Shopping for a low cost, fuel-efficient 'green' car. Input requested.

I have a challenge for readers of The Fueling Station. One of my most loyal contributors, James Culp, was in a bad car accident the other day in Titusville, Florida. James survived with a few cuts and bruises, I am happy to say. His faithful Toyota Echo, which he liked to call the 'Red Baron', did not!

James, who runs the excellent energy program at the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) in Titusville, asks if we can help him find the right new low cost, fuel efficient "green car." James says he used to get 41 mpg in his little Echo, which is why he was so attached to it. But the Echo is being discontinued and replaced by the Toyota Yaris, which also has good fuel economy (40mpg on the highway).

Much as James would like to go with a hybrid, he is constrained by price. He's looking for a low-cost option in the $12-$13,000 range. Hybrids are currently prices beyond his reach. Maybe president Bush will change that in his State of the Union address on Tuesday by offering improved consumer fuel efficiency tax incentives! Or am I living in cloud cuckoo land!

Here are James' specifications:

"I don’t want to spend the money on a hybrid, but was thinking about the (Toyota) Yaris, (Honda) Fit, or (Nissan) Versa. I would go for a VW Diesel TDI, but with the low sulfur fuel now out, lots of folks on the web recommend waiting until they “retool” new diesel cars for sale in the US. I’m worried if I buy a 2 – 3 year old diesel, I might have problems. Basically, my new, or used, car has to be respectful to the environment and fuel efficient, but not showy or flashy. In other words, it should look like something a mild-mannered, humble renewable energy manager should drive!"

Please put your suggestions in 'Comments.'

- David Adams

Comments

[David Adams]

James, I like the reliability of Honda, but I would have to go with the Yaris, either the 4-door sedan or the liftback. It has the best fuel efficiency (40 on the highway), and the best price.

[Chris Burklund]

If you really are considering a green car then why waste your time with 50 year old conventional automotive technology? Go hybrid. I made that choice a few years back by buying a Toyota Prius (50 mph and a 95% reduction in emissions). After 70K miles I have no regrets, plenty of praise, and am in the market for another hybrid to replace our second car (currently a mini van). Another way to think of it is this, if somehow you drove one of those other cars you were considering through a time machine and pulled into a 1950 period garage, after a few snickers about the size and scratch on the head over the electronic ignition, the mechanic would probably completely understand how to fix the car. That doesn't say much for automotive progress in the last 50 years does it? On the other hand, if you drove a Prius into the same garage for a repair, plan on a very long stay.

[David Adams]

Chris, thanks for your comment. Yes, hybrid is where we would all like to go, but James is constrained by price. I will update the post accordingly to make this clearer.He need a low cost option.

[Leala]

Buy a vespa Jimbob.They are very efficient and you will look very European.

[Bruce Chesson]

James a Hybrid will meet your needs, I like the Honda Civic Hybrid 49/51 mpg.
But for your type driving, i.e. mostly highway, you will get a better bang for your buck if purchasing a Yaris, Fit or Vesra. Fit has been giving the best write ups, I think the Yaris is cute. Versa has a good write up as well.
If you want to go with a Hybrid, Holler Honda is having a moving sale and you should be able to get a good deal. Check their website, they have 6 new Civic Hybrids and one used 2003 model.
With the Fit, Yaris and Versa you will get good mileage, but your still burning petroleum. Hybrid you are a little more GREEN. If you can find a FFV Hybrid, you will have the best of both worlds. Good luck in your hunt.
Glad to hear that your okay and were able to walk away from this one.
Go with the option of side air bags if possible.

[John Magwood]

James, you should buy the VW Diesel TDI and use B-20 as your fuel. With its excellent lubrication, biodiesel solves the problem created by ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. And biodiesel is much better for the environment than diesel fuel and the exhaust smells better, too.

Sorry to hear about your accident.

John

[Ron Freund]

While I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the Toyota Echo, and the injuries sustained by the owner,
I can't give him any hope with his dilemma.

