Questions about Hybrids - Please Help!

[Kwanford Wife]

My hubby is after me to trade in Lola, my beloved Trailblazer, for a hybrid. (and before he gains environmental reponsibility points, its the cost of gas, not because he is going green... quite the opposite if his obsession with leaving lights on is any clue...)

I'm finally entertaining the thought after Lola cost me $60 this morning to fill her tank. So sad... But I'm still not convinced that a hybrid is going to give me the same love & attention that my SUV is able to provide... I'm a soccer mom who travels back & forth schlepping kids, gear, work and shoes around. I couldn't function with a tiny Priuis nor do I purchase foriegn cars... I'm a native Detroiter, its bad for my karma... do any of you have a hybrid? how has your experience worked for you & your lifestyle & wallet? can a Suv be replaced by a hybrid? what are the best versions?

I've done the research on-line and asked around, but I'm still not convinced. But I simply cannot continue to make Exxon rich... I'd rather give that money to charity or DSW...Gsers are an intellegent lot, so I thought I'd turn to y'all for advice.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Spun Silver]

Oh, Kwanford - lucky you! We got a new car last year and my hubby would not LET us get a hybrid because he was afraid that service would be harder to get.

However, I did a lot of research and figured out that the Toyota Prius is the way to go. It is rated super-high on almost every measure. (See Edmund's website. http://www.edmunds.com/index.html) My second choice was the Nissan Altima Hybrid (which also comes in non-h. versions).

Did you actually try it? We test-drove both the Altima and the Prius and I fell in love with the Prius. It is SO roomy inside - significantly more than other cars with the same exterior dimensions. It feels like an old fashioned NYC taxi. (Don't know how helpful that is to you in the midwest, but trust me, it's nice.) Plus, it has built-in internet access!

Also, if you recall Al Gore's son being arrested somewhere in CA for driving 124 mph ... well, he was driving a Prius! (I bet that is the most decisive point for you!)

One thing to note is cost. The Prius was $5K more than the Civic. The Altima hybrid was, I think, a tad more than the Prius. The federal govt. offers tax credits as incentives for buying hybrid cars, but only for less popular models. The Prius is so popular that you won't get any tax credits. Whereas, at least last year, the Altima was tax-credit-worthy. You have to get exact current tax credit figures from the dealer or some reliable online source.

I am still fantasizing about trading in our safe but boring Honda Civic for a beautiful sexy Prius. I also see a lot of Altimas around town and still think that would be a good alternative... if they are still making it.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you end up with.

(OT: I so love you for listing Sasha's Swan Lake as the best non-Kwan performance. )

 

[Ptichka]

What about Ford Escape Hybrid? It's American, it's SUV, and it's a hybrid!

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Thanks to you both... I test drove both over the weekend and Ptich that Escape is probably the one for me... I love the roomy cargo space... granted @ 5' 10'' I'm probably too Amazon for the size of it, but once I get inside its quite roomy

Spun: the Priuis is a spunky little car!!! It it were American, it would be in my driveway right now... espcially since it comes in periwinkle... my favorite color... And just so you know, I did add the Sasha program not only because its awesome and shows exactly why she drives me crazy but because I knew it would make you smile...

 

[Tonichelle]

I can't talk about Hybrids, but everyone up here who owns an Escape LOVE them. They are good vehicles and transport everything and then some.

If and when I can afford to get myself a car, that's what I'm getting (just to say Escape like Dory from Finding Nemo lol)

Saturns are great too, not sure if that's Full Blood American though

 

[heyang]

Is any car really fully American now? So many of the parts are imported instead of made in the USA. I think the most you can hope for these days is 'Assembled in the USA'.