GasBuddy News Article

votes

Hybrids' Unlikely Rival: Plain Old Cars

Bloomberg Businessweek -- When Doug Hacker decided he needed a car that was light on gas, he figured a Toyota Prius hybrid was the way to go. Many of his co-workers at Procter & Gamble’s soap research lab in Cincinnati drove Priuses and bragged about getting more than 50 miles per gallon. After a little research of his own, Hacker made a surprising discovery: While more costly hybrids still win the mileage competition, he could save more money by buying a Ford Fiesta powered by a technology that’s been around for 151 years—the internal combustion engine. That’s because the efficiency of conventional engines has improved so much that the mpg gap is closing, making it harder to justify paying more for gas-electric hybrids.

“I was surprised to see that cars like the Fiesta were actually about a nickel cheaper ...

Read the Full Article

Submitted Feb 24, 2012 By: BurntOrange

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Hybrids' Unlikely Rival: Plain Old Cars	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First Prev

Last

craigsf38 Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,723 Points:1,512,205 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:49:51 PM Ignore craigsf38 Report Abuse I would like to see a diesel hybird
craigsfrank Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,203 Points:841,855 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:48:10 PM Ignore craigsfrank Report Abuse I'll stick with my diesel Jetta. It's paid off!!
mikaye Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,844 Points:867,360 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:48:09 PM Ignore mikaye Report Abuse and it will get even closer when government starts road taxes evening costs per mile traveled
032946 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:19,870 Points:4,045,995 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:47:42 PM Ignore 032946 Report Abuse Also the difference in price of a high mileage conventional powered vehicle, verses a EV or a Hybrid is minimal when you figure how long it would take to make up the difference in the price of gas powered vehicle gas use and the cost difference. I have always said that hybrids were a joke when you actually figure out what you save in gas over the difference in the price of a Hybrid. EV's cost too much and can't be taken on long trips because they take too long to charge. You can't recharge them in 5 minutes, where as you can fill up a gas powered vehicle in that time and wash the windows.
mitchell6597 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:3,462 Points:728,360 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:47:12 PM Ignore mitchell6597 Report Abuse HA!
BWJM Champion Author KW Posts:1,113 Points:303,780 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:46:54 PM Ignore BWJM Report Abuse ok
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,448 Points:1,326,225 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:45:54 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Right now electricity is relatively cheap but going up fast. When the costs of moving X number of pounds X number of feet equal out, then the hybrids don't have a chance. People will look back in 25 years and laugh at us.
wiwhite87 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:2,551 Points:666,235 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:43:02 PM Ignore wiwhite87 Report Abuse It's all about weight; you can't defy the physics of accelerating a mass. The prius is a mid-sized car hefting a lot of weight on its own, not to mention the extra few hundred pounds of the electric drive and batteries. A small car with a well-balanced and geared drivetrain will beat it, but they don't have the size nor mass.
Edpap Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:4,342 Points:508,875 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:41:37 PM Ignore Edpap Report Abuse All of a sudden automakers can produce vehicles with great mpg, with Hybrids not doing much better in the mpg range, but at a much higher price. Prices don't seem to be consumer friendly seems like the car builders want to keep too much of the rebate money for themselves instead of moving more hybrids out of the showroom.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,238 Points:1,227,750 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:37:19 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse With the Fiesta you don't have to buy a $5000 battery.
Car54BC08 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:4,264 Points:1,512,290 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:31:29 PM Ignore Car54BC08 Report Abuse He's right on the money about being cheaper. They are cheap and instead of trading in later just leave it by the curb for the garbage truck to pick up.
Akcamper Veteran Author Tucson Posts:274 Points:30,555 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:29:30 PM Ignore Akcamper Report Abuse SCREWED AGAIN!
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,150 Points:1,574,100 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:28:24 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse I'll Take Old Cars Anyday Over Hybrids....
ezone Champion Author Florida Posts:2,421 Points:948,610 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:27:30 PM Ignore ezone Report Abuse Sounds like good news to me - not that I can afford a new vehicle. Wish my Tundra got 37 MPG!
ttoyota Champion Author Boston Posts:1,561 Points:119,935 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:26:31 PM Ignore ttoyota Report Abuse yeah with a used car you still have a lower carbon footprint than a new hybrid, you create a large carbon footprint by the environmantal impact of manufacturing a new car.
Agarre Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,335 Points:263,785 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:24:26 PM Ignore Agarre Report Abuse Old cars vs. Hybrids ?
ShudBWalking Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:3,608 Points:419,365 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:23:58 PM Ignore ShudBWalking Report Abuse I have driven the Prius as one of our work fleet and did not like the design of the front window and dash. The visibility was poor in daytime but worse at night when the poor design caused the dashboards lights to be reflected in the windsheild and make visibility worse.
ttoyota Champion Author Boston Posts:1,561 Points:119,935 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:23:22 PM Ignore ttoyota Report Abuse yeah alot cheaper but alot less metal around you, kinda tight little car?
Romey08 Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,311 Points:1,436,490 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:23:17 PM Ignore Romey08 Report Abuse Make sense to buy a lower priced vehicle with over 40 mpgs than a hybrid prius.
sailfreeMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,291 Points:460,075 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:22:32 PM Ignore sailfreeMI Report Abuse No surprise here.
GRCummins53 Veteran Author Stockton Posts:353 Points:143,030 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:14:13 PM Ignore GRCummins53 Report Abuse Regen braking is all part of average fuel mileage. You can't separate it out. The math says that even if the Prius gets 60mpg average, it would take nearly 150,000 miles to break even.
