Survey: Many hybrid shoppers have 'unrealistic expectations'

Survey: Many hybrid shoppers have 'unrealistic expectations'
Power surveyed 4,000 people in July who said they intend to buy a new vehicle in the next two years. More than half (57 percent) said they would consider buying a hybrid, 49 percent said they'd consider a vehicle that burns an E85 ethanol blend and 12 percent said they'd consider a diesel car or truck.

Consumers said they would expect to pay $5,250 more for a hybrid than a similar gasoline-only model. The actual premiums automakers charge for hybrids range from $3,000 to $10,000, Power said.

But those same potential buyers said they expect a hybrid to get 28 more miles per gallon than a gasoline-only car. Hybrid owners have told Power their improvement averages about 9 mpg.

The same thinking holds true for diesels, Power's report said. Potential buyers said they expect a 21 mpg improvement with a diesel engine, while real owners say it's closer to 12 mpg.

That disconnect is ``a real problem,'' said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com Web site. ``People expect hybrids to be a miracle cure, but they're not.''


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IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 9/6/2006 4:14:37 PM
+1 Boost
i agree but the carpool lane thing is nice

bring me some TDIs damn it


RupertRupert - 9/6/2006 4:19:07 PM
+1 Boost
tdi, cdi, d, tdci, dci, cdti, whatever you call it, give them to america!

see, i did my bit for america :P


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 9/6/2006 4:20:53 PM
+1 Boost
IamEvilHomer- I have a question about the highway lane logic.

Hybrids get better mileage in the city than on the highway because the battery is used more. So if you own one what does the government do? They let it run in the carpool lane at highway speed where it is the least effective and pollutes the most. Logic would dictate those cars should sit in traffic where they emit lower emissions.


RupertRupert - 9/6/2006 4:22:20 PM
+1 Boost
one thing, notcie on the little blue writing with the ads just above the comments?
hybrid cars: find the cheapest video games....

hmmm....

and also, click the link on info about hybrids, and it says:
Hybrid cars are lightweight because they are made of aluminum and plastic.
and also: The manufacturers have taken care of the safety measures of the hybrid cars by providing specialized shaped panels to the body of the car, which provides strength to withstand impact of any kind.


wtf????
hybrid cars are made of plastic and have no crumple zones?


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 9/6/2006 4:33:39 PM
+1 Boost
BMW and the other German makes are bending to marketing dynamics. If you want to get a piece of the pies you got to at least have one for sale. Nothing wrong with that but it seems to be more of a monetary issue rather than technological one.


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/6/2006 4:50:22 PM
+2 Boost
Will,

What is everyone's problem with hybrids?
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I have no problems with hybrids. My issue with hybrids is the way they are marketed to the public. Hybrids are most efficient within the city. Yet, Toyota among others has been marketing them as "fuel savers" and thus confusing the public. Say you bought a Prius and travel to work on a combination of highways, country roads and then the city. Of course you will not achieve the mileage that Toyota claims the car achives. Hence, many buyers feel "cheated". ;)


BMW and even a few other top brands are looking into hybrids as well, even though they ALREADY HAVE DIESELS.
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They're looking into it for COMPETITION REASONS.



jeffy210jeffy210 - 9/6/2006 5:09:11 PM
+2 Boost
Plano - That is what I have been wondering for a long time and the reason why I personally keep pushing for diesel over hybrid. As most texans know, our daily commute may be 25-35 minutes, but unlike other places where it's in traffic, it's usually about a 20 mile drive (case in point I have a 22 mile drive one way). So a diesel is a far better option for me, since most of my driving is all highway.

Has anyone done a comparison of highway milages for diesel vs. hybrid, and then city milages. I'd be interested in seeing each outcome.

And again, why pit diesel against hybrid, put the two together and then you have the best of both worlds!


lexusis350lexusis350 - 9/6/2006 5:39:28 PM
-3 Boost
This means that Mercedes wasted a bunch of money bringing Bluetech to the U.S. No one wants a diesel. Can't they get that through their tiny little brains?


RupertRupert - 9/6/2006 6:07:42 PM
+2 Boost
no one wants a diesel?
keep talking out of your own ass and we can put you in a circus.


