The Nissan Altima Hybrid has been somewhat of a dark horse. Only available in 8 states, and in close competition with the widely available Toyota Camry Hybrid, the NAH is quickly becoming a “cult car”. Interestingly enough, most owners seem to stumble into this purchase, and then find they’re enjoying a comfortable ride while attaining impressive gas mileage.

Fitted with a moonroof and leather seats, you’re MSRP will come in around $31,000. It’s perfectly legal to ride into town and buy one of these babies, then drive it home. Currently available in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, you may have a long way to travel to get the model you want. It’s doable though, and sounds like a purchase you won’t regret.

The Altima hybrid’s biggest complaint is – not surprisingly, as its one of the biggest complaints across the board for hybrid vehicles – is mileage for short drives. The 35 mpg city/33 mpg highway EPA figures fall to the mid-20’s during short stops.

One way to alleviate this problem may be an engine block heater, which is not currently available as a factory option. Quite a few other things are, however, and consumers will find a number of available additions for the taking.

I was very excited to see people 6′ 3″ tall, 250 lbs and larger say this was a comfortable ride for them, as we have a few tall drivers who say finding a comfortable ride among hybrids is a problem.

[Source/Image: Nissan]

Post from: EveryJoe

Closer Look: Nissan Altima Hybrid

Guests will be able to see and drive current models, as well as take a look at future technologies and how they may shape cars of tomorrow. In addition, IndyCar and ALMS drivers will also appear during the show to discuss the Green Racing Challenge new for this season.

The Woodman Dream Cruise will be hosted at Pleasant Ridge Memorial Park, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, on August 15th and 16th, with NextCruise(TM) taking place the 16th.

Source: NextCruise

Post from: EveryJoe

Didn’t Make it to Hybridfest? Check out NextCruise

36 drivers competed in the 2008 challenge, and drove a course of 26 miles. Here are the winners:

Division 1 – Honda Insight

William Kinney of Kennewick, WA
2002 Honda Insight
109 MPG

Division 2 – 2nd Generation Prius

Jerad Parish of Madison, WI
2005 Toyota Prius
99 MPG

Division 3 – Honda Civic Hybrid & 1st Generation Prius

Wayne Gerdes of Wadsworth, IL
2008 Honda Civic Hybrid
73 MPG

Division 4 – Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Lexus GS 450h & Lexus LS 600h L

Rob Colucci of Shorewood, IL
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
53 MPG

Division 5 – Chevy Malibu Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, Saturn Aura Hybrid, Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid

Richard Krueger of Warren, MI
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
44 MPG

Division 6 – Chevy Silverado Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid

Richard Krueger of Warren, MI
2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
28 MPG

Division 7 – Non-hybrid vehicles

Mike Sefton of Winnipeg, Manitoba CA
2001 Volkswagen Golf TDI
82 MPG

Congratulations to all the drivers! Hybridfest will continue through Sunday, July 20, as part of the Dane County Fair. More info available…

Source: Hybridfest

Post from: EveryJoe

Winners of the Hybridfest MPG Challenge!

Chevy Malibu Hybrid MSRP $24,545.00
Chevy Tahoe Hybrid MSRP $50,490.00

Ford Escape Hybrid MSRP $26,640.00

GMC Yukon Hybrid MSRP $50,945.00

Honda Civic Hybrid MSRP $22,600.00

Lexus GS 450h $55,800.00
Lexus LS 600h L $104,900.00
Lexus RX 400h $42,980.00

Mazda Tribute Hybrid MSRP $26,155.00
(California only, with apparently no plans to expand … too bad, since they’re acheiving 34 mpg)

Mercury Mariner Hybrid MSRP $21,540.00

Nissan Altima Hybrid MSRP $25,480.00

Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid MSRP $24,550.00
Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid MSRP $26,270.00

Toyota Prius MSRP $21,500.00
Toyota Camry Hybrid MSRP $25,650.00
Toyota Highlander Hybrid $34,200.00

Don’t forget to keep an eye open near the end of next month for more info on the Durango/Aspen SUV hybrids.

Sources: Chevy, Ford, GMC, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota

Image: Ford

Post from: EveryJoe

What hybrids are available now?

1. Toyota Camry Hybrid
2. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid
4. Toyota Prius
5. Honda Civic Hybrid

The study by NADAguides.com also provided the number of miles each model would have to drive before breaking even, broken down by metropolitan area (and current gas prices).

Los Angeles ($4.59 per gallon)

Camry hybrid vs. Camry XLE – 18,292 miles
Malibu hybrid vs. Malibu LT – 32,206 miles
Altima hybrid vs. Altima 2.5 S – 37,580 miles
Prius vs. Camry LE – 41,626 miles
Civic hybrid vs. Civic LX – 57,216 miles

Source: PRNewsWire, NADAguides.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Which Hybrids Make Financial Sense?

Hybridfest 2008
Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin

You’ll be able to catch plug-ins, electrics, biodiesel, hydrogen and other alternative autos, as well as listen to the experts speak on how to save gas with everyday vehicles. Then there’s the Hybridfest MPG Challenge where drivers do their best to stretch their mileage.

