October 24
...serving up your daily dish.
Don't believe the hype about hybrids -- you can get one without waiting a year and a day. So says Baristaville's Brad Berman, the brains behind a website for hybrid car enthusiasts, interviewed here...
Berman, 42, who operates his web site from Montclair, N.J., was one of 38,000 people who bought a Honda Civic hybrid in 2002.
"I wanted to share my experience and share what I was learning about my driving habits," he said. "The Web was the perfect medium for that."
Berman who states that sales of all hybrid models are up 90 percent over 2004, predicts that U.S. sales are now on track to hit 200,000 this year. Unfortunately for hybrid lovers, the waiting is the hardest part.
Berman has dedicated a portion of his Web site to a message board where hybrid owners post details about the car they've purchased, including the time they had to wait to buy one. But a clear pattern about wait times has not emerged.
"It ranges from no wait in Centreville, Va., to 17 weeks in Brookfield, Wis.," he said.
Berman chalks up the wait times to "dealership vagaries."
He said one factor is uneven distribution among car dealers, and those with higher sales volumes are more likely to get more hybrids.
But Berman emphasized that car dealers do have hybrids in stock. He advises prospective buyers to shop around and to be flexible in picking a color, for example.
October 24, 2005 in Seen in Cyberspace | Permalink
Anyone know when the hybrid minivan is coming out?? Called the Toyota dealer and they were clueless, but I swear I read somewhere that they are coming out with one for 2007....
Posted by: hate to shop | Oct 24, 2005 10:40:04 AM
Toyota also has a Hybrid SUV (as does Lexus) since those vehicles share the same platform as the Sienna Van, It's logical to assume that the Sienna will be offered as a Hybrid in the near future.
Posted by: Dan Murphy | Oct 24, 2005 11:00:12 AM
Hybrid SUVs is a step in the right direction. But owning any SUV when you do not need one is unjustifiable. Conserving is you patriotic duty especially in a time of war. And lets not forget global warming.
Posted by: lasermike026 | Oct 24, 2005 11:17:19 AM
Here is a car with real potential and its cheap.
www.smart.com
Smart cars are not hybrids but ultra-light high impact resistant cars that are used in Canada and Europe. They get 60mpg and do no have heavy batteries that come with hybrids. We need this car here in the US.
Posted by: lasermike026 | Oct 24, 2005 11:20:48 AM
Love my Prius.
I recommend one for every family. 3 kids fit comfortably in the back. (Even on a 6 hour trip.)
I also recommend the GPS system in the premium package. Soooo fun to drive.
Posted by: grme | Oct 24, 2005 11:36:22 AM
Lasermike,
Does this mean that we'll see you with a solar array on your house in the near future?
After all, "Conserving is you patriotic duty especially in a time of war."
Posted by: exit_151 | Oct 24, 2005 1:44:28 PM
Owning a Prius is great - costs about $27 to fill up the tank and then can go over 500 miles before refilling. And the car is peppy and fun to drive. If you drive a sedan, why would you buy anything else?
And if you drive a Hummer, you should hang your egotistical head in shame.
Posted by: PRIUS IS GREAT! | Oct 24, 2005 2:00:14 PM
Owning a Prius is great - costs about $27 to fill up the tank and then can go over 500 miles before refilling. And the car is peppy and fun to drive. If you drive a sedan, why would you buy anything else?
And if you drive a Hummer, you should hang your egotistical head in shame.
Posted by: PRIUS IS GREAT! | Oct 24, 2005 2:00:45 PM
Hey PRIUS IS GREAT,
What happens when you get rammed by another car. Does it hold up or fold up?
My Jeep kept me from being injured when another car rammed me but good...and I'll gladly feed him as long as he keeps me safe.
Posted by: exit_151 | Oct 24, 2005 2:07:06 PM
This anti-suv preaching is sickening. America is based on balls, power and speed.
The merlot liberals want America neutered and defenseless. The Libs are embarrassed that we are the lone superpower of the world. Remember how Torricelli and the Dems under Clinton tried to dilute the power of the CIA.
Posted by: The Iceman | Oct 24, 2005 2:10:22 PM
Liberty Lincoln Mercury is very knowlegable about Hybrids. Their stock will be in next week. Stop and test drive the Mariner...you'll be impressed. They always are very helpful to me. Good family owned business.
Posted by: Jeter's girl | Oct 24, 2005 2:30:21 PM
Smart Cars... a division of DaimlerChrysler who after looking into the US market decided that there was no real market here for that vehicle. Note: Smart Car was the pace car for the NY City marathon several years back... The vehicle may arrive on these shores through an independant importer. Hybrids are great due to their reduced emmissions and their ability to provide outstanding performance and decent fuel mileage in a variety of packages.
Posted by: Dan Murphy | Oct 24, 2005 6:20:02 PM
Regarding the hummer, I do believe this website has a legitimate message to "deliver" to the narcissistic drivers of the H2 who don't, for example, transverse the Pine Barrens on a daily basis.
www.fuh2.com
Barknee
Posted by: Barknee | Oct 25, 2005 8:09:09 AM
By the way, is Montclair still buying SUVs for plumbing inspectors and the like? I thought they stopped this practice, until I saw a tiny notice in the Montclair Times about purchases that seemed to say they just bought four more in the last month.
Posted by: martin | Oct 25, 2005 10:07:19 AM
Check out this recent article in the WSJ regarding Ford Motor Company and hybrid technology:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113024766644778756.html?mod=home_whats_news_us
Posted by: Dan Murphy | Oct 25, 2005 5:00:13 PM
Iceman is out of touch; everyone knows that SUVs are what people drive to compensate for a lack of testosterone. btw-the Bushies and their mindless followers have done more to emasculate America than any liberal, progressive, or moderate. Lose the Bud Lite and your SUV.
Posted by: kv450 | Oct 27, 2005 6:45:10 PM
