If a hybrid is a bit out of your league, you can still save lots of gas...

[Matsubara]

Toyota Yaris
34 mpg city / 40 mpg highway


Honda Fit
31 mpg city / 38 mpg highway


Toyota Corolla
32 mpg city / 41 mpg highway


Or if you're broke like me, you could consider some of the even MORE fuel-efficient cars from past years:



Geo Metro

Better than 50 mpg highway

(I used to drive the earlier incarnation of this one, the 1987 Chevy Sprint. It was an AWESOME fun little car with plenty of cargo space.



ALL of these cars are standard combustion engine vehicles.

If the industry wanted to, and more buyers gave a damn, they could put tons of cars getting better than 45 mpg on the road and make a HUGE difference, and without all the problems associated with huge, toxic battery packs.

That's not to say I'm anti-hybrid, but aside from the price tag, the hybrids do have drawbacks, and these cars are excellent options for people on a budget who would still like to reduce their fuel consumption.

[illinoisprogressive]

1. my vw bug gets 30 to 35 mpg.

[acmavm]

2. So does my Toyota. Otherwise I couldn't afford to drive.

[Clark2008]

17. And my Mustang gets 28.

So, why would I need to buy one of these little cars?

[BrklynLiberal]

3. And there is always this.........

:D

[Matsubara]

6. That helps a lot with THIS.....

[BrklynLiberal]

8. LOL!!!!!

;)

[Clark2008]

18. My God. He's bigger than me and I'm nearly 9 months pregnant!

:rofl:

[Ilsa]

91. Not me. I have a shoulder injury. And this is not a pedestrian

friendly place. I'm scared of taking another fall and breaking a bone or tearing up my rotator cuff.

[edwardsfeingold08]

4. What are the drawbacks?

I know the price is a drawback, but I am wondering what else is wrong with them. I just bought a Prius yesterday and today I feel like it was the best decision I've ever made about a car. Should I be worried?

[Matsubara]

7. Don't feel bad. You made a good choice.

There are pros and cons with everything. There are toxic chemicals involved with the production of hybrids battery packs and their more complicated design may mean more expenses with repairs, but it could easily be argued that the fuel efficiency and reduced air pollution more than outweighs the initial pollution from the car's production.

I think both hybrids and electrics are a fine idea, but they aren't in everyone's budget, and I only point out the drwbacks to reassure those driving pure combustion cars that get good MPG that they too are doing their part.

[alfredo]

20. How much will it cost to replace the battery when it wears out.

Rechargeable batteries wear out in a couple years.

[Matsubara]

23. Here.

http://www.hybridcars.com/technology-stories/battery-replacement-costs.html

In June 2005, the L.A. Times reported that hybrid battery replacement costs dropped from $10,000 in 2001 to about $3,000 today. But three months later, Car and Driver's Brock Yates—no fan of hybrids—wrote, "battery replacement will cost $5,300 for the Toyota and Lexus hybrids, and the Ford Escape replacements run a whopping $7,200." Yates compared hybrid's rechargeable batteries to the "dry cells in your flashlight... have finite lives and store less power with age." He also insinuated some kind of cover-up, writing that "industry types are not talking about total battery life."

They’re talking—but Brock’s not listening. Jim Francfort, principal investigator at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, which is operated for the Department of Energy, has been talking about it. His hybrid battery tests showed that 160,000 miles of use had no effect on fuel economy. Andrew Grant, the Vancouver, Canada, taxi driver who drove his Prius for more than 200,000 miles in 25 months, tells all about his Prius, which has taken a pummeling and kept on humming. At industry conferences, engineer after engineer will tell anybody who bothers to ask that hybrid batteries are, in fact, over-manufactured for their task.

The Plot Thickens
The one item that nobody has been talking about is the replacement costs for batteries—because nobody is replacing them. That's what I thought until I received an email from Ray Molton, who works in the real estate industry in Houston, Texas. Ray wrote, "My 2001 Toyota Prius lasted five years and 113,000 miles. And then the batteries seemed to die. My dealer estimated the replacement cost at $7,000. They recommended scrapping the car for parts."

