I just bought a '97 Suburban - Kick me out of Priuschat?

Do you carry your Prius in the back of the Suburban?

Tom

 

It's okay as long as you don't do what some Prius owners have "confessed" to doing, that being to drive their other vehicle, whatever gas-guzzler it might be, to run short errands in order to keep the "average mpg" on their Prius high! Definitely false economy there.....

 

I once negotiated a lease provision that allowed a certain someone to drive her Suburban into the freight elevator, take the freight elevator to her office, and park the Suburban there. It was a good thing.

 

I've heard that parking in NY is pretty rough, but renting your SUV an office?

 

:fish::argue::frusty: THE PRIUS POLICE WILL BE THERE SHORTLY...... They will confiscate your Prius... Wow, I'll bet that thing get about nine miles per gallon......... four in the city and five on the highway !!

 

Well, I guess maybe by driving it only occasionally you're keeping someone else from using it as a daily driver. Thats about the only positive I can come up with.....

Just for kicks lets see how this compares to a 2008 Toyota HiHy:
1999 GMC Suburban vs. 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD
CO2 (g/mi): 627.71 vs. 338.0 (86% higher) Greenhouse/Global Warming Gas
CO (g/mi): 2.7 vs. 0 (inf (>68X) higher) Poison / Toxic
NOx (g/mi): 0.4 vs. 0 (inf (>133X) higher) Smog / Acid Rain, breathing problems
NMOG (g/mi): 0.095 vs. 0.008 (1088%, or 11.88X higer) Formaldehyde & other VOCs, irritant, cancer

I can sympathize with the desire for a larger vehicle to get out in the woods/wilderness. I also recognize the impracticality of buying a new HiHy just to go out camping a few times a year. Still, it seems like there must be a better way.

Rob

 

Nice knowing you Winston.
Pity really, I thought of you as one of the smart ones.

Seriously, how is that any worse than jumping on a aeroplane to fly across the country? If you commute solo in the Prius, and judging by how people cherish their HOV lane stickers most do in their Prius and you have 4 or 5 in the Sub-Urban and the Sub-Urban comes out to play only for the camping trips and the like how can we knock that? Trailer on a Prius, not a good idea and Toyota don't like it either. Putting a trailer on a FWD car won't get you to that special camp spot by the stream with the trout in it where you can show your children how important it is to be a good steward to nature.
Is it possible to convert the Sub-Urban to run on liquid propane gas? That would reduce CO2 emissions, it's a very common conversion on big cars here. The Australian government will even pay $2000AU toward a conversion here to get people to convert to reduce oil imports and reduce CO2.

At least you are still a Prius owner and your second car isn't a Hummer.:whip:

 

If I did have a Suburban, I'd wait until the price of gas gets to $4 or $5, then strut around like this:




Then I'd ask all the people ribbing me for getting a cracker jack hybrid in a late William F Buckley voice if they were having financial difficulties?

 

Winston,

Thanks for your post, and your honesty. You knew you'd catch some grief when you posted. Regardless, you are still a member here, and we're all glad you still have your prius. Your point raises some issues as pointed out above, why buy a brand new highlander to only drive several times per year, that's not practical.

Still, I'd hate to have to fill that tank on that baby!!!

 

No one expects the Prius Inquisition!!!! Bring out the comfy chair!
:caked:

 

WINSTON!!
Are you still here?

 

I think all of the PriusChat members should go out and buy a used Suburban or other huge gas guzzling vehicle as a service to others. You will be keeping out of the hands of someone who might drive it more often. I'm doing my part with the Ford Explorer that is parked in my driveway.

 

LOL! I'm doing my part with a '99 Land Rover Discovery parked out back!
Rob

 

Can I buy something cheap and gas guzzling? My budget is kinda tight right now.

 

hah, whatever. I guarantee you will regret it in a year or so. My dad bought the same thing back when gas was around $1.20 a gallon. Now he cant get rid of it. I have a turbo prelude that gets maybe 10 mpg city, if that. Your not alone.

 

I don't see anything wrong with what you did. You needed a vehicle with towing capabilities, and you got a used vehicle that suits your needs.

 

what your doing is one of the three R's.

Re-using.

 

I don't see why not, you just put this 97' Suburban into valid use....esp the towing part.