Current hybrids are a dead-end technology. Why pay to carry around
all those heavy batteries when a turbodiesel gets as good or
sometimes better fuel economy AND range?
Hybrids are very particular to how their driven too.... To the
both of them, I say "no thanks". Of course, I always really liked
both the Insight's and the new Prius' body styles. Especially the
Insight. Always reminded me of a love child between a Citroen and a Honda CRX.
I've love to build a hot-rod Insight. Slick aero CRX-like body,
very lightweight body panels. Remove the batteries, insert an
Integra Type-R motor in it (about 250 hp) and that'd be quite a
little 2-seat rocket. :)
Along those lines, I'm surprised that the Smart doesn't get better
fuel economy.
At 02:04 2008-06-15, Harry Wyeth wrote:
I used to own a Honda Insight and now own a Prius. Yes, the reason
the former is no longer sold is that it only seated two people, you
could never carry a child due to the air bag, there was very little
storage space, and it lost oomph going uphill on freeways. It was
also a pain to get into.
I got usually 55 mpg (? L/100 km) on the Insight, and usually 50 mpg
on the Prius, which has lots of room, is loaded with safety doodads,
and is really a much better car. Its gasoline engine is 1.5 L vs
the 3 banger 1.0 L on the Insight.
But the Insight was perfect on metric conversion, whereas the Prius
is sadly lacking. On the Insight, a push of a button converted
EVERYTHING to metric. Boom.
If you are thinking of buying a Prius--do it now.
HARRY WYETH
