I'm a Hippy...

Not really, but we did trade Lauren's BMW for a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. She commutes about 70 miles a day. I only have a couple miles in it, but I am impressed. I'm a computer geek and its loaded tech. The power is somewhere between the 4cyl and the V6. Plus its fun driving in golf cart mode. I was also a little surprised the dealers were discounting them.

Now we just need the 2 bills in the Texas senate to pass. One lets hybrids with 1 occupant in the HOV lane and the other exempts hybrids from Tolls. Several states are doing this already.

PS I'm very good at Microsoft Excel.

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Originally Posted by Mathews2004

PS I'm very good at Microsoft Excel.

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That would make you a geek, not a hippy! ;) Congrats on the new ride Andy.

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Originally Posted by Mathews2004

Now we just need the 2 bills in the Texas senate to pass. One lets hybrids with 1 occupant in the HOV lane and the other exempts hybrids from Tolls. Several states are doing this already.

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Can't say I agree with those bills. It would allow a new 19 MPG Tahoe Hybrid in the HOV, but not a 35 MPG non-hybrid vehicle. If they want to do something like this, then it should be based on MPG, but hybrid drivetrains.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Can't say I agree with those bills. It would allow a new 19 MPG Tahoe Hybrid in the HOV, but not a 35 MPG non-hybrid vehicle. If they want to do something like this, then it should be based on MPG, but hybrid drivetrains.

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+1 to that.

Honestly, from an environmental POV, HOV lanes are an incredibly bad idea. Let’s add an additional freeway lane and artificially limit it to way below capacity. HOV lanes don’t actually stimulate additional carpooling, nor do they effectively reduce congestion. If all HOV lanes were converted to normal use lanes tomorrow, not only would average commute times decrease slightly, but hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel wasted annually by cars idling in non HOV lanes could be saved.

Hell, if you wanted to keep HOV lanes yet make the greatest impact on fuel conservation, you would actually only allow the least fuel efficient vehicles in the HOV lane. An F350 burns a lot more fuel idling in traffic for half an hour than a Prius does.

Of course, the tree-hugging hippies typically don’t let actual logic interfere with their warm fuzzy ideas, which is why we have HOV lanes in the first place. :roll:

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Originally Posted by altiain

HOV lanes don’t actually stimulate additional carpooling

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I have to disagree with this one. My wife and I carpool most days and the #1 reason is because of the HOV lane.

Since we are complaining about HOV lanes, a child should not count as an occupant. It is not as if the 6 month old baby would have driven separately if it was not for the HOV lane. It should be licensed drivers. But then, how to you know who has a license without pulling them over?

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Originally Posted by Titus

I have to disagree with this one. My wife and I carpool most days and the #1 reason is because of the HOV lane.

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You mean to tell me that you and your wife leave from the same house every morning at the same time to go to the same workplace and you would drive separate cars if it weren't for the HOV lane?

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Originally Posted by altiain

You mean to tell me that you and your wife leave from the same house every morning at the same time to go to the same workplace and you would drive separate cars if it weren't for the HOV lane?

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Nope... We work the same schedule in order to allow us to carpool, and I consider that an inconvenience to say the least. We work several blocks a part, so one of us has about a 10 minute walk too. We do it for 2 reasons- cost, and shorter commute time. If you took away the HOV, I suspect we would go from carpooling 95% of the time to 50% of the time or less.

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Originally Posted by altiain

Hell, if you wanted to keep HOV lanes yet make the greatest impact on fuel conservation, you would actually only allow the least fuel efficient vehicles in the HOV lane. An F350 burns a lot more fuel idling in traffic for half an hour than a Prius does.

:roll:

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And since the HOV lanes are paid for with fuel taxes, the guy driving the F350 actually has paid for a greater proportion of the lane, than say the Pinus, that he's not allowed to use.

The new generations of Hybrid's are very boring...

