i recently read an article (inthe  yahoo business section) that hybrid cars aren't all that they're made up to be.  that the companies are "green washing" or misleading the customers into thinking that they're car is really efficient, when there's not much differance.\n\nfor hybrid owners, are they better than the other cars?\nis gas mileage very efficient? \nI was thinking of getting a ford hybrid escape, are they any good?
133914
The main thing with hybrids is that because of the higher initial cost, it can take you as much as 40-60,000 miles before the money you save in gas will outweigh the higher cost to purchase.\nThe Honda CRV will get just about the same gas mileage as the Escape, and is a much better vehicle in terms of reliability, performance, ease of maintenance, etc. If you plan on keeping your vehicle a long time (well past 60,000 miles) you may come out ahead with a hybrid. Otherwise you are better off with a non-hybrid vehicle. The other thing to keep in mind is that many hybrids are very slow. If you are used to good performance, you wouldn't like a Prius, that's for sure. If you want a hybrid, the Honda hybrids have the best balance between performance and mileage.
556280
It takes more energy to make hydrogen from water than what you will get back burning it in a car (or anywhere else).  So while hydrogen may be a clean fuel, it won't be very practical until the overall cost of energy drops.\n\nIt's also hard to store a useful amount.  Storing enough hydrogen to run a typical car for 300 miles would require a pressurized tank that is much larger than the gas tank in a car.  What happens when the car is in a collision and the tank ruptures?  Any little spark, and the car starts looking like the Hindenburg.
194701
If you examine both companies' plans for the future, it will reveal that Ford's plan is to emphasize fuel efficient hybrids.  In fact Ford sold off Hertz rental to raise cash for new fuel efficient production.  GM's plan is to capitalize on the trend towards Suv's, while some effort will go into fuel efficient production.\nBuy Ford.  The baby boomers (largest segment of US population) bought SUV's for family activity.  Their next vehicle may not be influenced by that same factor.  However, higher oil prices are here to stay and may continue to rise along with consumption. China, with the largest pop. in the world, is trading in bicycles for cars.  Their consumption alone has recently grown to #2, surpassing Japan and Europe. Ford is #3 in sales of hybrids right now, behind Toyota and Honda.  They may become #2 in the next few years.  Where do you think the trend in automobile sales will go in the next few years?  Remember, as an oligopoly, the financial barriers to entry are high, so both may remain in business for years to come.  Who's plan looks best?  My money likes Ford.
666488
From the beginning, with AutoUnion later becoming AUDI, there has been an attitude of "advancing technology". This has been apparent for years, both in racing and the consumer market. Their domination will end when the corporate mentality changes, which seems rather unlikely. There have been several fairly sucessful diesel race cars, but AUDI takes the technology into the future.
20315
One of the classic inefficiencies of cars of yore is the driveline design.  Take for instance a 1962 V-8 Impala with a hydramatic transmission and rear wheel drive.  The two-speed transmission always allowed slippage between the engine and the wheels, which caused energy loss in the transmission fluid being heated up in the torque converter during all driving situations.  They have cured that in today's automobiles by locking out the torque converter with an automatic clutch.  Putting a 90 degree angle between the input and output is also an energy sucker.  In more efficient front wheel drive cars, the axis of engine revolution is the same as the wheels.  This saves some energy as well. The final drive ratios of cars in the 60's was insane!  A cruising RPM of 3600 at highway speeds was not unheard of--and on a V8!!! Think of the gas going down the tubes.....  Modern cars reduce the final drive ratio and add overdrive to the transmission to reduce cruising speed RPM.  Less RPM means less air consumption and less fuel use.  In the 70's, they caught on and offered rear wheel drive cars with 2.73:1 rear end ratios to save gas.  This hurt acceleration, but was cheaper than offering a 4 speed automatic.  (It eventually happened.)  \n\nA huge determinant of efficiency is COMPRESSION RATIO.  Without computer control and injection, most cars of the 70's (BAD efficiency) had LOW compression ratios, say 8.0.  (And food for thought--the first spark ignition engines had a sorry compression ratio of 4.0:1.  How sad!!  They did not know enough about fuel chemistry at the turn of the century, so that's why the horsepower value of vehicles was so low back in the teens. A four cylinder automotive engine having 10hp in the "old days" with a displacement of 2 liters.  WOW!) New cars have all kinds of tricks to increase compression ratios while running on regular 87 octane fuel.  Current compression ratios include 9.0 to 10.1.  Computers adjust injection and spark ignition timing (to repeat a collegue's information already submitted) along with monitoring piezoelectrick "knock" sensors which make adjustments for preignition "pinging."  In the old carbureted cars, even ones with HEI ignition, there was no way to deal with the pinging. The sure fire way to prevent pinging (and serious damage) is to lower the compression ratio.\n\nAnother huge problem with cars of the 70's and 80's were the addition of the catalytic converter and other emission control systems like the huge drain from a "smog pump."  EGR valves put exhaust in the intake charge to reduce nitrous oxides, but that reduces peak combustion temperatures and the available power from the fuel charge.  Running exhaust through the manifold also made the intake charge hotter, reducing efficiency.  Old cars had fixed valve timing, which determines the relationship between power at high rpm and torque at low rpm.  Some manufactures today have adjustment on the exhaust valve timing, and some even adjust both the exhaust and the intake timing to increase efficiency and torque at low RPM while changing valve overlap for high rpm horsepower with a net smaller displacement.\n\nSome modern cars still include EGR, but the catalytic converter technology is much better and more attention to exhaust system design has helped increase MPG.\n\nThe actual energy used by the valvetrain has also been reduced by reducing the mass of the components in the valve train.  Using a cog belt to a cam riding right above the valves reduces the energy used to activate the valves.  That can really add up over the life of the engine.  \n\nAnother development was the inclusion of the electric cooling fan.  Belt driven fans consumed huge amounts of power from the engine, even if they had a thermal clutch.  Flex fans were supposed to reduce energy, but we are still talkin' in the multi-horsepower range just to move air across the radiator.  The modern c
626767
GM, Ford are no longer profitable making cars in North America and Europe.\nBoth lack\n(1) good customer service\n(2) good range of saleable products\n(3) competitive price for similar performance.\nAnd\n(4) quality of both my Ford and GM cars are bad\n(5) I get no respect from a Ford or GM dealer \n(6) service charges are 20 to 30% more than non-GM/Form dealers for the same type of work (eg oil change, wheel alignment, etc)\n\nThey are doomed! Sell the stock. You cannot even trade in you GM or Ford vehicle for a decent price at the dealership.\n\nThe entire management needs to be changed.
80785
That is a great question!  I grew up in New Zealand where manual (standard) transmission is the norm.  Now that I live in the USA, it is the other way around.  Automatic transmission is the norm here.  As I prefer shifting gears myself my first vehicle here was a Toyota Celica GT Convertible and I loved that car...it comes as a manual (standard).  Unfortunately they stopped making them. :(\nSo I have compromised with a new Toyota Solara SLE Convertible with tiptronic transmission...which gives me the ability to switch from Automatic to Manual and is fast changing as no clutch needed.  Great for overtaking :D\nNow Toyota are releasing a hybrid vehicle that will look great, perform well and give you almost 80 miles per gallon.\nAll they need to do next is add wings so we won't need to use roads anymore (smile).
639548
They suck! They make a lame car even more lame! They could never, in a million years, make a car sound good. They make it sound like the tin can, rice burner that they are! But I have another question......does the "coffee can" muffler also come with a container of Bondo and a broken front air dam? I mean, thats the only cars I see with these things! Anyone that has a stank-ass car like this needs to pull your pants up, take the wife-beater off of your skinny ass, and quit making your Dad pay for your car!!!
503594
Toyota will shake up the mix a bit, will be interesting to see how well they do.\n\nWith the car of tomarrow it wont matter what your drive all the cars will be the same.
