Hybrid or not?

Question

I am starting to research my next auto purchase. I am wondering more about the Ford Escape hybrid, and the Saturn Vue hybrid. Can anyone provide me with their experiences with hybrid cars/suvs? What do you like? What do you dislike?

Thank you very much!

Answer 1

I sell vehicles so I research all makes & models extensively.
I also happen to sell Fords & I drive a Hybrid Escape.
It is, of course, a dealer demo so I don't own it & therefore I can't take advantage of state & federal tax incentives like you can
I've been selling for 23 years & have had many vehicles & I learned years ago NEVER to fall in love with vehicle because my vehicles are always for sale. But I have to say "I LOVE THIS VEHICLE !"

What you need to know is that all hybrids are not created equal.
There are 4 basic types of hybrids on the market:
Full Hybrid
Mild Hybrid
Serial Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid

The Escape is Full Hybrid that means that the vehicle runs without useing the gas engine at stops & up to about 30-35 mph speeds & it also uses the electric motor to assist or boost the gas engine.
The Vue Green Line is a Mild Hybrid which means it will shut off the gas at stops or during decellertion & it uses electric power to boost the gas engine , however it doesn't operate on electric power alone at the lower speeds like a Full Hybrid.

I haven't driven the Vue but I have driven the Honda Accord Hybrid which is also a Mild Hybrid. I was NOT impressed.

Here are some good places for you to start your research

http://hybridcars.com

The above site will detail all four types of Hybrids & also give you some unbiased reviews

http://fordvehicles.com

Obviously for Escape info, but also some competitive comprisons & unbiased specifications of other makes.

http://saturn.com

To research the Vue Green Line


The Ford site will also tell you about the federal tax incentives for the Hybrid but you will have to check on your state yourself.
Also please note Fords warranty & manufacturer incentives(rebates &/or low finance APR) Incentives vary according to region.

Please note that the fuel economy on the Escape is going to be much better for 'city' than for 'hwy' & thats because during stop & go it shuts off the gas , this is also good for parking lots or 'drive up' windows or lines, suburban areas etc.

As I mentioned earlier I LOVE this vehicle, Mine is as loaded as it can be & has all available options: leather, moonroof, navigation system, 4WD, etc The MSRP on mine is about $33,000

But Hybrid Escapes start at about $26,000

I have talked about Hybrids in many of my previous Q's & A's so please feel free to check out my profile page & research away!

Good Luck !

Answer 2

Well...unless gas goes to over 5 bucks/gallon...it will take a long time to recapture the increased cost of the Hybrid. If you are concerned with economy....Do you Really NEED an SUV? Could you do what you need to do with a small/midsize Wagon? The Standard Escape is only about 2-3" bigger inside than a Ford Focus Wagon. The Focus Wagon gets 37mpg highway...with a regular drivetrain. If efficiency is a significant concern, and you really need the extra height/space of an SUV drive a standard Escape with the 4cylinder engine with a 5 speed manual. It should have plenty of power and gets almost 30mpg. However, it is not enough power for 4wd so you would have to live with Front Wheel drive.

Personally... I drive a Ford Escort Wagon that averages 36mpg. I am planning on purchasing a Ford Focus Wagon when it dies...

Answer 3

You may have seen the Tesla electric sportscar http://www.teslamotors.com
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You may have even seen the T-Zero electric sports car

http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs/FAQ_cars.htm
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These two cars show that it is now possible to build electric cars that can out-accelerate a

Ferrari, and go 250 - 350 miles on a single charge. But both these cars are very expensive.
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So who else is working on electric cars?
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Would you believe China? They have to work on EVs. There won't be enough oil to support

China's future economic growth.
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I drive an old electric vehicle. I also have friends with electric vehicles. Some of them

have recently been able to buy some amazing, cutting-edge EV batteries from China - example:
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http://www.everspring.net/product-battery.htm
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These batteries are better, and cheaper than the ones in those $100,000+ sportscars above.

If you look at the chart, you'll see they are as cheap as lead-acid batteries, and they hold

up for 1100 charges, twice as many charges as the other LI-Ion batteries on the chart.
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Now, look at this car:
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http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
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It's a Chinese electric car, which will be imported into the USA next year. The driving

range is almost as good as those sports cars above. But it only costs $28500. And that price

could get a lot cheaper.

Answer 4

i think of it extremely is crap. it extremely is a gimmick that regrettably many uneducated (examine gullible) human beings will purchase into. they're going to spend a pair hundred funds on their "dressmaker breed" dogs. outdoor breeders will proceed to fill our shelters with extra animals, all interior the pursuit of the all efficient dollar. It makes me ill, and that i think of the jackasses that got here up with it extremely is going to be horsewhipped. upload: unhappy factor is, even Animal Planet is stepping into on it. they have a teach approximately dogs breeds, can not undergo in techniques the call. The spotlight a breed, and tell each and each of the pros and cons. Sounds reliable suitable? nicely, a pair of week or so in the past they spotlighted "labradoodles". great, so now much greater idiots would be confident that a labradoodle is a actual breed, as a replace of the mutt that that's. no longer something incorrect with mutts, I very own 3 of them, yet i did no longer bypass out finding for them. i contemplate whether they checklist my lab that's mixed with shar pei? wager the shown fact that I have been given a "hybrid" for unfastened replaced right into a reliable deal, huh? Ugh...and due to this I dislike maximum human beings.

Answer 5

DONT BUY A HYBRID!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these cars are unreliable pieces of s-h-i-t. they are over priced and unless you live in the city, you will NEVER recoupe the fuel savings. And the Prius and the Insight. the two "big dogs" of the hybrids are both ugly as sin, accelerate so slowly that on the hiway its probably not safe, and most importantly DON"T GET THEIR ADVERTISED MILEAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats the cold hard truth. You want to get an "alternative fuel engine" get you a diesel. Diesels are almost as efficient as the hybrids but are cheaper for you in the long run. HYBRIDS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Toyota Prius!!!!!!!!!!!!!

60 mpg city!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
51 mpg highway!!!!!!!!!!!