(part 3)
(Note: Before going any further, I want to be clear in regards to my chronicles. I will never pretend that my point of view makes obsolete that of the traditional writers. These persons have a sum of experience and competence that I will never attain. Their point of view on car handling, reliability, resale value or other such considerations are useful. But my observations can also be useful, since they are more often than not neglected by the other writers, and are useful in a more complete vision of what a car represents. I simply try to widen the perspective in regard to this mode of transportation, instead of just writing like a car fan.)
After having tried the 2 cars, I chose the Honda Insight. I was quickly disappointed by the experience, though. How was it that my fuel consumption wasn't as low as what the government's book said? Their numbers were 3.9 l / 100km city and 3.2 l / 100km highway. Perplexed, I called my salesman who could only answer me that as the car would get "broken in," my average would go down. Not satisfied with his answer, I then called Honda Canada who gave me more or less the same answer.
I then decided to go and take a look on the Internet to see if I couldn't find more satisfying answers to my questions. What a revelation! Not only did I get all the necessary tricks to drive more efficiently, but I also learned all the little details about my specific car. That's how, after a few weeks of practice, I was able to get a fuel consumption of 4.0 to 4.2 l / 100km city and between 2.5 and 3.0 l / 100km highway in the summer. (We must realize that all vehicles burn between 20 and 40% more fuel during the winter). So we're talking about 70 miles per gallon in the city and between 90 and 115 miles per gallon on the highway!
That's how, thanks to the helpful information that I could find on the Web, I understood that I had to change my driving habits if I wanted to become an efficient green driver. And that's a criticism that I address to the manufacturers of those new types of vehicles. Ladies and gentlemen affected to the sale and service of those hybrid vehicles, you should be able and take the time and show your customers how to use the vehicles in an efficient way, in order to maximize their economic and ecological friendliness.
The same goes for a person who drives a sports car and tries to optimize its qualities, whether it be handling power or by focusing on his or her driving in minute details; or a person that buys a truck that will learn to use the available space in the most efficient and worthy ways possible, or the owner of a hybrid vehicle who will try to optimize its fuel thriftiness.
Lately, I took the time to meet with new hybrid car owners. It proved to be a very interesting exercise. All had recently bought a second generation Toyota Prius.
This meeting was quite revealing for many reasons.
First, an obvious fellowship is established between people who seem to have made the gesture to buy such a car. The act of faith involved, (you have to show a lot of faith when, to have the privilege of owning this car, you have to order it and leave a deposit without having had the chance to try it out, which I find far from ideal), makes these people guinea pigs as well as unofficial representatives of those cars and of a certain way to see automotive driving. In making this gesture, they show that are concerned with such issues like pollution and green gas emissions. Noble gesture indeed but, once philosophy, ethics and morals are brushed aside, is this a rational and pertinent move?
Yes.
Because our affirmation towards an investment guided by fuel efficiency, less pollution and green gas emissions seems to have as much if not more value than the purchase of a vehicle for performance, standing or power.
One thing is certain, whatever our choice, it implies some loss. If we chose a vehicle that has been thought to focus on performance, we will have to sacrifice space and fuel economy (therefore pollution prevention). If we opt for a space-oriented vehicle, we will implicitly sacrifice performance, fuel economy and pollution prevention.
(Note: Before going any further, I want to be clear in regards to my chronicles. I will never pretend that my point of view makes obsolete that of the traditional writers. These persons have a sum of experience and competence that I will never attain. Their point of view on car handling, reliability, resale value or other such considerations are useful. But my observations can also be useful, since they are more often than not neglected by the other writers, and are useful in a more complete vision of what a car represents. I simply try to widen the perspective in regard to this mode of transportation, instead of just writing like a car fan.)
After having tried the 2 cars, I chose the Honda Insight. I was quickly disappointed by the experience, though. How was it that my fuel consumption wasn't as low as what the government's book said? Their numbers were 3.9 l / 100km city and 3.2 l / 100km highway. Perplexed, I called my salesman who could only answer me that as the car would get "broken in," my average would go down. Not satisfied with his answer, I then called Honda Canada who gave me more or less the same answer.
I then decided to go and take a look on the Internet to see if I couldn't find more satisfying answers to my questions. What a revelation! Not only did I get all the necessary tricks to drive more efficiently, but I also learned all the little details about my specific car. That's how, after a few weeks of practice, I was able to get a fuel consumption of 4.0 to 4.2 l / 100km city and between 2.5 and 3.0 l / 100km highway in the summer. (We must realize that all vehicles burn between 20 and 40% more fuel during the winter). So we're talking about 70 miles per gallon in the city and between 90 and 115 miles per gallon on the highway!
That's how, thanks to the helpful information that I could find on the Web, I understood that I had to change my driving habits if I wanted to become an efficient green driver. And that's a criticism that I address to the manufacturers of those new types of vehicles. Ladies and gentlemen affected to the sale and service of those hybrid vehicles, you should be able and take the time and show your customers how to use the vehicles in an efficient way, in order to maximize their economic and ecological friendliness.
The same goes for a person who drives a sports car and tries to optimize its qualities, whether it be handling power or by focusing on his or her driving in minute details; or a person that buys a truck that will learn to use the available space in the most efficient and worthy ways possible, or the owner of a hybrid vehicle who will try to optimize its fuel thriftiness.
Lately, I took the time to meet with new hybrid car owners. It proved to be a very interesting exercise. All had recently bought a second generation Toyota Prius.
This meeting was quite revealing for many reasons.
First, an obvious fellowship is established between people who seem to have made the gesture to buy such a car. The act of faith involved, (you have to show a lot of faith when, to have the privilege of owning this car, you have to order it and leave a deposit without having had the chance to try it out, which I find far from ideal), makes these people guinea pigs as well as unofficial representatives of those cars and of a certain way to see automotive driving. In making this gesture, they show that are concerned with such issues like pollution and green gas emissions. Noble gesture indeed but, once philosophy, ethics and morals are brushed aside, is this a rational and pertinent move?
Yes.
Because our affirmation towards an investment guided by fuel efficiency, less pollution and green gas emissions seems to have as much if not more value than the purchase of a vehicle for performance, standing or power.
One thing is certain, whatever our choice, it implies some loss. If we chose a vehicle that has been thought to focus on performance, we will have to sacrifice space and fuel economy (therefore pollution prevention). If we opt for a space-oriented vehicle, we will implicitly sacrifice performance, fuel economy and pollution prevention.