Hybrids going out of style

a matrix, maybe? they sell those up north don't they? or is that not high end enough?

our friends were talking about getting a minivan to carry around their new son, since they have family all over and take a lot of stuff with them. i suggested a wagon, like a matrix, and she got excited because they hadn't thought of that. smaller vehicle, easier to drive, more mpg, still can carry a lot of stuff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 28 2007, 07:02 PM) [snapback]413846[/snapback]</div>

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I consider the Prius to be a wagon. at least it's more a wagon than... what. In terms of cargo space and passenger room, it's much bigger than the Honda Civic Hatchback or the VW GTI/Golf. but it's smaller than any 'true' wagon. although not much smaller, in those same terms, than my old subaru outback.

So I guess that makes it a MiniWagon? or maybe a Sport Utility Hatchback.

Super-Uber-Hatchback?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Mar 28 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]413558[/snapback]</div>

Was it Fox News?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Mar 28 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]413558[/snapback]</div>

Does that also mean gas is going down?? Today I saw a price of $2.82 for regular. In my house hybrids are not going out of style anytime soon.

 

My suggestion to the OP: Tell your friend to put away the 8-track and join us in the 21st Century.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Mar 28 2007, 10:30 AM) [snapback]413611[/snapback]</div>

"Mark it zero, Smokey!"

 

My greatest thrill is that in rush hour traffic I keep up with hummers, carreras, and even a lamborghini or two. The hybrids are here to stay... We are in style

The reason why you hear about battery problems, recalls, and all sorts of negative news about Toyota and the Hybrids is that GM spent its tax breaks and research $$ on CEO's salarys and bonuses, plant closures, retirement buyouts and increasing CAFE standards instead of sound planning for the future. They had the technology 10 years ago and tubed it.

 

My take-away from this is that even if true, it only affects people who buy cars based on 'style'.

 

I recently purchased a 2007 Prius #5. My prior vehicle could have gone another 100,000 miles, but I let myself get into the "I'll be driving farther to work now and need a car that will last longer under those conditions" mindset. Not sure at this point if I'm going to keep the Prius, but as I'm already on the hook for the depreciation hit, I'm giving it a couple of more months. So far, my average MPG is 46.1.

Style? Popularity? Those two aren't usually on my list of requirements when I purchase something.

I'm not sure what you mean. In most states, your coworker could already be legally carrying a concealed firearm and you'd never know unless they were careless. The worst that could happen to him/her is they'd be fired. There is an issue now with parking lot searches that I know about, but I've not heard that the NRA wants to make sure all your coworkers are "packing heat." Is your state one of the minority that doesn't allow lawful concealed carry?

Regarding the parking lot issue, it comes down to: should your employer have the right to demand to search your vehicle at any time, for any reason, if it is parked on their property? My personal feelings on the topic are "you may look but don't touch." What's inside my car is my business. If my employer has reasonable cause to believe something in my car presents a hazard or is stolen, they can call the police.

Don't worry about the guy who took the time to obtain a permit. Worry about the guy who just got fired the day before and doesn't have any other work prospects.

 

I was downtown Chicago yesterday in the wealtiest areas with 300K Lambo and Bentley and in the mist were Prius's

They fit right in...

 

Let's suppose we have a war with Iran and pump prices are $5 a gallon - it's going to be interesting to hear what people say then.

There were a number of 40mpg cars in the 80s and now the Prius does that - it would be considered performance back in those days. Yet some say it's too small and slow - do we have a pampered nation or what?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beren @ Apr 1 2007, 10:23 AM) [snapback]415922[/snapback]</div>

I worry about anyone who caries a gun because not all of them know how to safely handle it or shot it. there are very few people I trust to discharge a firearm near me or I should say in the same direction as me and those few people have been Marines. As a corpsman I had to treat anyone who was injured and sometimes those insurgents still want to kill you. I was required to carry a 9mm but I didn’t want to have it half the time. When I have my hand full of equipment and some crazy grabs my firearm it gets a bit trick with all that stuff in the way. I never kept my weapon condition 1 (magazine inserted, round in chamber, weapon on safe.) I would usually be condition 3 (all of the previous no round in chamber) this meant you have to rack the weapon back and take it off safe. Most insurgents in a hurry don’t get the chance to do this. Anyway there were only two Marines I trusted to shoot the baddy in case we got into a scuffle and both of them were drivers for my ambulance. The grunts do a great job but some of those drivers can shoot like you would not believe. My buddy Harris was the only person I trusted when he would say yeah I can make that shot and if he said that shot is impossible or dangerous believe him.

I once had a guy start to struggle for my weapon in the back of the ambulance. I yelled at Harris so he knew what was going on. When we got to the treatment facility (S.T.P) he was out of his seat in a flash and the doors flew open the guy who was fighting me just stopped when he say a Marine standing just outside the vehicle ready to shoot. Harris is the only person I would trust to shoot like that.

My point is that someone who carries a permitted concealed firearm may know what he is doing and may even be a great shot, but I don’t want him shooting at someone in the work place with scared innocent people panicking all around him. Secondly how will the cop feel who comes charging in and sees a firearm and shoots the innocent person.

I am all for people having the right to own weapons for what ever reason they have. I don’t care if it is fore home protection, hunting, or sport shooting (ie clay pigeons, target practice, competition shooting what ever) what I don’t like is irresponsible people and ignorant people owning firearms. Lastly I hate non gun owners blaming illegal weapon like he fully automatic ak’s or uzzi on the normal gun market. They have guns in Europe and the police had to start carrying firearms because it became dangerous for them to be walking around with just a stick.

That is my two cents on that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 28 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]413846[/snapback]</div>

Last time I checked Subaru Outback was a wagon

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LazyBear @ Apr 1 2007, 12:18 PM) [snapback]415954[/snapback]</div>

The Subaru Outback is a SUV. Remember, Subaru raised the height of it just so they could classify it as a "Light Truck" to avoid CAFE restrictions on it. Not one of their finer moments.

So, if it's a "Light Truck" it can't be a station wagon, right?

 

"Going out of style"???? Perhaps they should do some simple checking, as they apparently have simple minds!

-SOME - NEW HYBRIDS
Nissan Altima Hybrid.
Ford Escape Hybrid.
Mazda Tribute Hybrid.
Saturn Aura Hybrid.
Ford Edge Hybrid (coming soon).

More like getting on the bandwagon!

It's making me work harder to choose!
(Prius still looks like the best).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Apr 1 2007, 01:23 PM) [snapback]415988[/snapback]</div>

Don’t forget GMC is supposedly coming out with a full sized Denali hybrid in the next year or two. So yeah sure hybrids are going out of style so badly that almost every carmaker is building them or thinking about it.

But hey what do we know and who are we to argue with the news people because they are never wrong..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Apr 1 2007, 01:23 PM) [snapback]415987[/snapback]</div>

Define SUV. Outback, XC70 and Allroad are raised so they perform better off-road. Increased clearance does not make car SUV. Unless, of course, you demonize SUVs and see evil in every action of non-hybrid car manufacturers.