Ray told me that Toyota had been "no help whatsoever on this issue." He called another dealer only to discover a larger estimate of $8,000 to $9,000. Even worse, Ray discovered that the Toyota shop had another 2001 Prius with a bad battery. Maybe there is a conspiracy brewing, after all. In a follow-up email, Ray wrote, "Toyota doesn't want these battery issues to get out to the public. How could there be two 2001 Priuses in the same shop at the same time, if they have had no problems with the batteries?"

To make matters worse, Ray bought a salvage Prius battery to soften the damage to his pocketbook—only to discover that the salvage battery's #13 cell was corroded, the same #13 cell that had a problem on his Prius.

All of this threw me for a loop. Apparently, it had the same effect on Toyota.

Ray continued to appeal to Toyota's corporate offices, and finally got through to a customer care representative who promised to look at the Ray's expenses. He persisted at the local level, and finally got Metroplex Toyota in Houston to clean the corrosive cell on the salvage battery and install it—at half their normal price—in his Prius. The total bill, including rental car, salvage battery, service, and gasoline during the entire ordeal, was $1,345. Ray's Prius runs like a top again. One month and three unreturned phone calls later, Ray gave up on getting any financial or emotional support from Toyota's Customer Care Department.

On battery toxicity:

http://www.hybridcars.com/environment-stories/hybrid-battery-toxicity.html

Feel free to google for more info

[alfredo]

30. The batteries are uncharted waters, that's why I am in no big

hurry to buy a hybrid.

[Matsubara]

34. For some people, the replacement costs are no big issue.

For me, I know they would be. It all depends on your bank book.

And to be fair, the anecdotes in the article are just that, and they ar from early-model Priuses. Dependability of the batteries is supposed to be better now, and as others have pointed out, there is an 8-year guarantee on the batteries for wear-and-tear, although what, if any loopholes are in the guarantee are unknown to me.

[alfredo]

40. Remember how much computers cost at the beginning of

the computer age. The same thing will happen to this technology, but not to the extent of the computer industry.

[Paulie]

83. The Prius has been around for 10 years

It's not uncharted waters. The 12 nickel-metal hydride batteries packs are designed to outlast the rest of the car. The only case I heard of a battery failure was because of a damaged charging system, not the batteries themselves.

There are what, almost a million Toyota hybrids out there. If it was a problem, you'd be hearing it. :)

[rucky]

25. Prius battery is guaranteed for 8 years. n/t

[Matsubara]

38. Yes, and for the most part the batteries are reliable.

The anecdotes I posted above are not the norm, but posted as a "what if" for people for whom money IS an object.

[ContraBass Black]

12. Also, if you get into a serious accident and have to be cut from the car,

The rescue crew may injure themselves and you by cutting through electrical cables in the roof pillars if they are not properly trained.

[Paulie]

87. Not true

The cables do not run under/along the roof, they run under the car. You can't miss them, they are ORANGE. If you're in a serious enough accident where the airbags deploy, the relay to the battery pack tripped, so no power in the system.

You can read more here from Toyota's Emergency Response Guides: http://techinfo.toyota.com/public/main/erg.html

[ContraBass Black]

92. Curious.

I am searching for the magazine article in which I read this.

[Paulie]

102. It was "big news" about 3 years ago

About the time GM was saying Hybrids are a waste of time, and a loser technology. :)

[ContraBass Black]

104. It was not a car magazine. It may have been Businessweek.

[flyingfysh]

13. the Prius is a terrific car

I have one; it makes the long drive to work very comfortable. Besides, it's nice driving the most technologically advanced car on the road. And it gets terrific mileage.

[rucky]

24. I've driven one for 2 1/2 years...

It's FANTASTIC

[PDJane]

5. Or what my grandmother used to call "shanks mare"

There's a reason I live in the city core. I would love to live in the country, where things are green and you can grow your own food. I can't....so I do the next best thing and live close to the core and within walking distance of the farmer's market. I don't own a car, don't drive, and have no desire to. That's what public transpo, especially trains, are for.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Also a good decision....

[Selatius]

35. Isn't it usually very expensive to live deep in the core of a city?

[PDJane]

78. Expensive as compared to?

I live in a Canadian Co-operative, which is a form of non-profit housing you don't have there.

