My Hybrid and other gas observations

[apnu]

In June (first day of summer, in fact) we bought a Ford Escape Hybrid for a lot of reasons
- We wanted to lower our emissions
- We wanted to promote new 'alternate' vehicle ideas
- We wanted to do our part to lessen our dependence on oil
- We wanted more transport space (i'm 6 foot 2 and we had a compact)

But we also only drive it when necessary. If we can walk or bike somewhere we do so. I also have the good fortune of having a great public transportation system by way of the L here in Chicago. So the hybrid (we call it the 'Green Goblin') only comes out on the occasional weekend. As a result I haven't actually put gas in the car in 2 months!

Now with gas prices going crazy I feel kinda relieved and surreal about the whole thing. On the one hand, its liberating to know that we bought the best idea car we could before all this crazy stuff happened (I laugh at ever Hummer I see). But on the other hand, I feel kind of guilty because I don't have to drive during my commute to work and I know that's a unique option that most Americans don't have and will never have.

So watching all of the price gouging is strange from where I sit. I know that a lot of people have to drive to work, but I don't understand why more don't carpool, when I do see the highways around Chicago at rush hour, most of the private cars I see have one or two passengers (so I'm not counting commercial trucks and cabs). I don't understand why more people don't take the L or the city busses, some morning commutes the train is pretty empty by L standards. I expected them to be jammed Tokyo-style when gas got to 2 bucks in the city and never looked back. I also don't understand why so many people aren't biking around the city even though tons streets have clearly marked bike lanes. I don't understand why so few people actually choose the option of walking to places in lieu of getting in some kind of transport vehicle. (and hey! its good exercise for everybody!)

If people would just be reasonable about their transport options all of this gas stupidity would be lessened to a great extent. Just by being slightly pro-active about our fuel usage we'd save ourselves millions of dollars, not to mention less crap in the air and water.

Here's another analogy to look at this: I just found out that I have periodontal disease, and I require what's called a "deep cleaning" where they scrape the calcified spurs off my teeth, below the gum line , that's causing me to lose bone in my jaw. Its going to cost me a lot of money and I'll have to use at least two sick days of work to have the cleaning done. Do you know how I could have prevented this? By using dental floss more often that only costs a few pennies! Had I just a better habit with flossing once a day I wouldn't be out a thousand dollars (after my dental benefits!) and lost work time. Well I'm paying the price to have teeth for the rest of my life now, and I'm gonna floss at least every day because I've learned my lesson.

So I wonder, when will America learn her lesson about oil?

[nickinSTL]

1. I agree that people are...

well, stupid about gas usage.

You're fortunate to live in a city like Chicago with good public transportation (believe me, if I lived in a city with good public transport, I'd be using it)

St. Louis' public transporation...leaves much to be desired, IMO.

If the prices rise much more, I might have to look into it, though...probably 2 buses and a train to work every day from where I live.

I've switched from driving my SUV to work to using my '88 Corolla bacuse of the MUCH better gas mileage. Soon, I'll ONLY be driving the Corolla.

I'd sell the SUV, but I owe more than it's worth...and with current gas prices...I doubt I'd find a buyer to pay as much as it's worth. :shrug:

If I could afford it, I'd definitely get a hybrid.

[apnu]

9. I feel your pain.

I hope you can unload your car! Good luck!

[getmeouttahere]

2. Great post....some people aren't doing nearly enough...

and I'm speaking mostly of those folks who can actually afford to use alternatives, or have alternatives like mass transit. And people, if something is within 2 miles of you, and you are physically able, you should be walking if there is no other form of transport besides your vehicle.

We've got to make the smaller sacrifices NOW, so we don't have to make much larger ones later.

More mass transit NOW!!! More alternative energy NOW!!!

Act locally!!!

[Merlot]

5. Agreed in principle. But nobody walks in LA

and for good reason! Public trans is not great here. I've used it a few times.

