Saw a Hybrid Tahoe yesterday

The argument I always make to people who need to tow or haul things is that they can buy a 10 year old truck for really cheap and only drive it when they're using it for its primary role.

Then they can drive a reasonable vehicle for commuting. Saves money overall and still accomplishes the towing mission.

 

Maybe the question I should have asked is why anyone would spend $15,000 extra for the hybrid version, and a weak hybrid at that.

 

Just to be accurate its 6200 lbs for the RWD, 6000 lbs for the 4WD.
Chevrolet | 2008 Tahoe EPA - MPG Specifications, Chevy Tahoe

IMHO if you need to tow 6000 lbs less than 50% of the time you're better off with an efficient car and a used truck, particularly with all the used truck fire sales going on. If you need to tow 6000 lbs more than 50% of the time you probably can't afford a $52k truck. For the couple of people out there who can, this might be a decent solution. The rest will most likely be sold to people who think it will make them look a little more green, which seems to be hip right now, even though they don't really know what all the fuss is about.

Rob

 

Wow, $50k??? That's nearly half what we paid for our home!

 

It's not exactly like Toyota/Lexus doesn't sell its fair share of gas pigs.

 

GM just doesn't get it. Never did. Never will.

 

Fish Antlers:

You are relentless in this 6600lb towing business. Is that really so impressive? Come on, you are really just trying to get people upset and fire back at you.

Would everyone please stop posting to this thread so there won't be anymore arguing about a GM product on a Prius site? Please........Let's get back to talking about our beloved Prii.....This whole Texas and California thing is getting a little out of hand!

 

"The Huge Hybrid: Few Takers for a New S.U.V. Twist"

This was the headline for today's NY Times article about the Tahoe. (I'd post the link but the site requires registration.) Essentially the article says GM had expected to sell 12,000 Hybrid Tahoes this year, but so far has only sold 1,100. Sales are so poor that dealers aren't stocking them, but rather pulling them from a regional pool if a customer wants one.

The article suggests that consumers are going for smaller vehicles and the hybrid badge on a large SUV is not really a sales point. It also points out the high cost is another limiting factor.

It's an interesting read, but it doesn't say much that most of us here don't already know.

 

There are billions of vehicles that get better MPG than Tahoe in city and highway driving. If towing is the feature that Tahoe specializes, how does the 2-mode hybrid technology improve MPG while towing? Does it lower the emission while towing? I don't think so.

 

I'm going to steer clear of the whole good-thing/bad-thing question, but it doesn't seem to be weak-hybrid technology. It's actually pretty interesting what they can do with what's essentially the same as HSD with one more planetary set and four disc clutches added. I'd like to see what MPGs a Prius could hit if it had the same technology.

The best technical description I found of it was here:

Global Hybrid System

-Chap

 

You won't.

That system was designed specifically with the largest vehicles in mind. Scaling it down results in deminishing returns (efficiency). There's less of a benefit while still carrying a higher cost. (Emissions are still a problem too.)

That's why GM is also pursuing the plug-in "series" hybrid.

Two-Mode in a vehicle like Malibu to compete directly with Camry-Hybrid would be enough of a challenge. Being able to take on the next generation Prius simply doesn't make sense, hence the Volt diversion instead.

.

 

You don't know anyone suffering from breathing problem?

.

 

Remember specific parts of this thread next time anyone wants to slam me for accusing parts of the population of being completely ignorant or selfish, especially concerning their views on the environment and social health.

John, let it go my friend. It is a lost cause.

Face it, the tahoe hybrid is nothing more than marketing hype. If GM truely wanted to do better for the world it would produce cheaper hybrid systems in it's baseline work trucks. Not a yuppie mobile.

 

Unfortunately, you are right on all counts. I see it all the time in Texas and until the pain at the pump is enough, many won't change their mindset of wanting a large, expensive vehicle to tow large toys when few really need it (my argument against vehicles like the Tahoe hybrid).

GM's marketing has done well in the past to convince us that we need large "safe" vehicles to be a "real" man/woman. From the NYT article, it sounds like the price of gas won't allow GM to get away with the same tricks.

 

You're a smart man Michael. I wish we were both wrong but all available evidence says we are right.

 

Aw, that's sweet, thanks FL8. Btw.. the boat has an inboard motor, so the lake is spared any oil it might leak. But it was completely rebuilt by hubby's uncle a couple years ago, so runs real clean anyways.

I am really fascinated by the discussion here. It's amazing to me how polar the views extend regarding the subject of the environment.