Hybrids

[papooses]

My parents are now looking at trading in my mom's Chevy Tracker for either a Toyota Prius or Ford Escape Hybrid. I found some crash test info at NHTSA, but none at IIHS. My mom wants the Prius & my dad wants the Escape :rolleyes: Either way I'm happy because they both seem safer than the Tracker & I like that they'll be using less gas. My dad is now on 100% disability as a Veteran with MS & sleep disorders, etc. so he won't be driving at all anymore ~ they're keeping his F-250 with plow for winter emergencies only {good thing my mom likes using the plow, LOL} Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had some opinion on this??? I'm expected to be the tie-breaker here....

[CPSDarren]

There is no guarantee, of course, but crash results from a Hybrid of the same vehicle should be similar to the standard version. Presumably, the body and safety cage are identical. Of course, the weight, size and strength of the engine/transmission components vary and one could do better than the other but we don't know which one...

I would have no problem buying a hybrid version of a model that gets top safety ratings. I figure in the worst case, it would only drop one ranking level;-)

[papooses]

Is there a non-hybrid car comparable to the Prius that I could look up?

I looked up more on the non-hybrid Escape.... It doesn't look that great according to IIHS. About the same as the Tracker without side airbags, which this one does have. From what I remember, it looks better than the Blazer {the site won't come up for me now, though}.

I was also wondering if the Sienna Hybrid that comes out in '06 is going to be AWD? I definitely want AWD/4WD because I live on a steep hill in a rural upstate NY town. I'm tempted to use my tax return to pay off the extra balance owed on my Blazer & trade it in now for the Escape because I'll get a $2000 tax deduction next year, but then it drops to $1500....

[CPSDarren]

The Prius is it's own model, so if there are no results you are out of luck, unfortunately.

Here is a website that might help you with future options:

http://www.hybridcars.com/index.html

[papooses]

My parents chose the Prius based on some of the info at that site :cool: & after I got the IIHS site back up, I made an appointment to test-drive the Escape Hybrid this evening ~ I figure if I can manage to trade in my Blazer now then it's all the better & in a few years there will just be more options to choose from if I decide I don't like it ... somehow, though, I really doubt I'll be much more dissappointed with the Escape comared to my Blazer, LOL! I'll just try not to remember that I was originally waiting for the Sienna *SIGH* If the hybrid version is AWD then maybe at that time I'll look into trading, but for now the Escape will still be much better for both safety & gas mileage: if I'm lucky I get about 12+ MPG on my Blazer on the hilly, winding roads here but the Escape Hyrbrid is advertized with about a 30-35+ MPG & the Blazer has a POOR rating while the Escape is ACCEPTABLE =)

[papooses]

With my tax & school loan refunds that just came in along with the fact that this month I get paid 3 times instead of only 2 ~ I went for it! My credit was good enough so I am now the happy owner of an Escape Hybrid :D LOVE IT! Sooooo smooth & quiet, I actually fit in the seat without sliding {LOL} & all 3 kids are safe in the back =) My toddler's seat is RF in the middle with the top tether attached to the bar under my driver's seat & I think there's room to fit the Parkway on one side....One question: is it OK that I used the largest size locking karibiner to attach my two 50# dogs' Ruff Rider Roadie travel vests to the bar under the front passenger seat so that one of them could sit/lay on the floor with the other on the seat???

[CPSDarren]

Congrats!

Please review it for us after a few weeks.

We are going to consider the Escape, Accord and Highlander hybrids to replace the Outback wagon within a year...

[MelllieMa]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Way to go on getting your new car, Papooses! I know you have been wanting one and thinking it would be a few years yet, so GOOD JOB!
Let us know how you like it!:D

[joolsplus3]

Woo hoo! No more of that goofy "can't use the belt in the middle of the blazer" nonsense! :D.

If it's any consolation, when we had our old 2003 Prius, my BIL, a body shop owner for a zillion years, assured me it was much better than a regular sub-compact, because it was heavier, due to the battery weighing so much.

I don't know if he knew what the heck he was talking about or if it's true, lol...but it sure sounded good and made me feel good!

[scatterbunny]

I want a Prius so badly, but it's not in our price range. :(

Congrats on your new car! Can we see pictures?

[UlrikeDG]

Originally posted by papooses
.One question: is it OK that I used the largest size locking karibiner to attach my two 50# dogs' Ruff Rider Roadie travel vests to the bar under the front passenger seat so that one of them could sit/lay on the floor with the other on the seat???

Probably not. The Ruff Rider video gives specific weight limits necessary for cargo anchors to be safely used with the Roadie. It is extremely unlikely that that bar has been tested for that purpose. You really need to attach it to a seatbelt or to an approved cargo anchor.

[papooses]

I really do like it! The LATCH didn't work out too well for me, though ... the hooks {on the carseat, not the ones built into the car} ended up being under the base so I couldn't get it tight enough. Using the seatbelt in either of the 3 positions, it's great, though =) I can comfortably fit on both sides with the Wizard RF center, but I'm small, LOL.

