Hybrid Saturn?? I don't need no stinking hybrid

[philip1]

Last tank 31.707 mpg the Aura greenline only gets 32 mpg.

[Robman]

LOL, I just calculated mine. I get 17.1 mpg. God I need a tune.

[philip1]

Originally Posted by Robman

LOL, I just calculated mine. I get 17.1 mpg. God I need a tune.

HP costs doesn't it?

good to see the black beast still kicking asphalt

[Robman]

this car won't die any time soon. it's actually probably going to go into storage for 4 years. last time I checked my mileage I got about 20 mpg. I should check my plugs. I run 91 octane all the time now.

[bigfatdave]

Originally Posted by philip1

Last tank 31.707 mpg the Aura greenline only gets 32 mpg.

bu ... bu ... but what about the carbons?
algore sez teh carbons are bad!
.........
This is a wonderful axample of how most hybrids fail the TCO test ... how much extra is the GL version?
Figuring $3/gal gas ... how many miles before you break even with 0.3mpg difference?

[philip1]

I don't see any benefit in adding toxic batteries to an overweight and underpowered car just to gain what 3mpg over the normal 4-cyl model. To add insult to injury I am not even going all out for milage if I do I hope to see 40mpg lets see the overweight hybrid do that.

[fred2003]

Hybrids,for the most part, are overrated.
My bone stock 5 year old V-6 gets 25 mpg without even trying.

[Cincy Saturn]

If I set my cruise at 55 and drive on the interstate I have gotten 38 mpg on a 100 mile trek I drive all of the time. Set the cruise to 65 ad I drop down to 35 mpg. I get 25 when I drive city.

[L200Pilot]

Originally Posted by Cincy Saturn

If I set my cruise at 55 and drive on the interstate I have gotten 38 mpg on a 100 mile trek I drive all of the time.

If I set my cruise at 55 and drive on the interstate here, I'll certainly get flipped off and might get my back window shot out.

[unkle bik]

Originally Posted by Robman

LOL, I just calculated mine. I get 17.1 mpg. God I need a tune.

LOL!
Methinks that turbo makes it fun to drive.

Winter gas, cold weather, and short trips to work have knocked my mpg down to 24 overall.

Got 35mpg on a trip to the Carolinas ths summer.

[Robman]

Originally Posted by unkle bik

LOL!
Methinks that turbo makes it fun to drive.

I do have a lead foot and a tendency to scare people when they drive with me. 17 MPG is the reason this car is NOT getting shipped to Italy. At $5 a Euro liter I would be screwed.

[L81]

Originally Posted by Robman

I do have a lead foot and a tendency to scare people when they drive with me. 17 MPG is the reason this car is NOT getting shipped to Italy. At $5 a Euro liter I would be screwed.

What you going to Italy for? I want to say military...but I'm not 100%

[s3nfo]

Originally Posted by fred2003

Hybrids,for the most part, are overrated.
My bone stock 5 year old V-6 gets 25 mpg without even trying.

My bone stock 3 year old Prius gets 50 without even trying and almost the same off the line as my V-6 LW. You do realize that electric motors give you instant torque vice have to wait for revs to build with gas right......

[QUOTE=I don't see any benefit in adding toxic batteries to an overweight and underpowered car just to gain what 3mpg over the normal 4-cyl model. To add insult to injury I am not even going all out for milage if I do I hope to see 40mpg lets see the overweight hybrid do that. QUOTE]

See above about instant torque. I've driven an EV-1, Insight and own a Prius and I'd never use the term "underpowered". Anyone who does doesn't understand torque curves of electric motors. 40 mpg, not a problem, without even trying, 50 mpg, not a problem without even trying. We've seen 62 on the Prius regularly around town, but have to work to get that and best I've done while really trying hard and doing everything possible to keep the ICE from coming on while economizing batteries was 77mpg for 5 miles. Let's see your underpowered 4 cyl with the well right skewed torque curve do that.

[philip1]

[QUOTE=s3nfo;1205565]My bone stock 3 year old Prius gets 50 without even trying and almost the same off the line as my V-6 LW. You do realize that electric motors give you instant torque vice have to wait for revs to build with gas right......

Originally Posted by I don't see any benefit in adding toxic batteries to an overweight and underpowered car just to gain what 3mpg over the normal 4-cyl model. To add insult to injury I am not even going all out for milage if I do I hope to see 40mpg lets see the overweight hybrid do that. QUOTE

See above about instant torque. I've driven an EV-1, Insight and own a Prius and I'd never use the term "underpowered". Anyone who does doesn't understand torque curves of electric motors. 40 mpg, not a problem, without even trying, 50 mpg, not a problem without even trying. We've seen 62 on the Prius regularly around town, but have to work to get that and best I've done while really trying hard and doing everything possible to keep the ICE from coming on while economizing batteries was 77mpg for 5 miles. Let's see your underpowered 4 cyl with the well right skewed torque curve do that.

the title read "HYBRID SATURN I don't need no stinking hybrid"

and to address your Prius... Diesel VW gets 50+ without trying is cheaper and doesn't carry toxic nicad batteries. I too have driven powerful electric only vehicles and yes they are impressive(12.56 1/4 mile at the time). Pure electric cars have a range issue. Hybrids cure that if they are a true hybrid GM has yet to show a real hybrid. the aura vue and even the chev truck "hybrids" are light hybrids not a true hybrid (like the prius)





BTW what is the replacement cost of the battery pack in your prius? mine was $60 and they installed it too.

