Would You Buy A Hybrid, Diesel, Electric... ?

[Atomic]

The following article prompted today's poll question. I think MPG will actually influence next purchase:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/30/autos/hybrid_car_sales/?iid=HP_Highlight

[Mustangfan2003]

Already have a diesel

[Onslaught]

Hybrid? No, I have nothing against them but I don't want or need one.
Diesel? No
Electric? Not now. Perhaps years and years from now but nothing they have today works well enough.

I really don't care about MPG.

[ifcar]

I always factor in gas mileage, and would continue to do so, but I don't need an expensive solution like diesel or an electric motor.

[Atomic]

I always factor in gas mileage, and would continue to do so, but I don't need an expensive solution like diesel or an electric motor.

i am pleased with the great selection of hybrids (first, second generations) appearing on the market, i.e., kia optima, hyundai sonata, next honda accord, 2012 camry.

[MexicoCityM3]

I would buy a 118d immediately as a DD if it was available here. I have considered a Jetta TDI (which is available).

[mzziaz]

My next car will most likely be either diesel or electric.

[cawimmer430]

My next car will definitely be a diesel and a station wagon (I need space!). I'm driving a lot these days and the gas mileage of the 118i isn't that great.

[2o6]

Hybrid. Diesel looks great, but there is nothing out there for a small diesel that lights my fire.



Even still, i'd have to have a gun to my head to do Diesel, too.

[Soup DeVille]

Gas prices, with my current commute, are not yet high enough to effect my purchase decision. Although I want to one day build my own homemade electric car conversion, I want to do so more as an interesting engineering exercise than as a statement of any kind.

Although I have nothing against either diesels or hybrids, there are none currently on the market that are appealing to me.

[SVT666]

I work from home all but 1 day a week so my next car is actually going to have a much bigger engine.  My wife on the other hand puts about 25,000 miles a year on the Explorer so we are contemplating a used Focus or Civic for her and buying a used crew cab truck for towing our trailer and boat (buying soon). 

[GoCougs]

Anyone wanna guess my choice?

I can't imagine it really being a factor; certainly not enough to sacrifice to such great lengths.

[S204STi]

If I can get an Impreza diesel with sports suspension next time around, totally doing it.

[Vinsanity]

The "green" car I'm most likely to buy next would be a lightly used Infiniti M35 hybrid. But considering that, brand new, it costs almost as much as a CTS-V, I honestly don't see it happening. Hell, I'm more likely to buy a Mercedes E550 coupe over the M, only because I like the styling and engine sound better.

[Cookie Monster]

I would probably go diesel.

I've wanted a Jetta TDI (sedan or wagon) for a really long time. Plus, if Mazda brings the SKY-D engine over here I'd love to try one out.

[Speed_Racer]

Plus, if Mazda brings the SKY-D engine over here I'd love to try one out.

This one has caught my attention...

[thewizard16]

Buy whatever I damn well please. I'm not opposed to a hybrid or an electric in the least, there are some good hybrid options out there and electrics probably have some good future potential, but they don't justify the cost difference right now in my opinion. There are some interesting diesel options but diesel is considerably more expensive and they still cost a bit of a premium so they often don't end up being a very smart financial decision either if fuel cost/efficiency is the reason for purchase. I wouldn't have been very open to the idea of a smaller car a couple years ago but there are finally some small cars out there I find interesting now... So it's essentially a crapshoot and if I were actually shopping mileage would be a factor I consider, but not likely a deciding factor.

[hotrodalex]

Depends on what I'm buying the car for. If it's simply a commuting car, I might consider something more fuel efficient. But if it's one of my main cars, obviously as a car enthusiast I'm going to buy whatever I find interesting. After college I'll probably have my El Camino and a motorcycle, which would provide higher MPGs for commuting.

[Raza]

I drive a fairly fuel efficient compact right now, but I might go smaller next time around.


Then again, I might buy a Mustang. 

[Lebowski]

No way I'd consider a hybrid or electric car.  Diesel could be a possibility depends on the car.