360142
---------------\nFor those tha don't know the story, the NIMH battery was developed by a small research company in Michigan, and was used both in GM's EV-1 electric car, and the Toyota RAV 4 EV electric car.  After the recall and crushing of all the EV1s (see the movie 'Who Killed the Electric Car' for this story) GM sold the patents for NIMH batteries to Chevron/Texaco, who have refused to make them available to electric car builders.\n*\nThis is what has stopped the development of electric cars the last few years. The NIMH battery is remarkable, and gave the EV-1 a 150-mile driving range. Some of the Toyota EVs are still on the road, and have put over 100,000 miles on these batteries with no sign of failure yet.\n*\nThe reason it might be hard to sue Cobasys (the company Chevron/Texaco made to license the batteries) is because the details of legal settlements it made with Panasonic and Toyota have not been made public. The conditions under which those companies are allowed to use the patents is rumored, but not in writing for the public to see. Bottom line, if Cobasys wants badly enough to keep NIMH batteries out of electric cars, all they have to do is keep the price high enough to make it impractical. That's not against the law.\n*\nEventually (in several more years) the patent rights will expire anyway. Plus there are several even better battery technologies coming, and at least a dozen really interesting electric car projects in the works.\n*\nFor example, the Tesla electric sports car:\n*\nhttp://www.teslamotors.com\n*\nThe Tesla accelerates faster than a Ferrari, and gets 250 miles per charge. The batteries last at least 100,000 miles. But the Tesla is very expensive. Here's a cheaper one:\n*\nhttp://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html\n*\nHere's one from Mitsubishi that may be ready next year - this car can charge in only 20 minutes:\n*\nhttp://aftermarket.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/mitsubishi-looks-ahead-with-an-electric-i/\n*\nMost of these cars won't be ready until next year, at the earliest. What if you want to buy today? The most economical electric car is a conversion. Conversions look like average cars, and accelerate and handle normally. Cars like this can be had for as little as $5000. More details:\n*\nhttp://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/\n*\nCheck out the above link. It also talks about how much money you can save driving an EV.\n---------------
140654
Well, I've found a way to Convert Gasoline into Propane. But, it's Illegal to do so on any U S A Vehicle Built from 1996 to the Present.This is the EPA-OBD II Law that Mandates that all Vehicles must Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel. Any Deviation, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered, and the Vehicle will Fail Inspection, and will be Illegal to Operate. This is Insane! My System, which is very Compact and Safe utilizes Low Pressure Air to Produce 100 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel.Bottom line, 50 + MPG with even the Largest SUV, and 10 Times Less Air Pollution. Also, this will actually Result in far more Engine Power, and longer Engine Life! I'm not the First, only the Latest to do this. I've been to the US Patent Office, and Looked at other Diagrams of Fuel to Vapor Systems that have been Bought Out, and kept off the Market. The Pogue Carburetor is an Excellent Example. It is Documented at the US Patent Office as having Achieved 100 + MPG with a Flathead Ford V-8 Engine that, with a Conventional Fuel System was at best 15 MPG ! Engines Run best on Vapor, [100 to 1] not Atomized Liquid, [14.7 to 1]. If this is Wrong, then how is it that Engines DO Run on Propane? To do so by Conventional Means involves Utilizing a Large, Cumbersome, Expensive Tank, which must be Hauled with the Vehicle. Also, Expensive Tank to Engine Metering Equipment. And, the Extra Hassle of Refilling the Tank. So much Hassle, that even with Gas. going back to $3.OO Per Gallon, it's just not Worth It! All Petroleum is Essentially the Same on a Molecular Level. Only the Dispersal is Altered. All Petroleum comes from the same Place, Earth! But, when the "Big Brother Box" is Hooked Up to any OBD-II Vehicle, like Yours[?] It has to Be 14.7 to 1 or Else! Hybirds aren't the Answer. At Highway Speed, the 14.7 to 1 Gas Engine takes over, Plus the Heavy, Expensive Batteries have to be Hauled as Well. Just Like the Propane Tank.Cheap, Safe Hydrogen is the Ultimate Answer. As long as there is so much Profit in Petroleum, that's not going to Change anytime Soon. I Think that My Vapor Unit could possibly be a Step toward Converting Tap Water to Hydrogen, but I don't have the Resources to Conduct the needed Research. Water Converted to a Cold Fog would be a lot easier to Convert to Hydrogen. In the Short Term, I'd like to Convert as many Older Vehicles as Possible to Vapor Fuel, and Donate them, Starting with the Local Meals On Wheels Program.There are Many People willing to Help the Homebound Elderly, but with the Cost of Fuel, it's becoming Increasingly Difficult to do so. Also, Volunteer Veterans' Service Organizations. We All Owe Them so Very Much! And, Homeless Shelters. See, Greed has Stopped the Whole Fuel to Vapor Thing every Time! And That OBD-II Law....To Donate to Charity would be such a Slap in the Face of all who have Stopped Vapor Fuel! Money isn't everything. Take a Deep Breath of Clean, Fresh Air ! How do You put a Price on That? Here's a Website that's a Couple of Years Old, but Please take Time to Read It all. Very Informative! http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html Thanks for Asking the Question, and giving Me the Opportunity to Respond! Nothing will Change, but at least We can Talk about It!
