Who Needs a Hybrid???

no, it's cvt, continuously variable transmission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission

 

If someone needs power steering on a 1,900 lb car, they have a serious problem.

Ah, but I do have insurance and a good running gen2 will bring $2,500
any day of the week on eBay, especially one from rust free Texas...

JT

 

All I had to do to get it going was replace the receiver dryer, flush
the evaporator (the condenser is new --- $15 on ebay), add a return line
filter to protect the compressor and yep, it took the R-134 and is cool
as can be.

I love it!!!

Especially when charity begins at home...

<G>

JT

(Who is about to spiff up another $200 '82 Civic DX just purchased for a
quick eBay turn...)

 

It depends on the car. I had a '76 toyota corona 'wagon' w/out assist whose
steering wheel could only be turned while the car was rolling.

Do you have some bizzare notion that a 3000 lb. car can absolutely need power
steering, but a 2000 lb. never needs it? It's only a 30% difference.

 

Why would one turn a steering wheel if one is not going anywhere?

JT

 

Parking.

 

I had 2 83 tercel 4WD wagons. They did not have power steering. They
needed it. They also needed a bigger engine and decent brakes.

 

My honda hybrid always get atleast 45 mpg, sometimes closer to 50 in
the winter. http://www.safelotvegas.com/index.php

 

You still have to move the car to park...

JT

 

Tell me your total cost per mile...

JT

 

Tell me why I should accept your argument that cost/mile is the single
most important aspect of driving.

 

Since when does a simple question indicate an argument?

JT
\

 

When you keep repeating it.

 

Tell me why I should accept your argument that cost/mile is the single
most important aspect of driving.[/QUOTE]

It is when you're talking about comparable cars.

For example, Civic hybrid vs non-hybrid, brand new. Average it out over
however long you plan to use the car and how many miles you expect to
drive it. Total fuel costs, maintenance, insurance, resale value.

 

It is when you're talking about comparable cars.
[/QUOTE]
nonsense.
luxury car buyers don't care about cost/mile;
nor do sports car buyers, off road vehicle buyers, tow vehicle buyers,
etc.
a large number of family car buyers put safety or comfort/convenience
ahead of cost/mile.

very few car buyers will actually work out cost/mile for vehicles under
consideration.

JT is trying to rationalize driving a shitbox.

 

You're not capable of answering it???

JT

 

Heh heh heh...

Just continue to float in your little fantasy world while I divert my
dicretionary spending to other wasteful practices such as traveling,
antique cars etc.

Yep, you're tossin' up a good contention thar...

JT

 

Apparently my little fantasy world takes into account those whose
resources are such that cost/mile doesn't necessarily impact
discretionary spending.

You know, those who can afford not to drive a shitbox.

You are not being honest with the group because you are not counting
your labor hours in support of the old Civic as a cost.

 

Probably because those are not "labor hours" but rather
hours of joy. JT's Classic Civic pays for itself, given all
those hours of fun it offers.

That's one big reason why I keep my old '91 Civic: A new car
would be really boring. I wouldn't learn anything from it,
except how Americans are sucked into thinking that more
electronics necessarily means more convenience.

 

Does a buncha feelgood geegaws make it a better car? Electric
mirrors, power windows, entertainment centers, self dimming
headlights, seat warmers, rear window washer/wipers, yada yada. All
that crap adds weight and does nothing to improve perfomance. I'm not
saying one shouldn't have these things if they want them. That's
luxury. But, don't knock utility or suplant it with useless weight
adding crap. The reason old cars (including your porsche) got good
mileage is because they weren't humping around 800 lbs of frivolous
crap. My '87 Si (250K mi) still gets 35 mph. Why? It doesn't weigh
a ton! It only weighs a mere 2/3rds of a ton.

I will make a concession to structural improvements. That's value
added weight. I dread the possibility of ever getting in a serious
accident in my beloved hatchback, so I drive like an old lady. I'd
like the option of buying a car with good structural integrity, but no
power crap or luxury doodahs. Just good performance and economy. It's
entirely possible. Toyota is doing it. Why not Honda?

nb