Is a hybrid best for my commute?

marketty · 20-09-2013 08:34AM #1

Doing some pie in the sky type thinking about changing my car, and trying to decide whats right economy wise for my commute.
Do 50 km each way to work 5 days a week, so including weekends about 600-650 km per week or approx 30 000 km per year. So right around the point where a diesel makes more sense than petrol, normally.
However this commute is not motorway, its a combination of R roads (40km @ 80 kph = 30 mins) and heavy town traffic (10km crawling = another 30 mins typically). From what I've read about hybrids this seems like an ideal route for them, or am I wrong?
Budget wise I'm wide open, could pick up an old prius for 6/7k soon or hold off for a year or so and get something for around 15k. Really like the look of the yaris hybrid so maybe pick up one of those in a few years. Currently doing this commute in a 10 year old 1.2 hatch with 130 000 miles on the clock, not the most comfortable but does 5.9l/100km which is not bad, about €60 per week. currently planning on driving this yoke til it dies!
Not set on getting a hybrid though, open to all suggestions. Maybe LPG? :P

Chippy01 · 20-09-2013 09:15AM

My advice would be to try before you buy.
I do a similar commute, 80km each way, although a bit more motorway than yours, and I do it in a Prius.
60+mpg (4.3 ishl/100km) is easy driving normally. Of course you can hypermile too (if you're into that sort of thing)
Where you would score is in that 30 minutes of crawling traffic.

LPG stations are few and far between, and then there is the cost of the installation to consider as well.

Happy hunting.

whippet · 20-09-2013 09:22AM

i'm doing a similar commute .. with probably a little less urban miles and my Skoda Superb 1.6TDI is averaging about 65-68mph on that commute.

ba_barabus · 20-09-2013 09:27AM

whippet wrote: »

i'm doing a similar commute .. with probably a little less urban miles and my Skoda Superb 1.6TDI is averaging about 65-68mph on that commute.

I assume that's mpg you mean.

Can we see your figures of how you worked that out?

September1 · 20-09-2013 09:28AM

You should be getting excellent economy on such trip with hybrid and yaris is great choice is that size fits you. Full size prius can do maybe 4.0l/100 km or maybe less if hypermilled in such conditions, yaris should do like 3. Hybrid can take LPG for ultimate savings.

You might consider EV, but at this distance you either need to ready for compromises on comfort or have access to power socket at work. On plus side they are pleasure to drive comparing to hybrids.

marketty · 20-09-2013 09:34AM

Chippy01 wrote: »

LPG stations are few and far between, and then there is the cost of the installation to consider as well.

I actually pass one on the way, that's what got me thinking about it!
Would take at least a year or 2 to pay for itself though.

marketty · 20-09-2013 09:35AM

whippet wrote: »

i'm doing a similar commute .. with probably a little less urban miles and my Skoda Superb 1.6TDI is averaging about 65-68mph on that commute.

Is that from trip computer or working it out manually? Seems very good for a big car

marketty · 20-09-2013 10:13AM

September1 wrote: »

You should be getting excellent economy on such trip with hybrid and yaris is great choice is that size fits you. Full size prius can do maybe 4.0l/100 km or maybe less if hypermilled in such conditions, yaris should do like 3. Hybrid can take LPG for ultimate savings.

You might consider EV, but at this distance you either need to ready for compromises on comfort or have access to power socket at work. On plus side they are pleasure to drive comparing to hybrids.

Yeah I'd love the Yaris I think, but at €20k it's a while away for me yet. Would REALLY like an EV but its a non runner for the foreseeable future, right at the limit of the range and no charger at work, not likely to get one either

September1 · 20-09-2013 10:25AM

marketty wrote: »

Yeah I'd love the Yaris I think, but at €20k it's a while away for me yet. Would REALLY like an EV but its a non runner for the foreseeable future, right at the limit of the range and no charger at work, not likely to get one either

You can charge them from regular sockets, charger is not required. If you travel long distance only occasionally then quick charge network of Ireland it pretty good now. Other big problem is purchase price, you need like 10k at least to buy :-(

Anyway check UK sites, there some VRT discounts for hybrids so it makes sense to bring it from there.

whippet · 20-09-2013 11:05AM

ba_barabus wrote: »

I assume that's mpg you mean.

