bagwell

3MPG is NOT significant;

I mean why build a mild hybrid? - its like they are half-assing it (AGAIN).

sirCharles

def not a true Hybrid money saver

wait for soon PHEV's, this investment in Malibu (Hybrid) is too late and not good enough

doug_999

Can you define what a "true Hybrid money saver" is? I have yet to see one of them out there that makes financial sense.

bagwell

bought my 2000 Honda Insight last April with 47K miles for $8500.

I have averaged 72.1 MPG over the last 17000 miles.....
my wife and I carpool every day in this thing to work....approx 52 miles RT.




now, does that make financial sense to you??????

doug_999

Oh we are talking two seater discontinued used cars now? And it has to be stick and you must keep the air off.... yes, how about a motorcycle while we are at it?

bagwell

did you say no used cars allowed in the discussion?

FYI - 2001-up had CVT

and sorry champ, mine has A/C.

doug_999

1987 Honda Civic HF - $3K tops. Gets 57mpg highway. It will take you 275,000 miles to make up the $4,000 premium you paid for your Insight (I was generous champ, I used $5 a gallon in my calcs - just for you...)

PS - running the air conditioner in the Insight kills the mpg...but you know this of course...

bagwell

CRX HF is a better choice.....hey if you can find one buy it!!
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Tru...Q_nkwZcrxQ20hf



you're right a/c kills the mpg -- by 5 mpg - so I'd be averaging 77.1 MPG

....and I think my 2000 model car is just a tad nicer than a 1987....everyone thinks its a brand new car....I don't think anyone will claim your 1987 is new.

doug_999

and people find the Prius just a tad nicer than your 2000 Insight.... doesn't mean it is a better deal.

Now I've proved that there are non-hybrid cars that make more financial sense than your Insight. Do you disagree?

bagwell

Oh I agree - the 2G Prius is much nicer....and comfy too. But it will be twice the money for approx 66% of my mpg (btw the Prius did have a $3100 tax credit that is now expired).

I get it, sure, but you're being an extremist here...as a BMW 550i owner are you really going to drive a 1987 Honda or are you just trying a make a point? Just asking. Most 1987 cars will have miles approaching 200K miles and may or may not be reliable not to mention having the safety of airbags and ABS. I need a car that's reliable because I use it as my daily commuter and drive my nice car on the weekends. I went from a 2003 Pontiac Vibe that was getting 30mpg to the Insight....made sense for me. I'm also a former Prius owner - at the time its, 52mpg didn't make up for its $22k (-$3000 tax credit) price tag. At $4 a gallon, I have my eye on a lo mileage used one for $16000 - but just thinking about it....may wait for a Hybrid Fit.

Threxx

When you said 3mpg is not significant.... it IS significant when you're talking about cars that only get in the low 20s anyway... that's a 14% reduction in fuel expenses. Sure on your insight it would only result in more like a 4.x% reduction so it's less significant, but it's relative to the vehicle in question.

I mean to take this to the extreme what if we were comparing an original Hummer in all of its 7mpg glory to a Hummer that got 10mpg... then suddenly those 3 mpg are going to save you $171 a month at 12000 miles a year and 4 dollars a gallon. That is significant.

I may be wrong but I think his only point by bringing up the 1987 car is that it doesn't really make sense for you to tout your car in this context. We're talking about new vehicles. When you start bringing used older model and otherwise not so comparable vehicles into the discussion then it turns very muddy.

bagwell

true, the thread is about the NEW Malibu Hybrid -- but he didn't specifically mention to limit his comparison to NEW CARS in his hybrid vs non-hybrid financial sense comparison.....I was just stating my case for the capabilities of Hybrids -- even mild hybrids -- that some do get much better mileage than conventional ICE vehicles.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

OK guys, enough with the Insight, Civic CRX, etc., discussion, that's not what this thread is about.

bagwell

true.

Malibu (Hybrid) is a very small step in the right direction....nice car.

Just wish they'd done better drivetrain wise, not that its bad.

SLegacy99

Good news for the Malibu hybrid. The 6 speed auto gave it a nice boost.

2008: 24/32
2009: 26/34


Non-hybrid 2.4L
2008: 22/30
2009: 22/33