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:15,604 Points:3,068,265 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:13:14 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse A lot cheaper to operate, the plain old car!
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,589 Points:1,701,365 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:12:58 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Yeah if you like kind of car!
grammamNV Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,335 Points:372,425 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:12:09 PM Ignore grammamNV Report Abuse Are you really surprised?
FOURXFOUR Champion Author Boston Posts:2,476 Points:1,249,155 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:06:59 PM Ignore FOURXFOUR Report Abuse But the prius's don't use fossil fuels they run on magic electricity
mycar2 Champion Author Akron Posts:2,115 Points:2,359,840 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:06:31 PM Ignore mycar2 Report Abuse competition is good
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,133 Points:655,805 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:05:49 PM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse But when you compare city driving hybrid to conventional there is a large difference because of the regenerated energy from braking and autostart system. Hybrids come into there own in congested cities. That is why in British Columbia all of the taxis have to be hybrids.
MadTraveler Champion Author Idaho Posts:2,082 Points:572,100 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:05:30 PM Ignore MadTraveler Report Abuse Right - so stop with the expensive hybrids that have battery disposal problems.
menagerie1013 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,365 Points:691,490 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:05:12 PM Ignore menagerie1013 Report Abuse With the base cost of the Prius, it's no surprise that even with lower mileage other cars are more affordable to drive.
RickF350 Champion Author Washington Posts:3,419 Points:705,800 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:04:37 PM Ignore RickF350 Report Abuse Not interested in hybrids.
shea33 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:2,378 Points:544,890 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:02:58 PM Ignore shea33 Report Abuse love that gas
PizzaMon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,134 Points:1,863,405 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 4:00:36 PM Ignore PizzaMon Report Abuse I'll stick with my gasoline-powered car for now.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,054 Points:1,489,805 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:59:56 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Love my Ford Fiesta 40 mpg
GRCummins53 Veteran Author Stockton Posts:353 Points:143,030 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:57:18 PM Ignore GRCummins53 Report Abuse If the extra $6k makes you feel good, go ahead and spend it.
erbyfub Champion Author Raleigh Posts:8,738 Points:1,679,135 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:55:52 PM Ignore erbyfub Report Abuse Not too surprising...
fire@53 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:11,843 Points:2,771,250 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:52:35 PM Ignore fire@53 Report Abuse It the dealers would not require list price or a premium for the hybrid cars more of them would be sold.
DOLABILL Rookie Author Nevada Posts:25 Points:79,625 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:52:23 PM Ignore DOLABILL Report Abuse Yeah but the Prius comes with a 10 year warrenty and is a better car then a Fiesta. Thats another reason for the big price gap.
mikerroy Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,576 Points:722,870 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:52:19 PM Ignore mikerroy Report Abuse ok
Mr.Dirt Champion Author Albany Posts:8,376 Points:2,512,100 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:49:43 PM Ignore Mr.Dirt Report Abuse the more we cut back on gas the more the price goes up
cbuck80 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,597 Points:403,505 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:48:55 PM Ignore cbuck80 Report Abuse good old American made!
Mowerman08 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,765 Points:1,219,720 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:48:42 PM Ignore Mowerman08 Report Abuse Hybrid and GREEN part of the Obama PLAN, it doesn't make a difference if old technology is equal to or better!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,297 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:48:21 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse maybe when obama gets that rebate up to $40,000 i may be interested......
johnnyg1200 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,188 Points:646,995 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:46:20 PM Ignore johnnyg1200 Report Abuse Hybrids are a pipe dream you have to have a small conventional engine and the added batteries and drive motors for the electric side. No way it can be done at the cost of a conventional car.
dancygreen Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,068 Points:486,735 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:45:15 PM Ignore dancygreen Report Abuse used to love Ford- until I worked for them
GRCummins53 Veteran Author Stockton Posts:353 Points:143,030 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:45:07 PM Ignore GRCummins53 Report Abuse Doing some quick math... Let's assume the real world Prius averages 42mpg and the Fiesta averages 37mpg. Assume a fuel cost of $4.00 per gallon. The Prius costs 9.524 cents per mile, the Fiesta costs 10.811 cents per mile. The difference is 1.287 cents. The Prius costs $6000 (600,000 cents)more than the Fiesta, so how many miles must you drive the Prius to recover the added cost at 1.287 cents per mile? Answer = 466,200 miles. The Prius will be worn out and on the scrap heap long before even a 5mpg advantage is recovered. At 50mpg, the Prius needs to be driven 213,447 miles to break even. At 60mpg, the Prius needs to be driven 144,777 miles to break even. See the problem? Buy a Prius if it makes you feel good, but don't try to convince anyone it is more economical than a fuel efficient gasoline powered vehicle getting mileage in the mid 30's. Maybe my math is off, but I don't think so.
twiper1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,842 Points:1,608,010 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:43:57 PM Ignore twiper1 Report Abuse gotta love ford
mickealo Champion Author Spokane Posts:6,167 Points:2,145,410 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:43:21 PM Ignore mickealo Report Abuse what I have been saying all along just not worth the price [Edited by: mickealo at 2/24/2012 6:44:03 PM EST]
Lizzylou Champion Author Stockton Posts:8,818 Points:2,357,285 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:42:41 PM Ignore Lizzylou Report Abuse Interesting!!!
Reishman Veteran Author Illinois Posts:384 Points:518,115 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:41:28 PM Ignore Reishman Report Abuse Buttercup!
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,382 Points:1,981,160 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:38:53 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse And I drive OLD cars - so I save even more money!
carefrey Champion Author Orlando Posts:5,540 Points:1,160,460 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2012 3:34:40 PM Ignore carefrey Report Abuse To costly!