What kind of (hybrid) car should I buy?

Question

Here's our situation:

- one daily commute is about 5 miles of city driving

- the other daily commute is by public transit

- two large dogs (too big for a sedan)

- 3-4 times a year we make a 450 mile (round-trip) journey across a mountain pass to visit family

We need an SUV of some type for the dogs and winter pass trips. Fuel efficiency is a concern of ours. Fuel consumption is more important to us than cost. We're looking to spend ~40K

We're weighing our options to buy a new hybrid SUV (Highlander?) for all of our driving needs, or to buy a new hybrid car (Civic?) for our daily use and a used standard SUV (Envoy?) for the dogs and long trips.

Anyone thoughts from someone else who has gone through a similar decision? What did you choose and how has it worked out?

Answer 1

I have been telling everyone about this product out there it's something you hook up to a regular car and it will run on half water and half gas it will work on any suv check it out.

https://paydotcom.com/r/48199/xavier28/1...

Answer 2

You don't NEED a vehicle at all.  A  5 mile commute could easily be done by bicycle and 4 times a year you can rent a vehicle for the family visit.  Why pay $40,000 (plus another $40,000 in maintenance, interest and insurance over its lifetime) for something that is going to spend the majority of time depreciating in your driveway and you will never be able to resell?

Answer 3

Get a Prius and RENT a bigger vehicle for the 3-4 times a year road trip. You'll save on gas, insurance and taxes. I fit 4 adults in my Prius just fine. One of them is 6'5", 275 lbs and he had plenty of room in the back seat. He even commented on how much room he had. Your dogs need more room than him?

Answer 4

I have to agree with grizz, there is no way a civic you will be able to transport your dogs and all these other items for you trip. But if you were to get an SUV Highlander or Envoy would it really be worth it. and Envoy is awful with gas only 20 miles gallon freeway, and with these gas prices that's awful. I am thinking you mean i hybrid of it but there is none for the envoy, you might be thinking of another GM hybrid release of maybe a Yukon but that is 22 mpg for hwy, also $50,000. Personally i think it would be the best bet for a Honda civic, nice car that has very well gas millage. But personally i don't know where you are but that is a very short commute and subway, or even a segway about $6,000 that is a somewhat portable bike. but personally i believe you shouldn't be going for for any major SUV to buy because you will suffer from their awful mpg.

Answer 5

If you can get buy with one vehicle then just buy the Hybrid Highlander. Why buy two vehicles when you can get by with one? The Highlander can serve all your needs.

Answer 6

buy a parallel hybrid as made by the toyota group (Toyota & Lexus) as these are most reliable and most fuel efficient. the civic is not powerful enough on electric mode to make mush saving and has been shown to unreliable go toyota/lexus!

they make the SUV R400h that may answer your concerns or the cheaper Toyota Prius for everyday use

Answer 7

You buy a real car, and not a hybrid.

Oil Rules, and Hybrids suck.

Communists want you to drive hybrids, you imperialistic dog!("Imperialistic Dog" taken from the first episode of "Captain Planet and the Planeteers")

Good luck, Comrade!

Answer 8

If you're in a state where natural gas stations are available, go for a natural gas-powered car or truck. It's way cheaper than gasoline and better for the environment. Rent a car for road trips if you can't find enough refueling stations along the way. Ford made Crown Vics and F-150 pickups until about 2004, and Honda makes a Civic GX that you can buy new , and all these run on natural gas (methane). I've also seen converted Crown Vics online for sale. Have fun researching this, and good luck!