I have no car, which, in the city, cuts almost 1,000 per month from COL. I have health issues, which means that I am close to health care and, thanks to a governmental subsidy, my medications are low-cost.

Yes, I am one of the urban poor, but having lived in a rural area, I can tell you that trasportation costs to and from doctors and shopping areas cuts a lot of the appeal from a rural existence!

[EFerrari]

9. Amy Goodman reports today that CO2 emissions are up 3X

what they were in the 90s. :(

My care gets 45+ mph AND I drive it as a last resort. Still doesn't seem like enough.

[terisan]

11. Ohhh. I like that Geo. I'm driving a 1994 Honda Accord myself.

[Doremus]

77. Mine's a 1988. :)

[MadHound]

14. And there is always this

A Bajaj scooter, gets 100 mpg, goes 55 mph. Lovely little bike, good for riding the backroad or the city. And I generally ride three quarters of the year, basically when it isn't wet and when it is above twenty five degrees.

[Matsubara]

19. Scooters - great on mileage, not so great on emissions.

From what I understand, there is a lot less emission control equipment resulting in dirty emissions from scooters and motorbikes (although CO2 should still be comparatively low.)

I used to ride a Honda Cub scooter here in Japan, and I have to admit it was a lot of fun.

[MadHound]

31. What a great scooter!

Emissions depend on what type of engine and how big it is. A two stroke puts out a ton of emissions, as do the big four stroke Harley and Honda engines. But the Bajaj only has a 145 cc, 9hp four stroke engine and I put out very little in emissions.

A lot of the big bikes are now getting catalytic convertors for that reason however.

But yeah, stay away from the two stroke engines, that whole oil/gas mix is just hell on emissions.

If you can find one of those old Cubs you could probably make a bundle on eBay, though being in Japan the transportation cost would probably kill the deal.

[yurbud]

58. they make battery ones that size now.

[MadHound]

70. Yeah, but how far, and how fast will the battery ones take you?

Another crucial question is how quick are they off the line. That's one of the reasons that I went with a manual transmission, automatic trannies on scooters take forever to get up to speed from a dead stop, meaning that you'll get run over at the stop lights.

[yurbud]

71. electrics are actually faster off the line

[stevedeshazer]

15. Those are all out of my league.

'85 Honda Accord. 252,000 miles. 33 MPG.

Monthly payment: $0

Chick appeal: None. My wife hates it.

[Touchdown]

90. I had one exactly like that. LOOOVED that Accord.

Burgundy, power everything w/ manual tranny. I had it for 3 years, and someone T-Boned it and totalled it. 1.8l engine, got great gas mileage, only had 110K miles on it, and everything worked. I loved how good the A/C was. You could see the cold wet air blow out of the vents in hot Missouri summers.

Replaced it with an '89 Nissan Pulsar. Better mileage, fun little T-tops, but not as well built as my Accord was. The Pulsar was also a magnet for other cars to hit it. Got into 3 wrecks, none my fault. The 3rd time was the charm...totalled it.

[Clark2008]

16. I'm sorry - no deal.

They're all ugly as sin and none of them are American.

I don't buy foreign cars. They're too expensive to repair.

[Matsubara]

22. Some of them are made right there in America

Some of them are made right here in Japan, so I don't really see them as "foreign"...

But with the market share in the US being so dominated by Japanese imports, I don't think repairs are nearly as pricey as they once were, and of course, the Japanese cars need a lot less repairs than US cars overall.

But I respect the decision to "Buy American". Hope you can find a decent one...

[Selatius]

36. Here in Mississippi, there's a Toyota plant being built and a Nissan plant already operating

A giant steel mill just opened up in the state in Columbus, and it's likely no coincidence that it is located there. The likely biggest customers of this steel mill will probably be auto manufacturing plants and shipyards on the coast.

[rucky]

26. Toyotas & Hondas are more American than GMs these days. n/t

[nini]

73. pssstt... it's not the 60s and 70s anymore

Most of those cars are made here in the USA by AMERICAN workers.

Maintenance on these cars is not expensive. A BMW, Mercedes - yes. These kinds of cars? - No.

