BETO

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...-hybrids_N.htm
If you are like me, and looking for alternative fuel vehicles and need a big SUV, GMC is making a hybrid Tahoe next fall, and Escalade next year.

StevethePilot

I guess that shows off the real problem with SUV use these days; people will primarily be driving these things in downtown Whereeverville and not either on the highways or off-road where the diesel power reigns? How bloody short-sighted hybrids are in the US market.

BETO

I guess not.
I need this type of vehicle for my big family, six people, so I can take them all in one car. I also need it for towing my racecar at least once a month, and my kids and I love off-roading. In addition, I tow my jetski and go camping/fishing whenever possible.
I already have a Prius for city driving.

gordongl450

The radio ad for these hybrids says available "in selected markets." I wonder where that will be?

What a leap of faith someone would have to have to by the first model year of a GM hybrid. Good Luck!

StevethePilot

Now that makese sense. A hybrid on the highways? Well, let's just say my neighbor with an RX400h was complaining to me about not getting the mileage they promised her, not even close. "Where are you driving with it?" "To our cabin in Flagstaff and to San Diego." C'mon! First, Lexus had to put a bigger engine in it than originally planned because people, surprisingly, wanted it to go faster than a golf cart, and second, the engine was still too small for the car by itself, which is what it's doing 100% of the time on the highway because there's nothing to charge the battery if you don't hit the brakes, all the time!

Newbie_2_MB

Which is what hybrids were made for! My husband drives 150 miles each day, mostly highway driving. In 2005 when we bought him a commuter car, we looked at the Prius and the Civic Hybrid. Because of the highway driving, we went with a Civic gasoline engine, 5-speed and have been getting 41 mpg out of it. We just couldn't see spending the extra $$ for the Hybrid (paid $12K out the door for the Civic) when the mileage really wasn't that much better on the highway.

StevethePilot

Reports are that all the manufacturers are backing of both city and highway mileage claims next year for the hybrids, and you'd probably actually be getting worse mileage on the highway than a regular gas engine.

lkchris

On the highway, the gasoline engine runs constantly.

It's as if you don't have a hybrid at all ... except for the fact you're carrying heavy batteries.

Get a diesel.

Just completed a round trip Albuquerque to Cincinnati.

23-25 mpg eastbound, losing altitude

21-23 westbound pulling a trailer, gaining altitude.

Diesel fuel cheaper than gasoline everywhere.

Put that in your silly hybrid and smoke it.

(Hard to tell whether hybrids or harry reid make more sense, but something must be in the air in Vegas. http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/1...on-harry-reid/ )

Nevada Jack

The truth about Harry Reid is finally revealed! I have worn out the email account with responses to his office. I recommended he return to Searchlight, NV or buy a searchlight so he can see in the dark dungeon he seems to be living in.

Sorry for the off topic comment but could not resist after seeing that flick.

StevethePilot

I have to take issue with that. It is hard to find diesel for significantly less than premium petrol in the city. In fact, sometimes it's more! Not that I mind burning half a gallon to save $10, but the "logic" surrounding diesel pricing (particularly our #2 ULSD <15ppm diesel) is exceptionally difficult to follow.

lkchris

The reference was to everywhere I went in my 3K mile trip.

StevethePilot

I-80/I-90 from Reno to West Springfield, MA I found a majority of places had diesel for less than petrol (sometimes significantly less), but there were a few cases where I had to get off the freeways for fuel and it seems like as soon as you leave the realm of the semi-tractor-trailer they think only folks who can afford European cars are using the diesel so they're going to charge more.

I just drove from Scottsdale to Surprise, AZ, to help an in-law move some stuff (the wife had the diesel in California so I was driving the V10 gas Excursion - ouch!) and I saw a lot more diesel on the west side of Phoenix than I saw on the east side. That said, gas was from $3.07-$3.20/gal most places (regular through super) and #2 was generally around $3.16-$3.35. It's weird.