| charlie |
I have spent some time on the Hybrid Highlander forum(HH is the Hybrid Highlander in their speak).The folks who have bought one
1)Like it
2)Find it accelerates fast-7.2 0-60 mph is what some moto mag says
3)MPG crude eyeballing ~27mpg in mixed driving-not many reports yet.Lowest 24.6 mpg
4)Paid about $38000 for a 2wd-more for AWD.Most are loaded.They seem to be paying about true MSRP-with maybe some typical dealer "pin stripe" ripoff stuff,but this ripoff isn't nearly universal like it probably was on Odysseys 5 years ago.It is definitely a "hot" car,but the cost means they aren't super "hot"(maybe a little "hotter" than Pilots were for the 1st few months of productions)
Well,that's all.I get terrible city mpg(13-14.5) good hy-22.4+,so I won't be trading the Pilot.With TTL a $20000 trade in(maybe) would mean $20000 out of pocket.Charlie |
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| jdeanski |
Well, lets see.......at $8000+ more than the Pilot and about 8-10 mpg average better, how long would it take to recoup the difference? Wonder why anyone would want to buy one? Sure isn't economic! Could it be "political?"
Hey Jay......you gonna buy a hybrid Lexus? |
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| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by jdeanski
...snip
Hey Jay......you gonna buy a hybrid Lexus?
Could it be performance- that sucker's quick from what I've read, with great low-end torque. Economy, environment, politics be damned! :p Fully loaded, they're about $6 grand more than the equivalent RX330, minus the $2000 tax deduction this year that drops to $500 next year, plus the ability to ride in the HOV lanes without any passengers--- seems like a win, win, win.
It looks like demand is cooling bit, though. One of the local dealers had 14 in stock a week ago, and 13 when I checked at this posting. |
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| jdeanski |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
Economy, environment, politics be damned!
plus the ability to ride in the HOV lanes without any passengers--- seems like a win, win, win.
Actually I sorta agree. I like the combination of hi tech and luxury. If I had the bucks I'd consider one. As for HOV lane usage by hybrids, that's in trouble:
From the VA DOT site:
The Federal Highway Administration has advised Virginia that its exemption for hybrid vehicles is in violation of current Federal statute.............
http://www.virginiadot.org/comtravel/hov-rulesfaq.asp |
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| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by jdeanski
Well, lets see.......at $8000+ more than the Pilot and about 8-10 mpg average better, how long would it take to recoup the difference?
Deleted so my math professors are not embarrassed.;) |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
According to my math using the local gas prices, it would take around 28k miles to recoup the difference. Obviously if you take the tax credit and the rising cost per gallon, the distance to break even would be closer to 24k.
I think you need to recheck your math unless your local gas prices are much higher than everyone else's. Just a quick check of your numbers shows that assuming a Pilot at 20 mpg and a highlander at 30 mpg (10 mpg dif). In 28k miles, the Pilot will use 1400 gals and the highlander will use 933 gals for a difference of 467 gals. Even at $2.50 a gallon that is only a little over $1000 - nowhere near the $8000 price difference. |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by jdeanski
Wonder why anyone would want to buy one? Sure isn't economic! Could it be "political?"
1. Fewer stops at the gas station. I hate filling up, especially having to see the prices we are paying these days.
2. Longer driving range. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by GreenMachine
1. Fewer stops at the gas station. I hate filling up, especially having to see the prices we are paying these days.
2. Longer driving range.
But your monthly payment will be much higher than the extra amount you pay when you fill up unless prices go much higher. |
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| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
I think you need to recheck your math unless your local gas prices are much higher than everyone else's. Just a quick check of your numbers shows that assuming a Pilot at 20 mpg and a highlander at 30 mpg (10 mpg dif). In 28k miles, the Pilot will use 1400 gals and the highlander will use 933 gals for a difference of 467 gals. Even at $2.50 a gallon that is only a little over $1000 - nowhere near the $8000 price difference.
Thanks for the correction. My logic must be flawed. :o |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
Thanks for the correction. My logic must be flawed. :o
As is that of most people buying Hybrids! :4: :eek:
:2: :2: :2: :2: :2: :2: |
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| charlie |
The break even -assuming $2.50 gal and 20 mpg vs 30 mpg and $8000 price difference X=192000 MILES BREAK EVEN
$8000/$2.50+X/30=X/20
X=192000 miles
X is distance traveled
20 is mpg for Pilot or whatever
30 is mpg of HH
$8000/$2.50 tells you how many gallons you can get for$8000 if you pay $2.50/gal.
X/30 is how many gallons a HH will use in X miles
X/20 is how many gallons a 20 mpg vehicle will use in X miles
If you use 15 vs 25-more realistic for my Pilot in heavy city use-it is 120,000 miles-a plausible-possible number.
This ignores the tax breaks.Ignore the interest you lose on the $8000.Ignores the potentially better resale.Ignores gasoline might go to $4/gal.I think the HH is a good bet-if the Highlander meets your size requirements.
A I have made much worse bets in my life.I won't make this one because the Pilot is just such a perfectly sized "trip" vehicle.And,as I said,if we traded in our low miles Pilots we would have to put up about $20000-not $8000.Charlie |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
But your monthly payment will be much higher than the extra amount you pay when you fill up unless prices go much higher.
