Shopping for a Hybrid
 

My Miata is a great fun little car... problem being it is not great for commuting on the freeway to work every day (I am very familiar with every seam in the 20 miles of concrete between my home and work).

Long story short it just makes sense to sell it off and something more comfortable/reliable.
[We can’t do electric because our electrical at the house is not robust enough to handle a charger]
Criteria is must get 40+MPG
So the candidates are:

Honda
Toyota
Ford

I would like to consider diesel but my wife is not big on that idea… that and the only small diesels I see are the VW’s.

Anyone have recommendations?

My 08 Camry Hybrid turned 100K on the odeo yesterday. I get closer to 36 MPG in LA traffic. Other than tire, filters, fluids it has needed nothing. They use them as taxis in NYC and I've seen some with 300K+ on the odeo. The struts on those taxis are shot to hell but what you expect in NYC.

Check out the ford CMax. Ford is pumping out great cars these days.

Are they still making the Camry Hybrid?
On autotrader I'm only seeing the Civic and the Insight.

I'm okay buying used, I told my wife about the 300k mile life some people are getting out of the batteries. However someone planted the battery paranoia seed in her head and she wants to buy new... however when she sees the price tag on a new hybrid I think she might reconsider.

Chevy Volt - 38 miles per charge. 10 - 12 hours charge time on a normal 110V outlet. 37 MPG after battery runs out and nearly 400 miles range bat and gas. Lots of incentives and it's a great driver. We just got ours and love it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1436648558.jpg

I like the volt... how many Amps does it pull on the 110 outlet when charging?

EDIT: From the GM-Volt website:
There will be a portable 120 V unit (R) that can be plugged into any standard receptacle. It will be able to recharge the car fully in 6 hours at 12 amps or 8 hours at 8 amps.

My wife has a 2014 CMax and loves it. Ford considers it their "mini-mini-van" with higher seating (my wife loves how easy it is to get in and out), lots of glass to give you an airy feeling in a small car and folding seats so it can carry a lot when you want (my wife has a horse and hauls grain, hay, saddles....amazing....sorta like a clown car). We've taken it on some regional trips....getting 43-45 for the trips. Her computer says the car has averaged 43.1 mpg to date. Has surprising acceleration and responsive steering.

My biggest irritation has been the Microsoft infotainment operating system (improved since then). It does have a somewhat larger turning radius than you'd expect. Overall, decent car that has a nicer driving experience than a friend's Prius that I've driven. (So...you do get more performance with a larger engine--but not as good mileage as a Prius.) There are times I ponder about getting a CMax for myself for everyday driving.

diesel cruze or VW (cue the haters). Drive both before buying something else.

My wife wanted a Prius and I got her one 2012 Brand new level 4 and since she got it the average around town has been 43~45 MPG and I have driven it to Arizona and got 51 MPG.
Compared to the lower level2 and 3 I like this one way better. Leather seats, sunroof, heads up display.


Dave

A Volt might work for you. My employee plugs his into the one outside outlet in his 1930s house. It still has a fuse box! It draws 8 amps, so any basic 15 amp circuit will handle it as long as there is nothing else big on it.
My Volt get 40-41 mpg on the highway in "hold" (gas engine only) mode. So you could get near the mileage you want on gas and still plug in when the opportunity arises.

You're an intelligent person who thinks for himself, wouldn't overall cost of ownership be a much more important measurement than simply MPG?

On Toyota.com two models of Camry Hybrid.

I have a 2011 TDI golf and don't recall ever getting under 40 mpg on a tank in mixed driving. I don't look like a dork going down the road, have a reals suspension, 225 tires and get to row a 6 speed still. It is okay in stop and go as well, as it has so much torque that you can roll around in 2nd for long stretches.

If it HAD to be a hybrid, I'd go with the Prius. The used ones are definitely a better buy than a used TDI.

G

After a day of searching the internet this (CMax) looks like a good fit for us.

I would prefer a diesel... but this is going to be my wife's car... and the VW haters here have me concerned about purchasing a VW.

If your wife doesn't drive stick, I would not go with a VW anyway. That DSG has me scared. The Cmax looks pretty damn ugly, but the beauty is in the eyes of the beer-holder. I have a hunting buddy who bought the plug in Cmax to get on the HOV lane and he likes the car.

G

Meh. I owned several watercooled VWs. They worked just fine, and worked like every other German car. You maintain them, and fix what breaks immediately. For a couple of those cars, I think the only thing I ever did other than wear items was a fuel pump. One could argue that a fuel pump is also a wear item, I suppose. TDIs are nice, and they really are nice to drive, especially in traffic. But if your wife isn't interested in diesel, then don't. Diesel can be a PITA, no lie.

At 8 amps for 8 hours? How much is that in dollars and how far will it go? Nice thing about that is you can use the Science Center's plug ins? My sister bought a Prius. She drives from Montrose to SC Medical Center 3 times a week. She loves the thing. I must say, I hated those things, ugly with tiny tires. I drove them to LAX some time ago in it, I must say, its a pretty damn good car. Credit must given where credit is due. If I was in the market for a car, those would be my choice accept for the Vdub. The little Chevy diesel would be a strong choice for me since I have a diesel truck. I really like those diesel motors.

8 amps for 8 hours is about 7Kwh.
That's about 25 miles in a Volt. Prices vary, but assuming 10 cents/Kwh, it costs 70cents. That's about 35 miles per dollar.

40 miles per gallon on $3 gas is about 13 miles per dollar.

I like my 07 Camry hybrid. Suspension could be a bit stiffer, but oh well.

Scott, what is the tire size on the Miata?

You might consider getting tires with higher sidewalls. A higher sidewall makes a big difference in a Porsche 914, which is very similar to the Mazda Miata in terms of body size and weight. A 60 sidewall is a good compromise between comfort and handling, and a 65 sidewall would be very comfortable but of course the handling (cornering) would not be crisp. Many people opt for the comfort of a 65 sidewall. Whatever keeps your lady happy. ;)

_