Anybody here have one?

Anybody here know someone who has one?

I hear they're pretty much NOT ready for prime time. Lots of problems with everything, including everything that's not related to them being hybrid cars, e.g., electricals, fit and finish, etc.

They're over priced.

They don't give a significant increase in gas mileage.

They sound a lot like a newer MB (j/k).

 

My friend drives one of those miniature Honda.
He loves it for economy and being single doesn't care about the need for rear seats removal going for grocery shopping.
My Jetta tdi wagon makes better MPG, than his Honda and I can take some serious load.

 

There was a story on Fox New today. To buy one of the Honda Hydrid, at a cost of $30K and a standard Civic below $20K. It wold save $886 per year and taKe 12years to realize any savings from the car. IMHO, diesel is still the way to go.

 

Don't you have to shave few thousands dollars after about 10 years for new batteries in hybrid?

 

Yes, that another added cost, but how many people keep a car 10 years. Also, the story said Honda has had a few recalls, computer problems, battery problems where the battery didn't switch back to the gas engine mode and vice verse. So, I feel these cars are stop gate vehicles, until fuel cells can be developed cheaply and be relatively safe. Propane is another option, but that cost more then gas or diesel. Some of my town has town vehicle using propane as well as Baystate Gas company, A Baystate repair person was on our street turning off some gas lines due to construction and I asked him how he liked the propane power, he said it is OK, except when you have to drive all the back to the garage to get the tank refilled. Mass doesn't allow propane dealers to "fill up" propane powered vehicles yet. Also, you can buy a Diesel E Class in Ct, but not in Mass as Mass hasn't adopted the low sulphur diesel yet. I understand form reading about the Diesel E Class, there is no smell its acceleration and such is equal to or better then some cars and it get over 30mph. My 99 C280, will get 23mpg is I drive it very conseratively, the usually mph averages around 19. city and highway combined.

 

Yeah, I usually smash my cars against a tree long before 10 years. The battery issue will make resales difficult, I would think. I hope I don't have a brain fart in 10 years or so and buy a used hybrid. They should be dirt cheap by then, if any current ones are left on the road.

The hybrids and upcoming fuel cell cars threaten the oil companies. I doubt anything serious will happen until the oil companies are satisfied that they won't lose their shorts over it.

The car manufacturers are probably still refining the planned obsolescence of hybrids. The pendulum seems to have swung pretty far over into the instant meltdown direction for now.

I can get 32 mpg highway in my Corvette. It's no fun to drive to get that kind of mpg, but I can do it. I may as well be driving a Civic.

 

My Jetta tdi is rated 45 MPG. Bear in mind, that even this is 2002 model, it is old-fashioned injection pump, that Europe dropped about 10 years ago. The engine still suppose to have 800,000 miles life expectancy.
Anyway, still beats anything available on this market. The way I drive it averages 32 MPG.
E 320 do 19 MPG.

 

My SLK 320 gets 26mpg with an auto transmission. And that is combined city/hwy. I once got 28mpg. I try not to let the tank get too close to empty though. As for hybrids, I agree they are more a feel good fix. I can't wait for a daily use hydrogen vehical that doesn't use petrolium to derive the fuel.

 

You must be driving about 55 MPH?.
For frequent 500 mile "commute" I need average 6:20 hr of driving. That include bitting LA traffic at night.
Total trip with fueling stop and dinner 7 1/2 hr.

 

Actually; the speed limit in WA is 70mph on I5. I, along with everyone else drive 83 from Longview to Vancouver, about a 35mile run (even the Sheriff will pass by on occasion). If you drive 55mph, you get run over by semi trucks doing 65.

I spend most of my day driving from one house to another and average 150 miles day. I still have yet to get less than 380 miles out of a tank of gas. That’s about 24mph. So far this year I have driven 22000 miles in my Benz.

The C and E models weigh more and have more drag. So, I am not surprised at your results. I am sure the M seris does even worse.