[Radical Activist]

75. Then tell the UAW to stop fighting better CAFE standards.

The idiocy of American car companies, and the complicity of the UAW, in fighting better fuel economy standards is going to force me to buy a foreign car for the first time. American car companies need to get their act together and the UAW needs to stop hurting their membership with their bogus claims about better environmental standards costing jobs.

[Dora]

96. I'm hoping we can get a Ford Escape hybrid in a yearish.

I think that's a good buy-American compromise without sacrificing on energy standards. They are made in U.S., to the best of my knowledge.

[IDemo]

21. My driving habits negate the need

Only 42k miles on a '93 Toyota pickup. Having the bike for the commute helps.

[beevul]

27. I'll second your recomendation on the Geo Metro.

I had a 94 metro for quite some time, and put a TON of miles on it. Easy to repair on ones own with a small assortment of tools, VERY easy on fuel, and reliable as any vehicle I have ever owned.

I miss my metro :(

[lildreamer316]

28. My Honda Del Sol: 37 mpg highway (which is mostly where we drive it).

about 32 city.
Love it.

[KAZ]

29. Traded in my Corvette for a Fit. Still not seeing 38 MPG...

... but then again, I do way too much "stop and idle" at garage sales. But I do like this little bugger!

[AlCzervik]

33. engine break in period? I have a new Beetle and although the mileage is good so

i think or hope it will improve after it gets past 5,000 miles.

[KAZ]

41. That's what I'm hoping for. All of the Fit forums say break-in...

... is 5K. I really like the little thing. My Vette got 30 MPG on the highway, but stamped a large carbon footprint on the stop-n-go garage sales. I feel a little better now. And I get more comments on the Fit than I did with the Vette!

[AlCzervik]

43. i hear ya, my husband has a 76 corvette and he really, really loved that car

as i'm sure you loved yours, but he finally got rid of his as well, now he's away all the time so his car is in the garage for about 8 months out of the year.

[KAZ]

46. I had a '99, and it's weird, but I bought it soon after my...

... father died, who was a 30 year retiree from GM. I always thought of him when I drove it. He would have loved it. I guess we've both moved on. :(

[AlCzervik]

49. yup, rear wheel drive sports cars are a good time. Enjoy your Honda, it's a quality

car. I had an 04 Accord that i traded for my beetle convertible and that car was totally worry free, not one mechanical problem with it.

[Matsubara]

42. Wow, a Vette. Now THAT is a gas-guzzler.

But I have to admit I have a soft spot in my head for Vettes. They are a beautiful car in many ways. I'm too practical to buy one, but it would be fun to rent for a weekend.

:)

[KAZ]

44. It got 30 MPG on the highway, but you're right.

It was a midlife thing. What's scary is now I realize I'M PAST THE MIDLIFE THING!

[Matsubara]

51. Dang, they've improved since I used to drool over them in magazines.

Last I remember they got about 16 mpg highway.

That's been at least 20 years...

[KAZ]

54. 16 MPG is "Kick Start My Heart" on the on-ramps.

30 MPG is mildly cruising to "Hello It's Me". It was fun, but after seeing Al's movie, I thought I could do better, earthwise. GM has come a long way, though.

[NickB79]

89. I drive a Scion xA, and there is a learning curve to acheive high mpg

Despite what most people think, you have to work to get really good gas mileage even in compact cars. First, remember that the EPA mpg is calculated by driving the cars at 55 mpg, not the 70-80 mpg that is normal on highways today. So one solution is simply to slow down (so long as you don't get run off the road by angry drivers behind you).

Otherwise, make sure your tires are properly inflated (a few psi extra is better than a few psi too little), gentle acceleration from stops, and coast as much as you can (you have to pay very close attention to the cars around you and the traffic lights ahead of you).

[alfredo]

32. Here's how I save gas.

I used to drive 125 miles a day, now I drive that in one month. I would wear out a set of front brakes in three months. I was a rural route carrier. Even after I went over to city carrier, I was driving at least 50 miles a day.

Retirement is so nice.

[Jonathan50]

37. 1993 Infiniti G20

32 mpg hwy

24 mpg city

27 mpg combined

Luxury interior, hauls ass, big trunk, four door sedan, seats five big men comfortably, goes around corners like it's on rails.

