 |
Re: [RC] Commute - Hybrid Vehicles - Sky RanchWaaaay back in 1979, I bought a brand new VW Diesel Rabbit, 5 speed. It would get MINIMUM 40 mpg city driving and would go 80 mph all day long on the highway, and still get 50 mpg. It was a great car. It wasn't very expensive. It wasn't sporty, either, no great acceleration -- but it would go 80+ mph on the highway, no problem. In 1983, I bought a brand new Honda Civic 1300 FE, which I believe was rated as the highest mpg vehicle -- it got 40 mpg around town, and would easily get 50 mpg on the highway -- and it was zippy. Ran on gas, not diesel. Lots of acceleration. It was a 5 speed, 2 door hatchback. I paid cash for it, around $6500 if I remember correctly. Wish I still had it, also! After that I bought a more "sporty" Honda CRX-HF another 2 door hatchback. It also got around 45 mph average. I believe it was around $6000 or 7000, I don't remember. Now, the reason I mention all these vehicles is -- these were all available more than 20 years ago, and affordable at the time!! WHY is it that today, we're talking about paying $25,000+ for vehicles that only get 35 mpg, or so. And the manufacturers boast about that! Woo hoo, big deal. As far as EPA estimated gas mileage, how you drive makes a huge difference. I usually got higher mpg than the EPA rating, because I hated to spend money on gas -- yet, I loved to drive fast, also. If you always accelerate quickly, you're going to have lower mpg than if you drive smoothly, even at high speed. Just my two cents worth. I hate spending money on gas, I'd MUCH rather spend it on horses, tack, and hay! Carla Richardson Colorado =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|