Comments on: Totalled

By: Robert W. Anderson

Robert W. Anderson — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:27:19 +0000

I’ve been really enjoying riding my bike instead of a car, but that isn’t really tenable in the long run. I think a non-Hybrid model is probably the way to go, and we are thinking about a Honda actually. Thanks for sharing your experience.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:18:56 +0000

Robert,
I looked at hybrids 18 mos ago. Went with the standard Civic. I get 40 mpg on the highway, and don’t have to worry about battery life……..

Good luck.

By: Robert W. Anderson

Robert W. Anderson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:30:19 +0000

Thanks for the input, Jason.

I have gotten a fair amount of input from people on this, but it is generally followed with an offer to sell me their car. Um, thanks, @oaktowner.

The key to my original plan was that I would have waited a few years until there were better eco-friendly options. I probably would have gone for a Prius by default, but am leaning towards your suggetion. I might even go for a late-model used car. A used fuel-efficient car may be a good stop-gap between now and when fuel efficiency goes way up.

Another idea I heard last night was to buy a $900 car. I think I’ll pass on that one, @cansmith. I didn’t find out if he was selling one

By: Jason Etheridge

Jason Etheridge — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:42:09 +0000

Given the state of the auto industry, I’m thinking one more “traditional” car–as fuel efficient as possible, possibly diesel–may be the way to go. Rather than get a hybrid now, most of which seem a little dodgy, bide your time until decent plug-in hybrids or fully electrics are available. That’ll require the requisite breakthroughs in battery technology, which are coming slowly but surely, but it’ll still be several years until they’re affordable (as well as actually worth driving).

In the meantime, another European or a Japanese model could tide you over.