No More Grand Am

[GrandAMjim]

Hello all
I have defected to the other side and am no longer the owner of a grand am.
We had to trade it for a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
As such this will be last post to this forum
I want to thank everyone for their help over the years
Good luck to all!
Jim and Manja Thessin

[Sweet98GA]

well if its your last post, guess you won't mind me saying BOOOO to a hybrid :)

Have fun, and just becuase you don't own a ga doesn't mean can't still post around... there is a non-ga section :)

[Twista89]

if ur still on whats with the readout thing on the left of the speedometer??? Doesnt look like a RPM readout

[GrandAMjim]

Can I assume you mean in the Hybrid??
If so that shows you the current MPG consumption of the vehicle
So far the car has gotten 37.4 and 36.9MPG on 2 seperate fill-up's

[SE2000]

Good luck, I like the Camry but I'm not sold on the hybrid system. It's like diesel, not the best in winter and you have to drive a lot just to break even.

[carlover626]

So far the car has gotten 37.4 and 36.9MPG on 2 seperate fill-up's
So like more than double the MPG of my Montero! :drunk:
Good Luck with the car LOL! :finger:

[tenspeed]

I have a '02 Grand Am, 2.2L Ecotec with a 5 speed. I keep track of my fuel usage on www.gasbuddy.com

Last year (2006) I had 45 fill ups. I drove 14,171 miles and used 457 gallons of gas. That was a average of 31.76 mpg for the year. I spent $1200 for fuel.

If I got 37 mpg like you did, it would cost a little more than $1000, a savings of $196 for the year.

My car cost less than $10,000 with 10,000 miles on it when I bought it. How much was the Camry? I think I'll pay the extra $196 extra per year.

[levey]

Originally posted by tenspeed
I have a '02 Grand Am, 2.2L Ecotec with a 5 speed. I keep track of my fuel usage on www.gasbuddy.com

Last year (2006) I had 45 fill ups. I drove 14,171 miles and used 457 gallons of gas. That was a average of 31.76 mpg for the year. I spent $1200 for fuel.

If I got 37 mpg like you did, it would cost a little more than $1000, a savings of $196 for the year.

My car cost less than $10,000 with 10,000 miles on it when I bought it. How much was the Camry? I think I'll pay the extra $196 extra per year.

:clap: Can't say much more.

[bballr4567]

HECK YEA JIM!!!


Personally I think the hybrid systems are still in the baby phases and still not worth it the extra money on the front end. Just as Jim pointed out a regular gas engine can still have really decent gas mileage at a much cheaper cost.


However though I kind of like the new body style on the Camry.

[04alyGT]

True but if he was going to get a new car anyways he might as well have gotten one with excellent gas mileage right?

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by 4576foxtrot
True but if he was going to get a new car anyways he might as well have gotten one with excellent gas mileage right?

Wrong. There's plenty of small cars that cost thousands less and get good mileage.

Compared to my GA's MPG's, he would have spent big bucks for the hybrid and saved two grand in gas over ten years. How much extra is the hybrid option? How long would it take to break even?

How much to change the batteries in five years? Who's going to work on it? I can take my car to any GM dealer and most regular garages. They stock parts for it at Pep Boys, Auto-zone, Advanced Auto, etc.

Who's going to fix the electrics on the hybrid? Where are you going to get the parts? The dealer of course, at a premium price.

When you figure the cost of operation for the life of the vehicle, I'll stick to internal combustion for now.

[GrandAMjim]

And how much pollution are you releasing into the air each year?
This car is classified as a NZEV or Near Zero Emmision Vehicle
This puts out around 10% of a similarly equipped 4 Cyclinder Toyota Camry
Fuel savings arent the only reason for a Hybrid. Tax savings are another State is a $2000 credit, Federal is a 1380 credit
Feel good feeling of polluting less
Oh by the way Jim I will only need to fill up every 2 weeks or 26 times a year based on our driving habits from last year. Thats roughly what Half of what you are currently filling up? Also 10 Year unlimited miles power train warranty. How much longer on yours.
Im not trying to be a prick and I enjoyed my grand am over the years and appreciated the help offered on this board which is why I chose to say goodbye. I am not putting your choice of vehicle down so dont do the same to mine
Thanks
my car was also a tic under 30 Large fully optioned... please dont compare costs on a Used car versus a New car that will have higher resale value after 10 years than your GA will have after 2.
Once again not knocking your choice in cars as I had the same thing, a 1999 Grand am SE1 with 146,354 miles on the odo with around 3000 Dollars worth of repair tickets in the last 2 years.

[bballr4567]

I dont think he is personally knocking your choice but rather hybrids in general. Yea it is a NZEV right now but what happens when you have to dump or change all of those batteries out? What kind of pollution will those cause??

Personally me I dont think that battery stored power is the way to go but for now is much better then other things out there. I also feel that E85 has a HUGE HUGE chance to make a big dent in the battery hybrid arena.

[bdlitzne]

It wasn't meant to be a slam on you, I'm sure. He was just pointing out that most people don't take in the WHOLE cost. They may save money on gas, but may spend the savings in other areas.

Personally, I like the good feeling of having a "paid-off" car. That's why I have a 94 Beretta and a 2000 Grand Am. That leaves extra money for the wifey. And when she feels good, I feel good.

Bern


Originally posted by GrandAMjim
And how much pollution are you releasing into the air each year?
This car is classified as a NZEV or Near Zero Emmision Vehicle
This puts out around 10% of a similarly equipped 4 Cyclinder Toyota Camry
Fuel savings arent the only reason for a Hybrid. Tax savings are another State is a $2000 credit, Federal is a 1380 credit
Feel good feeling of polluting less
Oh by the way Jim I will only need to fill up every 2 weeks or 26 times a year based on our driving habits from last year. Thats roughly what Half of what you are currently filling up? Also 10 Year unlimited miles power train warranty. How much longer on yours.
Im not trying to be a prick and I enjoyed my grand am over the years and appreciated the help offered on this board which is why I chose to say goodbye. I am not putting your choice of vehicle down so dont do the same to mine
Thanks
my car was also a tic under 30 Large fully optioned... please dont compare costs on a Used car versus a New car that will have higher resale value after 10 years than your GA will have after 2.
Once again not knocking your choice in cars as I had the same thing, a 1999 Grand am SE1 with 146,354 miles on the odo with around 3000 Dollars worth of repair tickets in the last 2 years.