Fuel Efficiency...Hybrid?

[traM-laW]

Hehehe... it's funny when people say one of their reason they baught their Mini Cooper is for its fuel efficiency?

Mini Cooper: 28/36 mpg
Honda Civic Hybrid: 46/51 (a big defference)

i mean come on if you're gonna buy a car for fuel efficiency you might as well buy Honda Civic Hybrid wich sell at like what $19 900 plus you can get a $2,000 dollars tax deduction!

I just found out about this car today and i was considering in buying a Mini because of it's fuel effeciency and because handling and looks and whatnot, but bye bye to the Mini. I mean more space for about the same pirce and your beeing earth friendly!

Plus you save money using less (extremely less) gas! Screw those damn Oil tycoons!!! i'm tired of paying so much money for gasoline (while my paying wage does not increase, i'm tired of being a prole) and tired of screwing up the earth becasue of excessive use of fossil fuels.

Today changed my mind completely. Sure i've never really liked the way Honda models look like (until now i have never considered buying anything that Honda makes until today) but it isn't about looks anymore.

Now the only way i'm ever gonna consider buying a Mini in the future, is if they make a Mini Hybrid. Maybe some of you would not agree but i think it would be sweet!

bye beautiful people...

[Dogtanian]

If all you care about is fuel economy why not cycle everywhere? Clearly you don't get the ethos of the Mini.....

My last US gallon of fuel cost $5.85 and I don't want a boring Civic!

Phil

[bruno henrique]

It's not that fun if you buy a Honda...

[AprilWhine]

Hybrids are false economy. My friends who have bought one report real life mileage in the mid thirties. My VW TDI routinely got mileage in the mid forties and had good pickup too.

But, if all you care about is economy the MINI is not for you. Check out the low end Chevy offerings, when you factor in the cost of the car over the lifetime vs fuel costs, I think you'll see that is the car for you.

[Loxycoon]

But can you imagine if they DID put a hybrid engine in the MINI? I know this thought is anathema to those on the boards that race or mod their MINIs, but to those of us with standard MINI Coopers, why not? It would be interesting!

My brother drives a Honda Insight and routinely gets around 70 mpg. I'm not sure why this car never really took off and why everyone always talks about the Civic and Prius instead.

[everythingsablur]

Things to consider when buying a hybrid:

1. Fuel economy ratings are based on a weighted 55-45% city vs. highway (at least here in Canada). How and where you drive will dramatically effect how close (or far) you are away from EPA or manufacturer's numbers.
2. The long-term reliability of hybrids has yet to be seen
3. The potential cost of repairs is uncharted and likely incredibly expensive. The only place you can get parts or any service will be from the manufacturer until technology becomes more commonplace.
4. MINI vs. Civic Hybrid is apples and oranges. Compare a Civic Hybrid to a regular Civic (since you seem alright with Civic ownership) and then calculate how long it will take you to make back the additional cost for the Hybrid in "saved" fuel. The current premium on Hybrid cars means you don't save any money on an apples to apples comparison for like 5+ years. Buy a regular Civic; they're very good on fuel as it is.

I'm all for new technologies to reduce emissions, reduce environmental damage, and break the hold of OPEC over the global economy, but hybrid technology just isn't there yet. Pretty much the only things hybrids today give you is a good conscience, since the cost savings at the pump won't offset the car's cost for several years.

If you want a fuel efficient car that is still powerful enough to actually drive, get a VW TDI model (Jetta, Gold, Beetle, Passat). Hybrid like fuel economy, but with some actual power. Now build a hybrid electric-diesel engine with 70+ MPG and perhaps we'll talk again.

And the Civic is so BLAH. At least get an Accord or Prius.

[everythingsablur]

Quote: Originally Posted by Loxycoon

My brother drives a Honda Insight and routinely gets around 70 mpg. I'm not sure why this car never really took off and why everyone always talks about the Civic and Prius instead.