You really don't have to give up much to get decent gas mileage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infiniti_G20



In Europe it is sold as the Nissan Primera and is designed to cruise at Autobahn speeds, so it is more than competent on American highways.

I've had mine well over one hundred in fourth gear with another gear to go. Top speed is about 120.

Car and Driver called it one of the best handling sports sedans sold in 1993.

No, it's not the highest mileage car out there but it does pretty well and I've had a complete ten inch telescope just like the one below in the trunk with room to spare for luggage.

[NV Whino]

39. I have the Honda Fit

I get 33 mpg and have yet to have it on the highway to test out the 38 mpg, but I have no doubt I will get it. Great car. Lots of carrying space. You won't believe what I've had in this car.

Hybrids only get the great mileage in a stop and go situation, as in city driving. A hybrid simply wasn't cost effective for my type of driving... mostly rural.

Good post. Expensive hybrids aren't for everyone.

By the way, I once owned a 84 Prelude, which consistently got 40 mpg.

[AlCzervik]

47. i just got rid of a honda accord but the last time i had the oil changed i was walking

around the lot and those Fit's were probably the best selling car there besides the civic, the dealer had tons of Accords on the lot and the sales person told me they weren't moving like they used to. The plus for the fit imo besides a really good price point and gas mileage is the option of a manual transmission, that is one thing i do not like about hybrids--no stick shifts.

[NV Whino]

55. Yeah, I got the manual transmission

It allows me to get up my hill easily with a 4 cylinder engine. And, although it doesn't seem to make much difference with the Fit (or the Civic), manual transmissions will generally get better mileage.

I hope manual transmissions make a come back. They are getting harder and harder to find.

[AlCzervik]

59. i read somewhere that now only 4% of cars sold in the US have manual transmissions

which i think is a real shame, even if you don't want one people should learn to drive them. I will only drive a stick shift until i'm no longer physically able to and my choices of vehicles gets a little bit more limited every year. Toyota did away with manual trannies on 2 of their cars this year, the Camry and the Rav 4, now only available in automatics.

[NV Whino]

60. This probably the last car of mine that will have a manual transmission

One hopes in 15 years, when I buy my next car, there will some viable alternative.

[AlCzervik]

62. weren't supposed to having flying cars by now? Damn you George Jetson!!

this one wil be handed over to my daughter in 4 years when she's old enough to drive and then hopefully she can squire my ass all over town for a change.

[NV Whino]

63. Somehow

I don't you are going to want to go where that car will be going. :rofl:

[Matsubara]

67. I've never driven anything but 5-speed sticks.

They are more fun, and save gas. Driving an automatic just feels...weird. Like you're totally out of touch with the car. I feel like they're for little old ladies or something.

I didn't realize manuals had become so rare.

[Matsubara]

66. The Accord is a MUCH bigger car than it used to be.

It looks like a Lexus now.

The Civic is now what the Accord used to be, and the Fit has replaced the Civic, it seems.

Too bad they don't have those little CRX's any more. They got better than 50 mpg, too with a LOT of pep.

[Matsubara]

48. Yes, and contrary to what to the Prius boosters say...

...the battery pack does compromise the interior space, which is why some "smaller" cars can offer better cargo capacity.

Prius seat-down cargo capacity 16.1 cu. ft
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2006/toyota/prius/specifications/index.html

Prius seat-down cargo capacity 22.49 cu. ft
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1996/geo/metro/lsi_hatchback/1027/specifications/index.html

Honda Fit cargo Capacity 21 cu. ft
Toyota Yaris Cargo Capacity 14 cu. ft.

http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/Compare/index.cfm/sectionName/Research/action/compareNew/CarsToCompare/R,1018890

http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1019020

[yurbud]

57. hybrids essentially flip mpg figures: get better city than freway as opposed to gas

that gets better on highway.

[NV Whino]

61. Yes.

You really need to evaluate your driving conditions when you choose a car. If I lived in San Franciso, I would have probably gone for a hybrid.

[bullwinkle428]

45. My ex-wife drove an '88 Sprint GT (3-cylinder turbocharged engine)

at the time we met, many years ago. Not a bad little car - the engine had lots of pep, although the car suffered from some pretty skittish handling. If the suspension was beefed up and they changed out those tiny little lawnmower tires for something larger, it might have been able to compete with a Mini Cooper, albeit considerably less refined. Just checked it out on fueleconomy.gov...37 city and 43 highway MPG!

