Anyone have a hybrid?

[Glühbirne]

So, after yet another break-down of the old Ford Escort we've had for years, we decided to go car shopping and came home with a very nice 04 Prius. Low miles, still under warranty. I've only had it for two days. I'm trying to to worry about how we are affording it. It was a delux model when it was new, so it has a GPS and everything.

So, anybody know any tips for me? Will it really give me that good of gas mileage? Will it break all the time? Do I need to do anything special?

I'm trying to get used to the fact that the engine turns off sometimes while I'm driving it. It's wierd when it shuts down at stop lights. It has a "power" button instead of a regular key ignition, and it's so computerized I feel like I'm driving the starship enterprise or something LOL

[Laura]

Cool! I only wish I had one!

[alec03]

My good friend has a 2005 Prius and loves it. He's had no problems and it runs great. I think he averages 49 miles/gallon. Toyota has had time to really perfect this car. I would only worry if it was one a year 1 or 2 model.

[Chula]

Gosh Glu off topic but it has been a YEAR since you left Juarez?!?!?!?!? Why can't my process go fast like that LOL!!!!

[Glühbirne]

Actually, Chula, it was three years from filing the I-130 to getting the green card........two of those years were spent in Juarez. So, actually, it took longer than many peoples' cases. It's just that between my filing of the I-601 and the approval, it was short. But overall, it was long.

Don't worry, before you know it, Chula, immigration will be one of those problems you can scratch off your list.

[Chula]

:cry: it's like WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN??????? ?

[slubberry]

I have a Honda Accord Hybrid with a v6 and it has the same performance as a v8 with the economy of a v6. I was looking at the Prius but it didn't have the same level of comfort and I've heard horror stories about the CVT transmission costs ( upwards of $5,000 ). I have a colleague that has one and he gets about 40mpg and had problems with the water pump and the headlights burning out every few months. He got the extended warrantee that covers everything except the battery which they won't cover past the original warrantee which makes me wonder what the battery replacement cost will be.

I drove the Prius and found that the car feels like an econobox compared to the Accord. It lacked passing ability, the steering felt numb, and the ride reminded me of a Tercel. On the plus side, it gets about 10 more miles per gallon compared to the Accord hybrid and everyone knows that you are driving a hybrid.

Also, you get a tax break of $1,500 if you buy a hybrid ( down from $3,000 ). I'm not sure if it applies to used hybrids also.

[dgman]

i was gonna buy a honda hybrid. i did buy two honda civics. one 2006 and 0ne 2007. i couldnt justify the price of the hybrid. the civic gets 35 in town and 45 on the road (at least both on mine do). it would have taken too much time to make up the difference in cost by saving just a little gas. so i opted not to get it.

I do know people that have the hybrids. they are (so far) pretty good all the way around. i have heard the milage is unbeatable around town. but i havent heard it the save much on the interstates. anyone know the answer to that? just curious

[slubberry]

It gets worse gas mileage on the highway than a non hybrid with the same horsepower because of the added weight of the battery and the electric motor. It would also have less pep if it weren't for the electric motor kicking in to help acceleration for the same reason. Around town, you get better gas mileage than on the highway because the engine shuts off when the battery has enough juice to power it around town and the engine kicks in only to provide supplemental power and to charge the battery. The Prius also has regenerative braking which recharges the battery somewhat through braking. The problem I have with hybrids of this type is that from what I've been taught, you do the most damage to an engine during starts so it can't be too good for the engine to restart over and over again. They may have solved this problem with the current hybrids but only time will tell. I'll have see if any Prius' are around with 300,000 miles or more on the road before I am convinced that the problem is solved.

That's the beauty of the Accord Hybrid, the motor always turns on and off only to supplement the engine. It wouldn't get the same gas mileage as the non hybrid version if it weren't for the fact that the driver doesn't have to push the engine as hard since the motor supplements the engine for power. The benefits are only seen during acceleration ( or going up hills ) not for cruising.