Lease a PHEV For My 6 Mile Work Commute?

[TridenT]

Wow you can't be more wrong. Using a whole different culture in a different climate in the world? Don't care what you think, my employees can't come in smelling sweaty. We don't have changing rooms, and we don't have showers. If they can bike in without a drop of sweat, or with a way to wash out in the sink, absolutely they can. Otherwise, they'll be told to go back home and come in looking presentable. These are IT people that meet with end users, no suits and ties or anything, but they are expected to look (and smell) on point.

And? It's not hard. I knew a guy who biked from the international district to the u-district everyday for his IT job in Seattle. He always looked presentable.

Also, you know that the USA has multiple climates right? It's a fucking massive country... If you just want to be a lazy slob and make up excuses about why you can't bike to work then whatever. But it is feasible. Get a fat bike for the snow if you ride in snow. It's all doable. You just don't know shit about it.

 

[TridenT]

You park a scooter anywhere you feel like parking it. I always park my scooter right outside the door when I take it to the store.

I'm not sure what situation this store is in but if you park a scooter on a sidewalk then it's illegal and you can get fined for it.

 

[Wuzup101]

And? It's not hard. I knew a guy who biked from the international district to the u-district everyday for his IT job in Seattle. He always looked presentable.

Also, you know that the USA has multiple climates right? It's a fucking massive country... If you just want to be a lazy slob and make up excuses about why you can't bike to work then whatever. But it is feasible. Get a fat bike for the snow if you ride in snow. It's all doable. You just don't know shit about it.

LOL - there are a lot of people who aren't slobs that don't want to bike to work. While I certainly support the bike to work idea, and would do so if it made sense to me (I do own and use a road bike regularly), it's just not worth it in my situation. I'm 7 miles away from work any my auto expenses are irrelevant (Even if biking took them to 0 I'd rather drive). Drivers in this area aren't biker friendly and riding on the road to work is scary as hell (yes I've done it once before). Also 7 miles isn't much of a workout and IMHO isn't worth changing into bike shorts / changing again when I get to work... dragging cleats around... etc... I'd rather run if I was going to do it for exercise.

 

[heymrdj]

And? It's not hard. I knew a guy who biked from the international district to the u-district everyday for his IT job in Seattle. He always looked presentable.

Also, you know that the USA has multiple climates right? It's a fucking massive country... If you just want to be a lazy slob and make up excuses about why you can't bike to work then whatever. But it is feasible. Get a fat bike for the snow if you ride in snow. It's all doable. You just don't know shit about it.

Cmon kid, at least pretend to understand the world. I bike 2-3 days a week, days that I know I won't be customer facing. Schwin 7-Series urban hybrid, saddles on the back. It is certainly super easy. But I also don't bike far enough to be a major issue. There's only one major hill and it's only 1.8 miles one way. I go to the gym after work and do another 15-20 miles on the stationary amongst my weight lifting. So no, I don't have issues with bikes.

But, in the real world here, mornings are humid and it makes me sweat. Sweat is not pretty smelling. I, nor do I want to (or will allow), my co-workers to smell like they've put on lots of Axe to try to cover up the fact that they worked out without cleaning up before work. Again, it's about looking, and being, professional. Also cars are required for site to site travel. It's a requirement of work and is in contract. So anyone that wants to bike will need to have their car left at work. So if it's raining, they have to have someone else drive them to the office, as the car is a requirement at all times (to the point a rental is offered if a car is out of commission).

 

[tamm]

If you need a vehicle for a 6 mile work, the Cmax is amazing. Due note if your thinking of getting lease equity from that 6 mile work on a 10K/year i dont know since the Cmax tanks in resell.

Cmax are being given out like freeware, no is absolutely buying one since the eMPG change. Bargin hard

 

[Throckmorton]

It makes more sense to keep the Equinox. 2006 isn't old. Even if something breaks, you can get it fixed for a lot more cheaply than a new car.

 

[tamm]

Another thing that you might consider getting is a New Economy Hatchback...
Mitsu Mirage Nissan Versa/note (whatever its called these days). If your fine with a 4 speed then theyre pretty good. And you can keep the Equinox for winter or such

 

[Knavish]

LOL - there are a lot of people who aren't slobs that don't want to bike to work. While I certainly support the bike to work idea, and would do so if it made sense to me (I do own and use a road bike regularly), it's just not worth it in my situation. I'm 7 miles away from work any my auto expenses are irrelevant (Even if biking took them to 0 I'd rather drive). Drivers in this area aren't biker friendly and riding on the road to work is scary as hell (yes I've done it once before). Also 7 miles isn't much of a workout and IMHO isn't worth changing into bike shorts / changing again when I get to work... dragging cleats around... etc... I'd rather run if I was going to do it for exercise.

