Delta between Hybrid Tahoe and Yukon

[txhokie4life]

I have to wonder how much difference a hybrid would give you given your speficic driving habits. Lots of taking off, stopping, and starting all over again. I'd be interested in hearing back after you get it on how it goes. I drive mostly in town and pull 18mpg. I understand the marketing angle though. I understand that the seats are a bit different and not as comfortable in the hybrid to accomodate the batteries and weight. That's about all I know about the hybrid. I paid $36K for a non hybrid, just to assist in pricing if you need it.

I've been looking lightly used -- and the price difference on the street
is negligible. In that case -- why wouldn't you pick up the hybrid.

Conservatively lets say we drive 15000 mi/yr at a non Hybrid 15MPG.
That's 1000 of gas or $2500 year. If I get 20% better fuel mileage (18MPG) that
is $500 a year. One could reasonably play these numbers out and
determine if the economics alone will cover the delta in street price.

M

 

[Ed Blown Vert]

I have to wonder how much difference a hybrid would give you given your speficic driving habits. Lots of taking off, stopping, and starting all over again. I'd be interested in hearing back after you get it on how it goes. I drive mostly in town and pull 18mpg. I understand the marketing angle though. I understand that the seats are a bit different and not as comfortable in the hybrid to accomodate the batteries and weight. That's about all I know about the hybrid. I paid $36K for a non hybrid, just to assist in pricing if you need it.

18 mpg is pretty good. What size is your engine? Is it fully loaded??

I am getting 19-20 with a mix of city/highway. 6.0L 4WD.

 

[CPMS]

If you're getting 18 mpg doing mostly city driving that's phenomenal for a Tahoe or Yukon (you sure there isn't a hybrid system in there? : ) ). Hybrids actually do better for folks like you that do mostly city driving. EPA ratings for the Tahoe/Yukon Hybrids are 21/22 mpg (city/hwy). The gas only ratings are around 14/20 for the 5.3L engine (note that the gas engine in the hybrid is a 6.0L monster and it still does decent). Actual mileage reports from hybrid guys like Ed are typically in the 19-21 mpg range with mixed driving. Sorry but I just filled my first tank yesterday so I can't give you my mileage avg just yet. You should see an increase in your mpg.

As for the Hybrid only equipment, there's the lighter seats (front and 2nd row), aluminum liftgate and hood, front air dam, different roofline (no rack is available), modified running boards and "special" hollow spoke alloy wheels. Everything was obviously done to shave as much weight off the vehicle as possible. I'm not sure why they left the 3rd row seats in as standard but go figure. The hybrid only seats are not uncomfortable but that's just my butt meter talking. The prices that most guys report paying range in the low to mid $40's. Not sure what trim your truck is but the hybrids come equipped very close to an LTZ Tahoe. Only options they let you add are the rear DVD and sunroof. Everything else is pretty much already included (6.0L engine, tow pkg, NAVI, leather, wood, 3rd row seats, power everything, etc.)

Sorry for the long post, am I an enthusiast or what

 

[Modded]

I get 430 miles to the tank with an average of abour 20MPG per gallon. I like my 2WD non-hybrid, and though Hybrids are expenive, what ever happened to doing it for the planet lol?
Nothing wrong with that, though SUV hybrids aren't too profitable!

 

[LVyukyuk]

I've been looking lightly used -- and the price difference on the street
is negligible. In that case -- why wouldn't you pick up the hybrid.

Conservatively lets say we drive 15000 mi/yr at a non Hybrid 15MPG.
That's 1000 of gas or $2500 year. If I get 20% better fuel mileage (18MPG) that
is $500 a year. One could reasonably play these numbers out and
determine if the economics alone will cover the delta in street price.

M

Didn't know if you thought I was bashing, I wasn't at all. I drive a lot less than 15000 miles a year. I've had my 08 for a year this month and have 7,500 miles on it. I bought new, so was not looking at used prices. I still would not buy the Hybrid. It just did not make sense for me to spend the extra money on the Hybrid for my 7,500 miles a year. That mileage is high in fact as I took two trips to the Bay Area from Las Vegas, not in the norm. I'm better for the environment than most cars because I work from home. I've done a bunch of 'green' things around the house, so it's not that I'm against it, just didn't make sense for me.

If you really want my personal opinion, I think this first wave of hybrids is a stop gap to what is coming next. They are not bad, but they are not 'great' to me either. I've been in my friends Prius and I'm not impressed. He has gone through four sets of front tires and only gets about 46 MPG. I drove a Corolla when I was commuting and it got 38 MPG, no new tires. It's fantastic for the environment now, but I'm waiting before buying the new fangled gadget. As the OP said though, it's a direct marketing device for his company, makes perfect sense, and I applaude him. Not bashing, just not for me.

Edit: Haha! You ARE the OP! Sorry about that, but anyway...

 

[Ed Blown Vert]

Anyone get the recall on our Hybrids for the 'Battery Charge Reading?'
Just got my letter today.

 

[LVyukyuk]

18 mpg is pretty good. What size is your engine? Is it fully loaded??

I am getting 19-20 with a mix of city/highway. 6.0L 4WD.

It's a 5.3 2WD and I drive like a sissy. I just checked the gauge, 17.3 average. So I lied a bit.

 

[Ed Blown Vert]

It's a 5.3 2WD and I drive like a sissy. I just checked the gauge, 17.3 average. So I lied a bit.

I wonder what you would do in a Hybrid? 25 mpg?

 

[LVyukyuk]

Oh! One last 'doubting Thomas' thought. (looking for info really)

When the warranty expires, and the tranny goes out, how much would that cost to fix? (this was one thing I thought to myself when I was at the dealer)

---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:26 PM ----------

I wonder what you would do in a Hybrid? 25 mpg?

No kidding! In a big SUV like these, that would be soooooo nice!

 

[CPMS]

Ed,

When did you get the recall notice?