Also, I know the video said to use a 24KN locking clip for the dogs ~ I believe that's for any size dog so I figured it's be OK to put my 2 on 1 since together they're still lighter than a Newfoundland or St. Bernard =/ I attached the clip to the bar under the front passenger seat ~ not the adjuster bar; the bar that holds the seat to the floor. I haven't tried it out yet, but am hoping I don't have to use the belt because they are chewers ~ I would HATE to look over & see that my front passenger seatbelt is being shredded :eek: I'd give them bones, but then they fight even when there's more than one bone to go around =( There aren't any tie-down hooks in the trunk area because of the battery & the smallest size 24KN clip doesn't fit in the top tether anchors {I tried}....

We'll get some pictures soon ~ my kiddo has the flu now, though *YUCK*

[UlrikeDG]

Well, some would call me a bad pet "mommy," but my reason for restraining my dog in the car is to keep my family safe, not so much for him. If the dogs are on the floor in the front, they'll probably not be going much of anywhere in a frontal collision.

However, in a roll over or other less common crash, they could go flying, and that bar may not hold. Can you use the seatbelt with the Rodie's longer setting and still put the dogs on the floor? Have you tried a repellant spray to keep them from chewing on things they shouldn't? If they're that small, can you kennel them and buckle the kennel in? What about buckling them in, then putting a piece of cardboard between them and the belt?

Grannick's Bitter Apple® Spray (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1155&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033167&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673267477&bmUID=1110465140980)
Bitter End Pet Repellent (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1155&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033167&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673267477&bmUID=1110465140980)

[UlrikeDG]

BTW, I've heard that the owner of the Ruff Rider company is pretty cool. Have you tried calling and asking them if they have any suggestions?

[papooses]

I may give them a call ;)

I have Pit Bulls =) If you'd like to learn more about them go HERE (http://www.freewebs.com/maribellepapoose/ourpets.htm) & click the various word links within....

They're each about 45-50# so almost 100# total. I've tried sprays before, but they're just genetically-predisposed chewers! I did loop one dog around the bottom & one onto the belt, though ~ hoping I'll only have to focus on one of them not chewing the seatbelt, LOL

[UlrikeDG]

When you said, "small," I was expecting something smaller than my collie sized mutt (he's maybe 40 lb).

Honestly, it doesn't sound like there's a good way to transport both of them in the front seat at the same time. I think the best long-term solution would be to talk to a dog behavior specialist about the best ways to train the two dogs to ride politely without fighting or chewing the belts. Try asking your vet or your local pet store (some PetSmart stores actually have dog trainers on staff) or even your local Pit Bull (or American Staffordshire Terrier (http://www.amstaff.org/)) club.

[Unregistered]

How about 'travel muzzles'? Of course people might get the wrong idea and think you were protecting yourself and not the seatbelt! If they like travelling enough they might put up with the muzzles for a ride.(?)
C.

[papooses]

Last I checked there isn't an APBT club nearby.... They only fight over bones & are otherwise very affectionately attached at the hip ~ they share the same feeding bowls & have never even growled at each other & where one falls asleep the other has to cuddle right up in the same spot :) It's just something about chew bones! Also, the only dog training class here said they don't allow Pit Bulls, Doberman Pincers, German Shepards, or Rottweilers when I called a couple years ago {although the American Kennel Club behavior tests show that Golden Retreivers & Poodles are actually much more likely to bite than such so called "vicious breeds"}. Anyway, the vet did give us some nylon muzzles to use at the dog park just in case some other idiot doesn't have theirs on a leash even though mine are @@ My escape artists got out of them repeatedly & after I finally made it so tight that they were whimpering, the poor things, they ripped it into shreds to get it off *SIGH* I guess I'll just have to tell the kids we can't take both dogs at the same time when big bro & sis ride with us & when I take the dogs to the vet I'll move the carseat outboard so one dog can sit with a bone in the back & the other up front with a bone =/

[papooses]

The dealer is installing a cargo fence for free! Know where I can find a rubber floor guard for the trunk area?

Now the dogs will have the trunk to themselves ~ my seats & belts will stay clean :cool:

[Unregistered]

Good Deal!
C.

[papooses]

Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure they're trying to make up for the lie about the middle seatbelt on the Blazer :o When I asked why the manual says a carseat musn't be installed rear-center, they said it was because of the retractor, but that isn't actually the reason {I can't remember exactly why, but something about the belts being too close}.... Anyway, the dealership I bought the Escape from is the "sister" site to the one I had bought the Blazer from & when I traded it in I explained how angry I was about the carseat issue ~ they knocked off a few hundred from my down payment, promised free inside & outside car washes for life & offered me a free trunk shade, but I said I didn't want one unless it was a safety feature {yesterday afternoon I got a call that the sales rep. had done some more research & ordered me the dog guard & would have it installed for free, too!} FINALLY some good customer service!!! LOL

* I found a trunk floor guard for about $65 ... I think I should manage to save up in time for the next Vet. appointment this summer =)