If the message of that website was "Look into hybrid vehicles when shopping for a new car" it would be OK. My problem is that the message is "Pressure the government to force manufacturers to make more hybrids even if people don't want to buy them."

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1982 300SD

I suspect that most of the people using the diesel discussion forum are like me, and do a whole lot of highway driving. Today's hybrid technology is driven by Japan's needs, which mandates a clean city vehicle. If you do all your driving in the city, a Japanese (style) hybrid would do wonders for your fuel usage, and might even pay for the difference in the cost of the car.

Hybrids won't help on the highway unless they use an engine which is just large enough for cruising, so that it runs at at least 80% power most of the time. But if you have that, you need enough battery storage to get you up a mountain. There is no perfect solution.

That bothered me too. I like the idea of being able to choose a vehicle for my needs, and I like the idea of manufacturers being able to make vehicles according to demand. Some regulations are necessary, but a lot of things just work out better without the government forcing them. If hybrids are truly an economic upgrade, then supply and demand will lead to an increase of them from manufacturers.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Or better yet:"give a multi thousand dollar gov't bonus for buying a hybrid SUV and no incentive for buying a small non hybrid car that gets better mpg". Not to mention the SUV hybrids getting several times the tax incentive of a Civic or Insight hybrid. BTW, can the figures quoted on the Accord be right? 24 city with the hybrid?

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'79 300SD W116
'86 190E 2.3-16V W201
'92 300D 2.5 W124
'99 E320 4MATIC S210

that should be 42.

i believe in supply and demand too.....but if the government had not mandated fuel mileage and emissions standards i have no doubt that the us manufacturers would still be building big heavy v8s with carburators. the modern high performance car we all enjoy today is a direct result of government regulations.

and the low handling and braking performance of american cars is a direct result of the government mandated speed limits.

the excellent high speed performance of german cars is a direct result of the lack of a speed limit on the autobahns.

so you see, supply and demand only goes so far.

the big corporations were polluting the waterways so much that before the environmental laws, the deleware river (or one of those big ones out east) actually caught on fire because of so much pollution floating on it.

my $.02.

and i still say in not too many years hybrids will be very common and just as reliable as what we have now.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Sorry I was incorrect, the city is 29 MPG not 24MPG for the hybrid

The figures are quoted from the Honda website. The Hybrid is very fast, not economical, but fast.

The Accord 4 and 6 cylinder
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_full_specs.asp?ModelName=Accord+Sedan&Category=3

The Accord hybrid
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_full_specs.asp?ModelName=Accord+Hybrid&Category=3

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car