Camry that gets 35 MPG

Tahoe that gets 20MPG

What happened to the Insight that got 60-70 MPG?

Heck even last gen diesel VW's got 40-50 MPG.

All while not really relieving our dependence on foreign oil or really affecting emmisions.

Hydrogen and pure electric (Tesla) is what excites me.

The thought of almost no emmisions teamed with sending the UAE and and all other oil rich countries back to the stone age (where they were 60 years ago) is what gets me excited.

The positive for me was that its 35 all the time VS. 20 ish city-25 ish hwy most of our other choices would be. Also I like it when the car tells me I did good!

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Originally Posted by XM_Rocks

The new generations of Hybrid's are very boring...

Camry that gets 35 MPG

Tahoe that gets 20MPG

What happened to the Insight that got 60-70 MPG?

Heck even last gen diesel VW's got 40-50 MPG.

All while not really relieving our dependence on foreign oil or really affecting emmisions.

Hydrogen and pure electric (Tesla) is what excites me.

The thought of almost no emmisions teamed with sending the UAE and and all other oil rich countries back to the stone age (where they were 60 years ago) is what gets me excited.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Can't say I agree with those bills. It would allow a new 19 MPG Tahoe Hybrid in the HOV, but not a 35 MPG non-hybrid vehicle. If they want to do something like this, then it should be based on MPG, but hybrid drivetrains.

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How about we pass a law based on the pollution generated to manufacture the car and maintenance over the life of the vehicle. Then the Hummer would be allowed to drive in the HOV lane and not the Hybrid!:punchout:

ps: In case ya didn't notice, I hate hybrids!

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I was also a little surprised the dealers were discounting them.

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So...can I ask how much? Discount on Camery is hard to believe from those fxxxing Toyota stealerships! The Sport City told me they did not have the key to show me the MR2!

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Can't say I agree with those bills. It would allow a new 19 MPG Tahoe Hybrid in the HOV, but not a 35 MPG non-hybrid vehicle. If they want to do something like this, then it should be based on MPG, but hybrid drivetrains.

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Crap, I just realized I typed "but" instead of "not." It should have said, "...not hybrid drivetrains."

So ya still get a tax break if you buy a Hybrid or is that program over??

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

So ya still get a tax break if you buy a Hybrid or is that program over??

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Looks like it has been phased out for Toyota, but some other hybrids still get the credit.

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Notice 2006-78 announced the credit phase out schedule for advanced lean burn technology vehicles and hybrid vehicles manufactured by Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (Toyota and Lexus vehicles). For the period of 10-1-06 to 3-31-07, purchasers of qualifying vehicles are eligible for 50% of the allowable credit. For the period of 4-1-07 to 9-30-07, purchasers of qualifying vehicles are eligible for 25% of the allowable credit.

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Originally Posted by XM_Rocks

The new generations of Hybrid's are very boring...

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I totaly agree. I drive a RSX Type-S meaning it's not a hybrid and gets over 200 HP from a 2 L and I get 24 city and 36 highway. Heck even my 1990 Integra LS got about 23 city and 34 highway with 16 year old technology.

If they want to call it a hybrid it better get at least 40 city and over 60 highway. The tech is there, so what's the deal?

The only thing I don't like about modern hybrids is the battery tech. They are heavy and their manafacturing is very bad for the enviroment. Not to mention their disposal. They need to move to capacitors. Lighter, last way longer than batteries, and can recharge in minutes, not hours.

Take it how you will, just my 2 cents

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Originally Posted by Titus

Nope... We work the same schedule in order to allow us to carpool, and I consider that an inconvenience to say the least. We work several blocks a part, so one of us has about a 10 minute walk too. We do it for 2 reasons- cost, and shorter commute time. If you took away the HOV, I suspect we would go from carpooling 95% of the time to 50% of the time or less.

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Bah! That's nothing. I walk 20 minutes to get to my work from my apartment.

Congrats on the new car though. It sounds like your wife might actually make the cost back from saved gas with that commute.

