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3741. Adam Selene - 4/5/2006 11:48:15 PM I drove my first Prious a couple weeks ago - I loved it! A friend of mine rented a car and they gave it to him unnanounced, so he was letting everyone drive it. I was very surprised at how much torque it has - people think that hybrids are dogs.. not so! Electric engines have their full torque from take-off, so they feel even stronger than they really are. And the silence at stop-lights is eerily cool.
I don't care if it would take 20 years of gas savings to pay the $2k price premium, I'd buy one for our planet. (Well, if I was in the market for new car, anyway.) 3742. arkymalarky - 4/6/2006 4:22:22 AM If that's the case then I hope Bob will get a hybrid in a few years if they continue to improve as they are, but I just wasn't ready to try it yet, and it was over $5000 more than the non-hybrid Civic. And mine gets between 36 and 38 mpg. My commute averages 60 miles a day on a five day week, if I include my two night classes. I just can't afford to buy anything that doesn't get excellent gas mileage. 3743. wonkers2 - 4/6/2006 4:34:58 AM The Honda Civic is a much smarter purchase, especially in a climate where I assume you use the air conditioner a significant part of the time. Hybrids don't deliver the advertised mileage when you are running either the heater or the air conditioner. They work best in Northern California. 3744. arkymalarky - 4/6/2006 4:38:12 AM I assume you use the air conditioner a significant part of the time.
Oh yes. It's a must here. That's a good piece of information I didn't know about the hybrid. 3745. Macnas - 4/6/2006 8:41:15 AM I think air conditioning uses something like 5% of the petrol in most cars.
Which is a lot when you add up average milage and fuel costs. 3746. Adam Selene - 4/6/2006 1:48:51 PM Hybrids are best in stop-and-go driving because they: 1) recapture most braking energy as electricity, and 2) do not idle.) In fact, hybrids come close to being the most gas efficient at average speeds in the 30's, which favors city driving. On the freeway they are close to "normal" gas mileage, but in the city it goes up dramatically.
I don't know about comparing the honda to the toyota - but I do know the toyota was much bigger inside than I realized. It's not a subcompact, that's for sure. 3747. arkymalarky - 4/6/2006 2:21:19 PM Hybrids are best in stop-and-go driving because they: 1) recapture most braking energy as electricity, and 2) do not idle.) In fact, hybrids come close to being the most gas efficient at average speeds in the 30's, which favors city driving.
Another good thing to know. I hardly ever do that type of driving.
The new Civic is much bigger inside than I was expecting too, especially as small as it looks outside. It's roomier than Mose's Jetta and far roomier than any other compact car I've had or ridden in.
The difference between Honda and Toyota for me was specifically this car, this year model. Otherwise, I've been a Nissan person generally, but that's only because I happened to find the best deals, which was coincidence since I only bought one (used) from a Nissan dealer.
3748. Adam Selene - 4/6/2006 2:31:05 PM Assume 10,000 miles per year, at $2.50 per gallon. Here's your fuel bill:
40 mpg - $625
50 mpg - $500
60 mpg - $417
So - if you're spending more than $100 to get a more fuel efficient car, you're wasting your money. Even if gas goes to $5.00 per gallon, your annual fuel bill total is only $1 to $2k, and a 50% increase in fuel efficiency still only saves you a few hundred dollars.
So - if you want to save the planet, lower pollution, lower road noise - then by all means by a hybrid or spend more for some other technology - but don't do it to save money.
Just my 2 cents... ;) I'll probably by a hybrid in a few years because I like my planet. 3749. Adam Selene - 4/6/2006 2:31:56 PM er, "by" => "buy"... sheesh. Need more coffee. 3750. thoughtful - 4/6/2006 2:48:33 PM Someone told me that prius et al are actually worse for the environment on a birth to death basis due to the manufacturing processes, the lead in the large batteries etc. 3751. arkymalarky - 4/6/2006 2:52:22 PM I will be more interested in hybrids for the next car--several years down the road--for Bob, when the price comes more in line and the technology's been around awhile. Within the next ten years we'll both be driving a whole lot less. 3752. judithathome - 4/6/2006 5:33:11 PM Jen, I don't know about that Miele coffee maker you posted a picture for but I can certainly vouch for the Miele vacuum cleaner. I love mine and wouldn't trade it for any American vacuum, no matter their reputation. This baby sucks! But it a very good way. 3753. Jenerator - 4/6/2006 5:44:04 PM Thanks. I admit that I probably won't dish out two grand for an espresso maker tho. Well, not until we get our coffee shop up and going. 3754. PelleNilsson - 4/6/2006 6:16:19 PM But what are those 'capsules' you're talking about? You don't use real coffee but some preprocessed thing? 3755. Jenerator - 4/6/2006 6:21:43 PM They're premeasured capsules that I can order straight from the coffee manufacturer/distributer.
Try here.
3756. PelleNilsson - 4/6/2006 6:25:56 PM That's OK then. 3757. judithathome - 4/12/2006 1:30:50 AM An Easy Way To Read Email
This is for everyone over 50 whose eyesight isn't what it was.
I just found out about this. Thought I'd pass this on. It's very useful when trying to read small a-mail print (especially in the early hours). If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel.
Pass this on to other friends who may find it very useful....
3758. alistairconnor - 4/12/2006 9:53:09 AM I wouldn't get one of those Nescafé capsule machines, out of principle... don't want to get locked into the supplier monopoly. Like printer cartridges (though I suppose people will make "compatible" ones) -- and they would never ever have my preferred coffees in capsules.
Plus, you're creating indestructible rubbish. Recycle the capsules eh? whereas you can put coffee grounds on your roses. Messy business but... 3759. alistairconnor - 4/12/2006 9:55:04 AM Question for Pelle.
They are introducing legislation here for a semi-ban on all smoking in public places (restaurants, bars etc)
The only place smoking would be permitted is in sealed smoking compartments. Apparently this is already done in Sweden.
1) Does it "work" ?
2) Could it possibly work in France? 3760. Marc-Albert - 4/12/2006 1:29:08 PM Good luck with your anti-smoking ban, Alistair.
A total ban on smoking in all public places without exceptions will come into force in Quebec on May 31. I wonder how the smokers will take it, considering Quebec is called "Canada's smoking corner".
The City of Ottawa began enforcing such a ban in September 2001 (including a ban on what you call "sealed smoking compartment"). From the start, compliance was 95%.
But Montreal is not placid Ottawa, full of well-behaved civil servants.
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