10 Cars to Beat High Gas Prices

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Originally Posted by kexodusc

I've never seen or driven a Volt in person, but it looks like quite the vehicle. I have rented a few Chevy Cruzes and I have to admit they are a very nice car for what they are.

That Leaf is a weird looking vehicle. A 100 mile range would satisfy my need for a 2nd vehicle. I doubt anyone around here would want to work on it though.

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With the Volt, it's too bad that the car became a political lightning rod after President Obama went to the Chevy plant for a photo op. There's a lot of class-leading technology that GM put into that car, and the Volt had been in development well before GM's bankruptcy. I can't remember the last time that an American car company came out with a vehicle this far ahead of what foreign rivals are offering.

GM was very deliberate about releasing the vehicle in selected markets first before widely deploying it across the rest of North America. That might be why you haven't seen one yet -- the Volt had been unavailable in many markets until only a few months ago. Here in California, I see them just about every day. And more and more parking areas have added charging stations (no surprise in Silicon Valley) in the past year.

Sales had been slow, even with federal and state tax credits. But, Chevy now has lease deals going for under $400/month. That along with gas prices spiking have spurred strong sales for the Volt since then.

I haven't driven the Volt, but I have sat in it at the auto show. Some parts look cheap, but others look very futuristic and substantial. Under the hood, it's also very different than other cars I've seen (just check out those hefty power cables -- they look even more imposing in person and after you remove the covers).

http://www.prlog.org/11606851-comfor...and-finish.jpg

http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/7/f/L/2/ag_11volt_engine.JPG

I think pure electrics will remain a novelty item until the range improves. Sitting in the Tesla Model S made me a believer in the possibilities. 300+ mile range on a single charge, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, completely flat floor, all touchscreen dash, huge trunk up front, plus the option to install two child seats in the rear trunk area for 7-passenger capacity. But, for mainstream cars, it will take a while longer.

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The picture below basically shows the entire drive platform (the battery covers the entire floorpan). The motor and power inverter are tucked between the rear wheels. Add a steering column, and this mockup shows everything needed to drive the car.

http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def...ty_battery.jpg

My 2010 Hyundai elantra has been a champ. Averaging about 38 Hwy and 31 City. If 10 years ago you had told me I'd be riding around in a Hyundai I would have been wondering where my life had taken a turn for the worse. They have stepped up their game in the past couple of years.

Oh goodie, another BOT of the Day

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Originally Posted by Woochifer

The Fusion is a stunning design...

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Yeah. Aston-Martin came up with it years ago with the DB9. :)

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Originally Posted by Woochifer

That along with gas prices spiking have spurred strong sales for the Volt since then.

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For 2011, they barely surpassed annual sales of Ferrari by about 500 units.

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Originally Posted by recoveryone

Let me know when one can do 0-60 under 5 sec and have a nice exhaust note, some of us are just pure motor heads and will always be one.

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I suppose you like being 1st at the next Red Light?

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Originally Posted by E-Stat

Yeah. Aston-Martin came up with it years ago with the DB9

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And when the DB9 came out, Aston Martin was owned by Ford. :yesnod:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...14_%282%29.jpg

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Originally Posted by E-Stat

For 2011, they barely surpassed annual sales of Ferrari by about 500 units.

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For much of 2011, the Volt wasn't even available yet in most markets. The lease deals only kicked in a couple of months ago (retail deliveries more than doubled in March), and now make the car more cost-comparable to other hybrid and electric options.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

I had a 1974 Mazda RX-2 with the rotary engine; (always a conversation piece at the local service stations). A great car over all but It's fuel economy was terrible. It had 3-speed manual. Mostly it would have got much better mileage with a modern 5 or 6-speed.

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Mazda went all in with rotaries in the 70s. And the timing couldn't have been worse, as sales peaked right when the 1973 gas crisis hit. Mazda's fixation on the Wankel engine almost bankrupted the company. I still remember the Mazda small pickup trucks with "Rotary Power" emblazoned on the tail gate.

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets...ocprepubed.jpg

The issue with rotaries is their stop and go fuel economy and emissions. That's why they've been relegated to niche sports cars and specialty applications. But, their inherent light weight, balance, and smooth operation make them potentially ideal as a generator in a hybrid vehicle.

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Originally Posted by Smokey

Owning a truck have its own set of advantages and disadvantages. One major disadvantage is that any time a coworker, friend or family is moving or buying a huge furniture or TV to take home, they always call you first.

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Yep, that would be me. My in-laws have a pickup truck, which means I have one available to use on short notice, but don't have to drive one more than absolutely necessary.

Just checked out the Jeep Avenger on the Vidi website https://jeep-vidi.com.ua/ru/avtomobili/avenger , and I gotta say, it’s a cool little SUV. I was looking for something compact but still packed with features, and this seems to tick all the boxes. Love that it has a modern design with all the latest tech. It's perfect for city driving but also looks capable enough for some light off-roading. Anyone already driving one? How does it handle on longer trips? Thinking this might be the ideal mix of size and capability for me.