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 9/6/2006 6:28:44 PM
+1 Boost
Hybrids are allowed in carpool lanes due to their low emissions. Carpool lanes are created not to increase average mpg, but with the expressed purpose to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality. Hybrids do the latter.

BTW, they also do have exceptional hwy mpg, just not as impressive as the city.


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/6/2006 9:31:30 PM
+1 Boost
Will,

I don't think you can really blame Toyota for marketing the Prius. People in rural areas generally know that hybrids are most efficient in more dense areas. I mean just look around. How many Priuses do you think are being sold in New York compared to say, North Dakota?
----------------------------------------

Obviously hybrids sell more in urban areas, doesn't take a scientist to figure that out.


chewychewy - 9/7/2006 2:31:57 AM
+1 Boost
This is because the EPA currently "overrates" Hybrids (cars with cylinder shut of engies as well to a certain degree) When the new test procedures come out for 2008 model year cars, expect hybrids to come down to reality.


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/7/2006 5:02:45 AM
+1 Boost
If it is that obvious, then why are you complaining about Toyota marketing hybrids?
-----------------------------------------

Where do I complain about Toyota making hybrids? I was criticizing their marketing of hybrids.


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 9/7/2006 8:41:59 AM
+1 Boost
huu76- So you like out the rewards passed out for owning a hybrid? I see just like the gold star my kid brought home from Kindergarten!

Scenario: So if I bought a Prius I would be "Special", and deserve special lanes, tax breaks, kickbacks from my company maybe (an incentive or special parking)? So this is more of a social thing or club rather than an ecofriendly thing? I bet they have a "smart" handshake too, and maybe a neat decoder ring. Man this makes me a part of an elite bunch!

I guess I would rather save the world quietly a bit at a time with a diesel, rather than relish in social perks from a fad.

Just my thoughts...


aefsc430aefsc430 - 9/7/2006 3:35:41 PM
+1 Boost
Why not a turbo diesel/E85 hybrid with half of the parts hollowed out and a .20 drag. lol :D


aefsc430aefsc430 - 9/7/2006 3:39:59 PM
+1 Boost
with a hydrogen fuel cell just in case


RupertRupert - 9/7/2006 4:36:31 PM
+1 Boost
and a wind turbine for good measure. :)


chewychewy - 9/7/2006 11:40:00 PM
+2 Boost
huu76

PLEASE get your facts correct. The EPA doesn't rate the V6 Ford Mustang with a manual transmission @ 36 mpg. The correct answer is 28. Don't lie to make your case look better, it only weakens your argument. Hybrids will get hit the hardest with the new EPA fuel economy regulations for 2008 model year vehicles. The Prius "cheats" the current test by running a portion of it with its gasoline engine turned of, something that is unrealistic in "real world" driving.


SteveSteve - 9/8/2006 12:25:10 AM
+2 Boost
In Europe, where petrol is about 4 times as pricey as in the States, hybrids are largely ignored. That's because Europeans look at the total cost of ownership (TCO), and determine that all factors in, it's cheaper to get a diesel or small petrol powered car.


SteveSteve - 9/8/2006 12:27:36 AM
+2 Boost
That's "cheaper to get and OPERATE", not just the initial purchase price, by the way.


CliffCliff - 9/8/2006 9:42:14 AM
+1 Boost
I don't think this is really a problem, because when you ditch your SUV for a hybrid you do get that 28 mpg boost. I think the problem is in the way that the question is framed. J.D. Power assumes that they mean hybrids in relation to gasoline powered vehicles, but what people really mean is their large vehicles in comparison with a small hybrid vehicle.

Hybrids have made buying a small car cool. People who normally would never buy a Civic or a Corolla are now buying Prius' and Civic Hybrids, because it won't look like the immense step down that buying an economy car would. They are doing something for the environment and buying something with neat technology. People respect it.

It's okay though. Once we get our Plugin hybrids, the benefits will be a lot greater.


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 9/8/2006 3:00:00 PM
+1 Boost
Cliff- you may have a point there, but I hope JD Power considered that.
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