This is a huge concern IMO. I see bikers (only in summer months) riding in the afternoon taking huge risks on 2 lane 40-50MPH roads around here. I don't hear about bikers getting killed more than once or twice per year, so I guess statistically the risk might not be too bad, but I sure wouldn't feel safe on these roads. Come to think of it, since I really only see bikers in the afternoon/evening, I suspect they are out exercising/joyriding and not actually commuting...

 

[desy]

Lets see the guy lives in Sacramento
If it was me I'd buy an electric bike with pedal option so I can choose exercise or not being sweaty. Keep the Equinox until its time was up and forgo the expensive hybrid option all together and next time get whatever the hell I felt like with commuting taken out of the equation

 

[thomsbrain]

The problem with EV/PHEV cars is that you would get the most benefit and best chance of payback if you drove them for long distances... which they can't do (electrically).

Driving six miles a day, you are barely saving any gas because you would hardly use any gas in the first place. It doesn't really matter what you drive.

You really want an EV/PHEV for a 60-mile commute.

 

[shawn130c]

The problem with EV/PHEV cars is that you would get the most benefit and best chance of payback if you drove them for long distances... which they can't do (electrically).

Driving six miles a day, you are barely saving any gas because you would hardly use any gas in the first place. It doesn't really matter what you drive.

You really want an EV/PHEV for a 60-mile commute.

You are right, but with my short commute, I do waste more gas, and that costs me about $100 a month. My car is getting to the point that major repairs will happen. For me, it does not make sense to invest in repairing a car. For my commute I could lease any numbers of car. The average leases on an car with a traditional engine is about $150-$200, but I will still be spending money on gas. It may not be $100 each month but paying a "premium" for not having to pay for gas to go to work and most of my shopping will probably break even.

Another thing that you might consider getting is a New Economy Hatchback...
Mitsu Mirage Nissan Versa/note (whatever its called these days). If your fine with a 4 speed then theyre pretty good. And you can keep the Equinox for winter or such

I can't seem to find any short trip MPG numbers for this car. It is safe the assume any car with a traditional engine will suffer with a short commute, but how much are we thinking on 1.6-liter I4 engine? Depending on the car, I am seeing numbers from a 20% hit to 50% MPG drop for short commutes.

Lets see the guy lives in Sacramento
If it was me I'd buy an electric bike with pedal option so I can choose exercise or not being sweaty. Keep the Equinox until its time was up and forgo the expensive hybrid option all together and next time get whatever the hell I felt like with commuting taken out of the equation

The electric bike is an interesting option. I found a dedicated bike path to work, but looks like California Law prohibits E-bikes from using dedicated bike paths (Bike path not bike lane, there is probably little enforcement on this, but I rather not risk it). If I can't use a dedicated bike path, I just wouldn't want to deal 40-50MPH traffic and two hills.

You are lazy, get a bike

I do admit I am super lazy, but I am going to agree with everyone that is against this idea. The safety and convenience of a car, is more important to me. If I saw more bike commuters, I would reconsider. But most days, I see one guy on bike...

At this point, I am still deciding between a PHEV and an EV. I test drove the Spark EV today. It is alot smaller than the c-max energi. But with a cheaper lease ($200-$300) and a better driving experience (400 lb-ft of torque ) it is not bad. 70-80 Miles EV Range is not a big concern with the availability of chargers I am near.

 

[nedfunnell]

So what did you get? Still deciding?

 

[MrPickins]

Apparently 36% of a major city commutes by bicycle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclin...w shit about it.[/QUOTE] Pot, meet kettle.

 

[ElFenix]

even when you do have a 'bike lane' in the US, it's just a gutter with a line painted to separate it from vehicle traffic. terrible. even most sidewalks are barely useable - in downtown houston they may be wide but they're full of art installations/planters/fountains/whatnot, and in residential areas they're 2 feet wide and often buckled by trees.

proper bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure needs to be separated from motor vehicles by something other than a paint stripe, and bikes and pedestrians further need their own spaces, each wide enough to pass others with room to spare. but that would require removing at least 1 lane from motor vehicle traffic in most areas so it won't happen.

 

[shawn130c]

So what did you get? Still deciding?

Not yet, still deciding. Though got some more information to help with my decision:

1. Local KIA dealers have very little info on the KIA Soul EV, but it looks like they are going to "test" it out in the LA Area first.

So right now it is between: Cmax Energi, Focus EV, Spark EV, Leaf. They are all about the same lease price (depending on options). Though a lot of rebates expired last month, so I am waiting to hear back on what rebates are still available.

2. Just found out my equinox has no heat. Looks like it is the Air Temperature Blend Door and it looks like a fun fix

http://www.handymanlyness.com/archi...p_blend_door/replace_actuator_06_Equinox.html

But it appears that there is a TSB and Chevy extended the warranty on this part to cover it. So I will see how that goes...