babble: Hybrid Suv. If a SUV doesn't pollute (as much) do you still hate them?

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Topic: Hybrid Suv. If a SUV doesn't pollute (as much) do you still hate them?

Dr Gas
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4410

posted 27 August 2004 12:50 AM

Starting this fall, Ford is selling a hybrid Suv, the Escape, which will pollute less and have better gas mileage than the other gas only models.
Large Hybrid trucks and SUV's are in the works mostly for fleet use (due to different fuel types) so a Hybrid Hummer could be a reality.

Some SUV's sold today qualify as Low Emissions Vehicles.

If someday SUV's didn't pollute do you still hate them? People waste their money on lots of things besides too much car.

http://fordvehicles.com/escapehybrid/

From: Maritmes | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 27 August 2004 01:49 AM

I don't hate vehicles. On the other hand, some of their owners . . .

The thing to understand is the need for a sports utility vehicle. Now, I put the stress on utility. My old Explorer is used as a truck and almost always has a payload; frequently a dirty payload. I can understand, to some extent, the sport part of the equasion. What makes no sense is the luxury aspect. Yesterday, I saw a Cadillac SUV/pickup combination. Yes, a Cadillac? What on earth is that for? Is somebody going to throw bales of hay in the back of it? Lumber? Firewood? Sheep? Is he/she going to tow a boat with it? Are they nuts? Some people have too much money.

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

beluga2
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3838

posted 27 August 2004 02:38 AM

So now they're gonna make hybrid SUV's, so yuppies can cruise two blocks to the corner store in their behemoth-mobiles... and "only" pollute as much as they could in a normal car.

It's progress of a sort, I suppose. You take it where you can get it these days.

From: vancouvergrad, BCSSR | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Amy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2210

posted 27 August 2004 05:13 AM

Well, actually, the escape is better on gas than most SUVs out there, and the hybrid is better than that; it's small, and has optional 4X4. My parents own one, and I'm sure that they wouldn't if it was more expensive on gas than a regular car appropriate for family use. According to the Ford website, the taurus is only slightly better on highway mileage and no better on city mileage than the escape. Of course, a smaller car would do much better on gas, but try fitting 3 bickering children into the back of an echo.

Based on this website, minivans are actually worse on gas than SUVs.

From: the whole town erupts and/ bursts into flame | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Briguy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1885

posted 27 August 2004 08:49 AM

Poor mileage is only one reason why I dislike the SUV. The chassis is unneccesarily heavy for suburban and city driving, taking a cumulative high toll on residential and feeder roads. They are impossible to see through or around, making them that much more dangerous in busy traffic situations. Often, drivers of these behemoths will ignore parking rules and leave their monsters within five feet of an intersection, obstructing the view of people turning on to main roads from side streets. When they crash into other vehicles, their high base increase the danger for all other drivers and passengers on the road.

They are special purpose vehicles, not meant for commuting or grocery runs. If a person only needs a car for city / suburb driving, she should buy something more fit for purpose. Or get a bike.

From: No one is arguing that we should run the space program based on Physics 101. | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged

MacD
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2511

posted 27 August 2004 11:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Amy:
Based on this website, minivans are actually worse on gas than SUVs.

This is only because the Ford Freestar is a gas guzzler compared to most minivans, and the Escape is very small as SUVs go. From the Energuide website: fuel consumption (L/100 km), city/highway...


Pontiac Montana Van  12.0/7.8
Ford Escape SUV      13.0/9.2
Ford Freestar Van    14.4/9.6
Chevy Blazer SUV     16.8/12.5

[ 27 August 2004: Message edited by: MacD ]

From: Redmonton, Alberta | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Rufus Polson
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3308

posted 27 August 2004 01:39 PM

I'm not big on SUVs or minivans.
I've got a decent-sized family, and it's really hard to operate in a sports car or something with that. But we do fine in a smallish station wagon. Remember station wagons?
Specifically, we have a new VW Jetta diesel and it gets 50 k's to the litre. We get from Vancouver to Penticton on less than a quarter tank. Match that with an SUV!

From: Caithnard College | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

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