Dad now wants a Hybrid Toyota Highlander

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Rallispec
here is what i dont get--- paying 12k extra for a car to save a few cents in gas everyday.

why dont people jsut buy the cheaper version of the car, and put the money they save towards gas... seems like it would take forever for the better gas mileage to actually start paying off in a hybrid.

Cheaper version and you get no features or performance benefits. WTH would he trade DOWN a notch.

He would be getting the newer 3.3 V6 (vs the old 3.0), third row-seat, GPS an additional 50HP, faster performance and better gas mileage.

It'd be no different than if he were trading in his '02 Highlander for an '05 Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, or Mitsu Endeaver. He'd just betting getting better mileage and performance for a slightly higher initial outlay.

He is saying when people initially buy a car and he is right. People spend 35K in a car and bitch and moun for forking $300 extra in gas a year.
Spending 12K for those additional features is silly and I'm sure you know it as well. Your dad just wants a new car and he is using any silly excuse to get it 😛

Ohh, I know he wants a new car but I still fail to realize how going from an '02 Highlander to an '05 Pilot, Murano or Mitsu would be any different or anymore "wasteful."

He was gonna trade up anyway, so why not go on to something better (even if it's the same basic vehicle).

I plan on buying a Scion tC in the next two-three months. It has less cargo room than my Camry, less passenger room, about the same features and about the same gas mileage, but will cost me about $12,000 after trade-in. I must be CRAAAAAAAAAAZY😛

You better give us an honest unbiased review of the car when you get it. Not something sugar coated.

 

[Dracos]

This may just replace the Honda Pilot as my next car purchase.

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: Genesys
whats the mpg on the highlander hybrid?

I think I've seen articles saying upper 20s (maybe ~28mpg) in mixed driving. Toyota only says 600+ miles between fillups on their site. Assuming the same 19 gallon tank, 600/19= 31.5mpg so I'd bet that's probably the highway mileage number. So ~28mpg mixed driving does seem like a realistic number. Considering the size of the vehicle and the power of the engine that's pretty impressive.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Dead serious. 🙁 It was even worse than that before the engine broke in! :Q

And yes, I need the hug right now with our fuel hovering around $2.70USD a gallon.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Dead serious. 🙁 It was even worse than that before the engine broke in! :Q

And yes, I need the hug right now with our fuel hovering around $2.70USD a gallon.

OWNED 🙁

 

[Parrotheader]

I believe Honda is also launching an Accord with a V6 Hybrid in 2005. Should be a breakthrough year for hybrids now starting to make their way into existing mainstream cars.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Dead serious. 🙁 It was even worse than that before the engine broke in! :Q

And yes, I need the hug right now with our fuel hovering around $2.70USD a gallon.

OWNED 🙁

So true.

Nice owned pic by the way. 😀

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
I believe Honda is also launching an Accord with a V6 Hybrid in 2005. Should be a breakthrough year for hybrids now starting to make their way into existing mainstream cars.

Hybrid Accord (next year...maybe this fall)
Hybrid Civic
Insight

Hybrid Highlander
Hybrid RX400H
Hybrid Camry (within the next year and a half)

Escape Hybrid

Hybrid Silverado/Sierra (this fall)

Hybrid Dodge Ram (next year)

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Are you going by what the trip computer says or by actually dividing the number of miles driven by the amount of gas you add at each fillup? According to the computer in our Maxima we average 21.5 mpg in city driving but in actuality it's more like 18 mpg. Stupid Nissan computer doesn't calculate mpg very well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Rallispec
here is what i dont get--- paying 12k extra for a car to save a few cents in gas everyday.

why dont people jsut buy the cheaper version of the car, and put the money they save towards gas... seems like it would take forever for the better gas mileage to actually start paying off in a hybrid.

Cheaper version and you get no features or performance benefits. WTH would he trade DOWN a notch.

He would be getting the newer 3.3 V6 (vs the old 3.0), third row-seat, GPS an additional 50HP, faster performance and better gas mileage.

It'd be no different than if he were trading in his '02 Highlander for an '05 Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, or Mitsu Endeaver. He'd just betting getting better mileage and performance for a slightly higher initial outlay.

He is saying when people initially buy a car and he is right. People spend 35K in a car and bitch and moun for forking $300 extra in gas a year.
Spending 12K for those additional features is silly and I'm sure you know it as well. Your dad just wants a new car and he is using any silly excuse to get it 😛

How do you figure it's going to cost $12k extra? According to NFS4 it is only like $2-3k more for the hybrid over a loaded gasoline only version.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Rallispec
here is what i dont get--- paying 12k extra for a car to save a few cents in gas everyday.

why dont people jsut buy the cheaper version of the car, and put the money they save towards gas... seems like it would take forever for the better gas mileage to actually start paying off in a hybrid.

Cheaper version and you get no features or performance benefits. WTH would he trade DOWN a notch.

He would be getting the newer 3.3 V6 (vs the old 3.0), third row-seat, GPS an additional 50HP, faster performance and better gas mileage.

It'd be no different than if he were trading in his '02 Highlander for an '05 Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, or Mitsu Endeaver. He'd just betting getting better mileage and performance for a slightly higher initial outlay.

