Corolla v Civic v Hyundai/Nissan moeds

  • Thread starter Thread starter RPS
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"Joe" ...
It's also fair to point out that there are Federal tax breaks
available to those that buy hybrids. If those tax breaks are still in
existence (and I believe they are), they greatly enhance the economy
of these vehicles.
Click to expand...

If one is stuck paying the AMT (alternative minimum tax), there is no break
for them.
Tomes
 
Hydrogen can be produced pollution-free with solar cells. Solar array
produces DC power. DC power is used to split water into H and O2. H is used
in fuel cells or whatever. Heck, it burns nicely in internal combustion
engines. Or externally in the Hindenburg. O2 is sold to NASA for their
monkey business. What could be simpler? Alternative methods to produce
energy are easy. All they require is our cleverness and industry. Tough part
is the politics. Here in Houston the normal grocery-getter is an F-350
dually towing a boat. It is easy to hear its one passenger muttering about
the high diesel prices to the clerk at HEB. The most gentle suggestion to
this poor soul that perhaps a smaller vehicle might be in their enlightened
self-interest and well.......you can imagine. We are talking about a driver
who has a Ph.D. in engineering here. From Texas A&M. The best damn school on
earth!
Light rail, interurban, bike paths, golf cart trails, abundant plug-ins for
the electric vehicles, efficient use of our rail freight system to keep the
use of 18 wheelers to a minimum and a zillion other schemes (no hyperbole)
will never come to fruition because we are too ignorant as a species. And
too stubborn.
On the topic of my 2003 Civic Si engine spinning too fast at 80mph: Is it
possible and affordable to put a 6 speed in that little car? I'd be happier
if its revs were closer to 2000 at 80 mph. Anyone have a referral for that
project?
Click to expand...

And you are delusional enough to think there is, or ever will be,
enough solar power available to fuel all the cars onthe road? Then
there is the issue of how much energy it takes to make the solar
cells.....
 
And you are delusional enough to think there is, or ever will be,
enough solar power available to fuel all the cars onthe road? Then
there is the issue of how much energy it takes to make the solar
cells.....
Click to expand...

Mental Health Care professionals call this "a statement posed as a
question". What he meant to say was, "You, Sir, are completely delusional!"
to which I am able to respond. This "question" is meant to confound.
Emotionally challenged people pose their statements as questions in order to
provide themselves "cover" from more intelligent, more aggressive or perhaps
more nearly sane people. This is passive/aggressive behavior. I believe the
most energy we need to expend as a species is the novel, creative human
energy it will take to make our planet a garden instead of a garbage dump. I
believe all humans are served poorly by their "leaders". I also believe that
each person awakens each day with the intention of making their lives, and
their children's lives, as prosperous, comfortable and happy as their
circumstances allow. We'll be OK unless the nukes fly. Then it'll be 'They
are on their way in and no one can bring them back. For the sake of our
country and our way of life, I suggest you get the rest of SAC in after
them. Otherwise, we will be totally destroyed by Red retaliation. My boys
will give you the best kind of start, 1400 megatons worth, and you sure as
hell won't stop them now. So let's get going. There's no other choice. God
willing, we will prevail in peace and freedom from fear and in true health
through the purity and essence of our natural fluids. God bless you all.'
Then he hung up. :)
 
Mental Health Care professionals call this "a statement posed as a
question". What he meant to say was, "You, Sir, are completely delusional!"
to which I am able to respond. This "question" is meant to confound.
Emotionally challenged people pose their statements as questions in order to
provide themselves "cover" from more intelligent, more aggressive or perhaps
more nearly sane people. This is passive/aggressive behavior. I believe the
most energy we need to expend as a species is the novel, creative human
energy it will take to make our planet a garden instead of a garbage dump. I
believe all humans are served poorly by their "leaders". I also believe that
each person awakens each day with the intention of making their lives, and
their children's lives, as prosperous, comfortable and happy as their
circumstances allow. We'll be OK unless the nukes fly. Then it'll be 'They
are on their way in and no one can bring them back. For the sake of our
country and our way of life, I suggest you get the rest of SAC in after
them. Otherwise, we will be totally destroyed by Red retaliation. My boys
will give you the best kind of start, 1400 megatons worth, and you sure as
hell won't stop them now. So let's get going. There's no other choice. God
willing, we will prevail in peace and freedom from fear and in true health
through the purity and essence of our natural fluids. God bless you all.'
Then he hung up. :)
Click to expand...