The Insight is super fugly. It was also largely knocked in the media for being a very impractical car for most people: small two seater, next to no cargo space, very rough ride, premium cost. Basically the public saw that there were a great number of compromises they would have to make to save some fuel, and that's not what the public wants. They want a car that has all of the same function and utility as what they drive today, but with better fuel economy.

As a 1-man commuter car, the Insight is probably ok if you can live with the choppy ride and fugly body style.

[fred3]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Hybrids are false economy. My friends who have bought one report real life mileage in the mid thirties. My VW TDI routinely got mileage in the mid forties and had good pickup too.

But, if all you care about is economy the MINI is not for you. Check out the low end Chevy offerings, when you factor in the cost of the car over the lifetime vs fuel costs, I think you'll see that is the car for you.

where you get your info from. My daughter and a friend both have the Toyota Prius and both get high 40's/low 50's mpg. False economy? False info.

[badboyzbadboyz]

Quote: Originally Posted by traM-laW

Hehehe... it's funny when people say one of their reason they baught their Mini Cooper is for its fuel efficiency?

Mini Cooper: 28/36 mpg
Honda Civic Hybrid: 46/51 (a big defference)

i mean come on if you're gonna buy a car for fuel efficiency you might as well buy Honda Civic Hybrid wich sell at like what $19 900 plus you can get a $2,000 dollars tax deduction!

I just found out about this car today and i was considering in buying a Mini because of it's fuel effeciency and because handling and looks and whatnot, but bye bye to the Mini. I mean more space for about the same pirce and your beeing earth friendly!

Plus you save money using less (extremely less) gas! Screw those damn Oil tycoons!!! i'm tired of paying so much money for gasoline (while my paying wage does not increase, i'm tired of being a prole) and tired of screwing up the earth becasue of excessive use of fossil fuels.

Today changed my mind completely. Sure i've never really liked the way Honda models look like (until now i have never considered buying anything that Honda makes until today) but it isn't about looks anymore.

Now the only way i'm ever gonna consider buying a Mini in the future, is if they make a Mini Hybrid. Maybe some of you would not agree but i think it would be sweet!

bye beautiful people...

This has to be one of the funniest threads I have read on MINI2. Enjoy your hybrid

[AprilWhine]

Quote: Originally Posted by fred3

where you get your info from. My daughter and a friend both have the Toyota Prius and both get high 40's/low 50's mpg. False economy? False info.

My info comes from a reliable friend who lives in Las Vegas. He pencil whipped the formula before deciding that with the predicted fuel efficiency, he could save money commuting to San Diego, even with the price bump. He is very unhappy now, driving freeways to San Diego and back his average economy is around 37 overall. He has a 2004 Prius.

I expect your daughter and friend live in ME? Remember, running the air conditioner affects fuel economy in a hybrid much more than in a gasoline engine. Also, how anal are they about doing the math at every fill up? My friend is extremely so.

I stand by my original statement, the VW TDI is much more economical in real world situations.

[Jim Ray]

And the SECOND biggest lie, is about what mileage I get with my car.

I have coworkers that look me in the eye and tell me that they get 30 mpg with a Dodge Dually.

Never argue politics, religion or a persons fantasy about fuel economy.

[Jim Ray]

Hybrid economy

[AprilWhine]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wired News

...In Consumer Reports' real-world driving test, the Civic Hybrid averaged 26 mpg in the city, while the Toyota Prius averaged 35 mpg, much less than their respective EPA estimates of 47 and 60 mpg. Hybrid cars performed much closer to EPA estimates in Consumer Reports' highway tests.
...

From the article linked above.

Read it, it's an eye opener.

[gokartride]

I, too, had heard the real life mpg numbers on Honda hybrids were way off from those claimed. Owners are not all that happy about it apparently.

If you want a hybrid, fine...just don't please get a post 2003 Prius. They are so ugly!!!! What you accomplish in saving the planet you lose by putting an eye-sore on public roads.

[BMW.MINI.RR]

in terms of a fun-to-drive sports car that looks better than almost anything out there, 28/36 is not too bad! I get 35 mpgs for every tank. Other cars that are truely fun-to-drive will not come close to 35 mpgs, at least not any that i can think of...