He is saying when people initially buy a car and he is right. People spend 35K in a car and bitch and moun for forking $300 extra in gas a year.
Spending 12K for those additional features is silly and I'm sure you know it as well. Your dad just wants a new car and he is using any silly excuse to get it 😛

How do you figure it's going to cost $12k extra? According to NFS4 it is only like $2-3k more for the hybrid over a loaded gasoline only version.

He was going by the figure I stated talking about my dad getting $24,000 trade on his '02 Highlander towards an estimated $36,000 Highlander Hybrid.

 

[arcas]

I, too, have had my eye on the 2005 Hybrid Highlander but I don't think I'd trust Toyota's published numbers. It's not their fault, though. They're required to use the EPA's outdated rules when computing fuel economy and there's some debate as to whether those guidelines give unrealistically high numbers for hybrids. I think I'll wait for C&D or Consumer Reports or another reputable group to do some real world tests with a hybrid SUV.

As I recall, the hybrid trucks GM leased to California residents a few years ago only got ~10% better fuel economy than their normal engine counterparts. If that holds true with hybrid SUVs, I don't think the price premium will be justified.

I'm still waiting on the specs for the Hybrid Highlander, too. Things like maximum cargo capacity, towing capacity, etc. The hybrid Ford Escape has anemic towing capacity (~1000 lbs IIRC). That would barely account for a trailer, much less any cargo. The Highlander supposedly can deliver 270HP when needed but I assume that invokes the electric motors to assist the gas engine. If that's the case, I'd have to assume that this can only be done for very short bursts or else you'll rapidly deplete the battery reserves. Hopefully the full specs will answer these types of questions...

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Are you going by what the trip computer says or by actually dividing the number of miles driven by the amount of gas you add at each fillup? According to the computer in our Maxima we average 21.5 mpg in city driving but in actuality it's more like 18 mpg. Stupid Nissan computer doesn't calculate mpg very well.

Both. mine is pretty accurate.

 

[pcmodem]

I'd trade my 2004 RAV4 Sport in for a Hybrid RAV4 Sport, if one becomes available in a couple years. 🙂

Note that I average 24 to 25 MPG in my RAV4.

Cogito, Ergo, Zoom! :beer:
PCM

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Rallispec
here is what i dont get--- paying 12k extra for a car to save a few cents in gas everyday.

why dont people jsut buy the cheaper version of the car, and put the money they save towards gas... seems like it would take forever for the better gas mileage to actually start paying off in a hybrid.

Cheaper version and you get no features or performance benefits. WTH would he trade DOWN a notch.

He would be getting the newer 3.3 V6 (vs the old 3.0), third row-seat, GPS an additional 50HP, faster performance and better gas mileage.

It'd be no different than if he were trading in his '02 Highlander for an '05 Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, or Mitsu Endeaver. He'd just betting getting better mileage and performance for a slightly higher initial outlay.

I think his point was why upgrade (to any car) when you already have a 2002 Highlander. The extra torque, third row seating, and GPS isn't really worth the extra $12k. (My opinion anyway).

I'd upgrade a 02 model to a 2012 model 😛 Flying cars baby, the only way to move! 🙂

edit: read the entire thread. RX8 gets that low mileage??? 😱 And living in Ontario, where gas is 0.90c/L (approx 2.70+ USD /gallon for 87 octane), thats ridiculous.

You know 94 octane is now $1/liter?? Bloody hell.

N8...TTC is your friend.

 

[lMlHuxley]

coolest hybrid I have yet seen. That is a good family car unless you ever plan on buying a boat or anything that needs towing

 

[flashbacck]

I dunno if you guys have heard of this (it was certainly news to me), but hybrid cars get badly inflated mpg when measured with the standard EPA test.

" In Consumer Reports' real-world driving test, the Civic Hybrid averaged 26 mpg in the city, while the Toyota Prius averaged 35 mpg, much less than their respective EPA estimates of 47 and 60 mpg. "

Here's the link to wired news:
http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63413,00.html

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I'm certainly not getting the hybrid bug. Even with high gas prices, the fuel cost savings of current hybrids generally don't recoup the price premium vs. similar gas models unless you own them for a looooong time. Of course, there is something of an environmental benefit as well.

And that sort of attitude keeps gas prices high, and oil companies happy.

Yes. Like most consumers in a capitalist society, my purchasing decisions are financially driven. I drive a very fuel-efficient vehicle as it is and would definitely drive a hybrid if they were more cost-effective, which I think they will become in the near future.

 

[SuperTool]

Cost benefit analisys says don't do it. There just isn't enough changes to justify paying 12K more.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I just got rid of my TDI that got 55 MPG, and went to the RX-8 which nets me a whopping 15 MPG if I granny it around town.

What excellent timing. 🙁

15 MPG? are you serious???
My 350z gets 20 even if I drive it hard city, and 26+ if I go highway averaging 80 mph!

It's alright though, at least the RX-8 can give you a hug 😉

Are you going by what the trip computer says or by actually dividing the number of miles driven by the amount of gas you add at each fillup? According to the computer in our Maxima we average 21.5 mpg in city driving but in actuality it's more like 18 mpg. Stupid Nissan computer doesn't calculate mpg very well.

Both. mine is pretty accurate.

Maybe it's just the Max then. I've heard other Maxima owners complain of this also.