If only a Hummer weighed as much as a Prius

I've always lurked around this website and posted a bit and I see tons of negativity about what someone else does. Quite frankly, If you want to drive a Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, And a Sequoia thats your choice. If you want to spend money on the fuel then so be it.

It's none of my business to bud into another persons business and say "Hey, You can't drive that car because I said so". That kind of attitude will not get you far in life. You can drive a prius because all you want is the best fuel mileage for you and thats ok. I don't hate people for driving what they drive. They drive what they want and what they can afford. That's what the USA is all about. FREEDOM!

The Hummer is a good vehicle if you like the offroad scene. it will get you places where a car can't.

I don't drive a full size truck or a Tahoe. I have a 99 S-10 4x4 and it's not a gas guzzler. I can get 19 mpg on it when it's only rated for 15 mpg and fits 2 people. I drive 30 miles a day and spend about $50 a week on gas. On top of that it's paid for so all I have is oil changes and any other maintenence. It's cheaper for me this way rather than having a loan all over again plus fuel costs and maintenence.

By the way I think the SUV name is BS. Call it what it is like we did 5 years ago.

I never see anybody on this site bashing Toyota for there trucks and Sequoia's but only bashing GM, Ford, And Never Dodge about they're vehicles.

 

I totally understand your opinion and I actually felt the same. I learned more implications of such choices on other people and I've changed my opinion. I still reason that if a person wants to be wasteful they should be allowed but they should have to pay the FULL cost of such behavior, not just the price of fuel.

 

You are mistaken. Most Prius owners aren't buying them just to save money on gas. We are trying to, in a small way, stop the climate crisis. I'm negative about someone owning a Hummer because their decision is going to help human beings die in the future. Until we look at this in the proper way, we aren't going to fix anything.

 

You make it sound like one small and very minimal thing is gonna create a major global catastrophe. Well, You are very wrong. I and many people will agree with me that a more natural occurrence (Like a super volcano) could knock us into a nuclear thermal winter. More natural causes can kill us besides a some guy offroading in a Hummer.

Heck, A major strain of bacteria could kill all life as it stands, Maybe a god sized asteroid could do us in.

The earth has a way of taking care of itself. We are basically a pimple on it's surface.

 

Wow, that argument really makes me crazy. It's not a one-or-the-other thing here. Yes, any of those things might happen and we're all gonna die. But maybe they won't happen. Maybe global warming IS caused by humans. Then what.

We don't know either way for certain, and you're missing the biggest point here. Worst case scenario is that I'm wrong and we spend a lot of money on new technologies that we don't need to stop global warming. But they will help us save energy, eliminate dependance on foreign oil, save money over time and clean up pollution, which is guaranteed to save lives. Best case scenario is I'm right and we save the world. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

 

Come now Jimmie, you know how well versed in the physical sciences I am and you are going to assume I don't know what part humans play in these natural systems? The people who would agree with you ARE NOT PEOPLE who are knowledgable in these systems. They may be in the majority but the majority of people are pretty ignorant of the sciences.

The piont here is, the earth will indeed take care of itself but only after it has become very inhospitable to humans and their delicate infrastructure AND whiped out a large number of species and reduced biodiversity. All this for what? So we can play stupid and pretend what we do has no effect? What a selfish viewpoint to harbor. I hope that is not how you truely feel.

As for the Hummer analogy, just remember that he is not alone. There are millions of others doing similar degradational things around the world. Now add in the millions of other degradational habits and you'll start to see why ecosystems are in decline. Try to expand your thinking to include more than just one action and one effect and you'll quickly realize everything is indeed connected.

 

There is a huge difference between offroading in a hummer, and idling in one at a stoplight downtown.

 

I agree.

I propose we ban all hybrid vehicles, stop using hydrotreating at refineries to remove sulfur, ban reformulated gasoline, require everybody to cut the catalytic converter off their vehicle, and return to leaded gas

It sure is a waste of time and money to worry about pesky smog reduction standards that directly influence human mortality and morbidity

We should also pass a new law that lowers CAFE to 6.4 MPG. It's proven that importing in excess of 60% of your crude oil needs, massive deficit spending, and peak oil are all *good* for the economy

I also propose we ban vaccinations, primary and secondary wastewater treatment, and potable water treatment. It should be obvious that we should only "encourage" the healthiest specimens to live, no sense making it easier for the "substandard" specimens

I'll even set up a website with a catchy title that is sure to invoke an emotional, FUD based response: waaaadonttakemygasguzzlinredneckmobile dot com

 

If our society keeps regressing down the path we are now on, in a few more years folks like us will be burned at the stake for believing in science and social responsibility

 

I would love to disagree with you my friend but since it (being burned at the stake for believing in science) has happened in the past I do not doubt that it could happen again.

 

I never said we had to ban hybrids. It's not for everyone buddy.
Whats better? Buying a old Civic or even a Cavalier that gets 30 MPG for $5,000 for spending $30,000 on a hybrid that gets 45MPG?

Your the typical pot calling the kettle black person. Your sig line is living proof that you also drive a gas guzzler. 16 city and 20 highway perhaps?