Personally, we went the different route and got my wife a Honda Fit for her longish (just over 15 miles each way for about 35 total). Good gas mileage and cheaper initial cost.

I almost got pushed into those sticks that divide the HOV on 75 on the motorcycle.

Other than that I love using that lane. The tollway needs one... and like three more regular lanes on each side.

This is a new approach.


http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=37914

Had a Honda Hybrid Civic. Got 42.5 mpg for the whole life average. Traded it in on a 2005 MSM. I would not have another Hybrid after my experience. I had the transmission replaced at 19k and it started slipping again at 37k when I decided it had to go. I think the butt ugly Prius is the only one worth its salt and would have thought the Camary should have got the same MPG.

On the plus side, I bought the car for $19,600 and traded it in 20 months later for $16,900. I got $7,000 off the MSM.

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Originally Posted by Radio-Active

I would not have another Hybrid after my experience. I had the transmission replaced at 19k and it started slipping again at 37k when I decided it had to go.

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That sounds like more of a Honda problem then a Hybrid problem.

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Originally Posted by Titus

That sounds like more of a Honda problem then a Hybrid problem.

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[rant]The main problem is that nobody that works at the dealership knows how to work on them. They all came up with lame stories about how the gremlins in the electronics were doing their job and that a slipping clutch is perfectly normal. On top of that, they have to do th $475 service every other time you get your cars oil changed or you will 'void your warranty'(yeah right).


Yeah, it probably is a Honda thing. I won't be buying another Honda anytime soon. [/rant]

I really liked the gadgets included in the car and I miss them to some extent. I think that, for the money, Hybrids are a steal in general. The research done on the vehicles will eventually be used to further future technologies and I might relent on the whole hybrid thing once the car manufacturers put a diesel hybrid into a car.

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Originally Posted by Radio-Active

On top of that, they have to do th $475 service every other time you get your cars oil changed or you will 'void your warranty'(yeah right).

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I dont think they can legally do that.

Yeah... shame on me I have never done the 15K-30K-45K services on any of my cars.

Just check and replace things as needed.

My first job out of college was at a Lexus dealer.

I saw some $1,000+ bills for "prevenative services". The mantra was if you do them the car will last 250K miles.

Then you had a "very good customer" at 86K that had his LS400 with a shot rearend drive unit... that will be $5,600.

I always wonder why people still buy into the hype.

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Originally Posted by XM_Rocks

I dont think they can legally do that.

Yeah... shame on me I have never done the 15K-30K-45K services on any of my cars.

Just check and replace things as needed.

My first job out of college was at a Lexus dealer.

I saw some $1,000+ bills for "prevenative services". The mantra was if you do them the car will last 250K miles.

Then you had a "very good customer" at 86K that had his LS400 with a shot rearend drive unit... that will be $5,600.

I always wonder why people still buy into the hype.

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Well, some if hyped up but some is good preventative mainenence. $1000 worth of crap is a bit much but getting the auto tranny fluid flushed as recommended keeps the repair bills down in the future.

I went in with a printout from Carmax where they have a buying service for new cars. Price looked fair to me. It was about 3k under sticker. 30k sticker and paid 27k for it. I expect the dealer cleared $1000 or so off the deal. 7 hours later... Still not the worst experience I've ever had in a dealership. They also had to order it to get one equipped like we wanted. You could probably get a cloth, single CD for $23k.

I don't think the camry hybrid is meant the ultimate mpg king. The prius, civic hybrid and VW TDI are all superior. It meant to be a large sedan that also gets good mileage. They compromised on size, weight and added performance.

You wouldn't believe how many people ask about it. Everyone wants to know how it works and drives.

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getting the auto tranny fluid flushed as recommended keeps the repair bills down in the future.

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I know this his off topic, but how often do you have to flush the slush box? Right now I have a 07 CRV and a 06 Saabaru 9-2X (rebage Impreza) and both have the slush box.