Filed under: Hybrid
Edmunds blogger lays the hate on hybrids
A blogger over on the Inside Line blog at Edmunds known only as The Mechanic has published an editorial that expresses supreme disdain for hybrid vehicles such as the Prius and Civic. He/she/it does make some valid points in that the really efficient hybrids (as opposed to Lexus hybrids) are generally not particularly engaging to drive. This is true, compared to conventional counterparts, these cars are clearly optimized for minimal fuel consumption and aspects such as longitudinal and lateral acceleration are given short shrift. What the mechanic seems to ignore is that the appliance-like qualities of such cars are generally not seen as a bad thing to most drivers. Aside from the truck segment, look at the cars that have the highest sales; Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Honda Civic. Not a fun car among them. Most people don't car about fun to drive.
The mechanic does have a very good point about not necessarily buying a new car. If you already have a car that is running well and getting reasonable fuel efficiency, the gains from switching to a a new hybrid may not be sufficient to offset the impact of building and shipping that new car to a dealership. The other thing to consider is that not all fuel efficient vehicles are devoid of fun. For those that actually enjoy driving, there are non-hybrid alternatives although few are available to American consumers at the moment. While its true that life is short, the overall tone of the Mechanics diatribe does come off as rather selfish. For those that don't care about the joy of driving, use your hybrid, its not hurting those that do like to drive (at least as long as you aren't driving way too slow). Thanks to Cory for the tip!
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
why not the LS2LS7? 11:50AM (8/07/2008)
Note that economical non-hybrid cars aren't particularly engaging to drive either.
If you want performance, buy performance. Maybe a performance hybrid would be for you. You'd still have fun and save some fuel in the process.
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Sam Abuelsamid 11:54AM (8/07/2008)
Not necessarily true. The Honda Fit, and the MINI are both a hoot to drive and get good mileage
gholland 11:57AM (8/07/2008)
Saying the Fit is a hoot to drive is a bit of an overstatement.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:09PM (8/07/2008)
The BMW MINI gets only 2/3rds the fuel economy of the Prius, despite being 2/3rds the size.
They could make a hybrid version that would match or exceed the Prius on fuel economy and since the vehicle was designed to be sporty to start with, should still be fun to drive.
This guy is really railing against economy cars more than hybrids. The hybrids he doesn't like are a current popular incarnation of the econo-box.
If you don't like econo-boxes, don't buy econo-boxes. Don't buy regular gas econo-boxes. Don't buy Diesel econo-boxes. Don't buy hybrid econo-boxes.
But why single out hybrids? Are they truly more evil econo-boxes than other ones are?
kballs 12:51PM (8/07/2008)
I was trying to give LS2LS7's comment the thumbs up but accidentally gave it thumbs down... anybody notice that autoblog vs. autobloggreen have the thumbs switched?
oldraven 9:13AM (8/08/2008)
Do you mean you have to have a Hoot (smoke a joint) in order to have fun driving a Fit.
Hans Wurst 11:59AM (8/07/2008)
The Honda Civic not fun?
Fun, as everything else, is in the eye of the beholder.
Here's the list I used last year to determine what car to buy:
-Fun to drive
-Reliable
-Good mpg
-Practical (trunk space)
-Reasonably priced (including repairs)
I got an Honda Civic Del Sol and am loving it. It definitely is fun to drive!
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Sam Abuelsamid 12:05PM (8/07/2008)
I was referring to the hybrid. Does not apply to the standard civic
Noz 12:35PM (8/07/2008)
The people over there at Edmunds are a bunch of douche bags....I got into a debate with the other idiot over there called Karl on Cars...another idiot ala carte....a typical "I hate everything and everyone else but America" freak.
He turned to be the "our war is moral and justified" type of loon...of course..all the while he's sitting in his cozy Santa Monica office writing drivel about a subject he's only learned about through reading other drivel.
If anyone takes Edmund's seriously as a source of car testing and evaluation, I'll you a pair of dentures and a cane.
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Nick 12:40PM (8/07/2008)
Let me guess....'Mechanic' is from a small town in the Midwest.
