Thursday evening, I test drove the new hybrid Toyota Highlander SUV.
The model I drove had no 4 wheel drive, yet
had a sticker price over $ 46,000.
The ride was quiet impressive. The only way you would know it was a
hybrid is if you looked on the hatchback
real close there is a tiny label that says "synergy drive." Inside
on the dashboard where
the tachometer should be, there is a round gage that
goes from zero to 200 kilowatts, representing how much the electric motor is
kicking in.
Under the hood, there is not much to look at, just a big plastic
cover.
The dashboard, in my opinion, is not as high tech as my old Insight. I
like all the digital displays on my Honda,
but the Toyota Highlander uses mostly dials with a needle.
There is an investigation into a possible electrical problem with all of the
non-Honda hybrids.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/16/Autos/prius_computer/?cnn=yes
I wonder if GM fabricated this story.
Meanwhile, my hybrid Honda has 162,000 "trouble-free" miles.
I am very concerned about the resale value of the hybrids. I believe
these cars are a poor financial investment,
but are more of an environmental investment. I can't find a buyer for my
car and I am
selling it for thousands less than I owe on it. I not only have have
zero offers, but I have had 3 callers
call to say I was crazy if I thought someone would pay so much for my car.
I try to tell them it is
like owning a Rolex - you wouldn't understand until you owned one.
I also believe there is much hype in the media about hybrids spreading
misinformation. I don't believe
the vehicles are selling that great in Houston, because they are just too
overpriced. Toyota car lots in
Houston are full of hybrid Prius' collecting dust.
I can vouch that in the summertime in Houston in 100 degree weather, my
hybrid sucks. I have to shut the AC off
almost everyday for about 15 minutes to let the battery build up a charge.
I don't believe this is
a problem with the other hybrids, just the Insight with its 1 liter engine.
My overall mileage has dropped to 42.9 miles per gallon, but my last couple
of tanks in the heat of the
summer I only got 40 mpg. ( I have never had a tune-up ).
I am certain, that the hybrid car will be around for a few years. The auto
industry still had some work to do in educating the public,
making the cars more user friendly, and increasing the mpg. I would
like to see a control knob to adjust
the % the electric motor is assisting, and that the car has the option to
idle on electric power only. I also
want to see more AC and DC power outlets with fuses that are easy to
replace. I also want to be able to drive the
car when I run out of gas. That should be mandatory on all hybrids.
I hate pushing an electric car down the shoulder
of a busy freeway. In Texas, where the sun often shines in the summer,
it would seem having a solar panel on the roof
of the car could at least provide a trickle charge to the battery pack.
The Toyota dealer let me take off in the car by myself. If Toyota
really has a long waiting list for this car, then why would they do
that? Why would they let someone put unnecessary mileage on the car?
I had never driven a $ 46,000 car. Maybe in 10 years, I
will be able to afford a used one.
David Locklear
P.S. I saw a new Hummer H3 going down the road last week. It
looked pretty good from a distance.
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