Can we see your figures of how you worked that out?

sorry meant to say MPG.

I don't know what figures you want, but when you are doing circa 40k private miles a year you tend to know what you are getting.

My method is fill to brim, take distance travelled and fill to brim again. I usually do this once a month.

To get the figures I do it has a lot to do with driving style. While I have a long commute I tend never to be in a rush and potter along at 95-105kph - in the 1.6tdi once you get over 120kph the efficiency drops dramatically. Tyre pressure and empty boot also have a big influence.

I tend to ignore the trip computer, but often it would show over 70mpg on the commute.

650Ginge · 20-09-2013 11:30AM

ba_barabus wrote: »

I assume that's mpg you mean.

Can we see your figures of how you worked that out?

I want to those figures too the best on fuelly is only getting 54.1 over 8000miles.

So you doing 20% better, that's doubtful.

Edit: just check spritmonitor 16 1.6 tdi superbs averaging 45.2. So you are a lot better than average. But some are doing 53.8. But not many to be honest you can't be working it out any way near correctly.

But not many

whippet · 20-09-2013 11:35AM

650Ginge wrote: »

I want to those figures too the best on fuelly is only getting 54.1 over 8000miles.

So you doing 20% better, that's doubtful.

check again

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/cemesis/superb

Max Power1 · 20-09-2013 11:36AM

650Ginge wrote: »

I want to those figures too the best on fuelly is only getting 54.1 over 8000miles.

So you doing 20% better, that's doubtful.

Thats why I never rely on the likes of fuelly
What is to stop inaccurate calculations going in? Nothing
Maybe everyone else is just writing the trip computer mpg or is guessing.

20-09-2013 11:43AM

I never understand peoples dismissal of the trip computer its extremely accurate in modern cars. Mine is spot on with calculating it by other methods.

650Ginge · 20-09-2013 11:44AM

Max Power1 wrote: »

Thats why I never rely on the likes of fuelly
What is to stop inaccurate calculations going in? Nothing
Maybe everyone else is just writing the trip computer mpg or is guessing.

Give it a rest max will you.

You are no data analyst are you?

The bigger the sample the less it matters if there are input errors. You might think proving things once is enough lucky science does think that's good enough.

Max Power1 · 20-09-2013 11:44AM

Jadiel Nice Semifinalist wrote: »

I never understand peoples dismissal of the trip computer its extremely accurate in modern cars. Mine is spot on with calculating it by other methods.

So is mine, as measured by many brim-brim calculations. But there are many instances on here where people have stated what the trip said, then calculated and it actually was 3-4 mpg less

whippet · 20-09-2013 11:46AM

650Ginge wrote: »

Edit: just check spritmonitor 16 1.6 tdi superbs averaging 45.2. So you are a lot better than average. But some are doing 53.8. But not many to be honest you can't be working it out any way near correctly.

????

http://www.spritmonitor.de/en/overview/45-Skoda/400-Superb.html?fueltype=1&fuelsort=1&vehicletype=1&gearing=1&exactmodel=greenline&powerunit=2

Max Power1 · 20-09-2013 11:47AM

650Ginge wrote: »

Give it a rest max will you.

You are no data analyst are you?

The bigger the sample the less it matters if there are input errors. You might think proving things once is enough lucky science does think that's good enough.

Haha. Just going to lol at that one anyway.

Dont know why you feel the need to tell me to "give it a rest". I wasnt talking to you about that issue, so I will keep it that way.
Thanks.

whippet · 20-09-2013 11:58AM

Ginge ... are you looking as US MPG figures.

There are plenty of people on both sites quoting similar figures to me. I do very little urban milage and am fairly conservative in how I drive and I am getting decent fuel efficiency.

it's amazing the amount of people who instantly have to try and rubbish it.

I'm just waiting on a post to say that the 1.6L engine is too small for the size of the car etc and it would be dangerous to drive such a low powered engine etc ..... I swapped a 200bhp hot hatch for the superb and did so based on a massive increase in my annual mileage and need for an estate to carry a couple of kids and dogs. I've taken the car to the south of france a couple of times and never once did I feel the engine wasn't up to it .. mind you travelling at 140-155kph on long stretches would kill the fuel consumption.