 

I'm not trying to pick on you Jimmie but from a safety and emissions standpoint the hybrid would be the better the better choice. Have you ever seen the Cavalie in a crash test? You could'nt pay me to drive one of those death traps! Hahaha

 

I meant to say Cobalt. Yeah, I saw the crash test on youtube and I'm very glad my Dad got out of that car and into something else.

 

Me too, it's definately not a safe car for him to be in. As if any car is truely safe right? lol

Did you see the Consumer Reports article where they voted the Prius the most economical family car to own after 5-yrs even over cars like the Cobalt that cost over $7,000 less initial purchase price? It was pretty imnteresting how much can be saved over 5yrs just in fuel let alone any repairs.

I'm off to a BBQ, have a great weekend Jimmie.

 

Depending on how many miles you put on, the Prius will be the better buy. I wasn't aware they were so much in the US, I thought around $23,000

Here in Canada, you won't get much for $5 G's: already rusting, motor probably shot, etc. A decent used Civic - much smaller than Prius but a decent economy car, light years better than an Aveo - is around $10 G's

A new Prius here is $30 G's. If you only put on 5,000 miles a year, drive the older car. If you commute average to longer than average distances, even CR has proven the Prius is cheaper. F8L beat me to the CR article

The Prius has 160,000 km on it, I'll probably sell it to a taxi company this summer and get a new Prius. It will be my primary commute/work vehicle, so I can write it off

The FJ at the speed limit gets 29 mpg, Imperial gallon. Somewhere around 24 mpg your gallon. A lot of the techniques that work on a Prius to boost fuel economy work on my FJ as well. I don't hold up traffic, but I don't floor it either

No lift, no aggressive tires, no bulls*** up on the roof. Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 in the transfer case and both axles. Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro Car Formula in the motor. I'll probably croak before the FJ does

The FJ is my weekend play toy for driving out to the hobby farm. Right now I'm averaging 600 km a month, so it still looks, feels, and smells brand new. In August I'll have a month off and the FJ will probably sit at the hobby farm the entire time

So in my case, I really don't see how the pot is calling the kettle black. It's not a daily driver, far from it. I put my money where my mouth is, and bought an environmentally friendly, fuel efficient car for daily use.

I didn't want a tiny toy car, but something with proven crash safety. Once you compare the Prius against cars of the same size, that huge hybrid "premium" really isn't there anymore

I'm not at all worried that some folks think the Prius is "gay." I'm built like a nighclub bouncer. The very rare time somebody has flipped me off or cut me off in traffic, just getting out of the car I scare them s***less

 

Do you know what I drive jayman? Take a guess.

I'm in the process of looking for a newer Cobalt. Possibly an 06 or an 07. I'd say the Cobalt is a bit bigger than the Prius but I'm gonna use it as my daily driver. The truck I will use for my off roading adventures and in the winter time when we get snow. I live in an area where plows don't come through so 4x4 is a must.

Right now I'm driving to and from work and maybe running errands on the weekends. I put my self in the 12,000/year mileage bracket.

 

I do believe you have stated in other posts you drive something like an S10 or S15. I predict we'll see the market for smaller trucks grow as full size trucks tank.

Boo-hoo on Toyota for dumping all that money on the new Tundra and Sequoia. I'd like to hope somebody lost their job over *that* executive decision! That money would have been better spent on rolling out hybrid versions of the Echo/Yaris and Corolla.

When I was in Seattle last fall to attend a conference, I was put into a rental Cobalt. It's no Prius, I'll tell you that

 

Yeah, It's an S-10. 1999 with 109,750 miles on it now.

But, Technically I can only fit 2 people in it but there is a 3rd jump seat in the back when we need to cram a friend back there. LOL

I don't want payments for another 5-7 years. Probably a new truck then but in the mean time to put an ease on my pocket book I might buy a car. Then again it might be cheaper for me to just drive the S-10.

 

I think you're right at the edge - given current fuel prices - of tipping the balance. If we can assume fuel prices no longer rise, you're probably better off keeping the S-10, especially if it is in good shape

For many the net cost will still be higher if they buy a new vehicle, as payments are usually involved.

If fuel prices rise towards $6 a gallon - four years ago we though $2.50 a gallon was a stretch - and if your commute should happen to change, a fuel efficient car may be a better choice

As a consulting engineer, I tend to put on a lot of miles. In my case, since I can claim the expenses and write off the vehicle, it really doesn't matter if I drive a Prius or an FJ, or the new 5.7 litre V8 Sequoia.

I went with the "feel good" choice, and have not regretted it. The only knock I had against my Prius was the - in my opinion - overly sensitive Traction control. In winter, this has caused problems for me, until I finally switched from studless to studded winter tires. Deep snow still kills it, but most cars would be motionless anyway

I testdrove a new 2008 Prius back in March, when we still had a bit of snow around. It's Traction control is *much* improved over my 2004, that alone almost made me buy it on the spot

 

Oh believe me I've changed my driving habits. I don't go over 65MPH and I shift at 2000 RPMS. It's a manual of course and if i drive it the smart way I can get 19.5 MPG. I think the EPA rating on it was 15/20.