Does that mean the Corolla or the Civic?
 
"Joe" ...

If one is stuck paying the AMT (alternative minimum tax), there is no break
for them.
Tomes
Click to expand...

If one is "stuck" paying the AMT, the price shouldn't be that big of a
deal to them... ;-)
 
Joe said:
If one is "stuck" paying the AMT, the price shouldn't be that big of a
deal to them... ;-)
Click to expand...
I don't disagree. It remains that the tax break is not for everyone, and
more folks need to know that then know it today.
Tomes
 
I don't disagree. It remains that the tax break is not for everyone, and
more folks need to know that then know it today.
Tomes
Click to expand...

My understanding of the tax incentive is that it is limited to the
first 60,000 cars of each model, or maybe the auto maker. The Prius
has gone over that so there is no more incentive.
 
SMS said:
It's a little larger, though it's misleading because the cargo capacity
is higher only if you pile things up so you can't see out the back! It's
still closer to the Corolla in size than the Camry.

Corolla
-------
92.0 cubic feet: passenger compartment
12.3 cubic feet: cargo

Prius
-----
96.2 cubic feet: passenger compartment
16.1 cubic feet: cargo

Camry
Click to expand...

That's correct, the Corolla and Prius are similar, but if you pile
things high in the Prius it has more space for cargo.
I would not do that due to the safety concern of luggage flying forward
in a fast stop.

The Prius has a lot of passenger Cu Ft. forward of the dash, which is
unusable.
Having been a passenger in both, with two & three others, I suggest
they are similar for practical purposes.
As for the driver the previous Corollas didn't fit me comfortably; I'm
5'-11". A similar height friend of mine who has the previous Corolla
confirms that it wouldn't fit me very well as a driver, his shorter wife
drives his.
I've not tried the new Corolla for size.
 
Enrico Fermi said:
On the topic of my 2003 Civic Si engine spinning too fast at 80mph: Is it
possible and affordable to put a 6 speed in that little car? I'd be happier
if its revs were closer to 2000 at 80 mph. Anyone have a referral for that
project?
Click to expand...

I doubt it's engine would have enough torque for less revs at 80 mph.
That's not a legal speed anyway.
 
Elle said:
Wiki does indeed report fuel efficiency was a considered
factor for Volkswagen's, starting as early as the 1930s, and
possibly under orders from Hitler.
Click to expand...

I had three VW Beetles, two 1.1L and one 1.3L; '55, '56, '61.
I've keep very accurate mileage records.

My '95 3.3L Concorde of twice the weight gets the approx. the same
city/hwy MPG as I got with the VWs and of course at a much more
consistent and higher speed, particularly up hills and against the wind.

The VW Beetle had a top speed of about 65mph, it took some time to get
there, couldn't maintain 60mph into a medium head wind, but with a
strong tail wind it could maintain 75-80mph.
 
AS said:
You are rightly concerned about the batteries.

These 270 or so volt batteries have a list price in the $2500 range.
They have 228 cells in series and only one needs to go bad to ruin your
battery assembly. Newer models only use 201.6 volt batteries, ;)

Besides you have the $3400 list price for the inverter and $1100 for the
generator module.

Though the warranty should do good, imagine getting hit with the
prorated prices.
Click to expand...
Yes, those batteries are expensive as well as being dangerous in an
accident.
Think about all the dead weight you carry around, pollution issues
(disposing of the battery), and then, having your system repaired in
case of a failure. We all have heard the stories about a battery not
charging, alternator issues etc with conventional cars. Think about a
system many times more complex...
Click to expand...
In spite of the weight hybrids do very well. There are many reasons for
this, and some of the technology can be applied to mild hybrids to get
much of the fuel savings, without having a huge battery.
With all the problems fuel cells still have, I think hydrogen is the way
to go.
Click to expand...
I live 1km from Ballard, a fuel cell developer.
A few years ago a tanker delivering H to their plant developed a leak
and fire at the hose fitting. The area 0.5km around was shut down for
12+ hrs until it burned off.
Fuel cells need much further development and then there is the high
cost, plus a required refueling network for this dangerous fuel.