[Matsubara]

52. Chevy sprint was the forefather of the metro.

I had the 4-door 1987 Sprint Wagon. It was awesome. But I was young and I totalled it :cry:

[bullwinkle428]

84. Back then, it didn't seem like such a big deal to save gas because

it was barely over $1/ gallon.

[bunkerbuster1]

81. Small turbos -- why aren't we seeing them any more?

I know that hybrids are all the rage, but it seems to me that there'd be a market for a modern version of that '88 Sprint.

[bullwinkle428]

85. My guess is that maintenance issues with turbos come into play -

you still see them in more performance-oriented cars, as those owners are perceived as treating their cars with lots of TLC, while the average econobox owner may be more likely to neglect those kinds of things, leading to lots of expensive repairs.

Turbos really did carry a negative connotation of sorts among car owners, although the Mini Cooper S went from supercharged to turbocharged for '07, and one of the benefits was improved MPG!

[Robb]

50. $2,000 got me 78 mpg, and considerable sex appeal:

...Or maybe it's just sexy when I'm on it. :D

[nonconformist]

53. I don't do foreign - I only buy GM - so I got a Chevy Aveo

Not too shabby at 27/35 MPG.

It's a great little car and it meets the vast majority of our needs, and most definitely meets our day-to-day needs. We're a family of 4, with two growing sons ages 12 and 9. Just goes to show that a growing family can more than manage in a subcompact car.

[Radical Activist]

76. GM is going to force me to buy a foreign car.

Their hybrid and low mileage options are extremely limited. The UAW is hurting their members who work for American auto manufactures by working with the companies to stop better fuel economy standards. Its frustrating enough to see American car companies not meet the demands of consumers, but its even worse to see union leadership harm their own members by supporting the bull-headed attitude of the CEO's.

[nonconformist]

82. Believe me, I hear you. I actually thought that I was going to buy foreign this last time

But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm a Michigander and many in my family work or are retired from GM. It was a loyalty that was ingrained in my brain from a very young age.

[B3Nut]

100. You do know that the Aveo

is made in South Korea by GM Daewoo Automotive Technology (GMDAT), right? GM bought Daewoo out (for 10 cents on the dollar in fact, they did well with that deal), but it's foreign-made just the same. Nice little car, the newest sedan variant is a handsome little vehicle. I looked at them, but the hatch's bottom lip narrowed too much, I couldn't load my Leslie organ speaker into it. Ended up buying a Kia Rio5...

Anyway, the Big 3 don't even sell their best small cars in the US, they give us the leftovers. Check the European sites of the GM makes (that'll be Opel in Germany, Vauxhall in the UK, and Holden down under) and the European Ford sites....MUCH better and more advanced small cars than they sell in the US. They could have brought their best designs home, but noooooo....gotta sell those SUV's!

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[yurbud]

56. my 90 Honda CRX gets over 40 mpg when I can slow down to around 70

at 80 I get 35.

[bullwinkle428]

86. The old CRX HF (high fuel efficiency model) actually was rated

at 51 (city) and 60 (highway) MPG! Long before anyone knew what a hybrid was!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CR-X

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Matsubara]

68. I don't know... who pays you to take potshots?

:shrug:

[arcos]

65. Other good options...

Suzuki Swift
32mpg city / 46mpg highway



Peugeot 207 (not sure if it's available in the US)
33mpg city / 56mpg highway



Nissan Micra (not sure if you can get in the USA either)
52mpg city / 70mpg highway



Volkswagen Fox
36mpg city / 52mpg highway
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/2005_frankfurt/0510_frankfurt_01+2006_volkswagen_fox+front_right_view.jpg

[EnviroBat]

88. I used to love those Suzuki Swifts, but they don't import them to the states anymore.

I though they weren't even making them anymore, so I bought a Suzuki Aero



Very fun little car, 155 HP, 5sp, and averages 32mpg city/hwy combined. Plus 10yr/100,000mi warranty.

