hybrid cars ?

How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On one hand they are
clean quiet & help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is hearing and the Toyota
Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise but not much more
than a pack of riders make when they pass
(don't ask how I know this)


Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)






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Subject: hybrid cars ?
From: "Rob F. in Houston"
Date: 8/24/2004 8:54 PM US Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On one hand they are
clean quiet & help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is hearing and the Toyota
Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise but not much more
than a pack of riders make when they pass
(don't ask how I know this)


Rob Fruth - Houston

Ask yourself this:
How much does it cost for me to saeve money? Calculated payback against a
similar car like a camry is like 10 years.
If you want to pioneer all this with your hard earned cash, go ahead.

"Rob F. in Houston" wrote in message
news
How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On one hand they
are
clean quiet & help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is hearing and the
Toyota
Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise but not much more
than a pack of riders make when they pass
(don't ask how I know this)

I think that hearing is important, but that *relying* on hearing for
situational awareness while riding in traffic is an invitation to disaster.
That's why I wear a mirror, why I ride so as to minimize the chances that a
driver will be surprised by my presence, and why I work hard to keep my
attention focused on what I'm doing.

As you say, hybrid cars are cleaner and quieter and more efficient than
other motor vehicles. But they're still cars, and they let their owners feel
virtuous while continuing to perpetuate a resource-intensive culture that's
hostile to human-powered transportation of all kinds. So I'm, at best,
indifferent to them.

But I haven't been able to free myself of car ownership entirely -- we're
down from two cars to one, and that one is used only half as much as in the
past, but we still need it -- so next time I have to buy one I expect to
look closely at hybrid-electric vehicles.

RichC

FX for saving money ya can't beat a bicycle ! (Rich I tend to agree with
you although I'm not a mirror person ((yet)))

--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)


"Fx199" wrote in message
...
: Subject: hybrid cars ?
: From: "Rob F. in Houston"
: Date: 8/24/2004 8:54 PM US Eastern Standard Time
: Message-id:
:
: How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On one hand they
are
: clean quiet & help reduce our
: dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is hearing and the
Toyota
: Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
: power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise but not much more
: than a pack of riders make when they pass
: (don't ask how I know this)
:
:
: Rob Fruth - Houston
:
: Ask yourself this:
: How much does it cost for me to saeve money? Calculated payback against a
: similar car like a camry is like 10 years.
: If you want to pioneer all this with your hard earned cash, go ahead.


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Subject: hybrid cars ?
From: "Rob F. in Houston"
Date: 8/24/2004 9:23 PM US Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: m

FX for saving money ya can't beat a bicycle ! (Rich I tend to agree with
you although I'm not a mirror person ((yet)))

--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)


I agree, I settle for a paid for truck.
It gets very cold and snowy in Indiana.

"Fx199" wrote in message
...
Subject: hybrid cars ?
From: "Rob F. in Houston"
Date: 8/24/2004 9:23 PM US Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: m

FX for saving money ya can't beat a bicycle ! (Rich I tend to agree with
you although I'm not a mirror person ((yet)))

--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)


I agree, I settle for a paid for truck.
It gets very cold and snowy in Indiana.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure that most hybrids will run just fine, even in "cold
and snowy Indiana".

As for the payback period on a hybrid - I think most folks who purchase them
are looking at larger issues than just the economics of ownership.

GG

"Fx199" wrote


Ask yourself this:
How much does it cost for me to saeve money? Calculated payback against a
similar car like a camry is like 10 years.
If you want to pioneer all this with your hard earned cash, go ahead.

Honda Civic vs Honda Civic Hybrid shows personal costs equalizing at
300,000-400,000 miles, depending on $/gal, and maintenance issues

IMHO, hybrids are but an intermediate step.

Pete

"Rich Clark" wrote in message
...

"Rob F. in Houston" wrote in message
news
How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On one hand they
are
clean quiet & help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is hearing and the
Toyota
Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise but not much
more
than a pack of riders make when they pass
(don't ask how I know this)

I think that hearing is important, but that *relying* on hearing for
situational awareness while riding in traffic is an invitation to
disaster.
That's why I wear a mirror, why I ride so as to minimize the chances that
a
driver will be surprised by my presence, and why I work hard to keep my
attention focused on what I'm doing.

As you say, hybrid cars are cleaner and quieter and more efficient than
other motor vehicles. But they're still cars, and they let their owners
feel
virtuous while continuing to perpetuate a resource-intensive culture
that's
hostile to human-powered transportation of all kinds. So I'm, at best,
indifferent to them.

But I haven't been able to free myself of car ownership entirely -- we're
down from two cars to one, and that one is used only half as much as in
the
past, but we still need it -- so next time I have to buy one I expect to
look closely at hybrid-electric vehicles.

RichC



i too agree that hybrids are a good idea but since i have eliminated 90% of
my driving by cycling instead i would never find them cost efficient. i'll
continue to drive my '64 plymouth /6 occasionally (currently avg about one
mile per week) but forever (or as long as the oil lasts). btw. i would like
to see gas at $5 a gallon.

"Rob F. in Houston" wrote

How does everyone feel about the hybrid smog machines ? On
one hand they are
clean quiet & help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil but one of the 5 senses is
hearing and the Toyota
Prius can go over 40 MPH on battery
power alone, yea there is still the wind and tire noise
but not much more
than a pack of riders make when they pass
(don't ask how I know this)

1) Love my Toyota Prius, love my Prius, love my Prius.
Quiet, quick, smooth, commodius, reliable, economical,
_more_ environmentally friendly. My wife's been on the
waiting list for a new one for nearly six months!

2) It will have to do until hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are
readily available (with infrastructure to support them).
Emissions = water vapor. Neat!

3) I'm typically on my Cannondale, next on my Bimmer m/c,
then to the Prius (15k miles in about 3yrs)

4) F--- OPEC! Start by cutting demand (it really won't kill
most of us), then we won't have to bomb to ensure supply....

5) (Not intentionally flame-baiting here, but....) What are
_most_ of these SUV drivers, living in big-city, temperate
climate metropolises _doing_ with these damned 11mpg beasts
anyway (other them imperiling cyclists....). Eliminate the
$100,000 deduction for SUV's of =6,000 lbs and subsidize
alternative fuel vehicles (and bikes!) instead

6) Whoever said that breakeven/payback isn't the point . . .
is exactly right. It's that attitude that needs some
revision. I'm paying for reduced dependence on foreign oil,
cleaner air, fewer greenhouse gasses, and to reward an auto
manufacturer for allocating R&D money to this technology.
What's the payback on a Colnago C50? Right. Exactly.

7) At 40mph, the primary sound you hear coming from my
hybrid, ElMo (ELectric MOtor) is the Grateful Dead ;-) If
you really miss that sound of raw power, get a CD made of
the sound of a blown 426ci Hemi and put a 2,000 watt stereo
in your hybrid. It won't tax your batteries ;-)

"Dreaded" wrote:

i would like to see gas at $5 a gallon.

8) Awwwww, yeah! Bring it on!!

Rob said:

snip Quiet, quick, smooth, commodius, reliable, economicalsnip

commodius? wow that thing does everything!
seriously-right on! it is attitude and making it real. i was bitching and
moaning about all of the problems of traffic and car culture until i
realized that it was me that was the problem! now im biking, happier,
healthier and only a bit more arrogant...

--
"""""
x x

V