Honda CRZ, bad idea as a hybrid, but......

[Stew]

I got to thinking about this. honda ruined what could have been a perfectly nice little sporty car by going through the trouble of making it a hybrid.

What it is:

est 2700 pounds
38MPG hwy
0-60 in around 9 seconds
1/4 mile in the 17s
24000 I believe

What it could have been if it was not a hybrid.

Say a 1.8 liter 150 HP 4 cylinder
drop weight to around 2400 pounds
0-60 in around 6.9 seconds
hwy MPG est 40 MPG
price it at around 18000 for starters.

Really, the FIesta and Cruze are both going to get 40MPG as nonhybrids, both seat more than 2, both start at around 16k. FOr the CRZs price there are much better sporting coupes including the V6 Camaro, Mustang, and the turbo Genesis coupe that don't give up too much in mileage and will give 10x the driving fun (point of a sporty coupe, right?) Am I the only one with this thinking? I hope other automakers don't follow Hondas lead and make a car a Hybrid just to say it's a hybrid and ignore it could have been better, quicker, cheaper, and get the same mileage without a hybrid system.

[rez333]

I think car companies don't have a choice with hybrids. Yes the technology is immature and a poor choice compared with the gas alternatives. But yet they still have to make them, because that's the only way the technology will evolve to the point where it will be better than the gas alternative.

[305pride]

Originally Posted by rez333

I think car companies don't have a choice with hybrids. Yes the technology is immature and a poor choice compared with the gas alternatives. But yet they still have to make them, because that's the only way the technology will evolve to the point where it will be better than the gas alternative.

true. gata get rid of our dependency of gas, but honda seems kinda stupid on this one lol

[5thGenOwner]

Originally Posted by rez333

I think car companies don't have a choice with hybrids. Yes the technology is immature and a poor choice compared with the gas alternatives. But yet they still have to make them, because that's the only way the technology will evolve to the point where it will be better than the gas alternative.

I semi-to-mostly disagree with that.

I do agree that the car companies don't have a choice, but I disagree that it's the only way for the technology to evolve. Human beings are always looking for new ways to fuel... everything. The research and development is and always will be there... until the day we don't need any fuel at all.

Putting the current (immature and poor, you called it) technology in these vehicles is to pacify... and I'll leave it at that.

Originally Posted by 305pride

true. gata get rid of our dependency of gas, but honda seems kinda stupid on this one lol

You call it dependency... I call it a relying on a dependable fuel source.

[305pride]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

I semi-to-mostly disagree with that.

I do agree that the car companies don't have a choice, but I disagree that it's the only way for the technology to evolve. Human beings are always looking for new ways to fuel... everything. The research and development is and always will be there... until the day we don't need any fuel at all.

Putting the current (immature and poor, you called it) technology in these vehicles is to pacify... and I'll leave it at that.



You call it dependency... I call it a relying on a dependable fuel source.

something cant be dependable if it is going to run out eventually.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by 305pride

true. gata get rid of our dependency of gas, but honda seems kinda stupid on this one lol

exactly, for it to work, it needs to show some advantage and I am just not seeing it in this case. Good examples of Hybrids on sale now are the Prius (ugh that hurts to admit LOL) and the Fusion Hybrid. The inherent problem with Hybrids though is that they are not really breaking our dependence as Gasoline is still required. IMHO, the Hydrogen FUel cell is the way of the future, but just IMHO.

[syr74]

Originally Posted by rez333

I think car companies don't have a choice with hybrids. Yes the technology is immature and a poor choice compared with the gas alternatives. But yet they still have to make them, because that's the only way the technology will evolve to the point where it will be better than the gas alternative.

This tech wont be better than pure gasoline in our lifetime, if ever, and the same goes for pure electric. Several years ago when Ford was the leader on cutting edge development in this field (and yes, a little more than a decade ago this was actually the case) they stated as much to the government and got a proverbial hand slapping for spewing such utter (and yet accurate) nonsense. Now this is simply another area where automakers know better than to tell the truth, and simply go along with the status-quo in an effort to not make waves.

Ah, how I miss capitalism.

[5thGenOwner]

Originally Posted by 305pride

something cant be dependable if it is going to run out eventually.

I'll put it this way... we are currently relying on the only dependable fuel sources. Oil and Coal, and we have a ton of both.

Technology should eventually overtake oil, I do have high hopes (sorry if that didn't come across in my post).

[fielderLS3]

38MPG on the Highway for a hybrid? That's nothing special. I get 36.5 out of my Alero. For some reason, Honda has never managed to get the hybrid thing right.