So what is the best car out there in terms of fuel efficiency?
EDIT: I mean, that's going to be the best you can get in Canada. Karnaj fucked around with this message on 03-18-2007 at 12:51 PM.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith
quote:
Delidgamond put down Tada! magazine long enough to type:
How well do you think that Smart car would hold up on Icy roads? I will be moving to Edmonton in about a month.
Well, it's not going to be great fun, because the thing's so damn light. It weighs a measly 730 kg, whereas a typical car weighs around 1500 kg. In addition, the tires are smaller than your typical car. I'm sure you could get studded tires for it, if you foresee the roads being icy for extended stretches.
One thing you might be concerned about, depending upon Edmonton's winter climate, is getting a diesel started in the winter. When you go shopping for a Smart, make sure to ask if it comes with an engine block heater.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith
Go with a Honda Civic instead. They will get you pretty close to 50mpg if I recall correctly.
Not serious, but it's still pretty neat.
quote:
Mr. Gainsborough said:
Just get a segway.
I spit tea from my nose at that mental image, thank you.
Norim Stumpfighter fucked around with this message on 03-19-2007 at 03:14 AM.
You might want to add that to your calculus.
--Satan, quoted by John Milton
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith
quote:
Over the mountain, in between the ups and downs, I ran into Naimah who doth quote:
Unless you want to cruise over 80mph a Prius has plenty of power. The electric motor, which is used during acceleration, provides a huge amount of torque making it very drivable, especially in the city.
"A huge amount of torque"?
The prius has around half the horsepower and two-thirds of the torque of a Focus, which I picked as being a fairly middle-of-the-road, cheap, 30mpg car. It fares even worse against more expensive models.
Then add in the fact that the Prius is actually 200lbs heavier than the Focus. To call the Prius "anemic" would be an understatement. Maradon! fucked around with this message on 03-19-2007 at 09:06 PM.
quote:
Peanut butter ass Shaq Mr. Gainsborough booooze lime pole over bench lick:
What's the point of having a superfast car if the speed limit is 65?
Who said anything about speed in this thread? Let alone "super" speed?
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I run into situations where acceleration is valuable pretty much every day that I commute. Getting off an on-ramp onto the highway, making a right turn at a red light, getting out of an intersection should the light change while you're in it (one by my house is bad for this). Even changing lanes.
I know highway driving would suck pretty bad in a car with half the horsepower of a regular car, but a higher weight. Most on-ramps aren't very long and who knows when a sleepy guy behind the wheel of a Microbus driving his way home from "Woodstock 2: This Time Less Drugs" will blast you as you accelerate from 35 to 65 over the course of nine minutes.
In short you have a car that isn't very good at being a car.
"But at least you save on gas right!"
Uh, yeah... but you also have to spend $3000 every four years on batteries. That's $62 or about two tanks of gas per month... Maradon! fucked around with this message on 03-19-2007 at 09:20 PM.
It still has a 0-to-60 that's a second and a half slower than a Focus, which itself doesn't have fantastic acceleration, but I would consider driving such a car, were it not for the battery maintenance issue.
quote:
Naimahing:
What problems with the batteries? I don't have the owners manual in front of me, but I also believe that that the batteries have a very strong warranty program. In the 3 years or so that my family has owned a Prius there hasn't been one problem with the batteries.
These battery replacement costs. The ones that crop up every 4-5 years and cost between $3000 and $8000.
Like any battery, the hybrid car batteries are consumable and need regular replacement. Expensive regular replacement. It's getting better, but it still negates whatever you save in fuel efficiency. Maradon! fucked around with this message on 03-19-2007 at 09:56 PM.
Good enough for me.Granted, I have no idea what the city MPG is, because I don't drive in the city... All highways and non-stop 55-70's out here.
quote:
Peanut butter ass Shaq Naimah booooze lime pole over bench lick:
The end of the article stated that the final costs of repair was $1,345 or about $0.01/mile. I think your just looking for excuses to dismiss them as pointless.
That was the cost of the contact replacement needed for that particular repair, and that was an article on an extremely biased site - I linked it for the fact that even THEY have to admit that the cost of battery replacement in a hybrid is about three grand at the most optimistic and that battery replacement is necessary.
The precise lifespan of the batteries is a hotly politicized topic with one side - enviro-weenies trying to force you to drive one and the manufacturers mainly - telling you it'll last the life of the car and the other telling you three to five years, but from what I know of batteries I'm more inclined to believe the three to five year crowd.
If I saw any convincing evidence that long term maintenance on hybrids didn't suck, then I wouldn't believe that they were pointless.
You're far better off with a small gasoline engine car. Cars like the Civic will not get you that theoretical 80mpg+ that city Hybrid drivers boast -- but they will get you a nearly guaranteed ~50mpg no matter what type of driving you do.
Besides, they're significantly cheaper than most hybrids as well.
2007 Civic DX FWD 4-Dr Sedan L4 MSRP: $15,010
2007 Prius Base FWD 4-Dr Hatchback L4 MSRP: $22,175 Reynar fucked around with this message on 03-20-2007 at 12:22 PM.
quote:
Oh Reynar. Oh Reynar! Oh Reynar!!;
Unless you plan to drive entirely in the city, stay away from the Prius or any Hybrid in general. If you think you're going to be spending noticable time on the highway, they become virtually useless because now that they're running on an underpowered gas engine for their size.
Sure, the mileage isn't as great as what other people have posted, but it'll be fantastic when you go cruising for chicks.
Or whatever it is you go cruising for.
