Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 After taking a job with a large commute I had to get rid of my Jeep as I was only getting about 15 to the gallon plus the Jeep had no ABS and very off-road biased tyres - not the ideal car for commuting on Canada's busiest highway ! So I got a Ford Escape Hybrid, 34 to the gallon so far without changing my driving style to much and all the space of a small SUV, apparently 38-40 MPH can be achieved but thats from driving like a lentil munching tree hugger ! It's dull to drive but I have the Boxster for the fun drives, the build quality isn't great but it was about £ 17,000 new and comes with AC, 6-disc MP3 changer and a few other toys. It works like the Pirus with a petrol engine and a battery which charges under braking and the switches on up to 40 mph and when slowing from higher speeds and produces about 60% less emmisions than the petrol equivalent. 0-60 is a pedestrian 9.5 secs but it is a great commuting car with the bonus that the worse the traffic gets the more I save in fuel ! Here's a couple of snaps: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Another: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 My cars a hybrid too. It burns rubber AND Petrol..... (sorry seen on the back of a Muscle Car some time ago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] apparently 38-40 MPH can be achieved but thats from driving like a lentil munching tree hugger ! [/ QUOTE ] I knew they were slow, but not that slow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] My cars a hybrid too. It burns rubber AND Petrol..... (sorry seen on the back of a Muscle Car some time ago) [/ QUOTE ] Good sticker it would have looked good on my outgoing Jeep .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] apparently 38-40 MPH can be achieved but thats from driving like a lentil munching tree hugger ! [/ QUOTE ] I knew they were slow, but not that slow [/ QUOTE ] Good spot Bazza, a freudian slip on my part ! I meant to say 38-40 MPG ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Rubicon Spec Jeeps are very nice, if a tad too expensive in my book.... What gas in Ontario up to now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] apparently 38-40 MPH can be achieved but thats from driving like a lentil munching tree hugger ! [/ QUOTE ] I knew they were slow, but not that slow [/ QUOTE ] Good spot Bazza, a freudian slip on my part ! I meant to say 38-40 MPG ! [/ QUOTE ] eyes of the hawk here thats a lot of motor for £17k - looks pretty funky from those pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 It's $ 1.08 a liter for the cheap stuff and about $ 1.18 for the higher octane petrol, I miss the Jeep but I was going through 2.5 tanks a week and prices are only going up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriGGa Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Hey, that looks pretty cool, they dont do em in this country do they? Is that a navigator next to it? If so.. is it yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Hey, that looks pretty cool, they dont do em in this country do they? Is that a navigator next to it? If so.. is it yours? [/ QUOTE ] Its my wifes Explorer, just a bigger version really and does about 14 to the gallon ! luckily that ones comes with a fuel card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Do you have to plug it in and charge the batteries when you park up at night, or is there enough generation from normal driving to keep them topped up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] apparently 38-40 MPH can be achieved but thats from driving like a lentil munching tree hugger ! [/ QUOTE ] I knew they were slow, but not that slow [/ QUOTE ] Good spot Bazza, a freudian slip on my part ! I meant to say 38-40 MPG ! [/ QUOTE ] eyes of the hawk here thats a lot of motor for £17k - looks pretty funky from those pics [/ QUOTE ] Cheers Bazza It's not a bad car but I couldn't have got it without having the Boxster for fun ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Do you have to plug it in and charge the batteries when you park up at night, or is there enough generation from normal driving to keep them topped up? [/ QUOTE ] No charging at night - it works from the energy created from braking, this saves brake wear too and as the engine is off whilst at low speeds the service intervals are longer also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Gas in New Jersey is up to $2.85 for 87 and $3.10 for 92.... Creeping up daily again too....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Gas in New Jersey is up to $2.85 for 87 and $3.10 for 92.... Creeping up daily again too....... [/ QUOTE ] I was in Phoenix a few weeks back and the locals were moaning like hell about the $3 mark being hit - he went quiet when I explained what we pay here another thing, fuel rated as low as 87 - can that still be called petrol? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Gas in New Jersey is up to $2.85 for 87 and $3.10 for 92.... Creeping up daily again too....... [/ QUOTE ] does pricing depend on time there ? in Toronto prices are high in the morning and weekends and cheaper in the evening, I fill up on a Wednesday evening, it doen't save much but It all counts ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Gas in New Jersey is up to $2.85 for 87 and $3.10 for 92.... Creeping up daily again too....... [/ QUOTE ] I was in Phoenix a few weeks back and the locals were moaning like hell about the $3 mark being hit - he went quiet when I explained what we pay here another thing, fuel rated as low as 87 - can that still be called petrol? [/ QUOTE ] I think they rate in differently here but there isn't a 100 equivelent ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Yes octane rating is different, the A4 says minimum 92, so I think thats about the same as 95 in the UK..... different way of measuring octane.... Ron or Roz or something. Yes around the weekends prices seem to rise a few cents, particularly now as people are driving on vacation.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Do you have to plug it in and charge the batteries when you park up at night, or is there enough generation from normal driving to keep them topped up? [/ QUOTE ] No charging at night - it works from the energy created from braking, this saves brake wear too and as the engine is off whilst at low speeds the service intervals are longer also. [/ QUOTE ] ....My driving style is extremely light on the brakes! I'm not one of those sheep who keeps their brakes on constantly down every little hill. How does brake wear get saved if their use is what's needed to create the necessary energy? There's a certain irony in running both a 'green' hybrid vehicle and a Porsche, but I understand your reasons of economics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] does pricing depend on time there ? in Toronto prices are high in the morning and weekends and cheaper in the evening, I fill up on a Wednesday evening, it doen't save much but It all counts ! [/ QUOTE ] ....Doesn't that mean that everyone fills up in the evenings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Do you have to plug it in and charge the batteries when you park up at night, or is there enough generation from normal driving to keep them topped up? [/ QUOTE ] No charging at night - it works from the energy created from braking, this saves brake wear too and as the engine is off whilst at low speeds the service intervals are longer also. [/ QUOTE ] ....My driving style is extremely light on the brakes! I'm not one of those sheep who keeps their brakes on constantly down every little hill. How does brake wear get saved if their use is what's needed to create the necessary energy? There's a certain irony in running both a 'green' hybrid vehicle and a Porsche, but I understand your reasons of economics. [/ QUOTE ] When you press the brake instead of the pads engaging the disks a generator re-charges the battery before applying the brakes, the break pedal is electronically controlled to keep the balance of regenerating the batteries and actually braking, it also charges when you let your foot of the accelerator as the car starts to slow. ( Hope that makes sense ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] does pricing depend on time there ? in Toronto prices are high in the morning and weekends and cheaper in the evening, I fill up on a Wednesday evening, it doen't save much but It all counts ! [/ QUOTE ] ....Doesn't that mean that everyone fills up in the evenings? [/ QUOTE ] Strangely enough no, I'm sad and plan my fill ups but that's because I do a fair few miles but I guess some people don't plan or dont care but the swing from morning to evening can be as much as 10 cents a liter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 [/ QUOTE ] Never been a big Wrangler person - but that - I like!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 That Jeep is a classic but to be very honest, hybrid anything doesn't excite me and I want to be excited about a car/vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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