What makes a hybrid vehicle a combination of advantageous characteristics is that it can recapture momentum, when coasting and braking, storing energy that was created at the expense of fuel, stored in batteries so it can be reused. In a non-hybrid, that energy is wasted as heat generated by the brakes.
We get it. You don’t like them. I don’t want one either. By my last count, there are seven definitions of “hybrid” in the dictionary. Pick the one you like, but a hybrid vehicle is a composite formed or composed of heterogeneous elements. That definition contains no judgment, no opinion, just fact.
That seems harsh. The OP might have options. Since he or she hasn’t budgeted for automotive repairs, another option would be to put the repair on a credit card, if the OP can qualify. Goodyear and Firestone will give a credit card to just about anyone. The downside is that they charge high interest, but for a repair as expensive as this one, they will probably give you 9 or 12 months to pay it off interest free.
If the issue is with the hybrid battery pack, the OP might also consider seeking one of those businesses that repairs the hybrid battery by replacing bad cells, rather than replacing the entire thing.
The important lesson is that owning a hybrid isn’t usually a sound financial decision unless the price of gasoline is high, and then it’s only a sound financial decision if you bank the money you’re saving on fuel for the inevitable repairs to the hybrid system.
The only reason I’m willing to even contemplate considering a hybrid is that it would allow me to use the HOV lane during rush hour, a privilege I enjoy on my motorcycle that saves me critical time during my commute. On days with inclement weather, I have to sit in traffic like the rest of the common folk, and it sure would be nice to be cruising along in the HOV lane in a Prius. Nonetheless, I’ve decided it isn’t worth the added expense to be able to use the HOV lane on days when I leave the motorcycle at home. Besides, I have the option of parking and taking the Tri-Rail to work. I just don’t like doing it because the train on the ride home is always overcrowded.
Naw I’m collecting flags too. They can be kinda pretty on my desk. I used to collect all of the PC incorrect Wacky Plaques too. They’re off the market now but I thought they were funny.
It does get to the serious question of what drives a particular decision to buy “new” technology. People think they will save money on gas or maybe help the planet not thinking about all the 14 year olds working as slaves to mine the precious metals required. At any rate in this grand ole land, you can do what you want but gotta consider some of this stuff can be expensive to repair, so not for those on a tight budget. In my humble view as seen from my little corner of the world.
Not to be smart but how often does someone post that they require an expensive car repair but don’t have any money for a number of reasons. There really is not much that can be said that would be helpful, except maybe how to do it yourself like we had to do to save money. There was a post though suggesting a lower cost option but I think that is the best that can be said to be helpful. Still a $1000 repair versus a $3000 repair to someone without any money still probably is not going to help. We do commiserate with the situation, but really not much can be said to be helpful.
Tough neighborhood! I don’t get it either! I guess people are just like that now. You’re entitled to an opinion if it’s the right one, I’m thinking. We have CEOs expressing opinions (often misconstrued) and if folks don’t want to hear it they demand the immediate resignation of the individual. It’s not the world I grew up in, full of people with thin skin and easily hurt feelings, apparently.
Bringing back to cars, I still have no idea what ails the O.P.'s sedan and that’s after a couple dozen posts. I could offer some advice if I knew about the problem. I’m beginning to think perhaps it’s just one of those rants. Oh, well… CSA
You must have missed it, but this is what trying to help looks like.
Seriously, saying “you’re SOL” isn’t helpful at all. The difference between paying off a $3,000 debt and paying off a $1,000 debt is $2,000 plus interest.
Seriously, I could be wrong (I was wrong once when I thought I was wrong and found out I wasn’t), but 30 posts and we don’t know what O.P.'s problem is, except the car is
and
I still feel like this is a rant because O.P. hasn’t helped us help “them.” And I feel that them/he/she feels like they’re S.O.L. already. That’s why no information is being given. O.P. must already have that bad diagnosis.
So, the comment was a confirmation, an agreement with reality, which is helpful so that O.P. can get past this and plan them/she/he’s next move. CSA
Gotta love it. The sunshine must be helping. I was just reporting money matters to the wife a few minutes ago and she said well why the heck are we not getting warm? I turned the thermostat up a little.
Seriously if by helping we just needed to tell the OP where to get money, that’s easy. Just sell your first born for 12-25%. Or what the hey, take a hundred bucks and try the casino. Who knows? I’ve made that much before, but not often. So there are a hundred places to borrow from, just make sure they’ve got a store front.
Granted, advice on the cell repair etc. is good although I know nothing of battery cars and electric motors, and regeneration systems, etc. I don’t even know what voltage they use but guess it’s higher than 12v which is why some folks refuse to work around them. No DIY with electrics though. Watched a youtube on a guy trying to fix a Tesla-dropping the battery pack etc. Total wipe out. Never saw the last episode but don’t think it ended well. Last I saw the car failed miles from home.
Whitey, you are correct. I was too quick on the trigger. My reply to the OP was unhelpful and unkind. I only hope my post was flagged before the OP saw it. I apologize to the OP and anyone on the board that may have been offended.
In Dale Carnegie we called it Making Friends and Influencing People. You had to be there I guess. At any rate, if you want it to disappear, all you have to do is hit edit, and delete it all. Just be warned that some of us like to see what all the fuss was about. Usually much ado about nothing. Don’t we really really just want people to come out and say what they are thinking?? Isn’t it refreshing once in a while. Then at least you can talk about it.
It really does! It’s like living in an adult Candy Land.
Without knowing any details about the overall condition of the car in this discussion I believe that another consideration could be to not put money into this one and move into a decent conventional vehicle. Sometimes one must say good-bye to an old friend. CSA
