[Elfsea] Fw: [Steppes] OT Hybrid Cars

Fri Jun 29 04:30:44 PDT 2007

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Virginia Gatling" <ginlee at cnbcom.net>
To: "Duncan Hepburn" <duncan at stormypetrel.org>
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 6:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Steppes] OT Hybrid Cars


> Thanks to all for the info,
> Micheau likes the civic. He wants it for driving back and forth to 
> Parkland (downtown Dallas). I think I will look at the Prius this weekend. 
> I don't know if anyone knows or not but Micheau was in an accident a few 
> weeks ago and the Sunfire was totaled. I was able to haul 2 sets of armor 
> all our light camping gear and pole arms in that vehicle plus the regular 
> sized cooler. Thanks to all who replied. I will be at coronation so maybe 
> I'll check out some of the hybrids then. I still want a new van but with 
> today's gas prices the hybrid is the way to go.
> Sorry for the OT on the list but I value the info.
> Thanks again to all,
> Regina
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Duncan Hepburn" <duncan at stormypetrel.org>
> To: "'Virginia Gatling'" <ginlee at cnbcom.net>
> Cc: "Don Valentyn" <DonValentyn at JeffTurnerFiction.com>; 
> <Maaggie1 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 10:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [Steppes] OT Hybrid Cars
>
>
>> Your Excellency et all,
>>
>> I also have to say that I love my Honda Civic Hybrid a lot. It uses a 
>> different technology than the Toyota hybrids, so it comes with it's won 
>> limitations and advantages that might be different from them.
>>
>> Mine is a compact car, but the interior is very roomy... big enough for 
>> my oversized family easily. I am 6'3 and can drive comfortably with my 6' 
>> tall son sitting behind me. It has a lot of headroom also, and a lot of 
>> safety features including the side curtain airbags.
>>
>> My car had an advertised MPG of 49 city/51 highway. I have found that if 
>> I really try, I can easily maintain 42-44 in the city, and 45 or higher 
>> on the highway... my record for a tank average was 54.1 mpg... that was 
>> over 99% highway driving though, at 63ish mph working actively to 
>> maximize the mpg. That is an unusual high though, and I haven't gotten 
>> close since.. it was a pain.
>>
>> A major downside to my car is carrying capacity. The area between the 
>> rear seat and trunk is where the batteries are... which makes my trunk a 
>> bit smaller than the regular civic... and my back seats don't fold down. 
>> Travelling to events is a packing challenge, especially with armor and 
>> weapons bags. Polearms and great weapons are right out.
>>
>> If you're looking for a car, and need a lot of room to carry cargo, then 
>> the Civic isn't probalby your best choice. I've seen Maggie load a ton 
>> into her Prius for an event... it's a hatchback, with similar features to 
>> mine. That might be better for you if that is the case.
>>
>> Another thing to consider is that the government gives a tax credit for 
>> people who purchase a new hybrid. The amount of the credit varies by 
>> vehicle, so I'd have to find the table that shows how much goes with 
>> each.
>>
>> I think that about covers it for now. You'll find that hybrid owners are 
>> very proud, and will talk your ears off about their cars if you let them. 
>> =)
>>
>> I'll gladly show it off to you at an event or answer any other questions 
>> you have, so feel free to respond.
>>
>> Pax,
>>
>> Duncan
>>
>> p.s. hi Val, congrats on the new baby, we should have lunch sometime =)
>>
>> Don Valentyn wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I like my Toyota Highlander a lot.  I had very specific criteria for my 
>>> new
>>> car -- I very much wanted a hybrid, but I also wanted an SUV.  This
>>> presented a very narrow range of choices, especially when factoring in 
>>> my
>>> other criteria: the SUV must have real cargo space, not be a "sport 
>>> trim."
>>> If I was going to buy a vehicle with the cargo space of a car, I 
>>> would've
>>> simply bought a car.
>>>
>>> So, that limited me to very few choices, and the Lexus was right out 
>>> (prices
>>> started at $45k.)   Fortunately, the Highlander was in my price range
>>> (though at the very top of it) and Toyota cars in general have excellent
>>> service records.  Another big selling point was the side curtain 
>>> airbags, a
>>> big deal since we have children.
>>>
>>> My one disappointment is the mileage, but from further research, I 
>>> gather
>>> that would have been a disappointment with any vehicle.  Apparently the
>>> dealerships are allowed to advertise FAR higher mileage ratings than are
>>> realistically produced.  When I'm driving conscientiously, I average 
>>> about
>>> 25-27 mpg.  (Keep in mind that my daily commute involves about 26 miles 
>>> of
>>> residential and 12 miles of highway.)  However, the Highlander is 
>>> advertised
>>> at 32-35 mpg.  I find this to be a pretty serious difference.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, my offhand research seems to indicate that this kind of
>>> difference between advertisement and reality exists with most hybrids.
>>>
>>> Of course, 26 mpg is still FAR better than the 18 mpg that most gas SUVs
>>> get, so I am still pleased.  Also, the acceleration is excellent, the
>>> driving experience is very comfortable and smooth, and I just enjoy the 
>>> car
>>> all around.  I even use the third-row seats every once in a while; it's 
>>> not
>>> very comfortable back there for adults, but it's great for short hops 
>>> with a
>>> crowded vehicle for lunch and such.
>>>
>>> That's my two cents, please feel free to email me if you have any 
>>> questions.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Valentyn
>>>
>>> P.S. Hi Duncan!
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Duncan Hepburn [mailto:duncan at stormypetrel.org] Sent: Thursday, 
>>> June 28, 2007 10:00 PM
>>> To: Virginia Gatling
>>> Cc: steppes at ansteorra.org; DonValentyn at jeffturnerfiction.com;
>>> Maaggie1 at gmail.com
>>> Subject: Re: [Steppes] OT Hybrid Cars
>>>
>>> As far as within the DFW area, the people I know locally that own 
>>> hybrids are myself, with an '06 Honda Civic Hybrid, Countess Margaret 
>>> has a Toyota Prius about the same age, and Don Valentyn in Elfsea has a 
>>> Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
>>>
>>> There may be others that I don't know of, but I'll forward this note to 
>>> both Maggie and Val, and we can give you our opinions of pros and cons 
>>> off the list.
>>>
>>> Don Duncan
>>>
>>> Virginia Gatling wrote:
>>>> Does anyone have hybrid cars? We would like to hear the pros & cons as 
>>>> to
>>> which are better before we purchase a new vehicle.
>>>> Countess Regina
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Steppes mailing list
>>>> Steppes at lists.ansteorra.org
>>>> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/steppes-ansteorra.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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