Time to buy a Hybrid?

[gatorback]

I'd love a 2 cylinder turbodiesel.  What would it look like?  Looks like this:



Low resistance mobile - that’s what Loremo stands for. And that is precisely what it is - the Loremo was designed with only one thing in mind - the lowest possible coefficient of drag, and thus the highest possibly efficiency. By cutting drag everywhere possible ( including the doors - there are none! ), the Loremo managed to get fuel efficiency up to 150 miles per gallon. Under the hood is a tiny 2 cylinder turbodiesel - no fancy hybrid parts here. The target price for European production ( the designer is a German company ) is just 15,000 Euros, or about $22,000 at today’s exchange rate.

[gatorback]

It has no doors but 150 MPG.

[gatorback]

OMG. Tata just unveiled  1-Lakh Car.  This my friends is coming to America and I want one too.

[adamh0903]

I heard the Nano wont pass US saftey standards as it is now. I inquired about them, but got the response "we are currently not available in your country, but we are working hard to make these available to america"

[gatorback]

Up against a 6700 LBS Hummer at 70 MPH, no. (Hello death Wish 2008.)  But, for running around the hood < 45 Why not?

[adamh0903]

Have you seen the crash studies on the smart car, pretty good actually for a small car, but many changes to the structure of the car had to be changed to pass saftey standards, including a Nascar Style Roll cage, Which made the car heavier and lowered gas mileage (35-41 mpg) I suspect the Nano will have to go through the same process.

[gatorback]

The ZENN Electric doesn't come with airbags.   You really wouldn't need them since as a NEV you wouldn't be going faster then say 25.  So, imagine, pulling your Zenn out of the carport and off to the Park and Ride where you catch the LRT to the TOD.  Who can argue that's not the way to go?  For me, I live at a TOD, so I just walk down stairs.  I can also walk or ride the bike to work, since IBM is just next door, but I do take the Rover.  Oh, and how many miles have I put on my car?  15 in the past 2 weeks.  It's .25 to work and I take the bus whenever I go to movies, or downtown to get me drunk on.   

For me I really wouldn't see the milage decrease in the Smartcar for the most part if I continue my driving habits.  I put $15 in gas in 2 weeks.  That's $30 a month in gas.  What's your monthly gas bill.  See, I don't support terror but that's just me, that the way I roll.   

[gatorback]

Oil crosses $129 for first time, heads for $130 - 50 minutes ago

[Lunican]

$200 oil = $5.80 gas

according to one unknown estimate...

[gatorback]

My work is .5 miles from home.  So, that's about 5 miles per week and at 12.5 MPG that's .5 gallons of gas a week for me..this is getting crazy, I'll be shelling out about $2.80 a week to get to and from work...we need to do something about this...where's that federal fuel tax cut McCain et. al, have been talking about.  That will what?  Save me 14 cents a week.   

[adamh0903]

I walk to work, but my wife drives my Callahan to San Jose blvd everyday

[gatorback]

Prices keep going up I might have to start walking to work too.  How far is your work adamh0903?

[adamh0903]

about 100 feet. I am really lucky. I am a Retail Network/POS Technician with my inlaws business as well as own my own business in the same field.

[Matt]

Not time to buy a hybrid; time to ditch the suburbs.

[Driven1]

time to buy a scooter.  better yet, a bike.