livingthed
Answer
a hybrid car is a car that runs on gas and a battery. When your at a stop light it switches from gas to battery to save gas, when ever you stop it switches from gas to electric saving alot of gas. But on interstate or highway driving there really isnt any stops so you run on gas getting better gas mileage in city than highway. for example the toyota prius is a hybrid it gets 51city and 48 highway. but normal non hybrid cars get better highway then city
a hybrid car is a car that runs on gas and a battery. When your at a stop light it switches from gas to battery to save gas, when ever you stop it switches from gas to electric saving alot of gas. But on interstate or highway driving there really isnt any stops so you run on gas getting better gas mileage in city than highway. for example the toyota prius is a hybrid it gets 51city and 48 highway. but normal non hybrid cars get better highway then city
What's up with car salesmen not wanting to sell hybrids?...lower commissions?
Serena
Today we tried to buy a Toyota Highlander Hybrid...what an ordeal. The salesman actually tried to discourage us from buying the car. First we were told that there weren't any available. We asked to see one (even a non-hybrid to at least check out the design). He said, "They're way down the street." Then he said that we wouldn't be able to get one for a long time...and why bother. Then he said that the mileage difference was no big deal. I said to him, "Why are you trying to NOT sell us a hybrid?" He just said that they were extremely hard to get, and that we'd be disappointed. I couldn't help but feel like there was a larger picture behind it all... Has anyone else run into this problem? I am guilty of being part of the "more is better" generation. I'm ashamed to admit that we own a Cadillac Escalade ESV...a true gas guzzler. Last night we rented "Who Killed the Electric Car?" (a must see).. & a real wake up call. We're trying to be more responsible and buy a hybrid...if only we can!
Answer
A car salesman would much rather sell you a car that is on the lot, taking up space, than having you preorder one... (take the comission now, not later). there is not as much wiggle room for the amount of commission on the hybrids, as there is for getting a vehicle off the lot now.
Perhaps a different salesperson at that dealership may do better (usually the internet/fleet sales person handles the hybrids), or you should ask some owners' groups for suggestions of better informed dealers to go to.
(Time to get one depends on prior sales at that dealership and willingness to do a trade with other dealerships, so perhaps a larger dealership would get one sooner.)
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/highlander_hybrid/
http://www.hybridchat.com/forums/toyota-highlander-hybrid/
http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f31/
to note, fuel economy is actually quite improved:
Toyota Highlander 2WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (5 speed), Regular: 17 MPG city, 23 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular: 28 MPG city, 25 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander 4WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (5 speed), Regular: 16 MPG city, 22 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular: 27 MPG city, 25 MPG highway
The hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander do get better fuel economy than the gasoline-only versions, and the hybrids are SULEV whereas the gasoline-only versions are "only" ULEV (SULEV has cleaner/less smog-forming emissions), and the hybrids also qualify for zero evaporative emissions (which the gasoline-only models do not).
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/specs.html
A car salesman would much rather sell you a car that is on the lot, taking up space, than having you preorder one... (take the comission now, not later). there is not as much wiggle room for the amount of commission on the hybrids, as there is for getting a vehicle off the lot now.
Perhaps a different salesperson at that dealership may do better (usually the internet/fleet sales person handles the hybrids), or you should ask some owners' groups for suggestions of better informed dealers to go to.
(Time to get one depends on prior sales at that dealership and willingness to do a trade with other dealerships, so perhaps a larger dealership would get one sooner.)
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/highlander_hybrid/
http://www.hybridchat.com/forums/toyota-highlander-hybrid/
http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f31/
to note, fuel economy is actually quite improved:
Toyota Highlander 2WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (5 speed), Regular: 17 MPG city, 23 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular: 28 MPG city, 25 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander 4WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (5 speed), Regular: 16 MPG city, 22 MPG highway
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular: 27 MPG city, 25 MPG highway
The hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander do get better fuel economy than the gasoline-only versions, and the hybrids are SULEV whereas the gasoline-only versions are "only" ULEV (SULEV has cleaner/less smog-forming emissions), and the hybrids also qualify for zero evaporative emissions (which the gasoline-only models do not).
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/specs.html
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