Hybrids; A scam whose investment you never recoupe - Page 2 - Ford Forums

01-20-2006, 11:01

> It was mentioned two weeks ago that the new CAFE standards would hurt
> the
> hybrids even more than standard cars, in terms of what they claim their
> economy is.

I belive that the new CAFE test coming in 2008 will hurt the "phase 1"
hybrids. It seems to me that a true hybrid has an electric motor with
about 80% of the hp of the gas motor and electric air conditioning.
The only hybrid that meets this is the Prius.

Lynn

01-20-2006, 12:01

"Lynn McGuire" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:11t27obeo4imjb3@corp.supernews.com...
>> Two comments: First, don't even try to compare your Prius to an S10 or
>> ANY kind of pickup. That's like saying "My S10 hauls 500 lbs of dirt
>> and my Prius doesn't". If you want to compare your Prius to something,
>> compare it to another car.
>
> It is not my Prius. I drive a Ford Expedition with the 3 valve 5.4L. I
> am
> just quoting the website posting. I do highly admire the Prius
> technology.
> It seems to be well thought out, especially the electric air conditioning.
>
> I have been seriously considering purchasing a Mustang GT convertible
> as a third car. However, the potential availability of gasoline in the
> coming months is beginning to concern me.
>
>> Bottom line: Except for the welfare check that the government gives you
>> to buy it, your purchase woundn't pay for itself.
>
> If you tell me the future price of gasoline, I will tell you if the Prius
> will pay
> for itself. For instance, we were paying 27 cents per gallon in 1972
> before the Arab oil embargo. In 1973 that jumped to 50 cents per gallon
> and then to $1.00 per gallon in 1979.
>
> I suspect that if the USA or Israel bombs Iran in March, the price of
> gasoline may hit $10 per gallon in April here in Texas. That is, if you
> can get gasoline. Hurricane Rita was a very sobering experience
> here in Houston (we did not have gasoline generally available for over
> a week after the hurricane). A lot of stations did have diesel if you
> were willing to pay $3.50 per gallon.
>
> BTW, the Prius has a $2,000 price over MSRP plus a six month waiting
> list here in Houston. Kind of like the GT convertible.
>
> Lynn
>
>
yes if gas prices go up the hybrid's pay off comes quicker. Remember however
you'll still be buying $10.00 a gallon gasoline with the rest of, just not
as much.
what happens if the big car makers do put the tech and research into regular
gas powered cars? could we expect a 50 MPG mustang or a 35 MPG F-150? as was
discussed months ago on this board gas mileage has been static while
Emission (law driven) safety (law driven) and drivability (less warranty
work driven) have improved steadily. Gasoline prices have not kept up with
the economy in terms of inflation, therefore gas was relatively cheap,
meaning MPG has not been a driving factor in auto research,. That may change
shortly. if the MPG or the average vehicle doubles it will push hybrids back
into the background again until the next crisis. instead of opening up the
Alaskan preserve for more drilling the USGOV should actually fund bigger
incentives for both the purchase and manufacturer of alternative/hybrid
cars.
When we switched from leaded to unleaded fuels, the transition was
relatively quick and painless. We could do the same now, tax breaks for gas
stations that put in hydrogen or charging stations, mandate all new vehicles
either get big MPG or use alternative fuel.

01-20-2006, 12:01

According to one report, it's claimed MPG rating will drop from 56 to
37 under the new rules.

01-20-2006, 14:01

> According to one report, it's claimed MPG rating will drop from 56 to
> 37 under the new rules.

All cars EPA mpg ratings will drop. My wife's 2005 Honda Civic EX
5 speed coupe was epa rated at 33/38. She gets 25 in the city and
35 on the road.

Lynn

01-20-2006, 15:01

"Lynn McGuire" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in
news:11t2msakrbm254a@corp.supernews.com:

>> According to one report, it's claimed MPG rating will drop from 56 to
>> 37 under the new rules.
>
> All cars EPA mpg ratings will drop. My wife's 2005 Honda Civic EX
> 5 speed coupe was epa rated at 33/38. She gets 25 in the city and
> 35 on the road.
>
> Lynn

Aside from a very rough comparison tool, EPA mpg figures are
meaningless. The only mileage figure that really counts is the mileage
your own vehicle gets.

01-20-2006, 16:01

In article <11t27obeo4imjb3@corp.supernews.com>, Lynn McGuire wrote:

> I suspect that if the USA or Israel bombs Iran in March, the price of
> gasoline may hit $10 per gallon in April here in Texas. That is, if you
> can get gasoline. Hurricane Rita was a very sobering experience
> here in Houston (we did not have gasoline generally available for over
> a week after the hurricane). A lot of stations did have diesel if you
> were willing to pay $3.50 per gallon.

A lot of the problem is that any hint of a price rise all the morons go
out and fill every container in their house with gasoline as if there
will never be gasoline again... which of course only makes their fears of
shortage and price spikes come true.

01-22-2006, 04:01

Do you think your P4 computer just came into being one day? You must be
young to be so ignorant, and not remember the days of a 286, then a 386, and
on and on... My MP3 player has more power than the first computer I bought
in 1987. These hybrids may not be the cat's ass today but they will grow...
BTW, you might consider upgrading your 486DX33 with 16 megs of RAM someday -
I hear there is some new technology out there...

