Alaska Darin Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 MSNBC Reports Nice to see the marketplace work.
stuckincincy Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Won't that hurt the American manufacturing sector? I want Kerry to denounce fuel economy.
Alaska Darin Posted September 8, 2004 Author Posted September 8, 2004 I think that is LEXUS. ?? 22383[/snapback] Weird. I cut it from the title of the website. They must have caught it...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Weird. I cut it from the title of the website. They must have caught it... 22393[/snapback] I so wanted to jump on your "public school" education. Then again, you could have used the argument that "I" is right next to "U" on the QWERTY keyboard.
SilverNRed Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 I've heard there is a waiting list for basically all the hybrid cars that are available (and those that will be available). The only bad news is that supposedly hybrids now are twice as likely to have engine problems as conventional cars. I suspect that will even out as they become more accepted and we get a few more iterations. The same way CD players were less likely to skip a few years after they were introduced. This is great news.
blzrul Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 There is a waiting list for the Prius - which is the butt-ugliest car on the road excepting only the Aztec and that Honda box-on-wheels. The Prius is got some high-tech whizbag stuff on the interior, which makes people forget the outside. You can get Civic Hybrids without too much trouble. That's what we're getting, it looks just like a regular Civic and TCO is lower than Prius. We've decided that people who drive the Prius WANT everyone to know they're being conscientious, which is fine. But their cars are BUTT ugly. I don't know about the Ford hybrid. I have had such bad experiences with America cars, particularly Ford, that there's no way I'd consider buying the first model.
Alaska Darin Posted September 8, 2004 Author Posted September 8, 2004 I so wanted to jump on your "public school" education. Then again, you could have used the argument that "I" is right next to "U" on the QWERTY keyboard. 22411[/snapback] You could have. It wouldn't have hurt my feelings. I'll never spell Lexus wrong again. But hay (sic).
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 You could have. It wouldn't have hurt my feelings. I'll never spell Lexus wrong again. But hay (sic). 22434[/snapback] I am only kidding! I trust you... Then again, it was in the title header... I guess that counts for something? And screw the hybrids... when one of my cars go, the Caddy STS is the one. Then you can call me a true "Limousine Liberal".
Guest RabidBillsFanVT Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 A subject we all AGREE ON!!! All righty then!! I still want a 70mpg Beetle
RuntheDamnBall Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 This is great. I've thought all along if there was a beautiful, fast hybrid that was like a regular car in every other way other than its fuel consumption, the people will go for it. It's about time. Mercedes, BMW, get on board. Soon we'll see Hummers that get 12 mpg!
stuckincincy Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Factually, it takes years to break even with these vehicles vs. conventional high-milage vehicles. Their appeal is to well-heeled folks who want to do the "in" thing (see the Bimmer/Jeep Cherokee crowd of several years ago), who will dump them off once the fad fades, and they also attract a few serious technophiles.
stuckincincy Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Then why the waiting list? There is a definite demand and these vehicles do come at a premium. 22499[/snapback] Many have more money than brains. People used to get in fights over Cabbage Patch Dolls.
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Many have more money than brains. People used to get in fights over Cabbage Patch Dolls. 22507[/snapback] That is what America's about baby! How do these things handle in the snow and cold?
RuntheDamnBall Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Many have more money than brains. People used to get in fights over Cabbage Patch Dolls. 22507[/snapback] Often true. I actually was thinking in your post that you meant it took years for companies to break even, and deleted it after realizing my misinterpretation. Even so, EVEN IF it takes years to break even, if you CAN break even this seems to be worth it with the good it does for the environment. (I'd argue it's worth it regardless, but then again money ain't everything for me, and I don't have a car!)
RkFast Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 An aquaintance of mine has the Prius and its cool as anything. Really high-tech head to toe. Not very powerful though and not much for the driving enthusiast at all. So if a car is anything BUT a means from point A to point B, these cars are a little "light" in the "fun to drive" dept. But since the guy I know who has one is a test pilot and instructor for an aircraft manufacturer, he MIGHT have some OTHER toys to "play" with!
Benjamin Franklin Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 An aquaintance of mine has the Prius and its cool as anything. Really high-tech head to toe. Not very powerful though and not much for the driving enthusiast at all. So if a car is anything BUT a means from point A to point B, these cars are a little "light" in the "fun to drive" dept. But since the guy I know who has one is a test pilot and instructor for an aircraft manufacturer, he MIGHT have some OTHER toys to "play" with! 22576[/snapback] There are so many words emphasized in your post that I have no idea what you're saying. I ditto AD. It is nice to see that the marketplace can dictate our environmental concerns: this is the thing that everyone on the Left said would never happen, i.e., that consumers would never be willing to spend more to get enviro-friendly products. But lo and behold, people are rushing to get all the hybrids. I disagree with a previous suggestion that this is a fad. People want these cars, which cost (in the case of the Civic), about 20% more than their gas-fueled counterparts. That's a good chunk of change for a small boring car. I think people are motivated by high gas prices, some of the dependence on foreign oil arguments, and a concern for the environment. I'd like to think that people were motivated by the fact that only about 10% of the US can justify having a truck/4WD, but I know that's not the case. I'd also like to think that people were motivated by the fact that most cars in the US are single-driver commuter cars that rarely carry more than one passenger, but again, I know this is not the case.
IUBillsFan Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 There is a waiting list for the Prius - which is the butt-ugliest car on the road excepting only the Aztec and that Honda box-on-wheels. The Prius is got some high-tech whizbag stuff on the interior, which makes people forget the outside. You can get Civic Hybrids without too much trouble. That's what we're getting, it looks just like a regular Civic and TCO is lower than Prius. We've decided that people who drive the Prius WANT everyone to know they're being conscientious, which is fine. But their cars are BUTT ugly. I don't know about the Ford hybrid. I have had such bad experiences with America cars, particularly Ford, that there's no way I'd consider buying the first model. 22427[/snapback] I think my wife is the only person that likes the way an Aztec looks...it a good thing she makes the money or I'd leave her...
blzrul Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 I think my wife is the only person that likes the way an Aztec looks...it a good thing she makes the money or I'd leave her... 22677[/snapback] It really is ugly - I hope she doesn't like that green Aztec, it's the worst. It may be practical though, because it's high up and can fit stuff. I just can't see any beauty in it though - it's not like the VW Thing which was so ugly it was cool. Or even Hummers - I'd never own one, but the H2s do look sorta cool, for a gimmick car.
Alaska Darin Posted September 8, 2004 Author Posted September 8, 2004 It really is ugly - I hope she doesn't like that green Aztec, it's the worst. It may be practical though, because it's high up and can fit stuff. I just can't see any beauty in it though - it's not like the VW Thing which was so ugly it was cool. Or even Hummers - I'd never own one, but the H2s do look sorta cool, for a gimmick car. 22684[/snapback] I've wondered why they don't make that in the horrible beige color that was prevalent in the '70s and '80s. That would pretty much complete the "trailerparky" look they seemed to be going for.
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