Speakers include:
Felix Kramer, Cal-Cars
Mike Granoff, Project Better Place
Jo-Ann Yantzis, Clean Energy
Francis Vogel, Wisconsin Clean Cities
Wayne Gerdes, CleanMPG
Peter Kozan, MPG Challenge Winner
Michael Sefton, Diesels 101

Hybridfest 2008 is presented as part of Dane County Fair. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 11, parking and admission for younger children is free. Visit the Hybridfest website for more information.

* Don’t forget to comment to win a free Rand McNally road atlas … now Earth-Friendlier!*

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybridfest 2008 – Madison, Wisc.

If thousands of people begin leaving surrounding areas and heading into metro areas, high rent costs in the cities will get even higher. You’ll be forced to pay higher costs for food, and living supplies. I would be very surprised if the costs didn’t even out. In the meantime, you could be looking at your other alternatives to lower your transportation expenses.

Top ways to save:

* Rideshare, carpooling, carsharing and public transportation.

* Tweak your driving route, and keep an eye on traffic.

* Using common sense driving techniques, and conduct regular maintenance, to burn less gas.

* Consider purchasing an electric auto or hybrid.

[Image: Newscom]

Don’t forget to check out the contest for a 2009 Rand McNally atlas, made with greener materials.

Post from: EveryJoe

Conserve or Move … the fight against change

When I was a kid, my aunt’s boyfriend won a $1 Million by playing the lottery. Friends of friends of ours won $300 Million last year. Now they are running a promotion that is right up my alley. By playing “Set of Wheels” you could win a 2008 Chevy Tahoe hybrid package worth $79,000.

Sure, $300 Million would be interesting, but I have to be honest when I say it might be a little much, even for me. Money has a way of awaking a lot of nastiness in people. (Ahem, Paris Hilton. Anyone notice how, now that she’s not inheriting a gazillion dollars, she’s not quite so infamous?)

Have a non-winning Set For Life Iowa Lottery scratch ticket? Flip it over, and enter the serial number at ialottery.com for a “second chance” Tahoe hybrid drawing. (You would be surprised how many people lose out on prizes by not doing things like this. Someone in Osceola, IA even won $400,000 on Powerball in March that they haven’t claimed yet … probably threw the ticket away when they weren’t the top winner!)

Set of Wheels ends July 13th. Eight semifinalists will be drawn two days later with the final drawing to be held … where else, but the Iowa State Fair? The drawing will be held on August 7th. Tickets cost $20.

[Image: Iowa Lottery ]

Post from: EveryJoe

Win a Chevy Tahoe hybrid!

Where can you get a hybrid today … right now?

Short-term Lease/ Lease Transfers

Swap-a-Lease has just SIX hybrids available today. Right now. Payments range from $319 a month for an ‘07 Prius to $621 a month for an ‘07 Camry. Leasetrader also has a number of green vehicles available.

When you go through a lease trading company, you don’t have to pay a down payment so initially it can be cheaper. Just like anything though, pay attention to the rules of the leasing company. Do your due diligence and make sure you get a 3rd party inspection so you aren’t hit with any “excessive wear and tear” charges later.

Remember, too, that LeaseCompare.com can help you finance several different models.

Online Auctions

eBay has a number of hybrids listed, but if you go this route, pay particular attention to someone’s seller history! Hybrids are in high demand right now, and online auctions are rife with fraud, so I’m not sure I would be comfortable going this route right now unless a seller had great reviews And was comfortable giving me referrals.

Used Lots

One of our friends bought a used ‘99 Prius a few months ago, and about a week later he was having major problems. Be wary that used hybrids are just like any other car and can have problems. Have them thoroughly checked out by a trusted mechanic who knows hybrids. Our friend was stuck driving a loaner for months until he could afford to get repairs done.

The rise in gas prices may be pushing people toward hybrid alternatives but these aren’t the only cars that can get good gas mileage. If you find yourself without a car, or the time to wait/search for the model you would love to have, look to my Most Efficient & Most Affordable Non-hybrid Autos.

[Image: Toyota]

Post from: EveryJoe

Where can I buy or lease a Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, etc?

Honda President, Takeo Fukui, said Honda’s new line up of hybrids will debut in 2009, with a five-seater hatchback similar to the FCX Clarity. Also in the works, a Honda Fit, and a sporty CR-Z.

All of that is great, of course, but when will we get a hybrid minivan? Come on, Fukui. I thought you might be the man to put the plan in motion. For a company seemingly in a race to catch up with Toyota, and having a very successful minivan currently in production, I think ignoring this market is a mistake.

MLive.com also has a list of “hybrid premiums” and how many years it typically takes to get your investment back (based on specific factors, including an average gas price that will soon be surpassed, shrinking these estimates some):

2008 Toyota Highlander
2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid $7,495 11.4
2008 Ford Escape
2008 Ford Escape hybrid $4,161 6.9
2008 Lexus RX350
2008 Lexus RX400h $4,407 6.1
2008 Mercury Mariner
2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid $4,904 6.0
2008 Honda Civic
2008 Honda Civic hybrid $2,803 4.6
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
2008 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid $438 2.6
2008 Toyota Camry
2008 Toyota Camry hybrid $889 1.5

Their Source: Edmunds.com
My Sources? MLive.com and Forbes.com

Photo: Honda.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Honda to Make Cheaper Hybrid by 2009