100926
I bought my car, a VW carbrio on ebay back in 2003. I bought two tickets (one-ways from NY and Flew my parents down to florida for a "vacation" and told them to pick it up for me and drive it back). Despite the fact that the aircondition didnt work perfect....still a great car.\n\nPS. My parents love to drive so this was not a cruel thing to suprise them with a 22hr drive home.\n\nI love ebay. My family uses it a lot since the things we like/want are not to be found in our area. My parents have sold trucks/cars/mowers on the site and I have bought tickets/collectables etc. I really trust ebay and have run into only a few problems with it. None that could not be worked out through the site to get my money back.
358302
Electrical cars have been practical and affordable for at least fifteen years in the US. But with lobbying from the rich oil companies, laws and car manufacturers have not had any incentive to work towards them. Ford and Chevy tried, and couldn't make the marketing work to get enough people to buy them. Only with gas prices rising in the US have hybrids even started being fashionable.\n\nSolar cars are not yet practical, in most parts of the US, because of the limited efficiency of solar panels and the fact that many parts of the country do not have that many sunny days per year. It doesn't suit the average commuter if they can't get to work because it is raining.\n\nHowever, if people really started using electric cars, solar powered recharging stations could be added in many parts of the country where feasible. This leaves other forms of electric power production as the source where solar is not as useful.
171939
i try to consolidate my errands, and i don't accelerate quickly anymore- it burns up to 1/3 more gas every hundred miles. on a job related level, i'm a server in a restaurant and i can definitely tell you where other people are cutting back!! tips are way below average.
118392
ford mustang gt, for 27 grand you get one fully loaded, and 5 seconds to 60, w/ that extra three grand you can buy a supercharger. The 350Z's okay but it doesn't have a v8, and a lot less torque, something like 280 v 320 for the stang, and the stang has more low end power. The WRX Sti does not have a lot of luxury, it definitely doesn't look good. Also the VW GTI that has luxury its decent looking and the dsg is nice, or you can go w/ the a3 s-line but thats a little pricier. A used C5 vette is a good deal and you don't have the instant depreciation, h/e the interior isn't its strong suit, the gto on the other hand has a great interior and great performance, it looks clean and its at the end of it's run b/c of emissions standards changing (boo) and you can get a good deal on taht 400 hp even less than the 'stang\nand its resell value should be pretty decent cause they didn't sell alot. I think your best bets would be a new stang, or the gto, maybe a used vette, or a used M3
236855
General Motors is currently researching a Hydrogen Cell Vechicle.  If successful this vehicle would run on H2O.  The have a video on the research.  I wish i had the cash to buy stock in the company making the motor/cell.
163020
Are you kidding me?  DO NOT get rid of that car!!  It's among the elite of import racing and will probably get some serious $$ because there are not that many off them out there.  Keep it, even if it's non-op registered, and just save up for the down on the new supra if you want it that bad.  The styling on that supra you have is still great and with all the custom options out there for a Supra, you'll have fun with it for years to come.