IMO the new diesels, developed in Germany will be the next fuel saving
hot vehicle. Over 50% of people in Europe are now buying them.
The 2L VW diesel performs very well in the small mid size cars.
 
I doubt it's engine would have enough torque for less revs at 80 mph.
That's not a legal speed anyway.
Click to expand...

That depends on where you are. There are a few states with speed
limits of 75, which means 80 would be a pretty normal speed. In some
parts of Texas, the posted limit is 80.

I'd agree, though, that the engine would be able to provide enough
torque to keep the car going 80 @ 2000 RPM. Just not a big enough
engine.
 
Josh said:
I had three VW Beetles, two 1.1L and one 1.3L; '55, '56, '61.
I've keep very accurate mileage records.

My '95 3.3L Concorde of twice the weight gets the approx. the same
city/hwy MPG as I got with the VWs and of course at a much more
consistent and higher speed, particularly up hills and against the wind.

The VW Beetle had a top speed of about 65mph, it took some time to get
there, couldn't maintain 60mph into a medium head wind, but with a
strong tail wind it could maintain 75-80mph.
Click to expand...


The point wasn't that anybody (except VW) claimed that the Beetle
got great gas mileage; it was that VW used fuel economy as a selling
point. As I noted earlier, the Beetle was pretty unimpressive in the
fuel economy department. It was better than the big American cars, but
no better than many faster, larger imports. I'm sure it was worse than
some of them...
 
Josh S said:
IMO the new diesels, developed in Germany will be the next fuel saving
hot vehicle. Over 50% of people in Europe are now buying them.
The 2L VW diesel performs very well in the small mid size cars.
Click to expand...

I would have agreed with you in the past, but diesel is selling for $1 a
gallon more than regular right now. At current prices, a gas engine at 40
mpg costs the same in fuel per mile as a diesel at 50 mpg. I don't know if
it has changed in Europe, but gas and diesel were just pennies apart per
liter last year, diesel was 1.16 Euro gas was 1.22 per liter.

Fuel oil cost was exactly the same as diesel too. In milder climates it is
not uncommon for homeowners to buy 5 or 10 gallons at a time at the filling
station as needed.
 
Josh S said:
I had three VW Beetles, two 1.1L and one 1.3L; '55, '56,
'61.
I've keep very accurate mileage records.

My '95 3.3L Concorde of twice the weight gets the approx.
the same
city/hwy MPG as I got with the VWs and of course at a much
more
consistent and higher speed, particularly up hills and
against the wind.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the report. :-)
The VW Beetle had a top speed of about 65mph, it took
some time to get
there, couldn't maintain 60mph into a medium head wind,
but with a
strong tail wind it could maintain 75-80mph.
Click to expand...

Ha!
 
Edwin Pawlowski said:
I would have agreed with you in the past, but diesel is selling for $1 a
gallon more than regular right now. At current prices, a gas engine at 40
mpg costs the same in fuel per mile as a diesel at 50 mpg. I don't know if
it has changed in Europe, but gas and diesel were just pennies apart per
liter last year, diesel was 1.16 Euro gas was 1.22 per liter.

Fuel oil cost was exactly the same as diesel too. In milder climates it is
not uncommon for homeowners to buy 5 or 10 gallons at a time at the filling
station as needed.
Click to expand...

I agree with you that if diesel is selling for too high premium, using
diesel doesn't make sense.
Here in Canada diesel has recently crept a bit higher than regular
gasoline, but I believe it's more of a supply situation as diesel use is
increasing. In the USA you seem to be facing more variability in fuel
pricing than here in Canada.

For urban driving a properly sized diesel gets about 30% more MPG than
an equivalent performance gasoline engine.
The Jeep Cherokee 2 wd EPA figures are:
Gas 3.7L- 15/20
Gas 5.7L- 13/19
Diesel 3L- 18/23 Performance is close to the gas 5.7L.
 
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