Why I am posting here is to give my opinion that you don't need to go hybrid to have a decent family car on a long commute with best efficiency

Mike2006 · 20-09-2013 01:06PM

Hi,

I have a 1.6 tdi (95 bhp) Golf (2011) and after 100,000 kms I have logged each and every fill on my fuelly account.

I am averaging 58.5 UK mpg based on 97 fills so far.
Best tank was 65.4mpg.

If I went by my trip computer, it tells me that I average 10% better (~65mpg). Fuelly is obviously more accurate.

My daily commute is a 126km round trip at between 80-100 km/hr.

Hope this helps.

Mike.

650Ginge · 20-09-2013 01:59PM

Max Power1 wrote: »

Haha. Just going to lol at that one anyway.

Dont know why you feel the need to tell me to "give it a rest". I wasnt talking to you about that issue, so I will keep it that way.
Thanks.

Still, give it a rest. You re getting very boring repeating the same tripe that has little to do with the op. You love big cars you don't understand maths, we get it already.

Guy asked about a hybrid. Do you have one?

You re laughing at something because you don't understand the basis.

650Ginge · 20-09-2013 02:01PM

whippet wrote: »

Ginge ... are you looking as US MPG figures.

There are plenty of people on both sites quoting similar figures to me. I do very little urban milage and am fairly conservative in how I drive and I am getting decent fuel efficiency.

it's amazing the amount of people who instantly have to try and rubbish it.

I'm just waiting on a post to say that the 1.6L engine is too small for the size of the car etc and it would be dangerous to drive such a low powered engine etc ..... I swapped a 200bhp hot hatch for the superb and did so based on a massive increase in my annual mileage and need for an estate to carry a couple of kids and dogs. I've taken the car to the south of france a couple of times and never once did I feel the engine wasn't up to it .. mind you travelling at 140-155kph on long stretches would kill the fuel consumption.

Why I am posting here is to give my opinion that you don't need to go hybrid to have a decent family car on a long commute with best efficiency

Yeah you re right I wasn't looking at it right. You are still getting much better than the average. Not knocking, well done.

Max Power1 · 20-09-2013 03:24PM

650Ginge wrote: »

Still, give it a rest. You re getting very boring repeating the same tripe that has little to do with the op. You love big cars you don't understand maths, we get it already.

Guy asked about a hybrid. Do you have one?

You re laughing at something because you don't understand the basis.

:rolleyes:
If im so boring dont comment. Or better, just dont read the thread.

20-09-2013 07:40PM

This is my Prius MK II 2007 with about 106,000 miles, Average per tank. Mix of motorway, national and country roads.

This is usually with 3 bars remaining.

By the way I don't hypermile, I wouldn't have the patients, I'd crack up. I do use the hybrid system properly though, pulse and glide etc etc.

unkel · 20-09-2013 09:33PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I do use the hybrid system properly though, pulse and glide etc etc.

I hope you don't pulse and glide on the public road? If you do it's anti-social at best, some call it outright dangerous...

So inconveniencing or endangering other people, for what, a saving of €0.10 on your way home?

20-09-2013 10:00PM

unkel wrote: »

I hope you don't pulse and glide on the public road? If you do it's anti-social at best, some call it outright dangerous...

So inconveniencing or endangering other people, for what, a saving of €0.10 on your way home?

No I do it in my back yard, wtf would you know about it anyway ?

I do it where it works and on the terrain and road it works and at the speed it works and where it's safe to do so I don't hold up traffic. You don't have any idea what you're talking about.

Idbatterim · 20-09-2013 10:11PM

prius could be good, you would have to do figures on lpg conversion though... it would have to pay back quick enough OR you would have to keep the car long enough to make it worthwhile...

Xpro · 23-09-2013 08:55AM

1.6tdi`s are very economical indeed, but as mentioned above, if you like your throttle or speeds above 60mph, economy goes out the window.

keithclancy · 23-09-2013 09:54AM

Deleted User wrote: »

No I do it in my back yard, wtf would you know about it anyway ?

I do it where it works and on the terrain and road it works and at the speed it works and where it's safe to do so I don't hold up traffic. You don't have any idea what you're talking about.