Brad

<michaelanderson4@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:1137712540.324823.269180@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> You'll never see the dollar equivalent in savings and they allow
> automakers to "cheat" CAFE
> standards.
>
> http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=10031
>

01-22-2006, 10:01

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 11:15:40 GMT, "BradandBrooks"
<BradandBrooks@shaw.ca> wrote:

>Do you think your P4 computer just came into being one day? You must be
>young to be so ignorant, and not remember the days of a 286, then a 386, and
>on and on... My MP3 player has more power than the first computer I bought
>in 1987. These hybrids may not be the cat's ass today but they will grow...
>BTW, you might consider upgrading your 486DX33 with 16 megs of RAM someday -
>I hear there is some new technology out there...
>
Ah yes the infamous "cat's ass". Would you be surprised to know that
your MP3 player probably has more computing power & storage then the
space shuttle? I shit you not, but the technology on that bad boy is
8088 based and it makes it up & down most times.

The real issue with hybrids is not so much the technology involved,
but the longevity and viability of that technology. Why should I as
Joe Consumer have to pay ten's of thousands of dollars for something
that doesn't work as advertised, has no proven maintenance track
record, and no history of sustaining resale value?

Believe it or not there are still plenty of uses for 486's. I have
one running a version of Unix in use as a firewall. Still does it's
job.
>Brad
>
><michaelanderson4@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>news:1137712540.324823.269180@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> You'll never see the dollar equivalent in savings and they allow
>> automakers to "cheat" CAFE
>> standards.
>>
>> http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=10031
>>
>

--

December 9, 2005 (CNN) While interviewing an anonymous
US Special Forces soldier, a Reuters News agent asked
the soldier what he felt when sniping members of Al Quaeda
in Afghanistan.

The soldier shrugged and replied, "Recoil." (Possible Urban Legend)

01-22-2006, 16:01

"Zombywoof" <Zomby-Woof_dogs_@cox.net> wrote in message
news:b3g7t1h5itjppne6vhtbsepgleotqaqhs2@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 11:15:40 GMT, "BradandBrooks"
> <BradandBrooks@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>>Do you think your P4 computer just came into being one day? You must be
>>young to be so ignorant, and not remember the days of a 286, then a 386,
>>and
>>on and on... My MP3 player has more power than the first computer I
>>bought
>>in 1987. These hybrids may not be the cat's ass today but they will
>>grow...
>>BTW, you might consider upgrading your 486DX33 with 16 megs of RAM
>>someday -
>>I hear there is some new technology out there...
>>
> Ah yes the infamous "cat's ass". Would you be surprised to know that
> your MP3 player probably has more computing power & storage then the
> space shuttle? I shit you not, but the technology on that bad boy is
> 8088 based and it makes it up & down most times.

1981
Space Shuttle
Intel 8086 and RCA 1802 (display controller) - Later Intel 80386
The Space shuttle uses the APA-101S computer (5 of them for redundancy).
They run at about 1.2MIPS and still use a couple megs of ferrite core memory
(which is impervious to radiation). The entire control software for the
shuttle is less then one meg. The new glass cockpit in the shuttle runs on
Intel 80386s

1990
Hubble Space Telescope
Originally a DF-224 (8-bit).
First service mission added a 386 coprocessor.
The Hubble now runs on a 80486

1998
International Space Station
Intel 80386SX-20 w/ Intel 80387
There are several computers on the ISS. The most important are the command
computers which use the i386.

http://www.cpushack.net/space-craft-cpu.html

>
> The real issue with hybrids is not so much the technology involved,
> but the longevity and viability of that technology. Why should I as
> Joe Consumer have to pay ten's of thousands of dollars for something
> that doesn't work as advertised, has no proven maintenance track
> record, and no history of sustaining resale value?
>
> Believe it or not there are still plenty of uses for 486's. I have
> one running a version of Unix in use as a firewall. Still does it's
> job.
>>Brad
>>
>><michaelanderson4@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>>news:1137712540.324823.269180@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>> You'll never see the dollar equivalent in savings and they allow
>>> automakers to "cheat" CAFE
>>> standards.
>>>
>>> http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=10031
>>>
>>
>
> --
>
> December 9, 2005 (CNN) While interviewing an anonymous
> US Special Forces soldier, a Reuters News agent asked
> the soldier what he felt when sniping members of Al Quaeda
> in Afghanistan.
>
> The soldier shrugged and replied, "Recoil." (Possible Urban Legend)

01-22-2006, 18:01

"BradandBrooks" <BradandBrooks@shaw.ca> wrote
> BTW, you might consider upgrading your 486DX33 with 16 megs of RAM
> someday - I hear there is some new technology out there...

Damn, and I thought my Tandy 1000 was the shiznit!!! Tape drive and
EVERYTHING. Guess it's time to upgrade huh? Any suggestions? I heard the
Pentium Pro was a good upgrade. It only takes me 7 hours to download one
email.
--
Scott W.
'66 HCS Mustang 289
'68 Ranchero 500 302
'69 Mustang Sportsroof 351W
ThunderSnake #57
http://home.comcast.net/~vanguard92/