[fred2003]

You tell 'em Philip !!

[1AuraOwner]

Originally Posted by philip1

Hybrids cure that if they are a true hybrid GM has yet to show a real hybrid. the aura vue and even the chev truck "hybrids" are light hybrids not a true hybrid (like the prius)

philip hit the nail on the head with this one. The prius has a 300V system. The Vue/Aura hybrid system's are a 36 volt system....It is basically 3 12 V batteries tied in series to make 36 volts....Add to this the fact that there is actually a 200 amp fuse tied in with the batteries, meaning they don't put out very much juice at any one time....I'm guessing 100-150 amps during auto stop mode... The Saturn Hybrids do not run the vehicle. They add "auto stop" to stop the engine while idling and power assist... When giving the car gas from a stop it assists the engine to help move the vehicle...Add to this the regenerative braking to charge the battery which puts a large load on the engine also takes fuel.. They are really nothing more than a large tax write off and a way to get a vehicle for cheaper.

[PaulGraz]

Originally Posted by philip1

Last tank 31.707 mpg the Aura greenline only gets 32 mpg.

That would have to be highway miles. The hybrids don't help much on the highway, they really only help at low speeds (city driving)

But I do agree that the current hybrid trend isn't for me. I'd rather have a pure electric car. I would have gone for a EV1 if I wasn't on the wrong coast...

[philip1]

actually the 31.707 was in mixed driving about half city half highway

[s3nfo]

[QUOTE=philip1;1205887]

Originally Posted by s3nfo

the title read "HYBRID SATURN I don't need no stinking hybrid"

and to address your Prius... Diesel VW gets 50+ without trying is cheaper and doesn't carry toxic nicad batteries. I too have driven powerful electric only vehicles and yes they are impressive(12.56 1/4 mile at the time). Pure electric cars have a range issue. Hybrids cure that if they are a true hybrid GM has yet to show a real hybrid. the aura vue and even the chev truck "hybrids" are light hybrids not a true hybrid (like the prius)

BTW what is the replacement cost of the battery pack in your prius? mine was $60 and they installed it too.

Ooops, your ignorance is showing. My Prius doesn't have toxic NICAD batteries either.
The traction batteries in hybrids are an integral part of the drive train, comparing replacement of hybrid batteries to replacement of non-hybrid batteries is just dumb, comparing apples to oranges. The direct comparison is the small, garden tractor 12 volt battery in the Prius, which is about $60 to replace they'll install it too (oh, and it'll last nearly forever since it's not used much).
A better comparison would be how much would it cost to replace your transmission, but as far as I know, we don't know what the real replacement cost of the traction battery pack is, since no one's ever reported having to pay to replace one on any of the hybrid lists I read, not even the guy who's using Prius' for taxis in New York with well over 150K miles on them last time he reported in......

[1AuraOwner]

Originally Posted by s3nfo

Ooops, your ignorance is showing. My Prius doesn't have toxic NICAD batteries either.
The traction batteries in hybrids are an integral part of the drive train, comparing replacement of hybrid batteries to replacement of non-hybrid batteries is just dumb, comparing apples to oranges. The direct comparison is the small, garden tractor 12 volt battery in the Prius, which is about $60 to replace they'll install it too (oh, and it'll last nearly forever since it's not used much).
A better comparison would be how much would it cost to replace your transmission, but as far as I know, we don't know what the real replacement cost of the traction battery pack is, since no one's ever reported having to pay to replace one on any of the hybrid lists I read, not even the guy who's using Prius' for taxis in New York with well over 150K miles on them last time he reported in......

Prius batteries use Nimh batteries which contain nickel and some cobalt. Both are toxic. Especially the Cobalt. Companies like Toyota are considering going to a LI-ION battery which are also toxic batteries..
While it's true a Nicad battery is more toxic, You can't say the hybrid batteries are non-toxic...Cobalt can actually get into plants and/or animals and move up the food chain.
Also yes the Prius does have a "transmission" that moves the vehicle..The "transmission" must still be powered to move..Weather the batteries are internal or external to the transmission is irrevelant, so the relation to an automotic transmission is null.
Are "true" hybrids like the prius and Large Gm Suv's more beneficial to the environment than regulaur cars? Probably for the short term... This is debatable and depends on who you ask....Hybrids are not the "wave of the future"...Personally, I don't see Hybrids (as we know them today) being around in 20+ years...I don't see ethenal being a major fuel source either.

If I had to make a bet I'd put my money on a fuel cell of some sort.....Of course this will be after someone figures out how to break down the atoms of the cells without making it explosive....