Gas prices would have to be really high for it to have much impact on the car I drive, let alone make the jump to a hybrid or electric.

[Byteme]

Buy whatever I damn well please. 

But, I've always bought fuel efficient cars for daily drivers; by choice though, not driven to do so by gasoline prices.

[AutobahnSHO]

So why not a diesel hybrid with plug-in capability ?!?!?!!! !?!?!?!?!!!   

[CALL_911]

I'd buy a turbodiesel SUV. I wouldn't buy a hybrid or an electric vehicle.

I actually did briefly (I mean very briefly) consider a Golf TDI instead of my current car. Would've been interesting.

[Colonel Cadillac]

My future car reshuffle is a long way away, but I've definitely considered getting a diesel Jetta for my reliable daily driver to complement my unreliable but awesome second car.

[r0tor]

The diesel x5 I drove at the BMW training center was really sweet... I could never afford it though new

[93JC]

I'd buy a hybrid, diesel or electric, if the prices for them came down.

I briefly entertained the idea of a diesel Jetta a couple years ago but I'm a little skeptical of a diesel's ability to weather a winter well. If I had a garage I wouldn't be concerned, but leaving the car outside all day makes me wary of having a diesel.

[Atomic]

GM delays second shift at Volt plant; Changes at the Detroit-Hamtramck factory will allow GM to double Volt production early next year while remaining on one shift.

BY: Mike Colias

FOR: Automotive News -- October 7, 2011 - 2:30 pm ET (UPDATED: 10/7/11 3:25 pm ET)

DETROIT -- General Motors is delaying the addition of a second shift at its Michigan assembly plant that makes the Chevrolet Volt.

In May, GM said that it would add a second shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant in early 2012 to double Volt production. Instead, a plant overhaul completed this summer, along with a more-modest addition of workers, will allow GM to double production starting early next year while remaining on one shift, the company said today.

GM said the move "will significantly reduce costs, and has no impact on the plant's ability to make 60,000 Volts and Amperas (the European version of the Volt) in 2012." In May, GM upped its 2012 production forecast to 60,000, from an earlier forecast of 45,000. GM said it still will add about 300 people at the start of the year to increase Volt production, but it will remain on one 10-hour shift, four days a week.


GM is pushing back plans for a second shift, which would have added hundreds more workers, until the second half of 2012. By then, it's expected that production of the next-generation Chevy Malibu will have begun at the plant.

George McGregor, president of UAW Local 22, which represents workers at the plant, said he had expected the addition of a second shift sometime in 2012, but GM had not specified when.

"The sooner the better, but I guess demand will dictate when that happens," he said. "Hopefully we'll get a third shift someday, too."

GM spokesman Chris Lee said in a statement: "This approach is just a more efficient way to make the same number of vehicles -- it's good for our business and good for our customers."

In May, GM said it eventually would add a third shift at the plant, which is scheduled to begin assembly of the next-generation Chevy Malibu, due out early next year, and a new Chevy Impala, which is expected in 2013.

Automated functions

The plant was idled for about six weeks over the summer to automate some functions in the body shop, such as the subassembly of doors. GM also took out roughly six miles worth of conveyor belts, which streamlined the operation and boosted its throughput, the source said.

Those changes have increased production even before adding workers. This year through early August, the plant produced 4,249 Volts. GM says total production will hit 16,000 by year end.

About 10,000 of those will be sold in the United States, GM has said. Another 2,500 will be used as dealer demos. The rest will have been exported to Europe and China.

Next year, GM expects to produce about 45,000 Volts for the United States, along with 15,000 units for export.

GM sold 723 Volts in September. GM sold 3,895 Volts through the first nine months of the year. The vehicle went on sale in December.

[Atomic]

^ hope the news on the chevy volt (above) does not spell doom for this innovative car ^

[AutobahnSHO]

hahahaha  They sold under 4k so far 2011 but expect to sell 10k next year?

[MrH]

I think they're only selling in 4 states right now...