[getmeouttahere]

11. I live in L.A., and I walk....

shouldn't matter where you live, if something is within 2 miles of you, and you are physically able, you should be walking. If you live anywhere near a Metro station, consider using Metro if your destination is within a reasonable distance (1 mile) of the destination Metro station. I love to go to Amoeba Music in Hollywood every once in awhile, and I live in El Segundo, so I take the Metro and get off at the Hollywood & Vine station, and it's within easy walking distance. You can now go to Pasadena on Metro, they have a shuttle from the Aviation station to LAX now, and they are working on extending the Red Line from the current end at North Hollywood all the way out to Warner Center. Also, I went to a light rail presentation on the West Side monday night, and they were discussing the possibilities for light rail in West LA, which is probably the area that needs it most, the 405 being a parking lot and all.

[apnu]

12. Good call! Good job! Effort pays off!

See? It can be done, with just a little effort.

Granted smaller places that don't have any kind of public transportation it will be much harder to do something like this. But even in those areas it can be done.

It just takes a little effort.

[Merlot]

3. I'm thinking of trading in my car for a hybrid

My car will be two years old in november, and it's not a big suv - it's a 4 cyl. The milage is good enough. But with a hybrid I'd be going to the gas station half as many times as I do now. And I'd worry less about all the emissions. So, nice my gas mileage will double, I will be only half as oil dependent as I am now.

Anyone want to weigh in on their favorite hybrid - I don't know which one to get.

[apnu]

6. Well I have the Ford Escape

It went for about $26,000 (no frills) And, 'no frills' comes with a bunch of options. Cruse control, power everything, chip-in-key starter, 6 cd player, basic car alarm (isn't that great) And its a small SUV foot print. I can get around all of Chicago, and any parking situations in it. Unlike all the other SUVs I see hunting for parking because they need 1 1/2 car lengths to park.

I have a teacher who got one of the early Toyota Prius' and he swearers buy it. The console is totally digital, its got a small foot print but is really roomy inside. Its as expensive as the Escape, from what I was told and there might be a waiting list to get one still. Whereas Ford has a few on every lot here in Chicago. Toyota is also supposed to have an SUV option this year but I know nothing about it.

Honda did a hybrid with their Civic model. I've heard a lot of good things about it. But since I had a Ford Escort before that, and I'm a large boy, we didn't even consider the Civic. Its also the best priced of the three. Its only a couple thousand over the normal Civic price which is really cheap for a car these days, IMO.

[Massacure]

13. The Prius is only 21-22 thousands dollars in its basic form.

Same with the Insight. The Insight is a is a really small car though, but it's milage is better than the Prius.

[apnu]

14. Really? I stand corrected. Thanks. (n/t)

[BeeBee]

7. We have 2 hybrids...

A 2005 Toyota Prius and a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The Prius gets better mileage (about 45) compared to the Highlander (about 30) but both have zero emissions. We use the Prius as much as possible and only use the Highlander when necessary (to haul the dogs, etc.). With the gas prices as they are, I'm glad we have them.

[apnu]

10. My Escape gets the same milage and emissions as the Highlander.

But we only have one car, and we do make long trips around the country. I'm glad you have two hybrids! Thats awesome!

:toast:

[SujiwanKenobee]

4. Glad we bought an economy car in time too

It's not a hybrid, but at least it goes further than the mini-truck on the same gas.

I wish we could have moved closer, but here in the DC metro area, to live closer in is to pay outrageous prices for real estate and become house-poor. Only those who are wealthy enough or have lived in the closer in counties pre-RE boom can afford to live there. Most of us are forced further out to stretch our dollar in regard to home ownership and have to take the hits in commuting.

I sure wish we could reclaim the railways to use for both passengers and freight instead of only the restricted passenger routes that are currently offered and out of the way locations at that. Still need to drive at the other end of the trip.

[apnu]

8. Yeah DC/Baltimore is a problem.

I used to go there a lot when I had a friend living in Fredrick MD. Driving around the area is a nightmare. Another thing I don't understand is why more cities don't have a major mass transit system like Chicago, Boston and NYC. DC and Baltimore sure could use it. LA desperately needs it. and St. Louis needs to commit to something serious, and not the half-assed busing system it currently possesses.