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From: Ray O on 31 Jul 2007 01:03 <mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote in message news:1185834439.342036.44020(a)l70g2000hse.googlegroups.com... > On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote: >> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one that >> gets the most MPG? >> >> Is it a Toyota or another brand? > > For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25 and > which are 4WD or AWD: > > Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml > or the Mercury Mariner Hybrid: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml > 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). > > Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml > or the Lexus RX400h 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml > 27MPG city/25MPG highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). > > for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the > upscale Mercury/Lexus versions. > > For the unplowed snow driving that you are asking about, you'd > probably do better with a high ground clearance vehicle with good snow > tires, than to just look for 4WD/AWD, though. (A FWD Prius with good > snow tires can get you most anywhere (without snow tires you can get > stuck) provided you have less than 4" or so of its ground clearance.) > The Highlander and RX400h are larger than the Escape Hybrid yet the fuel penalty appears to only be 1 MPG. For a lower cost, look at the Rav4, Non-hybrid Escape, and Honda Element. -- Ray O (correct punctuation to reply)
From: Moon Goddess on 31 Jul 2007 02:32 Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote : > Moon Goddess wrote: >> Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote : >> >>> Moon Goddess wrote: >>>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one >>>> that gets the most MPG? >>>> >>>> Is it a Toyota or another brand? >>> Probably a Ford Escape Hybrid. >>> >>> jeff >>> >> >> Ford is reliable? :) I remember the old saying about them. > > I have a '97 Ford Contour with 145k mi on it. I have had to do some > suspension work (rear struts), oil, two wheel bearings and one axle > (one side). Not great, but not bad for a car with 145k on it. > > I haven't about the reliability of Escapes, but the Contour is a > pretty reliable car, with many going to 250 to 300k or more. > > Escapes are now use as taxis in NYC. > > Jeff > > Sounds like they may have worked on their reliability issues. FORD used to stand for fix or repair daily, remember? :)
From: Moon Goddess on 31 Jul 2007 02:35 Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote : > Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote: >> In article <xKmdndRcKdOSxzPbnZ2dnUVZ_uLinZ2d(a)forethought.net>, >> Moon Goddess <MG(a)no-spam.www> wrote: >> >>>> What kind of driving do you expect to do that you need a 4WD? >>>> snow, mountain climbing, dirt roads, are you going to tow >>>> anything, do you need a small 4wd or large 4wd. >>>> >>> Mostly city snow driving. I need something as fuel efficient as >>> possible, I do a lot of business driving. >> >> Then you do NOT want a vehicle that is able to drive all four >> wheels. Those mechanisms all weigh something, which costs gas to >> haul around all the time. It's like having another person in the >> car at all times. That extra gas costs $$$. It's a MPG penalty. > > That's not quite true. It is worse than a person in the truck. There > are a whole bunch of extra gears and such that have to turn in the > second axle. So the penalty is more than just a big fatso next to > you. > >> Plus, all those systems require maintenance of their own, above and >> beyond what their 2wd brothers need. That also costs $$$. >> >> City driving? You'll be fine with front wheel drive and good tires. >> I heavily recommend Nokian WR. Absolute worst case, you buy snow >> tires with a more aggressive tread as well as a winter rating, and >> you run those during winter. But city driving? Paved roads that >> get plowed? You don't need 4wd or awd at all. > > That's true. That's an arguement for a Prius or other hybrid. > > Jeff If only the Prius designers would expand that rear window view and offer it in deep purple. <sigh> :)
From: Moon Goddess on 31 Jul 2007 02:36 "mrv(a)kluge.net" <mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote : > On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote: >> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one >> that gets the most MPG? >> >> Is it a Toyota or another brand? > > For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25 and > which are 4WD or AWD: > > Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml or the Mercury > Mariner Hybrid: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml > 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). > > Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml or the Lexus > RX400h 4WD version: > http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml 27MPG city/25MPG > highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). > > for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the > upscale Mercury/Lexus versions. > > For the unplowed snow driving that you are asking about, you'd > probably do better with a high ground clearance vehicle with good > snow tires, than to just look for 4WD/AWD, though. (A FWD Prius with > good snow tires can get you most anywhere (without snow tires you can > get stuck) provided you have less than 4" or so of its ground > clearance.) > > So tempting. <sigh>
From: Moon Goddess on 31 Jul 2007 02:38
"Cathy F." <clfrclfr(a)adelphia.net> wrote : > ><mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote in message > news:1185834439.342036.44020(a)l70g2000hse.googlegroups.com... >> On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote: >>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one >>> that gets the most MPG? >>> >>> Is it a Toyota or another brand? >> >> For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25 >> and which are 4WD or AWD: >> >> Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version: >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml >> or the Mercury Mariner Hybrid: >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml >> 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). >> >> Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version: >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml >> or the Lexus RX400h 4WD version: >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml >> 27MPG city/25MPG highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG). >> >> for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the >> upscale Mercury/Lexus versions. > > She was considering a Prius to be too pricey - my guess is that no > way is she going to want/be able to fork out the $$ for these - esp. > the Highlander or Lexus. Then factor in their lower (than a Prius) > mpg, and... > > Cathy > > You're right. I'd be hard put to afford the Prius right now, MAYBE in 6 months when I can make more money. But there's an old saying that "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know", or "a bird in the hand is worth 3 in the bush"? My 93 Corolla wagon gets half the MPG of the Prius but it's PAID FOR. $23k will buy a LOT of gas. |