Argh ... now I get why the Hybrids drive me mad on the motorway, I just thought they were being d1cks

23-09-2013 10:16AM

keithclancy wrote: »

Argh ... now I get why the Hybrids drive me mad on the motorway, I just thought they were being d1cks

well, you won't see me going slow on the motorway. I keep to the limit where I can. I don't hold up anyone.

keithclancy · 23-09-2013 10:32AM

Deleted User wrote: »

well, you won't see me going slow on the motorway. I keep to the limit where I can. I don't hold up anyone.

Not you specifically, but I do notice the Hybrids don't really keep up with the pace of traffic or change their speed quite a lot which makes it awkward for the people that sit with the cruise control on.

Generally i'll go over the speed limit and get past them as quickly as possible otherwise it just gets annoying having to adjust your speed because someone in front is saving fuel.

23-09-2013 10:36AM

keithclancy wrote: »

Not you specifically, but I do notice the Hybrids don't really keep up with the pace of traffic or change their speed quite a lot which makes it awkward for the people that sit with the cruise control on.

Generally i'll go over the speed limit and get past them as quickly as possible otherwise it just gets annoying having to adjust your speed because someone in front is saving fuel.

I could say that for a lot of drivers of non Prius cars on the motorway it isn't because they drive a prius it's because of the driver.

I also have cruise and find it annoying having to adjust it all the time, one reason I'd like that radar cruise.

650Ginge · 23-09-2013 11:35AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I could say that for a lot of drivers of non Prius cars on the motorway it isn't because they drive a prius it's because of the driver.

I also have cruise and find it annoying having to adjust it all the time, one reason I'd like that radar cruise.

I also use the cruise on my Prius. But usually set lower than the limit. 95kph usually. I guess I will be bashed for that being to low.

23-09-2013 11:45AM

650Ginge wrote: »

I also use the cruise on my Prius. But usually set lower than the limit. 95kph usually. I guess I will be bashed for that being to low.

Not at all, I usually keep to the limit on motorways if they are free enough. But sometimes I sit in the left lane if traffic is heavy simply because I find the constant accelerating and breaking in the fast lane to be too distressing and tiring and find it more relaxed in the left lane. It's nothing to do with the fact I've a Prius.

If I'm out for a drive then I've no particular reason to be going as fast as the limits and sometimes I like a drive just to chill out listening to a few tunes.

I don't always drive to the limit because I simply have no need unless I need to get there quicker, but even on a work commute I leave 10-20 mins earlier than I need to because I don't like the stress of foot to the floor and breaking all the time, it just makes a work commute more stressful.

I see the idiots lane hopping and tailgating only to catch up with them at newlands cross, to me this isn't worth the hassle or stress. Guess you could say I'm older and wiser and my days of driving like that are over.

keithclancy · 23-09-2013 12:00PM

650Ginge wrote: »

I also use the cruise on my Prius. But usually set lower than the limit. 95kph usually. I guess I will be bashed for that being to low.

No, its the ones that will drive slightly faster to overtake and then slowly reduce their speed to below the limit.

Wrecks the flow of traffic.

Cleveland Hot Pocket · 23-09-2013 12:07PM

650Ginge wrote: »

I also use the cruise on my Prius. But usually set lower than the limit. 95kph usually. I guess I will be bashed for that being to low.

I usually cruise at 95 kph on the 100 km zones, and 110-115 on 120 km zones
Always in the leftmost lane unless there is a truck/bus/numpty driving too slowly.

It is great having a 95% free lane on the motorway for my own private use

23-09-2013 12:45PM

e60 535d wrote: »

It is great having a 95% free lane on the motorway for my own private use

Indeed, I was on the Naas road the other day and 95% of traffic was in the outer two lanes. People completely oblivious to the fact they should be in the left lane.

While I had an empty lane to myself.

Cleveland Hot Pocket · 23-09-2013 12:49PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Indeed, I was on the Naas road the other day and 95% of traffic was in the outer two lanes. People completely oblivious to the fact they should be in the left lane.

While I had an empty lane to myself.

Yes that is the road I was referring to myself actually.
I firmly believe that the N/M7 from Newbridge on is the worst road in the country (except the m50 of course) for correct lane discipline.

Is a hybrid best for my commute?

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