[arcos]

97. I have a 2006 Swift and I love it...

I'm not in the USA though... I thought I read somewhere they were going to start importing them again either this year or next year.

edit:


here: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/01/suzuki_to_bring.html

Suzuki to Bring Subcompact Swift to North America
21 January 2006

Nikkei. Suzuki Motor announced that it will export its new Swift subcompact to North America as early as 2007 to take advantage of a growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Suzuki unveiled the new Swift in March 2005 at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The subcompact is a global car—designed for world markets, it is to be manufactured in Hungary, Japan, China and India. (Suzuki is the largest seller of consumer cars in India.) (Earlier post.)

The new Swift comes with a choice of three upgraded engines: 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline (the latter with variable valve timing), and a 1.3-liter turbocharged diesel. Suzuki is sourcing the 1.3-liter diesel from Fiat and Opel, and has licensed the technology to manufacture those engines at its Indian subsidiary Maruti Udyong from the end of 2006.

[EnviroBat]

110. Yeah, the Swift is a little more European looking.

To me it looks a litle sportier than my Aerio. But I like my "Zookie", it's still fun to drive and is one of the most practical cars I've ever owned. The came out with the Suzuki S4? (I think that's what it's called). It's a 4WD kind of like the Swift. I was thinking about trading mine in on that one next year.

[44mpg by 2010]

69. 34 highest mpg current US vehicles using 2008 method

Here is something for "Gas Boycott Days". I was studying vehicles getting greater than 30 mpg combined average (2007 method). http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byMPG.htm

Then checked the EPA combined average city/highway mpg ratings using the EPA's 2008 test/reporting method. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectYear.jsp
.
The BEST PRIUS hybrids > 46, CAMRY hybrids > 34, CIVIC hybrids > 42, ALTIMA hybrids > 34, COROLLA > 31, YARIS(2) > 32, 31, FIT (3) > 29, 30, 31
Toyota Matrix > 29
Hyundai Accent > 29
Hyundai Elantra > 27
Nissan Versa > 28
Kia Rio > 29

The best of what is left:

Chevrolet Malibu 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Auto(4), Regular > 25
Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Man(5), Regular > 23
Chrysler Sebring 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Auto(4), Regular > 24
Dodge Caliber 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular > 26
Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), I4, Regular > 27
Ford Focus Station Wagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), I4, Regular > 27
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular > 30
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular > 27
Ford Fusion 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Man(5), Regular > 23
Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Man(5), Regular > 23
Mazda 6 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Man(5), Regular > 24
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 6 cyl, 3 L, Auto(L7), Diesel > 26
Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular > 27
Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular > 29 Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular > 27
Pontiac G6 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Auto(4), Regular > 24
Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Man(5), Regular > 27
Saturn Vue Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Auto(4), Regular > 26
Saturn Aura Hybrid > 27
.
For what ever it is worth ...

And here is why I'm lobbying for "44 mpg by 2010 if Detroit can't do it NOW ... WAIVE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS FOR 36 months that get better than 44 mpg(US) combined average and less than 140 g/km CO2!" http://www.40mpg.org/pdfs/021407_fuel_efficient_vehicle_gap.xls

And if you want to see a more complete database of what is in England see http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search

The 2008 Puegeot 308 diesel-electric hybrid could return as much as 83mpg <70 mpg(US)>. And the firm hopes its CO2 emissions would be as low as 90g per km. Due on the market in 2008.http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/207600/peugeot_308.html

[nini]

72. Nissan Versa - starts at 12,500

I'm thinking of trading in my Altima for one of these.

[Matsubara]

106. I guess that's supposed to be cheap.

New microcars in Japan can be had for as little as 8 or 9,000.

Why are cars in the states so damn expensive now?

[bridgit]

74. our focus does good we like it...

[Tracer]

79. We recently rented a Yaris ...

... on an out-of-the-country vacation ---- and a crappier hunk of tin can construction would be hard to find.

[Beaverhausen]

80. Hybrids have very low to nearly zero emissions

Good mileage is great, but lowered emissions is even better.

I know some people can't afford hybrids yet, but there are many things to consider next time you can buy something new.

[chaska]

93. I read recently that when you figure all energy input (manufacturing, etc.)...

that goes into a hybrid, they will use as much energy as an SUV over the life of the vehicle.