He drives a fun to drive, 1998 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually
He is upset by the fact that he would not be able to work on Hybric cars...since these types of mechanics are specially trained.
He is afraid hybrids might cost him his job.
He is upset about gas prices
He has to talk trash about something
He is upset the Asians are taking over the U.S. car market
Midwestern small-town rednecks...always there to make us laugh!
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Mike 12:46PM (8/07/2008)
a lot of people are under the impression they need mega horses for their daily commute. In reality, 75 - 100 horses is enough for 90% of the use of most drivers.
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rob 7:36PM (8/07/2008)
Heck, I make do with 65hp, and can still manage 0-60 in 4 seconds.
Granted, the left crumple zone is my left leg, right crumple zone is my right leg, etc...
BlackbirdHighway 12:50PM (8/07/2008)
Luckily, we live in a country where there are a wide variety of cars available, and nobody is telling you which one to buy.
So, if you don't like hybrids, don't buy one! What is the problem with that?
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charlie 1:18PM (8/07/2008)
Mike: "a lot of people are under the impression they need mega horses for their daily commute. In reality, 75 - 100 horses is enough for 90% of the use of most drivers."
Yeah i suppose thats technically true... but its much easier, and I would argue safer, to have 200+ hp in a midsize sedan. Power is a crutch for sure, you don't have to think ahead as much and it allows you to minimize the negative impact of making driving mistakes...
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Noz 1:19PM (8/07/2008)
Actually...we don't have THAT many choices compared to other countries and what we lack more than choice here is the understanding of personal responsibility.
I can see why so many people here drive around in SUV's and big, overkill cars.
These vehicles are direct extensions of someone's personality...with all the hangups, insecurities, egos, etc that go along with it.
It's a direct extension of the extreme fear, xenophobic, arrogant attitudes people have in this country about others.
You got to Europe and they have a little better (if not alot better) sense of being individually responsible and they have FAR more choices than we do about what they can buy...and they are free to choose too (contrary to what so many Americans think socialists can and cannot do).
If we want change in this country, it needs to start with people's mindsets...not just the cars.
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state 7:15PM (8/07/2008)
"You got to Europe and they have a little better (if not alot better) sense of being individually responsible "
Yes, like 60 million dead in 2 world wars?
Chris 1:26PM (8/07/2008)
I'm getting tired of those that talk about how a new hybrid purchase isn't worth the price/emissions/carbon footprint. They act as if people take relatively new cars and throw them away (no-resale or recycling, just straight to the dump) just to get the latest model. I have a 1995 and a 1975 that I drove before purchasing my 2008 hybrid. Since then I've saved over 280 gallons of gas in one year (~$1300) and untold amounts of emissions. I purchased a new car because I wanted piece of mind and you don't get that with a used vehicle. I also plan to keep this hybrid just as long as I have kept my other vehicles. Beside, like it would be better for the world if I would have purchased a monster SUV getting 14MPG. Please!
Also, if I want a spirited ride, that's what the 1995 and 1975 are for. If I didn't have them, I could always rent one. I hear Hertz is renting Corvette's these days. Only 499 left... http://jalopnik.com/399424/limited-edition-hertz-corvette-zhz-slams-into-dallas-restaurant-one-down-499-to-go
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Noz 1:32PM (8/07/2008)
I hope you recycle or take your old cars out of the life cycle...otherwise there's no point.
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Chris 5:14PM (8/07/2008)
I most certainly will, as soon as I'm no longer able to work on them or someone else wants them more than I do. Until then, I'll keep them tuned up as best they can be and drive them when I feel like it.
That's the best part of the U.S. You can have both types of vehicles. Where I'm from as long as I pay taxes, registration, insurance, tires and gas, I'm good to go. The choice is mine and I don't push that choice on anyone (other than the wife when she wants to go somewhere with me). To be fair, she drives the hybrid most of the time since it's the most stylish and handles the best of the bunch in her mind.
Hans Wurst 1:42PM (8/07/2008)
PeterG, you're right on with your "We really should stop this us vs them nonsense."
Except, that's what's filling these pages, so if we'd stop that nonsense, then what would we do to waste our time?
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