[Shop-talk] camry hybrids

[Miq Millman]

There are multiple studies available that compare Diesel to Hybrid and for
the cost per mile, plus long term recycling (li-ion battery == land fill
waste == not green) the Diesel is better, even paying more at the pump for
the go go juice.  This is especially true of used cars that are closer to
their 10 year replacement storage pack.

Considering you can find a used Jetta TDI for between $5-9K (2003-2007) and
a Camry Hybrid is about 2x that, the extra $5000 you would have spent on
the hybrid goes a long way to pay for the extra $0.30/gallon.  Not to
mention the $7000 replacement battery.....

For the record, my 2003 E39 530i sport is by far the best handling, most
comfortable, 5 seater I've ever driven.  It get's 34 mpg on the highway
between Portland and Seattle on cruise at 70 mph.  I'll likely have this
one in my cardrobe for the next 20 years.  (just ticked over 74k miles, I
average about 4500 a year in it).

As old age and treachery becomes more prominent in our lives, I say buy a
car for the connection you have strongest with with:  your buttocks in the
seat.  Comfy seats go a long way towards alleviating the other annoyances
(wind noise, tire noise, poor mpg, poor acceleration)....

Happy curmudgeon day.
--
__
Miq Millman   miq at bigllama.com
Tualatin, OR  Big Llama Productions


On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 8:30 AM, Paul Parkanzky <parkanzky at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have to agree that the modern Toyotas have pretty terrible seats and are
> incredibly numb to drive.  And that's comparing it to our '09 TDI Jetta and
> '10 TDI Golf.  For the record, I don't like the seats in the Jetta nearly
> as
> well as in the Golf, but they're still better than the Toyotas I've driven.
>
> -Paul
>
> On Jan 29, 2013, at 11:25 AM, Michael Porter <mdporter at dfn.com> wrote:
>
> > On 1/29/2013 9:11 AM, John Miller wrote:
> >>> Apples and oranges.  Your M5 is a car with an MRSP of over $80K.
> >> 70k E39, and that has nothing to do with it.
> >
> > Oh, yes, it does, because that's your standard for comparison (what
> year?-a
> 2007 is $82K).  $70K is still about double the cost of the cars to which
> you're making a judgment.
> >>    I just dragged home a freebie '86 Celica beater that has better
> seats,
> better material quality, and better outward visibility than any present
> Toyota.
> >
> > And, your `86 Celica gets about 22-24 mpg overall.  Don't kid a kidder--I
> was a Toyota factory-trained, master line mechanic in the `80s.  I know the
> technology of that time.
> >
> > Good cars for the age, but, don't bullshit me.
> >
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > Michael Porter
> > Roswell, NM
> _______________________________________________