Can anyone confirm or deny? This info came from a leftist site.

[Beaverhausen]

94. Was this the "study" comparing the Prius with the Hummer?

If so, it was done by an group sponsored by American automobile manufacturers, and the premise of the study- which is laughably false- was that a Hummer will last 300,000 miles while a Prius will only last 100,000.

[chaska]

98. Oh, hey Lisa!

Long time. Hope you're doing well.

This thing I read (I wish I could remember where I saw it) was brief and necessarily vague. But come to think of it, I've read similar things from another lefty source - something about the batteries. I'm going to have to look into this for myself.

[Strelnikov_]

95. The only extra components are the battery, electric motor (integrated

with the engine) and a few controllers. And what about the weight of the SUV, lot more steel, plastic, etc.

Now does it make sense considering 50 mpg w/ a Prius versus, what, 15 mpg with an SUV over the lifetime of the vehicle?

[krkaufman]

111. Putting the main point of your question aside... (total cradle-to-cradle energy consumption) ...

... I made my decision based on the Prius consuming less gas, therefore requiring less oil, and therefore contributing less to the cause of our fellow citizens occupying a foreign land. (And also with the hope that when/as my warranty expires, Plug-in capability will be available for my hybrid -- even further decreasing my vehicle's thirst for ME oil.)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

99. I like the idea of buying an old car like an early Honda CRX and doing a make-over

You can pick them up rather cheaply. I know a guy who completely did a remake on one: replaced all the heavy glass with ultra lightweight Lexan plastic, replaced the metal hood with a lightweight carbon composite hood (that is being made for these cars now), replaced the gas tank with an ultra lightweight plastic one, replaced the metal-frame seats with ultra lightweight carbon composite racing seats, replaced the battery with a new ultra lightweight lithium battery, and other changes that lightened the weight that I can't recall. He also made some engine modifications, with a more efficient exhaust system and muffler and a more efficient air filter. He has a car that is significantly lighter (lighter than a stock Geo Metro), a powerful and mechanically reliable car, that gets wonderful gas mileage, approaching a hybrid, and it cost him less than buying a new car.

[SammyWinstonJack]

101. My husband finally traded his '04 Chevy Tahoe for a 2002 Toyota Avalon.

Thank goodness for that! Anyway, after two weeks of driving it in city traffic, he is getting 23 mpg. Way better than that gas hog Tahoe. :rofl: He bought me a '98 Pontiac Grand Prix for $3000. I haven't checked the mileage, but I use about one tank a month.

[Blackhatjack]

103. Wait til the Chinese cars arrive (line workers in China earn $2/hr) LINK

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2005/nf20050526_0195_db016.htm

....compared to $22/hr in Korea.

And Honda has signed on to deliver Chinese vehicles to Europe.

[krkaufman]

112. Wal*Mart is scheduled to begin opening their showrooms for their Chinese import cars ...

... starting next year. /sarcasm (though I wouldn't be surprised)

[snooper2]

105. I get 52 mpg...city/hwy

[slackmaster]

107. Keeping your tires properly inflated helps a lot too

Most people don't even do that.

[Gloria]

108. I read yesterday that VW plans to go all hybrid within a couple of years....

full hybrid and some other configuration....

That's music to my ears. VWs are the only cars I can sit in!!! (like sitting in a chair, instead of having the butt dragging along the road and legs straight out....)

http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/VW_to_offer_hybrid_for_every_model__05222007.html

VW to offer hybrid for every model - report
dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday May 22, 2007



Hamburg- Volkswagen is planning to offer a hybrid version
for every model starting in about two years, according to Germany's
Auto Bild newspaper.
A decision has not yet been made on what electric components would
be used for which model. But there are plans for both a micro-hybrid
system with a battery charged by braking regeneration energy and a
full hybrid solution, according to the paper.

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in recent interviews confirmed that the
company was working on a small VW hybrid that could be launched
"fairly quickly" onto the market.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

[tammywammy]

109. I have a VW TDI

VW has had hybrid rumor for a couple of years now. I'll believe it when I see it...since it's VW you really never know.

I'd love a hybrid/diesel. :)