I wasn't talking about breaking even or trying to justify the extra price to get the extra miles per gallon. I was just saying that having to fill my gas tank fewer times would be a pro to buying the hybrid. Just as the extra cost associated with buying one would be a con. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by GreenMachine
I wasn't talking about breaking even or trying to justify the extra price to get the extra miles per gallon. I was just saying that having to fill my gas tank fewer times would be a pro to buying the hybrid. Just as the extra cost associated with buying one would be a con.
Looks like you save 6 to 7 fill-ups a year.
Hmm, I'll fill up your car 7 times a year for $1000, and you break even in 8 years.
:2: :2: :2: :2: :2: |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Looks like you save 6 to 7 fill-ups a year.
Hmm, I'll fill up your car 7 times a year for $1000, and you break even in 8 years.
:2: :2: :2: :2: :2:
That depends on how many miles you drive. But anyway, what part of quote:
I wasn't talking about breaking even
did you not understand? I was simply saying that you would visit the gas station less.
Oh, I'll just have to fill up my CR-V with as many gas containers I can before I send you to fill it up. You might want to take the day off though. :2: |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by GreenMachine
That depends on how many miles you drive. But anyway, what part of did you not understand? I was simply saying that you would visit the gas station less.
Well Heck, then just let me know.
I can have someone fill up your tank every time for a "Reasonable Fee" :) |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Well Heck, then just let me know.
I can have someone fill up your tank every time for a "Reasonable Fee" :)
Don't forget all those gas can I plan to put in the car. ;) I figure $1,000 for 8 fillups would be a nice deal. Car alone? forget it. I would rather buy you a bunch of these.
:2: :2: :2: |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by GreenMachine
Don't forget all those gas can I plan to put in the car. ;) I figure $1,000 for 8 fillups would be a nice deal. Car alone? forget it. I would rather buy you a bunch of these.
:2: :2: :2:
I said I would fill it up, I did not say I would pay for the gas. :) |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
I said I would fill it up, I did not say I would pay for the gas. :)
Then how am I to break even in 8 years paying you $1,000 along with the price of gas? Are you a used car salesman, because your deals sure are shady. :p
Next time you try to sell that deal, you should include a jar of vaseline. :D
I'll pass on this one though. :4:
What the heck was this thread about anyway. Oh yeah, Hybrid Hylanders. |
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| sjlee |
| On a related note, when is Honda going to release a Pilot with the same hybrid technology in the Accord? |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by GreenMachine
Then how am I to break even in 8 years paying you $1,000 along with the price of gas? Are you a used car salesman, because your deals sure are shady. :p
Next time you try to sell that deal, you should include a jar of vaseline. :D
I'll pass on this one though. :4:
What the heck was this thread about anyway. Oh yeah, Hybrid Hylanders.
The conversation moved from using less gas, to the mere convenience of not "visiting the gas station".
I just obliged by offering the service. |
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| hofffam |
We drove the HH when shopping for the Pilot. We also looked at the 2005 Pathfinder. A few comments:
The HH drives very well. The vehicle accelerates VERY well. It should - with 270+ HP. The hybrid drivetrain is very, very good and kinda cool. It is nearly silent when on electric, and even the whine on braking (regenritive) is cool. When it is running on electric it is very slilent.
We drove a 2WD Limited (loaded) model. We need a 3rd seat. The 3rd seat of the HH is a joke. It is tiny, no shoulder or leg room. Even worse for us (in Texas) is that the HH has no AC for the 2nd or 3rd seat.
We wanted leather (etc.) so the HH was almost $10K more than the 2wd Pilot. But for us it didn't work, even at the same price, because the 3rd seat was so small and it had no AC beyond the first row.
It is a nice vehicle but far too small and too expensive. If we compared gasoline vs. gasoline it would not have been close at all. Only the hybrid drivetrain made it interesting. |
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| cwa107 |
| The other factor you need to consider with a hybrid is the cost to replace the battery when it fails (that's WHEN, not IF - these things have a limited lifespan). You're looking at $10K+ |
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| sjlee |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
The other factor you need to consider with a hybrid is the cost to replace the battery when it fails (that's WHEN, not IF - these things have a limited lifespan). You're looking at $10K+
I believe the warranty on the battery is like 10 years. |
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| rocky |
I'd rather have a diesel than a Hybrid
Much less to go wrong |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by rocky
I'd rather have a diesel than a Hybrid
Much less to go wrong
:werd: |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by sjlee
I believe the warranty on the battery is like 10 years.
Indeed. I didn't know that, but I was able to substantiate that via this FAQ |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
Indeed. I didn't know that, but I was able to substantiate that via this FAQ
The FAQ says 8 years/100K. I imagine most would hit the 100K first regardless of whether it was 8 or 10 yrs. Honda's battery warranty is only 8yr/80K. |
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| sjlee |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
The FAQ says 8 years/100K. I imagine most would hit the 100K first regardless of whether it was 8 or 10 yrs. Honda's battery warranty is only 8yr/80K.
I bet in about 5 years, we'll start seeing a ton of used hybrids going up for sale. If there was ever a car to lease, that would be it. |
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| tangotango99 |
| What are the dangers on Hybrid with volts higher than a non-hybrid(electrocution) ? |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by tangotango99
What are the dangers on Hybrid with volts higher than a non-hybrid(electrocution) ?
Rescue crews have been trained where to cut and where not to cut.
I would consider this issue WAY down the list of why NOT to buy one. |
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| rocky |
Bumper sticker on back of a Ford Escape Hybrid
Drives Great Less Filling |
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