Until the economies of scale kick in for manufacturing cost reductions, the plug-in hybrid, a full electric and even a plain hybrid will continue to
sell at a premium in the marketplace. Toyota is a finely tuned manufacturing machine, who supplies Ford with their Escape internals, Nissan soon will use it as well (iirc) and they make money. What about the non-hybrid players?

Someone else correctly noted that the technology is 50+ years old. Time to move into the 21st century.
Parallel hybrids are a step in the right direction, as they are electric assisted gas engine; the (yet to be
delivered) GM Volt would be an example of step two: full time electric with no compromise on range due the gas powered generator on-board. Brilliant! (tho the architecture has been explained and demonstrated by others well over 15 years ago...) GM could conceivably leap-frog Toyota with this! First they
have to deliver. Will they??

Yesterday I saw an ad in the SF Chronicle for a well equipped Toyota Prius, at under $22,500, iirc.
That is approaching a non-premium price, imo. I still see other dealers gouging buyers in parts of the
country. When there is widespread acceptance and implementation of the hybrids by ALL the automakers,
we'll see competition and we buyers can benefit. Until more than three of the world's automakers produce them, the market forces will prevail and you
and I must pay.

I believe the entire state of California has about two dozen E-85 stations at best. And our 36 million
inhabitants drive many many cars. E-85 is great in Minnesota, but it's pretty limited in availability elsewhere.
Thank you for the post you made - I'm sorry to hear of this man's plight, yet can't offer any real good solution for him.

Yours truly,
Ron Freund
EAA Chair
EV+PV=success!

[Georg]

If you can wait for a year, wait until Mercedes releases the Smart in the US (smartusa.com), some time in Q1/2008. Economy of 40mpg and above, depending on engine. I think it is above your budget though. If I recall correctly they will go for no less than $15,000.

Btw, did you know that Volkswagen is selling only the high-end versions (in terms of engine power and hence gas "un"-economy) of their vehicles? Have you ever heard of a 55hp Golf? Can't get it here. Did you also know that there are even smaller VW models manufactured than the Golf? Ever heard of the Polo? How about the Lupo (although this one was phased out a couple of years ago)?

The US is the wrong country if you want to save energy.

Georg

[JP]

James:

Glad you didn't get hurt!

Buy a Diesel. 50 mpg on the highway and POWER!

A friend – anesthesiologist - just bought a Jetta and loves it. His partner bought a Ford hybrid and wishes it was a Diesel.

Hybrids lie:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-06-10-diesel-vs-hybrid_x.htm

And if you run the sucker on ethanol you can expect a further 25% reduction.

Not so with a Diesel. Biodiesel runs very near the efficiency of fossil sludge. This = future plan.

Just one man’s opinon.

JP

[Ron Freund]

I will suggest you go to
Google, and click on 'videos'. Then type into the
box just two words: 'GM Volt'

The results are various videos and links to the
Detroit Auto Show press articles from which you can
learn about this wonder.

In a nutshell - think full time electric motor driving
the car. When the build-in batteries discharge to a
pre-determined level, then the on-board electric
generator get's fired up - driven by a small 1.0 liter
3 cylinder engine which has been tuned for optimum
efficiency and minimal pollution.
No gas engine drives the car, only the electric motor
which is 3-4 times more efficient than a gas burner,
and about 2-3 times more so than 'dis-easle'! ;)

If you don't want to drive far, you can return home
and plug the car in (just like your cell phone and
(for ladies - their curling iron!). That way you can
driver for pennies (2-3) per mile instead of dimes w/
gasoline. If you never need to go long distances your
monthly gas bill drops to zero. Granted, your power
bill will go up; but when I drive 11,000 miles per
year, it's about $20 per month higher. Then when you
add stationary solar panels, the power cost drops to
zero. My whole house is powered for free for the
whole year, along with my driving. (And I didn't even
have to drill an oil well in my backyard!) Free - sun
power, not taxed by Uncle Sam either!!
BR,
Ron
EV+PV=success!