are at their best in slow, stop & go driving.
That's true, but they can also have an advantage cruising at the speed limit.
By being able to offer acceptable performance with a smaller gasoline engine,
pumping losses are reduced.
Friend of mine with a 1st generation Prius reports being able to average 50 mpg
on the freeway. Of course that's not impossible with non-hybrids ... same
friend reported roughly the same mileage with his diesel Rabbit ... but not and
offer as much performance as the Prius.
> > If you drive that hybrid 15,000 miles a year and pay $2.93 a gallon,
A big if ... sub-$3 gas is only a memory around here. I've paid as much as
$3.63 for regular (although it's around $3.15-3.20 today).
> > will take you* 8.8 years* to see that payoff at the pump, [for the
> > Highlander hybrid vs regular Highlander] according to Edmunds.
Depends a lot on which numbers you use ... is that the EPA estimated highway
mileage, city mileage, or what it will really do when driven by a real person in
real traffic ? I know people that report averaging less than half the estimated
city mileage on their SUVs. When you start comparing 6 mpg to 50, I'll bet the
payback gets shorter. And does that include the tax break for the hybrid ?
> > The result: the four-door sedan gets an unspectacular 29.5mpg--just
> > a
> > half mile per gallon better than a regular four-cylinder Accord.
Aren't we comparing apples to oranges here ? The Accord "hybrid" has a 255 hp
V6, PLUS whatever the electric motor will do. Why not compare it to something
else capable of 0-60 in 6.7 seconds ? Top that off with being able to drive
solo in the carpool lane ... who cares if it saves money <G>
Randall
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